entertainment
You can watch them year-round
By Nakeisha Campbell
•
Updated Nov 5, 2024
Additional reporting by
Alexandra Hough
&
Dana Dickey
Front Street Pictures
’Tis the season to sip on hot cocoa, bake gingerbread cookies, eat Christmas snacks, and stream the best romantic Christmas movies from the comfort of your couch.
As much as I enjoy holiday hosting and Christmas party games, nothing beats curling up with my closest friends or partner to enjoy a star-studded love story. (Yes, even if it’s totally unrealistic.) So, whether you're down to revisit Paige and Dylan's charming romance in the Hallmark movie, A Christmas Detour, enjoy part of the Vivica A. Fox Christmas movie collection or memorize Mark's famous doorstep scene in Love Actually (Alexa, cue "Silent Night"), I've compiled a definitive list of swoon-worthy films to get you in the holiday spirit.
Including Christmas rom-coms, romantic Christmas dramas and romantic family-friendly Christmas movies, this list of the 57 best romantic Christmas movies has months' worth of dependable holiday cheer to stream (or rent) on Netflix, Prime Video and more.
RELATED
The 52 Best Christmas Movies, Ranked
What Is the Most Popular Romantic Christmas Movie, According to IMDb?
This one should come as no surprise. Richard Curtis's Love Actually reigns supreme as the most popular romantic Christmas movie, according to fans on IMDb. Coming in second place is The Holiday, starring Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz, and in third is Thomas Bezucha's comedy, The Family Stone. I heartily co-sign this approval, and the staff of PureWow eagerly shared their reviews of these and other romantic Christmas movies.
Universal Pictures
1. Love Actually (2003)
- Cast: Keira Knightley, Hugh Grant, Alan Rickman, Andrew Lincoln, Laura Linney
- Rating: R
- Director:Richard Curtis
- Run Time:130 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 64% | IMDb 7.6/10
- Genre:Romantic Comedy
Most romantic Christmas movies concentrate on the holiday bits—tradition, family, spirituality, getting the kids their presents—interwoven with one couple's romance. But in Love Actually, my favorite Christmas romance, you get multiple romances, wrapped in Christmas pastry. Nine couples include the British Prime Minister (Hugh Grant at his twinkly-eyed charming best), a broken-down rock star (Bill Nighy embodying the charisma Mick Jagger wishes he had) and Kiera Knightly as a bride who is the object of unrequited love. The 2003 film has problems—a surfeit of the relationships have power imbalances, there’s insensitive fat shaming and everyone’s straight in the movie, but the moments of poignancy that writer-director Richard Curtis weaves into his fast-paced plot lines keep me hooked—when I watch it every year.
Columbia Pictures
2. The Holiday (2006)
- Cast: Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, Jack Black
- Rating: PG-13
- Director:Nancy Meyers
- Run Time:131 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 51% | IMDb 7/10
- Genre:Romantic Comedy
Winslet and Diaz star as Iris and Amanda, two ladies who try to avoid their love problems by agreeing to switch homes during the holiday season. This feel-good festive flick will definitely keep you laughing. It's also inspirational, according to associate SEO editor Marissa Wu. "The holiday is a cutie and makes me want to pick up and get a cottage in the English countryside," she said. "The premise is hilarious, as is each couple's foibles in love. Ngl, the Jack Black/Kate Winslet pairing does work."
TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX
3. The Family Stone (2005)
- Cast: Diane Keaton, Craig T. Nelson, Dermot Mulroney, Sarah Jessica Parker
- Rating: PG-13
- Director:Thomas Bezucha
- Run Time:103 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 52% | IMDb 6.3/10
- Genre:Romantic Comedy
The Family Stone is a winner in my favorite subcategory of Christmas pictures, the romantic Christmas dramedy. The casting-against-type of Sarah Jessica Parker as a stiff and awkward love interest (and soon-to-be-fianceé) who meets her boyfriend’s boisterous New England family at Christmastime, only to be resoundingly mocked by everyone except the mellow California-based brother Luke Wilson, is all compelling. And matriarch Diane Keaton has a sad secret, which ups the stakes—everyone just has to work through their biases! And Rachel Macadams as the mean girl sister? We’ve all met a boyfriend’s sibling that’s been just about this unwelcoming—and her sour vibe is relatable for viewers who are less than starry-eyed about family gatherings in general.
