Festive season is here.

With all the end-of-year activities and gatherings happening at once, it is easy to get caught up in the planning and feel the festive spirit slip through your fingers. Before long, it’s the new year. Well, fret not, we have curated a list of Christmas movies for December 2024 that will transport you into a reality where knitted jumpers and chiming bells are here to stay. From heartwarming and melancholic to humorous and witty, you are certain to find one that will tickle your fancy.

Your guide to the best Christmas movies to watch throughout December 2024:

The Holdovers (2023)

Directed by Alexander Payne, The Holdovers follows the formation of an unlikely bond between Angus Tully and Paul Hunham. The former, a smart but rebellious and bitter student, who is forced to spend the holidays at school over winter break with the latter, an unfortunate teacher who has to babysit. The pair are accompanied by the cafeteria manager, Mary Lamb of Barton Academy, who is mourning the loss of her son in the Vietnam War. Although a recent release, marking the acting debut of Dominic Sessa and comeback of Paul Giambatti, the essence of the film, which is set during ’70s, evokes nostalgia and warmth. A comfort film for sure.

Watch here on Prime

It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)

On Christmas Eve, protagonist George Bailey finds himself in despair and standing on the edge of a bridge after his uncle misplaces a whopping amount of bank funds for the family business. Suddenly, an angel appears to show George highlights from his life and a reminder of its value. Produced and directed by Frank Capra, this film is a testament to timeless cinema with its moving and compelling narrative. You might want to grab a box of tissues for this one.

Love Actually (2003)

In this ultimate romantic comedy, the star-studded cast comprising Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Martin Freeman and Kiera Knightly — to name a few — deliver a delightfully messy performance of portraying love in all forms. Written and directed by Richard Curtis, the movie bounces between the different narratives of each character’s love life over the holiday season. Its light-hearted execution and iconic scenes are what holds its relevance even after 20 years. 

Home Alone (1990)

Is a Christmas movie list really complete without the mention of mischievous eight-year-old Kevin McCallister who takes on two burglars? In a rush to leave for the airport, his family mistakenly leave him behind over Christmas break. A go-to for many, Home Alone starring Macaulay Culkin is one among the numerous of John Hughes’ masterpieces, namely Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club. The successful blend of childlike mischief, familial warmth and festive merriment is what makes this film worth rewatching. If you have yet to see this one, it’s best to tick it off the list before your cinephilia friend finds out. 

Klaus (2019)

If you fancy captivating hand-drawn animations and uplifting character developments, look no further than Sergio Pablos’ latest, which explores the origin story of Santa Claus. Netflix’s first original animated feature traces the story of a selfish and entitled postmaster’s son who is sent to an exiled island called Smeerensburg. There, in a freezing town full of angry neighbours, he encounters a reclusive toymaker named Klaus (voiced by J.K. Simmons), and the two form a friendship that spreads joy throughout the island that needs it.

Watch here on Netflix

Elf (2003)

Light-hearted and hilarious, Elf is a Christmas classic starring Will Ferrell as Buddy — a human raised by elves in the North Pole who later heads to New York City as an adult determined to find his biological father. In search of his true identity and belonging, Buddy attempts to form a relationship with reluctant Walter Hobbs, a children’s book publisher and workaholic. Encapsulating the festive spirit, this Christmas movie is the perfect escapism. 

Watch it on Apple TV

Holiday Inn (1942)

For the old souls and musical-fanatics, this one’s for you. Enter the lives of Jim, Lila and Ted, a performing trio who plan to quit the entertainment business and live on a farm. The epitome of Christmas classic and theatrical, Holiday Inn brings you renowned scores like White Christmas and I’ll Capture Your Heart by the unparalleled Irving Berlin. Bing Crosby, Virginia Dale and Fred Astaire feature as the main cast. 

You’ve Got Mail (1998)

Across the road, they are business rivals; on-screen, usernames Shopgirl and NY152 are ostensibly getting along well. Only a few years after the Internet was introduced, a romance forms between two bookstore owners over an online chatroom. Kathleen Kelly is the owner of an independent children’s bookstore while Joe Fox’s family run a corporate Foxbooks chain store. Demonstrating a classic example of the enemies-to-lovers trope, You’ve Got Mail is directed by Nora Ephron and stars Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks. 

Watch it on Apple TV

Image credit to Focus Features