But in the age of streaming, we can expect to watch a new Christmas movie for the entire month of December, a majority of which revolve around a small-town boy and a big-city girl who fall in love at a perfectly curated Christmas tree farm.
For some viewers, this endless glut of meet-cutes and mistletoe is fine as background noise for wrapping presents or baking cookies. But if you’re craving smarter, deeper Christmas fare — without sacrificing the holiday spirit — here are five films that prove not all holiday movies are cut from the same Hallmark cloth.
1. The Holdovers
Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers isn’t your typical holiday film, and that’s precisely why it works. Set during Christmas break at a New England prep school in the 1970s, the film follows the curmudgeonly Paul Hunham (played masterfully by Paul Giamatti), a history teacher stuck babysitting a handful of students who couldn’t go home for the holidays. Among them is Angus, a smart but troubled teenager whose grief over his father’s death casts a long shadow.
What unfolds is a dryly funny, deeply touching story about connection, redemption and the ghosts we carry. The Holdovers leans on its sharp script and poignant performances to explore how unlikely bonds can offer hope in life’s loneliest seasons. It’s a Christmas movie that reminds us that sometimes, finding your way home has nothing to do with geography.
2. The Family Stone
Judging by the poster, it’d be easy to lump The Family Stone in with Love Actually: both feature ensemble casts of big-name stars in plots culminating on December 25. But while Love Actually dials up the schmaltz to distract from its implausible plotlines, The Family Stone hits a raw nerve. It starts as a romantic comedy about bringing a new partner home for Christmas and shifts into an unflinching exploration of grief and loss during the “happiest” time of the year.
By your mid-twenties, everyone knows the sting of an empty chair at the holiday table. The Family Stone endures not just as a reminder of life’s fragility but also as a balm for the grief that accompanies it.
3. The Nightmare Before Christmas
Here’s a plot twist: The Nightmare Before Christmas wasn’t directed by Tim Burton. While his name looms large over the movie, it was actually Caroline Thompson who wrote the screenplay, with Henry Selick calling the shots as director.
Whoever deserves the credit, this claymation marvel has aged spectacularly. Its aesthetic remains iconic, but its themes of cultural appreciation have gained even more relevance. Jack Skellington’s attempt to take over Christmas is well-intentioned but misguided. Only when he learns to truly listen—to Christmastown, to his love Sally, and to his own community—does Jack begin to understand the spirit of the season.
4. The Last Holiday
The “I’m dying, so let’s live!” trope isn’t exactly groundbreaking, but The Last Holiday puts a fresh spin on it with Queen Latifah in the lead. As Georgia Byrd, a shy department-store employee who learns she has just three weeks to live, Latifah delivers a masterclass in heart and humor.
Georgia’s “Book of Possibilities” (yes, it’s as cheesy as it sounds) drives her to chase long-held dreams, but the movie’s real weight comes from her impact on others. Christmas is the season of goodwill, and Georgia’s selflessness lingers longer than her bucket-list adventures.
5. It’s a Wonderful Life
Sure, it’s the quintessential Christmas movie—but it’s also so much more. Every time you stumble across this 1946 classic, take the time to watch it with fresh eyes. On the surface, it’s about George Bailey, the Boy Scout of Bedford Falls, who learns the value of staying put in his hometown. Sounds like something Lifetime could churn out, right?
But James Stewart’s raw, haunted performance takes this film to another level. George’s heartbreak over unfulfilled dreams feels crushingly real. Yes, Clarence the Angel swoops in, and the townsfolk rally to save the day, but the movie doesn’t sugarcoat the cost of George’s sacrifices. For those wrestling with shattered ambitions, Wonderful Life reminds us that God’s love is present even when our plans don’t pan out.
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