4. Four Christmases (2008)
- Cast: Vince Vaughn, Reese Witherspoon, Robert Duvall
- Rating: PG-13
- Director:Seth Gordon
- Run Time:88 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 25% | IMDb 5.7/10
- Genre:Romantic Comedy
Vaughn and Witherspoon deliver tons of laughs as Brad and Kate, a couple who has to visit all four of their divorced parents for Christmas. "Four Christmases will definitely hit for anyone who has driven themselves crazy trying appease family during the holidays," according to PureWow fashion editorAbby Hepworth. "It really makes you appreciate when you can find someone to share in the madness with, in the most ridiculous way. Plus the cast is amazing—Reese Witherspoon, Vince Vaughn, Kristin Chenoweth, Jon Favreau, Mary Steenburgen, the list goes on and on."
Scott Everett White/Netflix
5. Falling for Christmas (2022)
- Cast: Aimee Garcia, Freddie Prinze Jr., Grace Dumdaw
- Rating: PG
- Director:Janeen Damian
- Run Time:95 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 62% | IMDb 5.2/10
- Genre:Romantic Comedy
Lohan stars as a spoiled heiress who stumbles down a snowy mountain and loses her memory right getting engaged to her boyfriend. In his PureWow review, associate editor Joel Calfee wrote that "if you go intoFallingaware that it's not aiming to win any Oscars, then it functions as a perfectly fun holiday movie that offers a sweet romance and a lovable cast of characters."
PureWow fashion editorAbby Hepworth agrees and said "Falling for Christmasisn't exactly a laugh-out-loud comedy but it knows what it is and isn't afraid to lean into the cheese, plus Lohan and Overstreet are the right level of campy, as is her insane fiance. Highly recommend!"
6. A Christmas Cruise (2017)
- Cast: Vivica A. Fox, Jessica Morris, Kristoff St. John, Nick Viall
- Rating: PG
- Director:David DeCoteau
- Run Time:90 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 38% | IMDb 4.7/10
- Genre:Romantic Comedy
Vivica A. Fox is the Christmas TV movie queen, creating new iterations of her plucky-career-woman-finds-love persona each holiday season for the better part of a decade. This film has her playing an overworked New York City-based journalist who is mildly disappointing her mom by showing up at Christmas dinner solo...but all that might change when she gets a career-advancing opportunity to spend a long weekend as the guest of her best girlfriend on a Christmas cruise leaving Los Angeles. Naturally, Fox meets the cruise director, a handsome Kristoff St. John, who makes her reconsider her workaholic ways.
The plot is creaky, the lighting terrible and the two-scene screen acting debut of Bachelor season 21's Nick Viall is unremarkable, but I thoroughly enjoyed Fox's warmth and her character's chemistry with her bestie. This film gets my vote for being a great romantic Christmas friendship movie.
7. Bad Santa (2003)
- Cast: Billy Bob Thornton, Tony Cox,Lauren Graham, John Ritter, Bernie Mac
- Rating: R
- Director:Terry Zwigoff
- Run Time:93 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 78% | IMDb 7/10
- Genre:Comedy, Drama
I love this irreverent but ultimately touching holiday film that's R-rated fun from offbeat director Terry Zwigoff. It tells the story of two hard-drinking, foul-mouthed con men who impersonate a department store Santa and his elf sidekick in order to rob stores in the run-up 'til Christmas. I've never thought of Santa the same way after seeing Thornton's Kris Kringle and his love interest, bartender Lauren Graham (of Gilmore Girls), in a hot tub. Thornton's Santa hates children, which is a rough characteristic for a department store Santa to have, but he thinks he can tough it out until their big scam is through. Then when an awkward, bullied little boy fixates on Thornton as the real Santa, the con man decides to help a child in need...but grudgingly, fortified by swigs of booze. If you're a person who's less into Prince Charming and more into bad boys, this is the film for you.
