The top 20 best Christmas movies of all time, according to Rotten Tomatoes

We’re now entering what is officially the Most Wonderful Time of the Year... that is to say when you get the chance to lounge on the sofa watching films with an endless supply of wine and chocolate without even a shred of guilt.

No doubt you’ve already rattled through many of your favourites, leaving you a little lost for inspiration as you did down for another festive binge.

But are there some you’ve forgotten about?

Rotten Tomatoes has rustled up a big fat list of the best Christmas movies of all time, and while some may come as no surprise, there might just be a few on the list that have managed to fly under your radar.

20th Century Fox

Among the top 20 are gems including Edward Scissorhands, Arthur Christmas, Die Hard and the 1994 version of Little Women with Winona Ryder, Susan Sarandon and co.

The 10 best ever flicks then start off with It’s a Wonderful Life, Carol, Klaus - an absolute underrated gem, IMO - Little Women (the 2019 film this time) and The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Number five is the 1947 classic Miracle on 34th Street, which is followed by 2015’s Tangerine... a comedy-drama starring Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Mya Taylor and James Ransone, which follows a transgender sex worker who finds out her boyfriend and pimp has sadly been cheating on her. Maybe not one to watch with Grandma.

RKO Radio Pictures

In at number three is this year’s Paul Giamatti offering, The Holdovers, which was released in October to critical acclaim, with the runner-up prize going to The Shop Around the Corner from 1940.

As for the top spot? That goes to MGM’s 1944 classic Meet Me in St Louis, which stars Judy Garland against an early-1900s backdrop as the Smith family navigate their happy St Louis life in the lead-up to the Louisiana Purchase Exposition World’s Fair.

Loew's, Inc.

Rotten Tomatoes' top 20 Christmas films of all time:

20. Edward Scissorhands (1990)

19. A Christmas Story (1983)

18. Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010)

17. Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (2020)

16. Tokyo Godfathers (2003)

15. Arthur Christmas (2011)

14. Little Women (1994)

13. The Apartment (1960)

12. The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022)

11. Die Hard (1988)

10. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

9. Carol (2015)

8. Klaus (2019)

7. Little Women (2019)

6. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

5. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

4. Tangerine (2015)

3. The Holdovers (2023)

2. The Shop Around the Corner (1940)

1. Meet Me in St Louis (1944)

What are your all-time favourite Christmas movies?

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