42 Holiday Movies for When It’s Cold Outside

This movie, based on the humorous anecdotes of writer Jean Shepherd, has been the constant ingredient in TBS Christmas movie marathons for years. Set in the 1940s, the film follows young Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) as he struggles with winter, middle school bullies, endless glasses of Ovaltine, a fuming father with a colorful use of language, an all-suffering mother, and an infamous lamp in the shape of a leg. The only thing keeping him going is the dream of a Red Ryder BB gun, a burning desire that is only slightly dampened by the constant reminder that he might shoot his eye out with it. Fun fact: This family-friendly romp down memory lane was directed by Bob Clark, who also helmed the decidedly grown-up holiday slasher flick Black Christmas.

There's nothing like the holidays to make a love triangle feel even more bleak. In Billy Wilder's film, Jack Lemmon stars as a lonely office worker pining after elevator operator Fran Kubelik (Shirley MacLaine), who happens to be having an affair with his boss (Fred MacMurray). As the melancholy, hard-drinking fairy tale draws to its close on New Year's Eve, Lemmon must choose between his love and his job. If you're looking for a truly great film to watch this holiday, The Apartment is a bona fide, award-winning classic—it scored Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay.

While director Henry Selick claims Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas is a Halloween movie, there's no reason not to watch it at Christmas. After all, even Pumpkin King Jack Skellington knew that comfort and joy could be found in Christmastown and wanted to share the happiness that Sandy Claws brings to little boys and ghouls. Plus, it's always a good time to listen to Danny Elfman's brilliant soundtrack.

Will Ferrell stars as Buddy, an oversize elf who never quite fits in at the North Pole—because he's actually a human. In Jon Favreau's modern Christmas comedy, Buddy heads to New York City to find his biological father and tries to make his way in the regular world. It doesn't go so well, but when Santa is in jeopardy Buddy leads the charge to help him save Christmas. While Ferrell drives the action, while James Caan, Zooey Deschanel, Bob Newhart, Ed Asner, and a pre–Game of Thrones Peter Dinklage all keep the laughs coming in this goofy holiday romp.

If you've been looking for new ways to entertain your book group/coven during the holidays, look no further than Bell, Book, and Candle. The film stars Kim Novak as a modern witch determined to make Manhattan publisher Shep (Jimmy Stewart) fall in love with her (get in line, sister!). While most holiday rom-coms have a 100 percent romance success rate, Novak's spells don't work out exactly as she planned.

Director George Seaton took a page out of Frank Capra's book when creating this charming film about love, faith, truth, and Santa Claus. Maureen O'Hara stars as an over-worked single mother raising her daughter, Susan (Natalie Wood in her breakout role), to be a believer of facts, not fantasies. That all changes when they meet a department store Santa Claus who might just be the real deal. Edmund Gwenn set the bar very high in his role as Kris Kringle, even winning an Oscar for his work. From beginning to end, the film is pure Christmas magic and an enduring reminder of the holiday spirit.

If you've been hitting the eggnog all night and find yourself in the mood for some old-fashioned Christmas schlock, check out this patently ridiculous sci-fi flick that would make Ed Wood proud. The film's ersatz plot involves Jolly Old Saint Nick getting kidnapped by aliens to cheer up the children of Mars, and only Pia Zadora can save him. Luckily the Christmas spirit slowly wins out and the Martians decide to celebrate the holiday themselves.

The Muppet Show reboot aimed at adults may have fizzled quickly, but the Muppet movies are lasting treasures for film lovers of all ages. The Muppet Christmas Carol was the first Muppet film made after creator Jim Henson's death, and that backstory makes the film even more heartwarming. Gonzo the Great (as Charles Dickens) narrates the story of Ebenezer Scrooge (Michael Caine), who is shown the error of his ways by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. Adding to the magic are Kermit and Miss Piggy as Mr. and Mrs. Cratchit, and Statler and Waldorf as Jacob Marley—and another Jacob Marley.

This sharp send-up of film noir tropes stars Robert Downey Jr. as a Christmas "shopping" thief forced to masquerade as an actor, and Val Kilmer as the private detective hired to help him get in character. There are enough twists and complications in this tongue-in-cheek action-comedy to impress hardboiled-detective fans and comedy lovers alike. While the plot is straight out of Raymond Chandler, the movie was written by Shane Black, who wrote that other Christmastime action flick, Lethal Weapon. Plus, if you're looking for some sexy Santa fashion inspo, Michelle Monaghan set the bar extremely high in this film.

Vincente Minnelli's Technicolor musical follows a year in the life of the Smith family of Missouri, as they grapple with love, loss, and the 1904 World's Fair. It is an enticing movie at any time of the year, but earns its holidays stripes with vivid, evocative Christmas scenes, punctuated by Judy Garland's tearjerking, searing rendition of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."

Terry Zwigoff's dark comedy will turn anyone off mall Santas for good. Willie Stokes (Billy Bob Thornton) is a depressed, sex-addicted, alcoholic crook who plays a not-very-jolly Saint Nick, working an angle with his equally crass elf-playing sidekick. Thornton's profanity-laden, drunken exploits are supported by an incredible cast, including John Ritter as the exasperated boss and Bernie Mac as a rightfully suspicious security manager. Lauren Graham stars as a bartender with a thing for Santa Claus, and Brett Kelly plays Thurman Merman, a lonely kid who just might help that bad Santa turn good. The clever, sharp, and occasionally brutal script was written by the team behind Crazy, Stupid, Love (with an uncredited assist from the Coen Brothers) and the long-awaited sequel came out in 2016.