8. A Royal Christmas (2014)
- Cast: Lacey Chabert, Stephen Hagan, Jane Seymour
- Rating: G
- Director:Alex Zamm
- Run Time:90 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 41% | IMDb 6.5/10
- Genre:Romance
A fish-out-of-water tale with a royal and Christmassy spin, this movie follows the romantic adventures of humble Philadelphia seamstress Emily Taylor and her nice boyfriend Leo, who reveals himself to be the crown prince of a tiny European nation called Cordinia. Taylor is wowed but then stymied to be welcomed into the castle then snubbed by Queen Isadora, who has more blueblood aspirations for her son's hand in marriage. Butlers! Fancy dress balls! Everything done up for the holidays! This is a grown-up lady's excuse to watch a fairy tale with a glass of wine while wrapping presents.
Marvista Entertainment
9. The Spirit of Christmas (2015)
- Cast: Jen Lilley, Thomas Beaudoin, Kati Salowsky
- Rating: G
- Director:David Jackson
- Run Time:91 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 63% | IMDb 6.5/10
- Genre:Mystery, Romance
In the movie, a young lawyer, Kate, tries to get an old inn appraised and sold. But things get rather complicated when she learns that the ghost of a handsome man, Daniel, has been haunting the bed and breakfast every year around Christmas time.
10. The Last Holiday (2006)
- Cast: Queen Latifah, LL Cool J
- Rating: PG-13
- Director:Wayne Wang
- Run Time:112 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 56% | IMDb 6.6/10
- Genre:Romantic Comedy
Latifah is the shy and soft-spoken Georgia Byrd, who, after learning that she has a terminal illness, decides to make the most out of the time she has left. In the process, she strikes up a romance with her co-worker and longtime crush, Sean Williams.
Running Pony Productions
11. Christmas at Graceland (2018)
- Cast: Kellie Pickler, Wes Brown
- Rating: NR
- Director:Eric Close
- Run Time:85 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 25% | IMDb 5.7/10
- Genre:Romantic Comedy
When Laurel crosses paths with her old flame, a music promoter who’s now spearheading Graceland’s Christmas Show, she revisits her own musical past in hopes of continuing her singing career.
Hallmark Hall of Fame
12. Christmas in Conway (2013)
- Cast: Cheri Oteri, Andy Garcia, Mary-Louise Parker
- Rating: G
- Director:John Kent Harrison
- Run Time:97 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 49% | IMDb 6.7/10
- Genre:Romance, Drama
For Christmas, Duncan wants to give his hospital-bound wife a gift that she’ll never forget, and he comes up with a brilliant idea—a Ferris wheel ride in their own backyard. Andy Garcia plays Duncan, Mary-Louise Parker plays his wife Suzy and Mandy Moore plays her hospice nurse, Natalie.
Will Packer Productions
13. Almost Christmas (2016)
- Cast: Kimberly Elise, Danny Glover, John Michael Higgins
- Rating: PG-13
- Director:David E. Talbert
- Run Time:112 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 49% | IMDb 6.1/10
- Genre:Comedy, Drama
Almost Christmas features a stellar ensemble cast, from Omar Epps and Gabrielle Union to Nicole Ari Parker and Mo’Nique. The movie centers on a dysfunctional family that celebrates their first Christmas together after the family matriarch’s unfortunate passing.
Hallmark Channel
14. The Christmas Ornament (2013)
- Cast: Kellie Martin, Cameron Mathison
- Rating: G
- Director:Mark Jean
- Run Time:83 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 52% | IMDb 6.8/10
- Genre:Romance
Widow Kathy Howard is struggling to move on and enjoy the holidays without her husband at her side. But then she meets the charming Tim Pierce, a Christmas tree lot owner who shows her that there is still hope despite her circumstances.
15. Christmas in the Smokies (2015)
- Cast: Sarah Lancaster, Barry Corbin, Alan Powell
- Rating: G
- Director:Gary Wheeler
- Run Time:85 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 36% | IMDb 5.8/10
- Genre:Romance, Drama
During the holiday season, Shelby Haygood is determined to save her family’s berry farm, going as far as to seek the help of her dreamy country star ex-boyfriend in the process.
