Some people get in the mood for the holidays by decorating a tree, baking cookies, or venturing out to look at houses draped in thousands of string lights. Others just pop on a Christmas movie to get into the spirit. Whether you’re planning a mega holiday movie marathon, wanting to put on an old classic, or trying to mix up your family movie night with something different this year, there’s plenty to choose from. We’ve curated the very best Christmas movies you can stream or rent, from sentimental classics with a twist and cozy romantic comedies to emotional indie dramas and high-speed action thrillers.1. The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)
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Yes, we can all agree that Die Hard is the GOAT Christmas action movie, but don’t you dare sleep on The Long Kiss Goodnight. In Renny Harlin’s action thriller, Geena Davis’ Samantha is a wholesome small-town school teacher and mother who, eight years ago, woke up pregnant on a beach with no memory of who she was. In the present day, Samantha gets into a car accident that changes everything — she begins remembering things and discovers she has elite knife skills. Was she a chef, perhaps? That seems unlikely when a strange man who recognized her at a Christmas parade shows up at her house to attack her. She kills him with ease as if it’s her day job. Turns out, it sure as heck was.
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Davis’ PTA mom soon transforms back into her old badass self, a platinum blonde CIA assassin. This time, she has Samuel L. Jackson’s private eye as her sidekick. With explosions and car chases galore, The Long Kiss Goodnight is everything you’d want from a delightfully bonkers holiday action movie.How to watch: The Long Kiss Goodnight is streaming on Fubo and Paramount+, and available to rent on Apple TV+, Prime Video, and Fandango at Home.2. Home Alone (1990)Watching Macaulay Culkin’s Kevin McCallister line his house with booby traps in Home Alone never gets old. It’s also a great lesson for young kids left at home by their chaotic families in how to prepare for pesky burglars. Anything can be a weapon! Those old paint cans, your brother’s pet tarantula, even a blow torch to burn the top off of a strange man’s head can keep you safe. Home Alone has all the perfect ingredients to make a great, rewatchable Christmas movie with its wacky and playful plot, its charismatic cast, a sentimental message about the importance of family during the holidays, and some of the most quotable lines. Go eat some junk and watch some rubbish this Christmas.How to watch: Home Alone is streaming on Disney+ and available to rent on Apple TV+, Prime Video, and Fandango at Home.3. The Preacher’s Wife (1996)