More than any other holiday out there, the holiday season and Christmas as a whole bring out a feel-good festive energy that has been the source of countless great memories for people across the globe. It only makes sense that various films would attempt to tap into the festive spirit, as Christmas easily stands as the most popular holiday, whether it be emotional rom-coms, goofy comedies, or even yuletide horror films. While Christmas films have been a part of film history since the very beginning, the Christmas films of the 21st century have made a significant mark on the concept as a whole.
Whether it be modern interpretations of all-time classic Christmas stories or beloved, feel-good stories that find inspiration from and harken back to the comforting tales of the past, there will always be an array of new Christmas films to watch year after year. However, only the absolute best modern Christmas films have established legacies for themselves as classics, now being rewatched year after year like the all-time Christmas classics of the 20th century.
10
‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ (2000)
Dr. Seuss’s legendary Christmas story has been the subject of many acclaimed Christmas film adaptations over the years, yet Ron Howard‘s How the Grinch Stole Christmas has carved out a distinct niche for itself. From its darker demeanor and style to the wildly impressive production design and costuming to Jim Carrey‘s electrifying lead performance, the film has a lot of inherent benefits that have made it a modern Christmas classic.
It easily stands out as one of the emblematic Christmas films of the 2000s as a whole, being chaotic and unrestrained in its comedy as it caters to both young children and jaded adults alike. While its approach to the material won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, those who appreciate it have been vocal about their overwhelming love and passion for the film, watching it repeatedly every holiday season. It has helped maintain The Grinch’s status as one of the most iconic Christmas movie characters, reintroducing and defining the character for an entire generation.
9
‘Happiest Season’ (2020)
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One of many beloved Christmas rom-coms that found success in the modern age of streaming service original content, Happiest Season combines the difficulties of a significant other’s extended family with the pain of hiding in the closet. It follows lesbian couple Abby (Kristen Stewart) and Harper (Mackenzie Davis) deciding to spend the holidays at Harper’s family’s place. However, Abby’s plans of proposing go awry when she learns that Harper hasn’t come out to her conservative parents.
It’s about as simple yet endlessly endearing as a Christmas romantic comedy can get, excelling thanks to the great supporting cast and the impactful chemistry between its two leads. It balances the comedy and pain of its emotional premise to make for an engaging and approachable LGBTQ+ romance film that has still maintained its charm years after its release. Especially in an era where streaming service originals can be quickly forgotten after they release, Happiest Season has proven to be one of Hulu’s most memorable and rewatched originals to date.
8
‘Arthur Christmas’ (2011)
One of the few films from Aardman Animation that didn’t stick to their trademark claymation style, Arthur Christmas is still brimming with the studio’s signature style of wit and charm with its modern take on a Christmas adventure. The underrated Christmas movie follows the titular Arthur (James McAvoy), the misfit son of Santa, who finds himself on an unauthorized rookie mission to deliver the last present halfway across the globe before dawn on Christmas morning.
Arthur Christmas has a wildly inventive modern take on the operation and cycle of the North Pole and Santa, not only seeing it as a long-lasting lineage and family, but also seeing how modern technology has streamlined the Christmas process. However, despite these changes, the importance and weight placed behind the magic of gift-giving and family is at the core of its story, bolstered by a limitless supply of charm and quirks.
7
‘Bad Santa’ (2003)
While the vast majority of Christmas films attempt to tap into a sense of merriment and jolly towards the holiday season, Bad Santa acts as the brash, raunchy alternative to those who are tired of all the feel-good energy. It follows a never-better Billy Bob Thornton as Willie T. Soke, a professional thief who, with his dwarf assistant Marcus Skidmore (Tony Cox), has enacted a scheme to steal from various shopping malls on Christmas Eve after getting a job as a department store Santa. However, their latest plans of thievery and debauchery end up facing various hurdles that hold them back.
Bad Santa‘s distinct style of raunchy, chaotic humor, emblematic of the wider comedy culture in the 2000s as a whole, has largely helped it stand out among the wide array of other Christmas comedies. It helps that, while certainly not family-friendly in its storytelling, the film is much more than its raunchiest jokes, thanks to a compelling central character and stakes that further elevate it beyond simply being a raunchy comedy.
6
‘The Holiday’ (2006)
One of many widely celebrated Christmas rom-coms of the 21st century, The Holiday blends two equally engaging and heartfelt romance stories of unexpected connection between cultures amidst the Christmas season. While both stories share a fair bit of similarities and connections to one another, they also stand out from one another greatly in terms of the hurdles and progression of their relationship into impassioned love. All four of the main stars provide exceptional performances that further elevate the romantic allure and feel-good energy.