Hallmark Channel
16. Journey Back to Christmas (2016)
- Cast: Candace Cameron Bure, Oliver Hudson, Tom Skerritt
- Rating: NR
- Director:Mel Damski
- Run Time:84 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 68% | IMDb 7/10
- Genre:Sci-fi, Romance
Fuller House star Candace Cameron Bure is a nurse from World War II who gets transported to the year 2016. When she meets Jake, she learns the true meaning of Christmas and discovers the importance of family.
17. The Nine Lives of Christmas (2014)
- Cast: Brandon Routh, Kimberley Sustad, Stephanie Bennett
- Rating: G
- Director:Mark Jean
- Run Time:86 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 57% | IMDb 7.2/10
- Genre:Romance, Drama
When Zachary takes in a stray cat, he meets a veterinary student named Marilee, which causes him to have second thoughts about living the rest of his life as a bachelor.
12 Helpful Hands Productions
18. The Trouble With Mistletoe (2017)
- Cast: Rachel Melvin, Thomas Beaudoin
- Rating: PG-13
- Director:Ashely Avis
- Run Time:92 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes (N/A) | IMDb 6.2/10
- Genre:Romantic Comedy
Willa Davis is at a crossroads when she finds herself falling hard for the same guy who stood her up in high school ten years ago.
Front Street Pictures
19. A Christmas Detour (2015)
- Cast: Candace Cameron-Bure, Paul Greene, David Lewis
- Rating: G
- Director:Ron Oliver
- Run Time:85 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 35% | IMDb 6.2/10
- Genre:Romance, Drama
Paige Summerlind is stoked to see her fiancé and future in-laws for the holidays. But when her flight gets detoured, she meets a bitter bartender who has lost all hope in finding love. That quickly changes after they start to bond—and Paige begins to have second thoughts about her upcoming wedding.
MUNDY LANE ENTERTAINMENT
20. The Preacher’s Wife (1996)
- Cast: Whitney Houston, Denzel Washington
- Rating: PG-13
- Director:Penny Marshall
- Run Time:124 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 62% | IMDb 5.7/10
- Genre:Romance
The movie follows a neglected preacher’s wife who gets spiritual guidance from the most charming guardian angel of all time.
Chesler/Perlmutter Productions
21. A Very Merry Mix Up (2013)
- Cast: Alicia Witt, Mark Wiebe
- Rating: G
- Director:Jonathan Wright
- Run Time:87 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 47% | IMDb 6.8/10
- Genre:Romance, Drama
When Alice sets out to meet her future in-laws for the first time, things go haywire when she loses her luggage and breaks her phone. As a result, she ends up at the wrong home—only realizing her mistake after she successfully bonds with the entire family (and their bachelor son).
Johnson Production Group
22. A Bride for Christmas (2012)
- Cast: Arielle Kebbel, Andrew W. Walker, Kimberley Sustad
- Rating: G
- Director:Gary Yates
- Run Time:84 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 60% | IMDb 6.5/10
- Genre:Romantic Comedy
In this Christmas version of She’s All That, Jessie is convinced that she may have finally found the one after calling off three previous engagements. But little does she know that her charming new partner is with her as part of a bet to get engaged by Christmas.
23. Once Upon a Holiday (2018)
- Cast: Briana Evigan, Paul Campbell
- Rating: G
- Director:James Head
- Run Time:84 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 20% | IMDb 6.2/10
- Genre:Romantic Comedy, Drama
In this Hallmark original, a princess wanders off from her group to explore the festivities around New York City during Christmas. Along the way, she meets a kind (and very cute) stranger who gives her a full tour of the city.
ABC
24. Christmas Cupid (2010)
- Cast: Stars Christina Milian, Kenny Alfonso, Cynthia Evans, Ashley Benson
- Rating: PG-13
- Director:Gil Junger
- Run Time:85 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 35% | IMDb 5.4/10
- Genre:Comedy
A Los Angeles publicist is forced to reconsider her life choices when she is visited by the ghosts of her ex-boyfriends on the eve of Christmas.
