These '90s Christmas Movies Are the Perfect Sprinkle of Holiday Nostalgia

You know the phrase “If you want a job done right, you have to do it yourself?” Well, that totally backfires for Scott Calvin (Tim Allen). After he and his son startle Santa on Christmas Eve, he stumbles off the roof and vanishes, leaving behind his sleigh of reindeer and gifts. Trying to make up for a disastrous night, Scott puts on the Santa suit and finishes the job of delivering presents. The sleigh returns him to the North Pole where he learns that, due to a “clause” in a contract, he has inadvertently accepted the job of Santa Claus.

Soon, the divorced businessman gains a shocking amount of weight, grows a beard, and develops a boisterous laugh. Despite his best efforts to live a normal life, he learns to become Santa and, along the way, a better father. It’s heartwarming, hilarious, and yes, perhaps a little creepy to watch as an adult.

Though he’s known for his parts as The Terminator and California’s governor, one of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s best (though not critically acclaimed) roles was that of Howard Langston, a workaholic who neglects his family. To redeem himself, Howard goes on a quest to find his son the coveted action figure Turbo-Man. But an aggressive postal man (played by funny man Sinbad) and a pesky police officer continue to get into his way. Needless to say, hijinks ensue.

One of Tim Burton’s most beloved characters, Jack Skellington aka “The Pumpkin King” is the darling of Halloween Town, a place that is all Halloween all the time. Craving a change, Jack wanders out of town and stumbles upon the portal to Christmas Town. Awed by the snow, lights, and “Sandy Claws,” Jack returns to Halloween Town determined to plan his own Christmas. The stop-motion flick has fabulous songs and is perfect for anyone who can’t decide between Christmas and Halloween.

When the large and loud McCallister family plans a Christmas vacation out of town, 10-year-old Kevin (played by an adorable Macaulay Culkin) is mistakenly left behind during the hustle and bustle. At first, Kevin is excited about his newfound freedom and takes advantage of his independence. But when he discovers that the local Wet Bandits plan on robbing his supposed-to-be-empty house, he booby traps his home to catch them. If you haven’t seen this, I don’t know what to tell you.

You’d think that after the first time, the McCallister family would’ve learned their lesson. But just a couple of years later, Kevin McCallister is, once again, accidentally left behind as his family goes on their annual Christmas vacation. After mistakenly getting on a flight to New York, Kevin decides to explore the city on his own. He runs into the Wet Bandits, who have recently escaped from prison. After hearing their plans to steal from a philanthropic toy store, Kevin thwarts the robbery and lures them to his uncle’s vacant townhouse, where the bandits suffer a second round of painful but hilarious booby traps. Normally, sequels aren’t great, but Home Alone 2 is, arguably, even better than the original.

If you were a young girl in the ’90s, there’s a good chance that you were probably in love (definitely obsessed) with teen heartthrob Jonathan Taylor Thomas. And, like every good fangirl would, you definitely saw every movie that JTT starred in, including I’ll Be Home For Christmas.

It follows 18-year-old Jake Wilkinson (played by JTT) who makes a deal with his father: return home in time for Christmas Eve dinner and get a vintage Porsche in return. But after school bullies abandon Jake in the California desert wearing nothing but a Santa suit, he has only three days to find his way across the country to New York, or else he can kiss his Porsche goodbye.

A remake of the 1947 classic, Miracle on 34th Street follows single mother and department store director Dorey Walker. After firing a drunk, Dorey hires an elderly man named Kris Kringle to be the new store Santa. However, Kris does such a fantastic job that a rival department store finds a way to get him arrested. Dorey and her lawyer boyfriend (Dylan McDermott) bring Kris’s case to court. Not only do they have to prove that Santa exists, but they have to get everyone – including Dorey’s nonbelieving daughter (Matilda Mara Wilson) – to believe that Kris is the real one. There’s romance, humor, and an insane amount of holiday spirit.

