‘Tis the season to start watching Christmas movies, and if you’re looking for the perfect film to watch to get you in the holiday spirit, we’ve got you covered. Amazon Prime Video doesn’t make it easy, exactly, to find what you’re looking for, but below we’ve assembled a list of the best Christmas movies they currently have to offer. These range from bona fide classics to underseen gems, so whether you’re looking for something comforting or brand new, you’ll surely find the right film.
Check out our list of the best Christmas movies on Amazon Prime below.
“It’s a Wonderful Life”
If for some reason you’ve never seen “It’s a Wonderful Life,” now is the time. You’ve no doubt heard this one’s a classic, but you’re surely not prepared for just how great and compelling this film is over 70 years after it was initially released. Jimmy Stewart stars as George Bailey, a man who gave up on his personal dreams in a selfless act for his town and future wife. But after attempting to take his own life on Christmas Eve he’s given the opportunity to see what would have happened to the town and those he loved had he never been born. Frank Capra’s fantasy drama is a surprisingly dark, poignant and ultimately faith-restoring film.
“Miracle on 34th Street”
If it’s a Christmas movie you’re in the mood for, you can’t go wrong with 1947’s “Miracle on 34th Street.” The story follows a real-life Santa Claus who finds himself hired as the Macy’s store Santa, bumping up against adults who dare say he’s out of his mind. The case literally goes to trial, but fret not – this one has a happy ending.
“Scrooged”
Here’s a bit of a harder-edged pick for a Christmas movie watch. Director Richard Donner’s 1988 film “Scrooged” is a new spin on the Charles Dickens classic “A Christmas Carol,” with Bill Murray in the lead role as it pits Ebeneezer Scrooge as a TV executive. It’s darkly funny as it brings the story into the modern era (er, modern for the late 1980s) and boasts a swell ensemble that includes Karen Allen, Carol Kane and Bobcat Goldthwait.
“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”
You can probably find “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” playing on cable on a loop, but if you want to fire this one up at will, Amazon’s got you covered. The third film in the “Vacation” franchise is the best, as Chevy Chase’s Clark Griswold hosts his and his wife’s extended families at their house for Christmas, all while he’s awaiting a bonus from his boss that will make his dream of building a pool come true. Chaos ensues from the word “go,” and the film has become a classic for how completely (and somewhat mean-spiritedly) it captures the stress of holidays with your family.
“The Polar Express”
The beloved children’s book “The Polar Express” got the animated film treatment courtesy of “Back to the Future” and “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” filmmaker Robert Zemeckis in 2004, and the film has become an unlikely staple around Christmastime. Zemeckis employed rudimentary motion-capture technology for the entire film, resulting in a somewhat rubbery performance from Tom Hanks as he plays a host of different characters throughout the movie. And yet, this one has connected with a specific generation all the same.
“Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas” (1977)
This beguiling Christmas classic, which aired in Canada in 1977 and on HBO in the U.S. in 1978, is full of charm, wit, humor, and some absolutely wonderful songs (written by frequent Henson collaborator and all-around genius Paul Williams). Based on a 1971 children’s book of the same name, Jim Henson’s “Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas” concerns the titular otter (Jerry Nelson), who lives a hardscrabble life down by the river with his put-upon mother (Marilyn Sokol). For Christmas (and unbeknownst to each other), Emmet and his mom both decide to enter a local talent competition, hoping to win the top prize and get the other something special. Inventively staged using a number of ingenious theater techniques (some of which would influence the production of “The Muppet Movie”) and full of colorful characters (we are partial to the animals that make up the River Bottom Nightmare band, including Dave Goelz’s wily catfish), “Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas” has, in the years since its release, become a Christmastime staple. Also notable: the Amazon Prime Video version of the special includes the Kermit the Frog interstitial material, which for a while was banned from home video versions due to rights issues.