Johnson Production Group
25. Just in Time for Christmas (2015)
- Cast: Eloise Mumford, Michael Stahl-David, Christopher Lloyd
- Rating: G
- Director:Sean McNamara
- Run Time:96 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 41% | IMDb 6.4/10
- Genre:Romantic Comedy
When Lindsay is forced to choose between marrying her boyfriend and pursuing her career, she's magically transported three years into the future, where she sees how her life will turn out if she rejects her boyfriend’s proposal.
Fox Television Studios
26. 12 Men of Christmas (2009)
- Cast: Kristin Chenoweth, Josh Hopkins, Anna Clumsky
- Rating: G
- Director:Arlene Sanford
- Run Time:95 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes (N/A) | IMDb 5.5/10
- Genre:Romantic Comedy
Kristin Chenoweth will totally win your heart as E.J. Baxter, a successful publicist who decides to move to Montana after she loses both her job and her fiancé. After securing a new job, she goes on the hunt for 12 men who can pose for a holiday calendar (and one of them just might be her future partner).
MarVista Entertainment
27. Christmas Belle (2013)
- Cast: Haylie Duff, Nicholas Gonzalez
- Rating: PG
- Director:Alex Wright
- Run Time:85 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 37% | IMDb 5.1/10
- Genre:Romance
Right before Christmas, Belle travels on business to handle the estate sale of a mansion. Her client, Hunter isn’t the easiest person to work with, but as they spend more time together, Belle learns that there’s a lot more to him than his tough demeanor.
Lifetime Television
28. His and Her Christmas (2005)
- Cast: Dina Meyer, Alexia Fast
- Rating: G
- Director:Farhad Mann
- Run Time:89 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 38% | IMDb 5.1/10
- Genre:Romantic Comedy
A bitter feud turns into a sweet romance when two rival star journalists meet each other for the first time. Dina Meyer and David Sutcliffe star as the main couple, Liz Madison and Tom Lane.
MarVista Entertainment
29. A Cinderella Christmas (2016)
- Cast: Emma Rigby, Peter Porte, Sarah Stouffer
- Rating: G
- Director:Tosca Musk
- Run Time:93 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 57% | IMDb 6.2/10
- Genre:Romance
The only thing better than a fairy tale remake is a Christmas fairy tale remake. After Angie dances with Nikolaus at the Christmasquerade Ball, she suddenly leaves, and Nicholas has no choice but to find her with the help of a single clue.
Baby Steps Entertainment
- Cast: Kelly Overton, Michael Muhney, Jonathan Patrick Moore
- Rating: NR
- Director:Tim O'Donnell
- Run Time:86 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 24% | IMDb 5.6/10
- Genre:Romance, Fantasy
When Ali Pennebaker travels back in time to the Christmas before her failed engagement, she goes out of her way to fix everything that went wrong—although it proves to be a lot more challenging than she thought.
Capital Arts Entertainment
31. Santa Girl (2019)
- Cast: Jennifer Stone, Devon Werkheiser, Barry Bostwick
- Rating: G
- Director:Blayne Weaver
- Run Time:91 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 30% | IMDb 5/10
- Genre:Romantic Comedy
This feel-good rom-com follows Santa Claus's only daughter, Cassie, who goes off to college so that she can experience the real world before taking over her family business and marrying the son of Jack Frost.
Netflix
32. A New York Christmas Wedding (2020)
- Cast: Chris Noth, Nia Fairweather, Chris Trousdale
- Rating: TV-MA
- Director:Otoja Abit
- Run time:88 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 62% | IMDb 5.4/10
- Genre:Romance
As her wedding nears, a bride-to-be is visited by a guardian angel (aka a stranger on the street) who reveals what could have been if she'd followed feelings for her childhood best friend. Can you see where this is going?
Johnson Production Group
33. Holiday Engagement (2011)
- Cast: Bonnie Somerville, Shelley Long, Jordan Bridges
- Rating: PG-13
- Director: Jim Fall
- Run Time:97 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 34% | IMDb 6/10
- Genre:Romantic Comedy
Dealing with invasive relatives who insist on knowing every detail about your love life is by far one of the biggest downsides of holiday family gatherings. In this sweet rom-com, Hillary is so terrified to tell her family about her single status that she hires someone to play her fiancé.
