23 Best Christmas Movies on Hulu To Stream This Season

‘Tis the season for holiday cheer and endless Christmas movie marathons! When the weather outside is frightful, there’s nothing more delightful than curling up with a cozy blanket, a mug of hot cocoa, and a festive film to get you into the holiday spirit.

Hulu is serving up a sleigh-full of Christmas movies this season, from heartwarming family tales to laugh-out-loud comedies and perfectly cheesy holiday romances. While the platform’s lineup has its hits and misses, there are plenty of gems worth adding to your watchlist.

Whether you’re in the mood for a nostalgic classic, a quirky original, or a crowd-pleaser the whole family will enjoy, we’ve got you covered. Here’s our curated list of the best Christmas movies on Hulu to stream this season—because the only hard decision you should make is which snack to pair with your spiked eggnog!

Elf (2003)

Director: Jon Favreau
Starring: Will Ferrell, James Caan, Zooey Deschanel, Mary Steenburgen, Ed Asner, Bob Newhart
Watch On: Hulu

Raised as an oversized elf, Buddy travels from the North Pole to New York City to meet his biological father, Walter Hobbs, who doesn’t know he exists and is in desperate need of some Christmas spirit.

The Polar Express (2004)

Director: Robert Zemeckis
Starring: Tom Hanks, Michael Jeter, Nona Gaye, Peter Scolari
Watch On: Hulu

Set on Christmas Eve, it tells the story of a young boy who sees a mysterious train bound for the North Pole stop outside his window and is invited aboard by its conductor. He joins other children as they embark on a journey to visit Santa Claus, who is preparing for Christmas.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

Director: Jeremiah S. Chechik
Starring: Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Randy Quaid, Diane Ladd
Watch On: Hulu

Based on Hughes’s short story, “Christmas ’59”, published in National Lampoon, the film tells the story of Clark Griswold’s efforts to have a good old-fashioned family Christmas as they take a hilarious turn for the worse.

[Related Content: 100 Best Christmas Movies of All Time]

Jingle All the Way (1996)

Director: Brian LevantStars
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sinbad, Phil Hartman
Watch On: Hulu

Howard Langston, a mattress salesman, is constantly busy at his job, and he also constantly disappoints his son, Jamie. After he misses Jamie’s karate exposition, he tries hard to come up with a way to make it up to him. He says that all he wants for Christmas is a Turbo Man action figure. Unfortunately for Howard, it is Christmas Eve, and every store is sold out. Now Howard must travel all over town and compete with everybody else including a mailman named Myron Larabee to find one, and to make it to the Holiday Wintertainment Parade, which will feature Turbo Man.

Nutcrackers (2024)

Director: David Gordon Green
Starring: Ben Stiller, Linda Cardellini, Edi Patterson, Tim Heidecker, Toby Huss
Available on: Hulu

In the most unlikely of places, four siblings find a loving shelter in an unexpected turn of circumstances. This endearing comedy-drama draws inspiration from actual events and deftly crafts a gripping story that unites everyone.

Laugh and cry along to the new Hulu Original Christmas movie, Nutcrackers, streaming now.

Four Christmases (2008)

Director: Seth Gordon
Starring: Vince Vaughn, Reese Witherspoon, Robert Duvall, Jon Favreau, Mary Steenburgen, Dwight Yoakam, Tim McGraw, Kristin Chenoweth, Jon Voight, Sissy Spacek
Watch On: Hulu

Brad and Kate have made something of an art form out of avoiding their families during the holidays, but this year their foolproof plan is about go bust — big time. Stuck at the city airport after all departing flights are canceled, the couple is embarrassed to see their ruse exposed to the world by an overzealous television reporter. Now, Brad and Kate are left with precious little choice other than to swallow their pride and suffer the rounds.

[Related Content: 30 Best Holiday Movies of All Time]

Why Him? (2016)

Director: John Hamburg
Starring: James Franco, Bryan Cranston, Megan Mullally, Zoey Deutch, Cedric the Entertainer, Griffin Gluck, Keegan-Michael Key
Watch On: Hulu

Over the holidays, Ned, an overprotective but loving dad and his family visit his daughter at Stanford, where he meets his biggest nightmare: her well-meaning but socially awkward Silicon Valley millionaire boyfriend, Laird. The rivalry develops,and Ned’s panic level goes through the roof when he finds himself lost in this glamorous high-tech world and learns that Laird is about to pop the question.

Christmas with the Kranks (2004)

Director: Joe Roth
Starring: Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dan Aykroyd, Julie Gonzalo, René Lavan
Watch On: Hulu

When their only daughter Blair leaves the family nest, Luther and Nora Krank decide to book an island cruise to beat the yuletide blues and just skip the holidays. But their decision to boycott tradition has the whole neighborhood in an uproar, and when Blair calls on Christmas Eve to announce a surprise visit with her new fiancée, the Kranks have just twelve hours to perform a miracle and pull themselves and their neighbors together to throw the best celebration ever!

