Chances are, you'll already be scrolling through Amazon a lot this holiday season, so why not make the most of it? As you hunt for the best deals on headphones, air fryers, and other gift-worthy finds for friends and family, treat yourself to some festive flicks streaming on Prime Video.
Though the service is jam-packed with Yuletide classics like It's a Wonderful Life (1946) and The Bishop's Wife (1947), it also serves a good mix of contemporary favorites and unheard-of gems for a marathon as well-rounded as Frosty the Snowman himself.
Here are some top-tier Christmas movies on Amazon Prime Video, ready to deliver comfort and joy straight to your home.
Steven Weber has played some shady characters over the years on shows like iZombie and 13 Reasons Why, so it's fun to watch him get his comeuppance in this TV movie playing a Scrooge-like man who has to live Christmas Eve over and over again until he finally gets it right. -- Marcus Jones
While it doesn't have the iconic soundtrack of its 1996 remake, this classic film makes perfect use of its charming star Cary Grant, who plays a literal angel sent down from heaven to help a bishop (David Niven) fix his life and his marriage. The only problem is that the titular wife (Loretta Young) may be more interested in moving on with the angel than with her mortal spouse. -- M.J.
When most think of Sarah Jessica Parker, they likely picture her as the fashion-forward, (arguably) progressive Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City. However, in The Family Stone, she trades her Manolo Blahniks for sensible shoes as the high-achieving businesswoman Meredith Morton. When Meredith's fiancé (Dermot Mulroney) invites her to his eccentric family's Christmas gathering in New England, her traditionalist nature struggles to mesh with their laid-back, freethinking lifestyle. Despite the many loud arguments and emotional outbursts, it still emits some of the coziest vibes you could wish for. -- James Mercadante
One of Rankin/Bass's classic holiday productions inspired by a beloved Christmas tune, this 25-minute TV special brings to life the titular snowman (voiced by Jackie Vernon), who embarks on a journey to the North Pole to escape the warming weather and avoid turning into a puddle. This upbeat singalong features narrations from Jimmy Durante, one of the original singers of the iconic title song when it was first released. -- J.M.
Barton Academy's curmudgeonly classics professor, Dr. Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti), is stuck supervising holdover Angus Tully (Dominic Sessa) on a vacant campus over Christmas break. As the days go on, Paul, Angus, and the cafeteria cook (Oscar winner Da'Vine Joy Randolph) unexpectedly find comfort in each other's presence. As the story carries a lot of emotional weight, the film's use of a 55mm lens wraps you in the warmth of its vintage aesthetics. -- J.M.
Two lovelorn women (Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet) from opposite sides of the pond trade homes -- one an English cottage, another a Hollywood mansion -- hoping a change of scenery will help them heal. Instead of forgetting their messy love lives, they both stumble upon the storybook-perfect rebounds (Jack Black, Jude Law). With solid performances, snug cottagecore vibes, and a sweet Hallmark-esque charm, this Nancy Meyers rom-com gets a pass for its slightly overstretched runtime. -- J.M.
This classic team-up of Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire follows the pair as musical entertainers in a love triangle with the same woman (Virginia Dale), resulting in them parting ways and Crosby's character creating the titular Holiday Inn. "White Christmas," now a staple of Yuletide playlists, was written for this film. -- Kevin Jacobsen
Anytime is a good time to watch what many consider one of the quintessential classic films, Christmas or otherwise. The Frank Capra-directed tearjerker tells the story of a man (Jimmy Stewart) ready to end his life -- before a higher power intervenes to show him the devastating impact his loss would have on those who love him. The movie will also have you thinking differently about any time you hear jingle bells. -- M.J.
Let this be a lesson not to procrastinate your holiday shopping. Howard Langston (Arnold Schwarzenegger) learns this the hard way when he tries to snag a Turbo-Man action figure -- the season's hottest toy -- for his son (Jake Lloyd) on Christmas Eve. What should be a simple errand spirals into an all-out battle with a fellow desperate dad (Sinbad)...and a couple of gung-ho-ho-ho mall Santas. Jingle All the Way might not be the most sophisticated film, but its over-the-top goofiness and nonstop energy make it the ideal holiday romp. -- J.M.
If you're in need of a good cry this holiday season, Love Actually is waiting for you at your doorstep, cue cards in hand. This classic ensemble rom-com masterfully strings together a gamut of love stories -- from the fairy-tale-esque to the utterly tear-jerking -- all during the cheery buildup to Christmas. With a stacked A-list cast and charm to spare, it's a start-to-finish delight sure to melt even the iciest of hearts. -- J.M.
The queen of Christmas music lent three songs and some narration to this animated film about a young version of herself (voiced by Breanna Yde) going to great lengths to finally be gifted a puppy. When her peers invite her to walk with her dog in a charity fashion show, she accepts without owning a pet. Mariah takes a job dog-sitting for her uncle and ends up falling in love with the raucous pup. -- M.J.
The first film shot in Paramount's then-cutting-edge VistaVision, White Christmas has rightfully earned its candy-cane stripes as one of the best Christmas movies ever, thanks to its glitzy visuals and a cast full of triple threats. The story follows a male song-and-dance duo (Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye) as they link up with two singing sisters (Rosemary Clooney, Vera-Ellen) to stage a snowy Christmas spectacular to keep a struggling Vermont inn from collapsing. -- J.M.