Mill Creek Entertainment
34. Noel (2004)
- Cast: Penélope Cruz, Paul Walker, Susan Sarandon
- Rating: PG-13
- Director:Chazz Palminteri
- Run Time:96 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 28% | IMDb 6.1/10
- Genre:Romantic Comedy
Five strangers all come together on Christmas Eve in search of a miracle. And they might just find more than they originally were looking for.
COURTESY OF NETFLIX
35. Holiday Rush (2019)
- Cast: Romany Malco, Sonequa Martin-Green, Deon Cole
- Rating: PG
- Director:Leslie Small
- Run Time:94 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 43% | IMDb 5/10
- Genre:Romantic Comedy
After spoiling his kids with pricey holiday gifts, DJ Rush Williams finds himself between a rock and a hard place when he suddenly loses his job. In order to keep pursuing his passion, he realizes that he’ll have to sacrifice his family’s luxurious lifestyle for something much simpler: love.
RHI Entertainment
36. The Christmas Card (2006)
- Cast: Edward Asner, John Newton, Alice Evans
- Rating: G
- Director:Stephen Bridgewater
- Run Time:84 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 68% | IMDb 6.9/10
- Genre:Romance, Drama
Think The Lucky One, but with a cheesy Hallmark twist. When a young soldier in Afghanistan receives a Christmas card from a stranger, he's so moved that he decides to track down the author after he finishes his tour of duty. *Grabs tissue*
HQ 7 Prince Productions
37. Christmas with a Prince (2018)
- Cast: Nick Hounslow, Kaitlyn Leeb
- Rating: PG
- Director:Justin G. Dyck
- Run Time:90 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 32% | IMDb 5.3/10
- Genre:Romantic Comedy
Well, who can resist a royal romance? Prince Alexander Cavalieri injures himself near a children’s hospital, forcing pediatrician Tasha Mason to secretly nurse him back to health.
Hallmark
38. The Nine Lives of Christmas (2014)
- Cast: Brandon Routh, Kimberly Sustad
- Rating: TV-G
- Director:Mark Jean
- Run Time:86 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 57% | IMDb 7.2/10
- Genre:Romance, Drama
Adapted from Sheila Robert’s, the movie follows a handsome bachelor, who’s content with his single lifestyle. Everything changes when he meets a veterinary student and adopts a stray cat.
Hallmark
39. Christmas at the Palace (2018)
- Cast: Merritt Patterson, Andrew Cooper
- Rating: G
- Director:Peter Hewitt
- Run Time:85 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 30% | IMDb 6.3/10
- Genre:Romantic Comedy
Former pro ice skater Katie is hired by the royal family to teach the king’s daughter how to skate. But when Katie meets handsome King Alex, she gets more than she bargained for.
Hallmark
40. Christmas at Pemberley Manor (2018)
- Cast: Jessica Lowndes, Michael Rady
- Rating: G
- Director:Daniel Wise
- Run Time:86 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 45% | IMDb 6.3/10
- Genre:Romantic Comedy
With the holidays in full swing, Elizabeth, a New York-based event planner, is sent to a small town to help organize their Christmas festival. However, she's surprised to discover that a wealthy businessman is already in the process of selling the venue. Determined to change his mind, Elizabeth convinces him to help plan the festivities. Cue the romance.
Warner Bros.
41. Christmas in Connecticut (1945)
- Cast: Barbara Stanwyck, Dennis Morgan
- Rating: NR
- Director:Peter Godfrey
- Run Time:102 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 89% | IMDb 7.3/10
- Genre:Romantic Comedy
Elizabeth Lane is a magazine journalist who writes as a wife and mother on a farm in Connecticut. But when war hero Jefferson Jones gets a hold of Elizabeth, the single New Yorker must play the part. While she attempts at this fake narrative, she starts to fall for Jones and it's left wondering if she's ready to risk it all for love.