Frosty the Snowman (1969)

Director: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr.
Starring: Billy De Wolfe, Jackie Vernon, Paul Frees, June Foray
Watch On: Hulu

A discarded silk top hat becomes the focus of a struggle between a washed-up stage magician and a group of schoolchildren after it magically brings a snowman to life. Realizing that newly-living Frosty will melt in spring unless he takes refuge in a colder climate, Frosty and a young girl who he befriends stow away on a freight train headed for the north pole. Little do they know that the magician is following them, and he wants his hat back. This animated short is based on the popular Christmas song of the same name.

Jack Frost (1998)

Director: Troy Miller
Starring: Michael Keaton, Kelly Preston, Mark Addy, Joseph Cross
Watch On: Hulu

After losing his dad, Jack, in a tragic car accident, Charlie makes a Christmas wish to bring his father back. With the help of a little Christmas magic and the snowman he built in his front yard, Charlie’s wish comes true in the most incredible way. 

Fred Claus (2007)

Director: David Dobkin
Starring: Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti, Miranda Richardson, John Michael Higgins, Elizabeth Banks, Rachel Weisz, Kathy Bates, Trevor Peacock, Ludacris, Kevin Spacey
Watch On: Hulu

During childhood, Fred Claus suffered his younger brother Nick’s saintliness. Jump ahead: Fred is a fast-talking, genial but self-centered guy in Chicago looking for $50,000 to open an off-track-betting shop. When one scam goes awry, he calls Nick at the North Pole for a loan: Nick will give him the money only if Fred comes up to help a few days with the Christmas rush. After his girlfriend dumps him, Fred heads north. Santa’s facing an audit from an efficiency expert, and it’s not pleasant. Fred’s job is to review charts and determine who’s naughty and who’s nice. Is there any fraternal feeling left, can either learn from the other, and what about Santa getting fired?

The Family Stone (2005)

Director: Thomas Bezucha
Starring: Dermot Mulroney, Sarah Jessica Parker, Claire Danes
Watch On: Hulu

An uptight, liberal businesswoman accompanies her boyfriend to his eccentric and outgoing family’s annual Christmas celebration and finds that she’s a fish out of water in their free-spirited way of life.

A Christmas Carol (1984)

Director: Clive Donner
Starring: George C. Scott, Frank Finlay, David Warner, Susannah York, Edward Woodward, Roger Rees, Liz Smith
Watch On: Hulu

Ebenezer Scrooge is a bitter old man who’s forced to take an introspective look at his past, present, and future when he’s visited by the ghost of his former business partner. This lively adaptation of Charles Dickens’ iconic Christmas story will inspire you to spread kindness and cheer this holiday season. 

Miracle on 34th Street (1994)

Director: Les Mayfield
Starring: Richard Attenborough, Elizabeth Perkins, Dylan McDermott, J. T. Walsh, James Remar, Mara Wilson, and Robert Prosky
Watch On: Hulu

A remake of the 1947 film, Miracle on 34th Street (1994) follows Susan, a little girl who has lost faith in Santa Claus. That’s until she befriends a man named Kris, who claims to be the big man himself — but will Susan believe him?

Both the 1947 and 1994 versions of Miracle on 34th Street are available to stream now on Hulu.

Die Hard (1988)

Director: John McTiernan
Starring: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia, Reginald VelJohnson
Watch On: Hulu

This Bruce Willis movie may have premiered in 1988, but one lingering question still remains all these years later — is Die Hard a Christmas movie? While it’s mostly an action thriller, it does take place at a holiday party on Christmas Eve, which is good enough for us to include it on this list.

Deck The Halls (2006)

Director: John Whitesell
Starring: Danny DeVito, Matthew Broderick, Kristin Davis, Kristin Chenoweth
Watch On: Hulu

Determined to unseat Steve Finch’s reign as the town’s holiday season king, Buddy Hall plasters his house with so many decorative lights that it’ll be visible from space! When their wives bond, and their kids follow suit, the two men only escalate their rivalry – and their decorating.

Almost Christmas (2016)

Director: David E. Talbert
Starring: Kimberly Elise, Danny Glover, John Michael Higgins, Romany Malco, Mo’Nique, J.B. Smoove, Gabrielle Union, David E. Talbert, Donnie Simpson
Watch On: Hulu

Walter Meyer (Danny Glover) is a retired mechanic who lost the love of his life almost a year ago. For the holidays, he invites his now grown children and their families to his house (where they all grew up) for a traditional celebration. Walter soon realizes that if his bickering children and the rest of the family can spend five days together under the same roof, it will truly be a Christmas miracle.

Tangerine (2015)

Director: Sean Baker
Starring: Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Mya Taylor, and James Ransone
Watch On: Hulu

After twenty-eight long days of absence, Sin-Dee is back on the block. It’s Christmastime, and everyone wants to get into the festive spirit; however, Sin-Dee is in for a shock when she accidentally discovers that Chester, the love of her life, has been cheating on her. And to think that poor Sin-Dee has been making plans for the future. To save what’s left of her dignity, heartbroken Sin-Dee embarks on a desperate mission to locate two-timing Chester, and no one can stop her–not even her best friend Alexandra, who vainly tries to be the voice of reason. Now, nothing can stand in the way of justice. After all, who wants to live a lie?

