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- 20. Elf (2003) — A Modern Holiday Comedy Classic on Hulu
- 19. Die Hard (1988) — Action That Became a Holiday Ritual
- 18. A Christmas Story (1983) — Nostalgia and Childlike Longing
- 17. The Preacher’s Wife (1996) — Faith, Family, and a Starry Soundtrack
- 16. Jingle All the Way (1996) — One Dad’s Chaotic Quest for the Perfect Toy
- 15. Tangerine (2015) — A Gritty, Joyful Christmas on the Margins
- 14. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) — Griswold Chaos for the Holidays
- 13. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) — Timeless Small-Town Holiday Drama
- 12. The Family Stone (2005) — Dinner Table Tension and Holiday Truths
- 11. Every Day Is Christmas (2018) — A Modern Dickens-Inspired TV Movie
- 10. Edward Scissorhands (1990) — A Snowy, Melancholic Fairy Tale
- 9. The Santa Clause (1994) — A Quirky Take on Becoming Santa
- 8. The Polar Express (2004) — Motion-Capture Magic for Kids
- 7. Happiest Season (2020) — A Contemporary LGBTQ+ Holiday Romance
- 6. Little Women (2019) — Warm Period Drama with Holiday Heart
- 5. The Mistle-Tones (2012) — Light Musical Fun for Holiday Fans
- 4. Almost Christmas (2016) — Family Grief and Holiday Healing
- 3. Merry Liddle Christmas (2019) — Stylish Lifetime Holiday Comfort
- 2. Home Alone (1990) — Ingenious Booby Traps and Big Heart
- 1. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992) — Bigger City, Bigger Mischief
When the days shorten and lights go up, the urge to press play on a holiday movie grows loud. Below is a curated list of 20 festive films you can stream on Hulu right now, from laugh-out-loud comedies to tender dramas and unexpected takes on Christmas. Read on for picks, quick plot notes, and where to watch each one.
20. Elf (2003) — A Modern Holiday Comedy Classic on Hulu
Will Ferrell plays Buddy, a grown man raised as an elf who leaves the North Pole for New York. His wide-eyed joy collides with cynical city life. Scenes range from sugarplum breakfasts to a snowball fight that stops traffic.
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- Why it sticks: Ferrell’s full-tilt performance turns a simple premise into a feel-good ride.
- Memorable moment: Buddy’s earnest search for family in Manhattan.
How to watch: Elf is streaming on Hulu.
19. Die Hard (1988) — Action That Became a Holiday Ritual
Bruce Willis stars as John McClane, an NYPD cop who fights terrorists at a corporate Christmas party. Tension, dark humor, and a clever villain make this an unlikely seasonal favorite.
How to watch: Die Hard is available to stream on Hulu.
18. A Christmas Story (1983) — Nostalgia and Childlike Longing
Young Ralphie dreams of a terrifyingly coveted BB gun and spends the season scheming for a yes. It’s a warm, oddball portrait of family rituals and holiday obsession.
How to watch: A Christmas Story streams on Hulu.
17. The Preacher’s Wife (1996) — Faith, Family, and a Starry Soundtrack
Denzel Washington arrives as an angel sent to help a struggling pastor. Whitney Houston brings the music and emotional weight in a story about rediscovering love and community.
How to watch: The Preacher’s Wife is on Hulu Live TV.
16. Jingle All the Way (1996) — One Dad’s Chaotic Quest for the Perfect Toy
Arnold Schwarzenegger races across town hunting a sold-out Turbo Man. The film mines slapstick and holiday retail frenzy for laughs and family warmth.
How to watch: Jingle All the Way is streaming on Hulu.
15. Tangerine (2015) — A Gritty, Joyful Christmas on the Margins
Shot on smartphones, this raw comedy-drama follows two trans sex workers in Los Angeles on Christmas Eve. It’s fierce, funny, and full of compassion.
How to watch: Tangerine is available on Hulu.
14. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) — Griswold Chaos for the Holidays
Chevy Chase leads the family into a series of outrageous mishaps while trying to stage the perfect Christmas. The film is madcap and reliably absurd.
How to watch: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation streams on Hulu.
13. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) — Timeless Small-Town Holiday Drama
Jimmy Stewart portrays a man who wonders if his life mattered. An angel shows him the town that would have been without him. The film is heartfelt and evergreen.
How to watch: It’s a Wonderful Life is on Hulu Live TV.
12. The Family Stone (2005) — Dinner Table Tension and Holiday Truths
A holiday visit turns awkward when different personalities clash under one roof. This dramedy balances humor with real emotional hits.
How to watch: The Family Stone is streaming on Hulu.
11. Every Day Is Christmas (2018) — A Modern Dickens-Inspired TV Movie
Toni Braxton plays a hard-nosed finance pro who is visited by ghosts in a contemporary take on redemption. It’s heartfelt, glossy, and full of wardrobe moments.
How to watch: Every Day Is Christmas is available on Hulu.
10. Edward Scissorhands (1990) — A Snowy, Melancholic Fairy Tale
Tim Burton’s fable follows an outsider with scissors for hands learning about love and rejection. Wintry visuals and a haunting score give this film its seasonal resonance.
How to watch: Edward Scissorhands is streaming on Hulu.
9. The Santa Clause (1994) — A Quirky Take on Becoming Santa
Tim Allen becomes the new Santa by accident and faces the absurd logistics of the North Pole contract. The film mixes family comedy with magical consequences.
How to watch: The Santa Clause is on Hulu.
8. The Polar Express (2004) — Motion-Capture Magic for Kids
A boy boards a mysterious train bound for the North Pole. The film aims for wonder and visual spectacle, captured through early motion-capture technology.
- Best for: Children and families craving visual imagination.
How to watch: The Polar Express streams on Hulu.
7. Happiest Season (2020) — A Contemporary LGBTQ+ Holiday Romance
A girlfriend visits her partner’s family while still closeted, and honest moments collide with seasonal expectations. The film mixes laughs with tender truths.
How to watch: Happiest Season is streaming on Hulu.
6. Little Women (2019) — Warm Period Drama with Holiday Heart
Greta Gerwig’s adaptation wraps sisterhood, generosity, and winter scenes into a lush period piece. The film evokes family warmth that fits the season.
How to watch: Little Women is available on Hulu.
5. The Mistle-Tones (2012) — Light Musical Fun for Holiday Fans
Tia Mowry forms a rival Christmas singing group after being snubbed by the mall’s stars. Expect catchy numbers, rom-com beats, and festive rivalries.
How to watch: The Mistle-Tones streams on Hulu.
4. Almost Christmas (2016) — Family Grief and Holiday Healing
A family reunites for their first holiday without their matriarch. Comic disputes and heartfelt reconciliations play out over one chaotic feast.
How to watch: Almost Christmas is streaming on Hulu.
3. Merry Liddle Christmas (2019) — Stylish Lifetime Holiday Comfort
Kelly Rowland hosts a picture-perfect family holiday and finds that perfection comes with compromises. Expect cozy drama and romantic sparks.
How to watch: Merry Liddle Christmas is available on Hulu Live TV.
2. Home Alone (1990) — Ingenious Booby Traps and Big Heart
Macaulay Culkin’s Kevin defends his house from burglars after being accidentally left behind. Slapstick traps, clever set pieces, and a family message keep this a perennial favorite.
How to watch: Home Alone streams on Hulu.
1. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992) — Bigger City, Bigger Mischief
Kevin finds himself alone in New York and faces new foes while forging unlikely friendships. It cranks up the scale with more traps and seasonal charm.
How to watch: Home Alone 2: Lost in New York is streaming on Hulu.