Jonathan Prime/Uni
42. Last Christmas (2019)
- Cast: Emilia Clarke, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh
- Rating: PG-13
- Director:Paul Feig
- Run Time:103 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 46% | IMDb 6.5/10
- Genre:Romantic Comedy
Inspired by George Michael's popular holiday song, this film finds Katarina Andrich meeting Tom Webster while working an all-year-round Christmas shop. From there, she opens up to her new mysterious friend where she learns about love, family and a new meaning to the holidays.
RKO Radio Pictures
43. Holiday Affair (1949)
- Cast: Janet Leigh, Robert Mitchum, Wendell Corey
- Rating: G
- Director:Don Hartman
- Run Time:87 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 67% | IMDb 7.1/10
- Genre:Romantic Comedy
When Connie Ennis is caught buying a toy train from a rival store, she didn't expect to cost a man his job, let alone fall for him. The veteran turned clerk in question, Steve Mason, puts his job on the line for a widower and her son while teaching them both about following your dreams and falling in love again.
Disney-ABC Domestic Television
44. 12 Dates of Christmas (2011)
- Cast: Amy Smart, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Peter MacNeill
- Rating: TV-PG
- Director:James Hayman
- Run Time:90 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 52% | IMDb 6.3/10
- Genre:Romantic Comedy
Kate Stanton only cares about one thing: returning to her ex. She's all about doing things her way even if it means blowing off a new potential beau. As a result, she's stuck in a constant time loop with 12 days to improve herself, current relationships and possibly finding romance once again.
Lifetime
45. A Welcome Home Christmas (2020)
- Cast: Brandon Quinn, Jana Kramer
- Rating: TV-G
- Director:Brian Herzlinger
- Run Time:87 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes (N/A) | IMDb 6.7/10
- Genre:Romance, Drama
A returning soldier is paired with Army counselor Chloe Marquee for the annual toy drive. While recruiting other veterans and preparing for the town's Christmas Ball, the two begin to become more acquainted than they expected.
NETFLIX
46. Love Hard (2021)
- Cast: Nina Dobrev, Jimmy O. Yang, Darren Barnet
- Rating: TV-MA
- Director:Hernán Jiménez
- Run time:105 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 53% | IMDb 6.3/10
- Genre:Romantic Comedy
Vampire Diaries alum Dobrev stars as a girl from L.A. who finds love with a gorgeous guy on a dating app. Or so she thinks... When she decided to surprise her charming new love interest by visiting him in the East Coast, she realizes that she's been catfished.
Snowy Road Productions Ltd
47. Coming Home for Christmas (2017)
- Cast: Danica McKellar, Neal Bledsoe, Andrew Francis
- Rating: PG-13
- Director:Mel Damski
- Run Time:86 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 35% | IMDb 6.7/10
- Genre:Romantic Comedy
McKellar (aka Winnie from The Wonder Years) stars as Lizzie Richfield, who finds herself in a complicated love triangle after she lands a job as a house manager for the Ashford Estate. Even worse, planning a Christmas Eve gala for the owners (aka the most dysfunctional family ever) proves to be a big challenge.
48. Let's Meet Again on Christmas Eve (2020)
- Cast: Kyla Pratt, Brooks Darnell, Nancy Sorel
- Rating: PG
- Director:Jeff Beesley
- Run Time:87 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes (N/A) | IMDb 5.8/10
- Genre:Romance
Two years after they part ways, college sweethearts Corinne and Rob make plans to reunite on Christmas Eve. But when Rob doesn't show up, Corinne decides to move on with her life. The only problem? She's forced to have an awkward reunion with Rob seven years later—when they're both tasked with working the same wedding.
Netflix
49. The Holiday Calendar (2018)
- Cast: Kat Graham, Quincy Brown, Ethan Peck, Ron Cephas Jones
- Rating: TV-G
- Director:Bradley Walsh
- Run Time:95 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 33% | IMDb 5.7/10
- Genre:Romantic Comedy
Graham stars as a talented photographer who's gifted an antique Advent calendar. To her surprise, it's filled with contents that seem to predict the future. And it just might help her find true love.