Before Belle got the Beast to love her, she got him to love Christmas. Because the Beast was cursed during Christmas time, he always banned any celebration from the castle. That is, until Belle arrived. Slowly but surely, she helps him open his heart to the holiday. While all of your favorite characters return, including frenemies Cogsworth and Lumiere, many more are introduced, along with new songs! If you haven’t heard Angela Lansbury sing a Christmas carol, then you’re missing out.

Michael Keaton stars as Jack Frost, the frontman of The Jack Frost Band. Jack loves his wife and son but consistently puts his music first, attending gigs and recording music instead of spending time with his family. After giving his son, Charlie, a harmonica (that happens to be magical) Jack is tragically killed in a car accident. One year later while reminiscing, Charlie finds and plays his dad’s harmonica. The harmonica’s magic brings Jack back to Earth for the holiday . . . in the form of a snowman. Jack, in his new state, does his best to be the father he never was before he melts away. You might want to line up the tissues for this one.

Charles Dickens, the Muppets, and Michael Caine come together to expertly create this must-see Christmas film. Gonzo the Great (as Charles Dickens) and Rizzo the Rat narrate the classic 19th-century tale of a grumpy old man who hates Christmas. Ebenezer Scrooge (played by Michael Caine) is forced to learn the error of his ways after being visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, all of whom are portrayed by your favorite Muppets. Need we say more?

After getting her big break in action thriller Speed, Sandra Bullock was cast in romantic comedy While You Were Sleeping and instantly warmed her way into our hearts. Bullock plays Lucy, a lonely train ticket attendant who saves her crush, Peter, from being run over by a train on Christmas Day. But, while visiting the comatose would-be victim in the hospital, Peter’s family mistakes Lucy for his fiancé. To complicate things, Lucy begins to fall for his brother (Bill Pullman)! It’s both problematic and perfect. After all, it wouldn’t be the holidays without a little family drama.

Mickey and Minnie’s The Gift of the Magi, Donald Duck Stuck on Christmas, and A Very Goofy Christmas are combined to create the anthology film Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas. Mickey and Minnie fumble with gift giving in an adaptation of O. Henry’s 1905 short story “The Gift of the Magi.” Donald and Daisy are stuck in a Groundhog Day-like loop of Christmas after their three mischievous nephews become greedy. Goofy tries to prove to Max that Santa Claus is real. And all three tales are narrated by Kelsey Grammer. You don’t have to be a kid to enjoy this adorable animated feature.

Before starring in Halloween classic Hocus Pocus, Thora Birch played the younger sister in a different holiday-themed movie: All I Want For Christmas. Birch and a young Ethan Embry play siblings who, with a little Christmas magic from Santa Claus, do their best to get their parents back together. With classic actress Lauren Bacall playing the grandmother, All I Want For Christmas is a holiday Parent Trap you need to see.

Written and directed by Nora Ephron, this dark Christmas comedy has an all-star cast including Steve Martin, Rita Wilson, Adam Sandler, and more. It’s a little bit off the wall, and didn’t have the best critical reception when it came out, but the shenanigans of this ensemble movie will have you chuckling your way through the holidays.

Get ready to see some familiar faces in this ’90s version of the classic Christmas story; a young Macaulay Culkin shines in this movie. The story begins on Christmas Eve as a family prepares for a festive Christmas party, and what seems normal soon turns into a whimsical, fantastical, dance-filled adventure.

The Munsters was a classic 1960’s sitcom about a family that was a bit, well, unusual. This ’90s TV movie brings back the characters from the original show and follows as they celebrate the holidays. When little Eddie is feeling homesick for Transylvania, his dad Herman decides to bring the magic of a Transylvanian Christmas home to Eddie, and the whole family joins in the holiday cheer.

Starring everyone’s favorite Queen of Genovia, Julie Andrews, this sweet TV movie tells the story of two strangers who meet during the most wonderful time of the year. As they wait out a winter storm in a small cabin, these opposites end up attracting each other despite all the things keeping them apart.