Skip to main content

The best Christmas movies on Hulu right now (December 2023)

Thanksgiving is barely in the rearview mirror, but that means that Christmas movies are out in force on Hulu. So let the Huludays shine with all of the Christmas glee that you can take.

The biggest upside that Hulu has for people who love Christmas is that its holiday films aren’t limited to Lifetime and Hallmark rejects. Many of the best Christmas movies on Hulu are among the best that Hollywood itself has ever made for the holiday season. So curl up with your loved ones and ring in the holidays with these fine films.

We’ve also put together guides to the best Christmas movies on Netflix and the best Christmas movies on Amazon Prime. After all, Hulu’s holiday selection is only so big.

Elf (2003) new

Elf
64 %
7.1/10
pg 97m
Genre Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Stars Will Ferrell, James Caan, Bob Newhart
Directed by Jon Favreau

Jon Favreau’s Elf is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and it remains a Christmas film like no other. Will Ferrell stars as Buddy, a human who was raised among elves at the North Pole after a mishap decades earlier The problem with Buddy is that he’s too much of a human to comfortably live among the elves, and too much of an elf for humans.

Buddy’s biological father, Walter Hobbs (James Caan), has no idea that he has a son. But when Santa (Ed Asner) tells Buddy that he could potentially redeem Walter from the Naughty List, Buddy travels to New York to meet the family that he never had. Buddy also leaves chaos in his wake because of his eccentric persona, which alienates Walter and may keep him from reconciling with his son.

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) new

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
49 %
7.5/10
pg-13 97m
Genre Comedy
Stars Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Juliette Lewis
Directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik

The Griswolds are back in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, but you may not recognize the kids, Rusty (Johnny Galecki) and Audrey (Juliette Lewis), as they were recast for this film. Nevertheless, the early Vacation movies were all about Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) and his wife, Ellen (Violent Night‘s Beverly D’Angelo).

Clark’s heart is in the right place as he tries to make Christmas a special occasion for the family. However, Clark’s finances are squeezed by his miserly boss, Frank Shirley (Brian Doyle-Murray), and he’s also stressed out by the unexpected arrival of Ellen’s cousin-in-law, Eddie Johnson (Randy Quaid) and his wife and kids. Clark tries to put a happy face on everything, but even he can only take so much before he snaps.

Miracle on 34th Street (1994) new

Miracle on 34th Street
6.6/10
pg 114m
Genre Fantasy, Drama, Family
Stars Mara Wilson, Richard Attenborough, Dylan McDermott
Directed by Les Mayfield

The original Miracle on 34th Street is also on Hulu this holiday season, but the 1994 remake is charming in its own ways. Richard Attenborough stars as Kris Kringle, a man who berates a drunken Cole Department Store Santa shortly before that man disgraces himself in public. Dorey Walker (Elizabeth Perkins) hires Kris to replace the bad Santa, and he does a phenomenal job. The problem is that Kris seems to really believe that he is Santa.

Dorey becomes further disturbed when her daughter, Susan (Mara Wilson), also comes to believe that Kris is Santa. When a rival store gets Kris arrested, Dorey’s boyfriend, Bryan Bedford (Dylan McDermott), is forced to argue in court that Kris really is Santa.

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) new

The Muppet Christmas Carol
64 %
7.7/10
g 89m
Genre Music, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Drama
Stars Michael Caine, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire
Directed by Brian Henson

If you ever needed a reminder that Michael Caine is an actor’s actor, then watch The Muppet Christmas Carol. Caine gives an excellent performance in this movie as he plays Ebenezer Scrooge absolutely straight. Most of Caine’s co-stars may be famous Muppets, but Caine himself never breaks character as Scrooge or winks to the audience. Caine’s absolute commitment to the role elevates everything else about the movie.

The script is actually pretty close to the original story by Charles Dickens. On Christmas Eve, the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future visit Scrooge and warn him to change his ways before it’s too late.

Christmas on the Farm (2021)

Christmas on the Farm
5.1/10
pg 85m
Genre Romance, Comedy
Stars Poppy Montgomery, Hugh Sheridan, Darren McMullen
Directed by Christopher Weekes
New York socialite Emmy Jones (Poppy Montgomery) is on the verge of her big break. Her book about life on an Australian farm has incredible hype. So much so that her publisher, Jeanette (Ellison London), wants to see the farm firsthand during the Christmas season. Bringing her son, Jack (Darren McMullen), along for the ride, they’re eager to get a taste of the rustic, simple life Emmy described. The only problem is, it’s not really Emmy’s life, and she has to pretend like it is through a wild weekend on her deceased mother’s farm.

