'Tis the season for Christmas streaming—and, as everyone knows, the real key to successful movie binge-watching requires exactly knowing what's streaming and where. Whether you're a fan of Christmas classics like It's a Wonderful Life, you're yearning to rewatch some of those animated specials you used to watch on TV way back in the day, or you're in the mood for a more modern holiday movie or even a rom-com like The Holiday or A Christmas Prince, you can find something to fill your holiday binging needs on streaming. Your instincts for Christmas movie nights might be to turn to the most obvious streaming service options, but never underestimate the catalogue of movies available on Amazon Prime, a.k.a. that library of streaming movies that comes free with your two-day shipping habit.
If you've already watched all the decent Christmas movies on Netflix and Hulu and you're still looking for more to stream to get you in the holiday spirit, have no fear because the streaming well is not dry yet. We've compiled a list of the best holiday movies streaming for free with your Amazon Prime account right this second.
'It's a Wonderful Life'
Released: 1946
Starring: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, Henry Travers, Beulah Bondi, Ward Bond, Frank Faylen, and Gloria Grahame
The perfect Christmas movie for: Watching with your whole family—grandparents and all—while doing quaint Christmas-y things like baking cookies and making popcorn garlands.
'The Holiday'
Released: 2006
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Jack Black, Eli Wallach, Edward Burns, and Rufus Sewell
The perfect Christmas movie for: Anyone who loves love and rom-coms and wants to integrate that into their Christmas movie night.
'The Snowman'
Released: 1982
Starring: Raymond Briggs
The perfect Christmas movie for: When you want nothing but nostalgia and, like, the oldest of old school vibes.
'Better Watch Out'
Released: 2017
Starring: Olivia DeJonge, Levi Miller, Ed Oxenbould, Aleks Mikic, Dacre Montgomery, Patrick Warburton, and Virginia Madsen
The perfect Christmas movie for: You're prepared to sleep with all of the Christmas lights on. And all of the regular lights, too.
'Christmas, Again'
Released: 2014
Starring: Kentucker Audley and Hannah Gross
The perfect Christmas movie for: Those nights when you want a Christmas movie that admits sometimes the holidays aren't always the happiest of times, but still has a hopeful/happy ending.
'The Bishop's Wife'
Released: 1947
Starring: Cary Grant, Loretta Young, and David Niven
The perfect Christmas movie for: Firm believers that everything (including Christmas) should be celebrated by looking at Cary Grant's perfect face.
'Last Holiday'
Released: 2006
Starring: Queen Latifah, LL Cool J, Timothy Hutton, Gérard Depardieu, Alicia Witt, and Giancarlo Esposito
The perfect Christmas movie for: When you need to watch something that's uplifting and full of heart, but also genuinely hilarious.
'Jack Frost'
Released: 1979
Starring: Buddy Hackett, Robert Morse, Debra Clinger, and Paul Frees
The perfect Christmas movie for: Embracing nostalgia in a big way.
'Anna and the Apocalypse'
Released: 2017
Starring: Ella Hunt, Malcolm Cumming, Sarah Swire, Christopher Leveaux, Marli Siu, Ben Wiggins, Mark Benton, and Paul Kaye
The perfect Christmas movie for: Those cold winter nights when all you need in life is a zombie Christmas musical.
'Christmas with a Prince'
Released: 2018
Starring: Kaitlyn Leeb, Nick Hounslow, Josh Dean, and Melinda Shankar
The perfect Christmas movie for: Fans of rom-coms, royals, and/or delightfully cheesy made-for-TV movies.
'The Christmas Contract'
Released: 2018
Starring: Hilarie Burton, Robert Buckley, Danneel Ackles, and Cheryl Ladd
The perfect Christmas movie for: Lovers of Lifetime movies and convoluted-by-fun rom-com plots.
'My Favorite Season'
Released: 19993
Starring: Catherine Deneuve, Daniel Auteuil, and Marthe Villalonga
The perfect Christmas movie for: You need some French ~drama~ for your Christmas movie night.
'Dear Santa'
Released: 2011
Starring: Amy Acker, David Haydn-Jones, and Emma Duke
The perfect Christmas movie for: When you need some rom-com in your holiday movie lineup.
'The Most Wonderful Time of the Year'
Released: 2008
Starring: Brooke Burns, Henry Winkler, and Warren Christie
The perfect Christmas movie for: When you need a low-key Christmas spirit redemption tale.
'Stick Man'
Released: 2015
Starring: Martin Freeman, Sally Hawkins, Jennifer Saunders, and Rob Brydon
The perfect Christmas movie for: When you want to remember the simpler times of childhood.