Jessica Kourkounis/Netflix
50. Christmas with You (2022)
- Cast: Freddie Prinze Jr, Aimee Garcia
- Rating: PG
- Director:Gabriela Tagliavini
- Run Time:89 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 60% | IMDb 5.6/10
- Genre:Romantic Comedy
To escape the overwhelming chaos of her career, pop star Angelina travels to a small town in New York to grant her biggest fan's wish. Unbeknownst to her, she's about the get the inspiration she needs.
Capital Arts
51. The Perfect Holiday (2007)
- Cast: Morris Chestnut, Gabrielle Union, Faizon Love
- Rating: PG-13
- Director:Lance Rivera
- Run Time:96 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 19% | IMDb 4.8/10
- Genre:Romantic Comedy
When Emily Taylor overhears her mom wishing to get a man's attention, she turns to Santa Claus and asks him to help her mother find love.
Johnson Production Group
52. The Christmas Pact (2018)
- Cast: Kyla Pratt, Jarrod Joseph
- Rating: G
- Director:Marita Grabniak
- Run Time:90 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes (N/A) | IMDb 5.8/10
- Genre:Romance
Sadie and Ben are childhood BFFs who attempt to keep a Christmas pact that they made at eight years old, but as more time passes by, life seems to keep getting in the way.
KC BAILEY/NETFLIX
53. The Noel Diary (2022)
- Cast:Justin Hartley, Barrett Doss, Essence Atkins
- Rating:TV-PG
- Director:Charles Shyer
- Run Time:100 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 73% | IMDb 6.1/10
- Genre:Romantic Comedy
Meet Jacob Turner, a successful writer who’s forced to return to his childhood home after his estranged mother passes away. When he finds a diary among her belongings, he embarks on a heartwarming journey of self-discovery.
54. Something from Tiffany's (2022)
- Cast: Zoey Deutch, Kendrick Sampson, Ray Nicholson, Shay Mitchell.
- Rating: PG
- Director:Daryl Wein
- Run time:87 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 72% | IMDb 6.2/10
- Genre:Romantic Comedy
Rachel's life is turned upside-down when she accidentally receives a stunning engagement ring that was meant for someone else. Both Deutch and Sampson deliver unforgettable performances here.
Paulina Stevens/EXmas Film Inc.
55. EXmas (2023)
- Cast: Leighton Meester, Robbie Amell, Michael Hitchcock, Kathy Greenwood
- Rating: PG-13
- Director:Jonah Feingold
- Run Time:93 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 41% | IMDb 5.7/10
- Genre:Romantic Comedy
Amell stars as Graham, who gets the surprise of a lifetime when he travels home for the holidays and discovers that his ex-fiancee, Ali, has already made plans to celebrate with them. What could go wrong?
Tapestry Films
56. Serendipity (2001)
- Cast: John Cusack, Kate Beckinsale, Jeremy Piven
- Rating: PG-13
- Director:Peter Chelsom
- Run Time:85 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 59% | IMDb 6.8/10
- Genre:Romantic Comedy
Jonathan and Sara are attracted to each other from the moment they first meet, but after experiencing what seems to be a bad omen, they separate in hopes that fate will eventually bring them back together. (FYI, Cusack and Beckinsale have the best chemistry.)
Blackmaled Productions
57. The Best Man Holiday (2013)
- Cast: Nia Long, Taye Diggs, Terrence Howard, Sanaa Lathan
- Rating: R
- Director:Malcolm D. Lee
- Run Time:123 minutes
- Reviews:Rotten Tomatoes 71% | IMDb 6.6/10
- Genre:Romantic Comedy
A group of college friends reunites to celebrate the holidays together, but when old feuds resurface and romances are rekindled, things get a bit complicated. Watch for the drama and stellar cast.
RELATED
59 Best Thanksgiving Movies the Whole Family Will Love
Nakeisha Campbell
Associate Editor, News and Entertainment
- Writes celebrity news, TV/movie reviews and SEO-focused entertainment articles
- Interviews celebrities and covers red carpet events
- Has 8+ years of experience covering entertainment topics
read full bio
Alexandra Hough
read full bio