A Merry Friggin' Christmas (2014)

A Merry Friggin' Christmas
28 %
5.1/10
pg-13 88m
Genre Comedy
Stars Joel McHale, Robin Williams, Lauren Graham
Directed by Tristram Shapeero
When they’re forced to spend Christmas with his parents, Boyd Mitchler (Joel McHale) and his wife Luann (Lauren Graham) commit the venial sin of leaving their son’s gifts at home. So, Boyd, his eccentric father Mitch (Robin Williams), and brother Nelson (Clark Duke) set out to retrieve the gifts before sunrise.

Holly's Holiday (2012)

Holly's Holiday
pg-13 90m
Genre Comedy, Romance, Fantasy, TV Movie
Stars Claire Coffee, Jeff Ward, Ryan McPartlin
Directed by Jim Fall
Holly Maddux (Claire Coffee) seems to always settle for less, at least when it comes to choosing a partner. She’s got the job, the great home, and all the other amenities of the executive lifestyle, but love still escapes her. That is until the day she fell and hit her head outside the store with the hunky mannequin. When Holly awakes, a handsome gent (Ryan McPartlin) is there to sweep her off her feet. He’s perfect in every way, but as the two get to know each other, Holly learns that her new lover may be too perfect, forcing Holly to choose between picture-perfect days and a more grounded lifestyle.

Angels in the Snow (2015)

Angels in the Snow
5.5/10
pg 90m
Genre Drama, Family, TV Movie
Stars Kristy Swanson, Chris Potter, Carolyn Adair
Directed by George Erschbamer
The Montgomerys have never been known for their normalcy. A haywire family to say the least, the clan retreats to their holiday cabin in the days leading up to Christmas. Once a fierce blizzard strikes, there’s no chance of anyone leaving the remote domicile, but that doesn’t mean new guests won’t be arriving. Stranded and in need of shelter, the lovable Tucker family arrives. After the Montgomerys let them in, the family is beholden to the Tuckers’ loving dispositions, reminding everyone that, sure, we all have our idiosyncrasies, but Christmas is all about love and forgiveness.

A Nasty Piece of Work (2019)

A Nasty Piece of Work
6.7/10
90m
Genre Horror, Thriller, TV Movie
Stars Julian Sands, Dustin Milligan, Angela Sarafyan
Directed by Charles Hood
Part of Hulu’s “Into the Dark” TV movie series, A Nasty Piece of Work is a fun little Christmas thriller. When a midlevel corporate worker finds out he’s not getting his Christmas bonus, his boss gives him a chance to earn a promotion instead. But only if he can destroy his professional rival in a battle of wits and violence.

Happiest Season (2020)

Happiest Season
69 %
6.6/10
pg-13 102m
Genre Romance, Comedy
Stars Kristen Stewart, Mackenzie Davis, Alison Brie, Dan Levy, Aubrey Plaza
Directed by Clea DuVall
This holiday season Hulu’s serving up an original Christmas movie that’s funny, star-studded, and featuring a lot of the kinds of characters you don’t often find in holiday fare. Kristen Stewart stars as Abby, who’s so devoted to her girlfriend Harper (Mackenzie Davis) that she’s ready to pop the question. But on the way to Harper’s family home for Christmas, Harper drops a bomb — she hasn’t come out to her conservative family yet, meaning Abby’s going to have to play at being something she’s not. At the same time she bends over backward to hide the truth from Harper’s family, Abby has to struggle with her growing doubts about Harper. With a top-notch comedic cast including Dan Levy (Schitt’s Creek) as Abby’s best friend, Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation) as Harper’s no-nonsense ex-girlfriend, and Alison Brie (Community) as Harper’s older sister, Happiest Season is a perfect holiday rom-com sure to keep you laughing and crying in all the right places.
Happiest Season - Trailer (Official) • A Hulu Original

A Christmas Carol (2019)

A Christmas Carol
7.2/10
r 173m
Genre Drama, Fantasy
Stars Guy Pearce, Andy Serkis, Stephen Graham, Tom Hardy
Directed by Nick Murphy
In this FX take on the Charles Dickens holiday classic, Guy Pearce stars as the iconic Ebenezer Scrooge. For Scrooge, Christmas Eve is just another business day for the miserly tycoon. Retiring to his abode, the foul man gets the fright of his life when three benevolent spirits carry him through a nightlong odyssey, transporting Scrooge in and out of time and space to better understand himself, Christmas, and the meaning of life.
FX’s A Christmas Carol | Official Trailer [HD] | FX