It’s a Wonderful Knife (2023)

Director: Tyler MacIntyre
Starring: Jane Widdop, Jess McLeod, Joel McHale, Katharine Isabelle, William B. Davis, and Justin Long
Watch On: Hulu

Set in idyllic Angel Falls. A year after saving her town from a psychotic killer on Christmas Eve, Winnie Carruthers’ life is less than wonderful – but when she wishes she’d never been born, she finds herself in a nightmare parallel universe and discovers that without her, things could be much, much worse. Now the killer is back, and she must team up with the town misfit to identify the killer and get back to her own reality.

Happiest Season (2020)

Director: Clea DuVall
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Mackenzie Davis, Alison Brie, Aubrey Plaza, Daniel Levy, Mary Holland, Victor Garber, and Mary Steenburgen
Watch On: Hulu

The film follows a young woman who struggles to admit to her conservative parents that she is a lesbian while she and her girlfriend visit them during Christmas. A semi-autobiographical take on DuVall’s experiences with her family, Happiest Season is the first lesbian Christmas rom-com produced by a major Hollywood studio.

[Related Content: 39 Best Christmas Movies for Adults (Where to Stream)]

Last Christmas (2019)

Director: Paul Feig
Starring: Emilia Clarke, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh, Emma Thompson
Watch On: Hulu

This holiday rom-com stars Emilia Clarke as Kate, a cynical young woman working at a Christmas shop in London, who unexpectedly finds herself falling for a mysterious stranger, Tom (Henry Golding). With a soundtrack featuring George Michael’s music, the film balances humor with important life lessons, making it a touching holiday favorite.

Krampus (2015)

Director: Michael Dougherty
Starring: Adam Scott, Toni Collette, David Koechner, Allison Tolman, Conchata Ferrell, Emjay Anthony, Stefania LaVie Owen, Krista Stadler, Lolo Owen, Queenie Samuel, Maverick Flack, Sage Hunefeld
Watch On: Hulu

In the film, a dysfunctional family squabbling causes a young boy (Max) to lose his festive spirit. Doing so unleashes the wrath of Krampus, a fearsome, horned demonic beast in ancient European folklore who punishes naughty children at Christmas time. As Krampus lays siege to the neighborhood, the family must band together to save one another from a monstrous fate.

The Nutcracker (1993)

Director: Emile Ardolino
Starring: Darci Kistler, Damian Woetzel, Kyra Nichols, Bart Robinson Cook, Macaulay Culkin, Jessica Lynn Cohen
Watch On: Hulu

On Christmas Eve, a little girl named Marie (Cohen) falls asleep after a party at her home and dreams herself (or does she?) into a fantastic world where toys become larger than life. Her beloved Nutcracker (Culkin) comes to life and defends her from the Mouse King, then is turned into a Prince after Marie saves his life.

List of Best Christmas Movies on Hulu To Stream This Season:

Here is the list of best Christmas movies on Hulu to stream this holiday season.

• Elf (2003)
• The Polar Express (2004)
• National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
• Jingle All the Way (1996)
• Nutcrackers (2024)
• Four Christmases (2008)
• Why Him? (2016)
• Christmas With the Kranks (2004)
• A Timeless Christmas (2020)
• Frosty the Snowman (1969)
• I’ll Be Home for Christmas (1998)
• Holiday in Handcuffs (2006)
• Fred Claus (2007)
• The Family Stone (2005)
• A Christmas Carol (1984)
• Tangerine (2015)
• Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
• Die Hard (1988)
• Deck The Halls (2006)
• The Nutcracker (1993)
• A Christmas Carol (2019)
• Almost Christmas (2016)
• It’s a Wonderful Knife (2023)
• Christmas on the Farm (2021)
• Happiest Season (2020)
• Last Christmas (2019)
• The Perfect Holiday (2007)
• It’s a Wonderful Binge (2022)
• Same Time, Next Christmas (2019)
• I’m Glad It’s Christmas (2022)
• All I Want for Christmas (2022)
• Santa Games (2022)
• A Merry Christmas Wish (2022)
• The Mistle-Tones (2012)
• Holly’s Holiday (2012)
• The Holiday Fix Up (2021)
• A Nasty Piece of Work (2019)
• 12 Pups of Christmas (2019)
• Christmas Crush (2019)
• Spencer (2021)
• Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town (1970)
• A Christmas Movie Christmas (2019)
• Christmas Belle (2013)
• The Night Before (2015)
• Trolls Holiday in Harmony (2021)
• A Christmas Switch (2018)
• Catering Christmas (2022)
• The Enchanted Christmas Cake (2021)
• Holiday in Santa Fe (2021)
• The Little Drummer Boy (1968)
• A Unicorn for Christmas (2022)