13 Best Christmas Movies to Stream on Max
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If there's one thing that's guaranteed during the holidays, it's that families will gather around the television and watch movies. What's more uncertain, however, is what movies they'll watch and on what streaming service. It depends on what you're looking for. If you're a cable cutter looking for Hallmark-adjacent movies, Netflix likely has what you're looking for. Want more of a mixed bag? Hulu has you covered. So what does Max (formerly known as HBO Max) have to offer? Surprisingly a lot of solid picks.
Due to its parent company, Warner Bros., which also owns properties like Turner Classic Movies in addition to its theatrical releases, there's a wide range of movies available for Max subscribers to stream, no matter what mood they're in. If you're looking for a classic from Hollywood's Golden age, or a recent family fave, there's more than enough to parse through. There's even a few wildcards in the mix–movies that may not formally count as Christmas movies, but are perfectly valid to watch during the coldest time of the year; we're talking horror and action films that mention the holidays or use them as a backdrop. It may not be as Christmas-themed as expected, but if you're someone who wants gore with a side of eggnog, what's stopping you from pressing play?
So rather than waste your time scrolling endlessly through Max's offerings, take a look at this handy list to keep you and your family entertained throughout the holidays.
Elf (2003)
Will Ferrell's iconic holiday movie follows an abandoned human baby raised as an elf by Santa Claus. When he becomes an adult, he decides to go off and find his real parents, which means entering the real world for the first time. James Caan, Bob Newhart, Zooey Deschanel, Peter Dinklage, Jon Favreau, and others also star in this ridiculously funny film.
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Batman Returns (1992)
Michael Keaton returns in the Tim Burton directed Batman Returns. Michelle Pfeiffer and Danny DeVito make up a star-studded cast for a solid sequel to the successful Batman. Is it a holiday film? It certainly takes place during the holidays. In our opinion, it's the perfect film to shake up your usual seasonal viewing if you're looking for something closer to an action film.
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A Christmas Story (1983)
This '80s Christmas movie is a staple in many households over the holidays. Based on author Jean Shepherd's semi-fictional anecdotes of his childhood, A Christmas Story follows a young boy named Ralphie who's desperate to get a BB gun for Christmas. In addition to his story, smaller vignettes are interspersed throughout the film.
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Jack Frost (1998)
Michael Keaton stars in this family-friendly (but also creepy-looking) holiday film about a man who dies in a car crash, but then is resurrected as a snowman who can spend one last holiday season with his son.
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Gremlins (1984)
This comedy horror follows a young man who receives a strange pet as a gift. That same gremlin then spawns more gremlins, causing mischief and mayhem in the man's life.
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The Polar Express (2004)
Based on a 1985 children's book of the same name, The Polar Express is another annual must-watch for families. The film follows a young boy who learns of a train that takes kids to the North Pole to meet Santa Claus before Christmas.
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The Lodge (2019)
Riley Keough and Alicia Silverstone star in this creepy holiday horror film about a soon-to-be stepmother who's left alone with her fiancé's two kids. While staying at a remote cabin, the trio experience a series of unexplained happenings potentially connected to her past.
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Arthur Christmas (2011)
James McAvoy and Hugh Laurie star in this 2011 animated film about the clumsy son of Santa Claus, Arthur, who discovers his father accidentally forgot to deliver the present of a young girl. Along with an elf and a team of reindeer, Arthur goes on a journey to deliver the lost present.
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Christmas in Connecticut (1945)
Max has a great catalog of classic Hollywood films for anyone who wants to dive deeper into film history for a solid holiday film. Christmas in Connecticut follows an unmarried journalist who lies that she has a rural background and is tasked by her employer to host a war hero for a holiday dinner. But while she plays the role of a homemaker, she ends up falling for the man.
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The Shop Around the Corner (1940)
James Stewart and Margaret Sullivan star in The Shop Around the Corner, which follows two employees in Budapest who can't stand each other, but are actually falling in love through anonymous letters they send to one another. Fans of You've Got Mail will enjoy this one.
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Once Upon a Sesame Street Christmas (2016)
No matter what age you are, you'll always find Sesame Street to be a fun, heartwarming watch. Once Upon a Sesame Street Christmas is the first Christmas special the children's program has aired in a decade. If you've got young kids in your life, you can't go wrong with this special.
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Serendipity (2001)
John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale star in this classic rom-com. While Christmas shopping, a man and woman have a love at first sight encounter, but they both wonder if fate is pulling them closer together or trying to keep them apart.
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