'The Christmas Candle'
Released: 2013
Starring: Hans Matheson, Samantha Barks, Lesley Manville, Sylvester McCoy, James Cosmo, Susan Boyle, Barbara Flynn, and John Hannah
The perfect Christmas movie for: When you need to believe in Christmas miracles. Or when you want to see Susan Boyle (yes, of Britain's Got Talent) star in a serious period drama.
'Blizzard'
Released: 2003
Starring: Brenda Blethyn, Christopher Plummer, Kevin Pollak, and Whoopi Goldberg.
The perfect Christmas movie for: When you're in the mood for a family-friendly tale of iceskating and enchanted reindeer—all from the amazing brain of Reading Rainbow host LeVar Burton, no less.
'A Bride for Christmas'
Released: 2012
Starring: Arielle Kebbel, Sage Brocklebank, Peter Benson, Jordana Largy, Chelsey Reist, and Andrew W. Walker
The perfect Christmas movie for: Anyone whoever thought "I wish someone would take How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, raise the stakes of that movie's bet by about a million percent, and then set the whole thing at Christmas time."
WATCH IT
'A Christmas Wish'
Released: 2011
Starring: Kristy Swanson, Edward Herrmann, K.C. Clyde, Aline Andrade, and Danielle C. Ryan
The perfect Christmas movie for: People with a tolerance for the main characters' lives becoming the ACTUAL worst before things turn around for the inevitable happy ending. Seriously, the leading lady of this movie is left by her husband—who takes all of their money with him—days before Christmas, leaving her homeless and basically destitute with her two daughters and stepson to care for. OOF.
'The Christmas Toy'
Released: 1986
Starring: Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Kathryn Mullen, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Camille Bonora, and Steve Nallon
The perfect Christmas movie: For fans of Jim Henson and the Muppets.
'Christmas in the Heartland'
Released: 2017
Starring: Sierra McCormick, Brighton Sharbino, Bo Derek, Shelley Long, and Christian Kane
The perfect Christmas movie for: Anyone who's been craving a teen comedy Christmas take on The Prince and the Pauper. AKA everyone.
'Yes, Virginia'
Released: 2009
Starring: Neil Patrick Harris, Bea Miller, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Kieran Patrick Campbell, Andrew Cherry, Taylor Hay, Nicholas Sireci, Julian Franco, Michael Buscemi, and Alfred Molina
The perfect Christmas movie for: Anyone who still believes (or even just wants to believe) in Santa.
'Christmas for a Dollar'
Released: 2013
Starring: Brian Krause, Nancy Stafford, Danielle C. Ryan, Heather Beers, James Gaisford, and Jacob Buster
The perfect Christmas movie for: When you want a reminder about the true meaning of Christmas and that it really is the thought that counts most when it comes to gifts.
'A Christmas Star'
Released: 2015
Starring: Robert James-Collier, Suranne Jones, Bronagh Waugh, Erin Galway-Kendrick, Pierce Brosnan, Liam Neeson, Julian Fellowes, and Kylie Minogue
The perfect Christmas movie for: When you need to see A-list stars like Liam Neeson and Pierce Brosnan star in a cheesy family Christmas movie about miracles.
'Babes In Toyland'
Released: 1986
Starring: Drew Barrymore, Richard Mulligan, Eileen Brennan, Keanu Reeves, Jill Schoelen, Googy Gress, and Pat Morita
The perfect Christmas movie for: Satisfying your need for '80s nostalgia.
'Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale'
Released: 2010
Starring: Tommi Korpela, Per Christian Ellefsen, Jorma Tommila, Jonathan Hutchings, Onni Tommila, Risto Salmi, Peeter Jakobi, Rauno Juvonen, and Ilmari Järvenpää
The perfect Christmas movie for: Those nights when you want to be a little impressive (it's a foreign film!) but still a little basic (it's a horror movie).
'A Merry Friggin' Christmas'
Released: 2014
Starring: Joel McHale, Lauren Graham, Clark Duke, Oliver Platt, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Tim Heidecker, Candice Bergen, and Robin Williams
The perfect Christmas movie for: Anyone who needs a reminder that their however strange (or kind of, sort of estranged) their family is, they aren't alone.
'Jingle Bell Rocks!'
Released: 2014
Starring: Bill Adler
The perfect Christmas movie for: Anyone who falls in the middle of the Venn diagram of "loves documentaries" and "loves Christmas music."
'Uncle Nick'
Released: 2015
Starring: Brian Posehn, Paget Brewster, Missi Pyle, Scott Adsit, Beau Ballinger, and Melia Renee
The perfect Christmas movie for: People who are totally fine with less-than-appropriate humor.
'All Is Bright'
Released: 2013
Starring: Paul Giamatti, Paul Rudd, Sally Hawkins, and Amy Landecker
The perfect Christmas movie for: Anyone who thinks Christmas movies need a little more indie film dramedy vibes.
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