12 Pups of Christmas (2019)

12 Pups of Christmas
4.3/10
90m
Genre Romance, TV Movie
Stars Charlotte Sullivan, Donny Boaz, Elizabeth Small
Directed by Michael Feifer
Martin (Donny Boaz) is having a tough time keeping his business afloat. Specializing in dog GPS locators, he and his new hire, Erin (Charlotte Sullivan), are tasked with finding homes for 12 puppies that were abandoned after a photo shoot. As Martin and Erin band together under pressure, the coworkers begin to discover a blooming love for one another — just in time for the holidays.
12 Pups of Christmas - Official Trailer - MarVista Entertainment

Christmas Crush (2019)

Christmas Crush
4.6/10
87m
Genre Romance, Comedy, TV Movie
Stars Cindy Sampson, Robin Dunne, Chris Violette
Directed by Marita Grabiak
Addie (Cindy Sampson) is all about the holidays, so much so that she concocts a plan to send off a magical Christmas wish to the Kringle powers that be. Her wish: Get her neighbor Sam (Robin Dunne) to fall in love with her. Unfortunately for Addie, her dream backfire, and her other neighbor, Pete (Chris Violette), starts falling for her instead. Recruiting Sam, it’s up to Addie and her crush to fend off Pete’s over-the-top romantic gestures.
Christmas Crush - Official Trailer - MarVista Entertainment

Dear Santa (2020)

Dear Santa
72 %
6.5/10
82m
Genre Documentary
Stars Damion DiGrazia, Orlando Mendez, Andrew Wallace
Directed by Dana Nachman, Chelsea Matter
Dana Nachman’s beautiful Dear Santa is a heartfelt documentary that focuses on the “Operation Santa” created by the United States Postal Service. Focusing on both larger metropolitan operations and small-town branches, the film shows the efforts the post office goes to when letters to Santa come streaming in. A perfect holiday film that will leave you in tears, Dear Santa is a pleasant reminder that true heart and soul can be found all over the world.
Dear Santa - Official Trailer I HD I IFC Films

Editors' Recommendations

Movie images and data from:
Blair Marnell
Blair Marnell has been an entertainment journalist for over 15 years. His bylines have appeared in Wizard Magazine, Geek…
The best mysteries on Netflix right now
Kirsten Dunst and Ryan Gosling in All Good Things.

What's the difference between a thriller and a mystery? Besides the fact that Netflix seems to have twice as many of the former compared to the latter, mysteries tend to focus on detectives or even ordinary people who are attempting to unravel a crime or discover something that is hidden from them. Readers and viewers are often invited to follow the clues with the main characters and attempt to solve the mysteries before they do. Thrillers are stories with suspense, twists, anxiety, and action, which means they often go hand-in-hand with mysteries. But thrillers is the broader genre, which may be why it's more popular than mysteries on Netflix.

Regardless, Netflix does have a very good lineup of mystery movies. This month's additions include Barbie's Ryan Gosling in a true crime story, a modern film noir with Denzel Washington, and a more recent flick starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan. You can find all three and more below in our roundup of the best mysteries on Netflix.

Read more
The best kids movies on Netflix right now
A girl shuts up another one in Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken.

You can't always keep the kids occupied yourself, so when you're out of options, you need to know the best kids' movies on Netflix right now. The collection is pretty extensive, with beloved classics, fun originals, and some choose-your-own-adventure stories that are unique to Netflix.

You want to make sure that your kids are watching something age-appropriate, which is why we curate this list every month. This March, two new animated movies join the library.

Read more
Hulu with Live TV Free Trial: Everything you need to know
Hulu on Roku.

As great as online streaming platforms are, some people miss the cable and live TV days -- not necessarily because of the prices or confusion, but the option to catch whatever is on at a given time. It can be frustrating trying to find a decent movie or show to watch or even make a selection with so much available these days. If that sounds like you, that's where the best live TV streaming services come in. In fact, Hulu has its own live TV streaming service in its Hulu with Live TV package, which is one of the largest streaming platforms by subscriber count (more than 4 million, in case you were wondering). It's a more comprehensive streaming service than basic Hulu, though, so it's naturally a bit pricier. The higher price may warrant a testing period. It's always good to give something a try before spending your hard-earned money, which leaves you wondering: Is there a Hulu with Live TV free trial available? Here's what you need to know.
Is there a Hulu with Live TV free trial?

Just as there is no Disney Plus free trial, there is also no Hulu with Live TV free trial at the moment. That said, there is a Hulu free trial for the basic ad-supported service if you want to give that a try to see if Hulu's non-live catalog of shows and movies is worth it. You get to try Hulu for 30 days, too, which is ample time to explore the catalog and then decide if you want to upgrade to the full Hulu with Live TV package to get those television channels that basic Hulu is missing. Other than that, though, you'll have to pony up the cash if you want to sign up for Hulu with Live TV -- but that doesn't mean you have to pay full price.

Read more