A Definitive Ranking of the Best Christmas Movies on Disney+
Cozy up with these festive holiday movies streaming on Disney+.
There’s nothing that puts you in the holiday spirit quite like a night in curled up on the couch with a mug of hot chocolate, some Christmas cookies, and your favorite holiday movie on the TV. However, while Disney has some fantastic holiday episodes from its Disney Channel shows, it’s always been somewhat lacking in the Christmas movie department. That’s why it’s a good thing Disney owns so many other media companies with great holiday libraries. Between acquiring 20th Century and ABC — who owns Freeform, the home of the 25 Days of Christmas — Disney’s small holiday collection has grown to include some fan-favorite movies. So, next time you’re queuing up your movie selection, take a look at the best Christmas movies available to stream on Disney+ ranked in our favorite order.
8. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
I think any Home Alone fan can agree that there will never be anything as good as the OG and the sequels are not really even worth watching. And, any subsequent film without Macaulay Culkin isn’t even worth mentioning.
7. The Nightmare Before Christmas
The problem with The Nightmare Before Christmas is that it doesn’t know if it wants to be a Halloween movie or a Christmas movie. It can’t really be both, so in our case, it’s neither. While it has some musical bangers (looking at you “What’s This?”) and is a Tim Burton classic, it is never a movie I look to for the holidays. Truthfully, if I’m going to watch an animated Christmas movie, it would always be the old school The Year Without a Santa Claus or Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town for the nostalgia.
6. A Christmas Carol
It’s an iconic Christmas story — and Jim Carey is an iconic Christmas character, albeit for the Grinch. However, if you want to put me to sleep watching a Christmas movie, put on A Christmas Carol. The story is truly so overdone, just give me the “A Christmas Cruella” episode of 101 Dalmatians: The Series and I’ll be happy.
5. The Muppet Christmas Carol
Maybe I have something against the Charles Dickens story, but The Muppet Christmas Carol barely beats out the regular animated version. The songs are what sets this one apart — and likely its only saving grace. However, because The Muppet Christmas Carol wasn’t a movie that I watched as a kid, I don’t have the same nostalgia as some people, and that’s why it’s nearing the middle of my list.
4. The Santa Clause 2
The Santa Clause 2 is not a bad film by any means, but the problem lies in the fact that it’s the least memorable. Everyone can remember the OG Santa Clause and no one will ever forget the hate they felt for Martin Short as Jack Frost in The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause. But, between those other two films, Scott just having to get married doesn’t seem like that big of a deal. But, the hijinx along the way —and creepy robot Santa — are the consolation prize.
3. The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
As just mentioned, there’s nothing quite like the deep, visceral hatred we all had toward Jack Frost in The Santa Clause 3. But, that just means Martin Short did his job well — and that’s why The Santa Clause 3 makes the top three. Sure, you should watch The Santa Clause 2 to get to this point, but the third and final film in the franchise also holds up on its own.
2. The Santa Clause
Of course, The Santa Clause will always reign supreme as the best movie of the three-film series. Tim Allen makes the perfect Santa — even if Scott Calvin doesn’t want to be Santa at first — and you can’t really beat the nostalgia of this film. Discovering that Santas come and go is a concept that not many people would have considered — and Disney does a mature, yet light-hearted story very well. I know I rag on Disney for not having many Christmas movies, but it does this Christmas movie really well — so, if we had to have one good franchise from the Mouse, I’m glad it’s this one.
1. Home Alone
Home Alone movies are book-ending my list here, but I think you know why. Home Alone is the quintessential holiday film. The movie is incredibly lovable and still holds up as one of the best holiday movies of all time (not just on Disney+). Plus, who can stop themselves from belting out a “KEVIN!” or doing the iconic after-shave face every now and again? And let’s not forget our favorite holiday burglars, Harry and Marv, it wouldn’t be Christmas without ya filthy animals!