While The Holiday was certainly successful when it was first released, the film has grown more and more into a defining classic and one of the most rewatched Christmas rom-coms of the modern era. Even outside of Christmas movies specifically, The Holiday stands tall as one of the best rom-coms of the 2000s and a timeless exploration of how the holiday season and relaxation can provide the best love possible.
5
‘Elf’ (2003)
One of the funniest and most frequently rewatched original Christmas comedies of all time, the joy and over-the-top absurdity of Elf have made it a classic for many households over the years. Its wild sense of charm and goofiness, combined with a career-defining comedic performance by Will Ferrell, has helped it stand the test of time as one of the most approachable and widely celebrated Christmas comedies of the 21st century.
There’s simply so much fun and potential in the premise of an innocent man raised by Christmas elves who finds himself in modern-day Manhattan and is expected to operate in the harsh difficulties of reality. While Ferrell gets most praise for embodying such an overwhelmingly happy and cheerful character, James Caan similarly gets a lot of comedic mileage out of playing the grumpiest, most over-the-top sour business executive imaginable. Whether it’s being rewatched for the holiday season or simply enjoyed any other time of year, Elf stands as one of the 2000s’ best comedies.
4
‘The Holdovers’ (2023)
While much more recent compared to the many other Christmas films on this list, the undeniable charm and feel-good energy in The Holdovers have made it an instant holiday classic of the 2020s. It harkens back to a classic era of filmmaking as a whole, focusing more on the chemistry of its characters and well-written dialogue to elevate the comedy and emotional impact. From Paul Giamatti‘s exceptional lead performance to the top-notch production and setting of the film, The Holdovers does a great job of providing a cozy Christmas experience.
It tells a great story of unexpected friendship and companionship, as their time together and the alluring nature of Christmas manage to make each of these characters’ lives better, despite the pain they face in their personal lives. Even with the film’s relatively recent release, it has quickly surmounted a legacy as one of the most acclaimed and widely celebrated Christmas films of recent memory, not to mention a future gem of Christmas rewatching.
3
‘Love Actually’ (2003)
Easily standing as the most acclaimed and recognizable Christmas rom-com of the 21st century, Love Actually and its multitude of quaint, miniature stories of love have made it a holiday classic ever since its release. Richard Curtis‘ distinct filmmaking style makes maximum use of the Christmas season to tell a dynamic and endlessly rewatchable story of love and connection, filled to the brim with memorable moments, entertaining characters, and overwhelming charm.
Love Actually never loses its emotional impact or strength, no matter how many times it is seen, leading to its unrelenting status as one of the most rewatched and celebrated films of the holiday season. Its messages of love and varying relationship difficulties feel timeless in their execution, as nearly every audience member can see parts of themself in at least one of the many intricately written characters. While its stature and legacy can be overwhelming at times, the film’s quality and strengths are simply undeniable.
2
‘Carol’ (2015)
While not as widely accessible and crowd-pleasing as films like Elf and Love Actually, Carol‘s mature and grounded story of forbidden holiday love is one of the most striking and beautiful Christmas films ever made. Adapted from the classic romance novel, “The Price of Salt,” it follows the rise and difficulties surrounding a forbidden affair between aspiring photographer Therese Belivet (Rooney Mara) and older woman Carol Aird (Cate Blanchett).
There is an overwhelming, enduring passion felt throughout Carol, with the quiet and overwhelming yearning of its characters complementing the holiday backdrop and energy perfectly. Despite all the pain and hurdles that face this duo, from the limitations of the 1950s to Carol’s ongoing divorce, the connection they share and the beauty of the holiday season make their love as palpable and effective as a dramatic romance can get. Carol is so brilliant and expertly crafted that it has even been considered one of the greatest Christmas films of all time by the arthouse crowd.
1
‘Klaus’ (2019)
Stories about the creation and early beginnings of Christmas as a holiday and Santa Claus himself are far from original when it comes to family Christmas films, yet Klaus‘s strikingly beautiful animation and effective writing make it a genuine feat of filmmaking and storytelling. While a lot of the focus and praise go towards its breathtaking stylized animation, the witty writing and expressive characters give it a lot of charm, amplifying the staying power and impact of its filmmaking.
The film has a deep respect and understanding towards Christmas, showing that the true importance and beauty of the holiday season is its ability to bring together people from all walks of life to celebrate and be kind to one another. Its great sense of humor, top-notch vocal performances, and the overall timeless approach to its story have easily made it the go-to animated Christmas film of the 21st century and one of Netflix’s best original films to date.
Klaus
- Release Date
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November 8, 2019
