Nostalgia powers many people’s holiday celebrations, and Christmas movies are no exception. Some might even say that watching festive classics is the best part of the season.
It might be hard to imagine crowning a single Christmas movie as No. 1 when there are so many to choose from, but that’s exactly what we aimed to do. Which movie does your family make a point of gathering to watch over the holidays – first on VHS, then DVD and now courtesy whoever pays for the streaming service?
We put 16 flicks head to head and are asked readers to vote for their favourites each day in a single-elimination bracket.
With more than 64,000 votes over four rounds of voting, Globe readers have officially declared the best holiday movie is … A Charlie Brown Christmas!
Click on each movie title to see where you can stream it over the holidays and keep the fun going with family and friends by downloading a PDF of The Globe’s Holiday Movies Bracket.
- A Charlie Brown Christmas 🏆
- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
- Elf
- Home Alone
- Die Hard
- It’s a Wonderful Life
- Love Actually
- White Christmas
- Batman Returns
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas
- The Polar ExpresMiracle on 34th Street
- The Holiday
- The Santa Clause
- Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
- The Muppet Christmas Carol
Where to stream your favourite holiday movies in Canada
Die Hard
Die Hard is available to stream on Disney+ and available for rent or purchase on Google Play Movies, YouTube, Cineplex, Amazon Prime Video and the Microsoft Store
Batman Returns
Batman Returns is available to stream on Crave and Starz, and available for rent or purchase on Apple TV+, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Cineplex, Amazon Prime Video and the Microsoft Store.
Elf
Elf is available to stream on Crave, Club illico and Starz. It can also be rented or purchased on Apple TV+, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Cineplex, Amazon Prime Video and the Microsoft Store.
How The Grinch Stole Christmas
How the Grinch Stole Christmas is available to stream on Netflix, Tubi, Hollywood Suite, Club illico, Amazon Prime Video and Paramount+. It is also available for rent or purchase on Apple TV+, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Cineplex and the Microsoft Store.
The Polar Express
The Polar Express is available to stream on Club illico. It is also available for rent or purchase on Apple TV+, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Cineplex, Amazon Prime Video and the Microsoft Store.
A Charlie Brown Christmas
A Charlie Brown Christmas is only available to stream on Apple TV+.
It’s A Wonderful Life
It’s a Wonderful Life is available to stream on Hoopla and Plex. It’s also available for rent or purchase on Apple TV+, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Cineplex, Amazon Prime Video and the Microsoft Store.
Miracle on 34th Street
The 1947 Miracle on 34th Street is available to stream on Disney+. It is also available for rent or purchase from Google Play Movies, YouTube, Cineplex, Amazon Prime Video and the Microsoft Store. It’s available for purchase on Apple TV+.
The Holiday
The Holiday is available to stream on Hollywood Suite and CTV. It is also available for rent or purchase from Apple TV+, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Cineplex, Amazon Prime Video and the Microsoft Store.
Love Actually
Love Actually is available to stream on Crave and Starz, Hollywood Suite and Paramount+. It is also available for rent or purchase from Apple TV+, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Cineplex, Amazon Prime Video and the Microsoft Store.
The Santa Clause
The Santa Clause is available to stream on Disney+. It is also available for rent or purchase from Apple TV+, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Cineplex, Amazon Prime Video and the Microsoft Store
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is available to stream on Club illico. It is also available for rent or purchase from Apple TV+, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Cineplex, Amazon Prime Video and the Microsoft Store.
Home Alone
Home Alone is available to stream on Disney+. It is also available for rent or purchase from Apple TV+, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Cineplex, Amazon Prime Video and the Microsoft Store.
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York is available to stream on Disney+. It is also available for rent or purchase from Apple TV+, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Cineplex, Amazon Prime Video and the Microsoft Store.
White Christmas
White Christmas is available for rent or purchase from Apple TV+, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Cineplex and the Microsoft Store. It is available to rent from Amazon Prime Video.
The Muppet Christmas Carol
The Muppet Christmas Carol is available to stream on Disney+. It is also available for rent or purchase from Google Play Movies, YouTube, Cineplex, Amazon Prime Video and the Microsoft Store. It is available for purchase from Apple TV+.
Caora McKenna