Cinephiles who love Christmas movies are really spoiled for choice. It seems every year, more and more movies come out that try and enter the Christmas canon of films that get re-watched year after year. And while most of these are probably family Christmas movies that can be watched with the kids, the second-biggest sub-genre has to be the Christmas romantic comedy. (And we're not even talking about Hallmark movies.) But with so many, how do you choose?
These are the best Christmas rom-coms to watch in 2023. After the tree is trimmed, the decorations are up, the gifts are wrapped and the cocoa is brewed, these are the best films to flop down on the couch and watch with a loved one — especially when you need to de-stress from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. There are LGBTQ Christmas movies, some stone-cold classic Christmas movies and a few new favorites, too. And, just for good measure, we threw on a few at the end that aren't strictly romantic comedies — they're more of the straight-up romances — when you're more in the mood for "rom" and don't necessarily need the "com." Queue them up for a holiday-season marathon, and be prepared to laugh all winter.
Looking for even more holiday films? Check out these Good Housekeeping guides:
Funny Christmas Movies | Underrated Christmas Movies | Christmas Horror Movies
Love Actually (2003)
It may not be the best Christmas romance, but it certainly has the most Christmas romance: The film chronicles nearly 10 couples' relationships, and how they intertwine in sometimes funny and surprising ways. It's the ultimate holiday rom-com, and it stars a stacked cast of celebrities like Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson and Keira Knightley, to name just a few.
The Shop Around the Corner (1940)
Two coworkers at a store in Budapest couldn't be more at odds. They can't stand each other, but absolutely adore their faraway pen pals. As it turns out, the pen pals are much, much closer than they think. This romantic plot might sound familiar, as it inspired Nora Ephron's You've Got Mail.
Happiest Season (2020)
In this one, Abby (Kristen Stewart) is excited to meet the family of her girlfriend Harper (Mackenzie Davis) — and maybe even propose — only to find out that Harper hasn't come out to her family yet. It's for anyone who's ever had to carry around a secret in front of their families.
Holidate (2020)
You get to celebrate a year's worth of holidays in this movie, not just one. Sloane (Emma Roberts) and Jackson (Luke Bracey), sick of their family's fix-ups, hatch a scheme to be each other's platonic plus-ones for every gathering. But, after a year, is it possible to not catch feelings?
The Thin Man (1934)
The Thin Man isn't romantic in that yearning, swooning way, but the screwball rom-com patter between married couple Nick and Nora has such electricity in it, you can't help but feel their love for each other. The movie is also a mystery — the couple, a detective team visiting New York City for Christmas, are pressed into service investigating the disappearance of a missing inventor — so there's something for everybody. There are five sequels, starting with After the Thin Man, which will take you right to New Year's Eve movies.
While You Were Sleeping (1995)
When Lucy (Sandra Bullock) saves her crush from getting hit by a train, he ends up in a coma and somehow gets mistaken as her fiancé at the hospital. Then in another chaotic turn of events, she realizes she's falling for his brother instead — and deeply enjoying his family. How's that for a holiday dinner dynamic?
When Harry Met Sally (1989)
Here, Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal play Sally and Harry: Two friends trying to figure out whether men and women can ever be just friends over a relationship that spans many years and holidays. The movie's soundtrack even features a few of the best love songs and Christmas songs, like "It Had to Be You" and "Winter Wonderland" — just to name a few.
The Best Man Holiday (2013)
A 15-year college reunion, planned during the holidays, has this group of friends realizing a lot about their true colors — and maybe they’ll make enemies and fall in love along the way. This ensemble movie has it all, from melodrama to comedy to romance.
Love Hard (2021)
Christmas surprises are always great — unless, of course, you're on a dating app. This movie follows an L.A.-based writer who decides to surprise her dating-app crush in person for the holidays, only to find out he's a catfish (played by Jimmy O. Yang). But he promises to introduce her to the man whose picture he used if she pretends to be his girlfriend for the holidays. What could go wrong?
Elf (2003)
Sure, this comedy is about saving Christmas and father-son relationships — but it's also about the romance between Will Ferrell's Buddy and Zooey Deschanel's Jovie. Who could forget their "Baby, It's Cold Outside" duet?
The Apartment (1960)
In this Best Picture winner, Jack Lemmon plays Bud Baxter, a guy who gets ahead at work by letting his philandering bosses use his apartment for their affairs over the holiday season. Things become complicated when he starts to have feelings for one of the mistresses, Fran, played by Shirley MacLaine. What results is one of the best rom-coms of all time.
The Family Stone (2005)
This drama centers around powerhouse performances by four actresses: Rachel McAdams, Clare Danes, Sarah Jessica Parker and Diane Keaton. When Everett (Dermot Mulroney) brings his girlfriend, Meredith (Parker), home to meet the rest of his family, complications arise, and they question the fitness relationship — so Meredith calls in her sister Julie (Danes) for backup. Things unfold in a hectic way that only happens around the holidays.
Single All the Way (2021)
Between this, Love Hard and Holidate, the fake-date premise is a certified trend. In this one, best friends Peter and Nick pretend to be each other's holiday dates, but Peter's family has other plans. Their friendship will be put to the test after Peter's family's relentless matchmaking.
Almost Christmas (2016)
This is one of those big, overstuffed movies that has a little of everything, including romance. The action starts when a man's four adult children try to spend a week together, families in tow, under one roof.
Falling for Christmas (2022)
Lindsay Lohan returns to the screen! This film is like a holiday gloss on an Overboard-style scenario: Lohan plays a spoiled heiress who loses her memory during a ski accident. She crosses paths with a young widower (Chord Overstreet) who winds up taking care of her. Will they end up under the mistletoe?
Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
This movie is most remembered for its legal drama, and how to keep the magic of Christmas alive. But there's also a sweet romance between Fred (Kris Kringle's lawyer) and Doris (the mother of a girl who has doubts) that's charming and funny without overdoing it.
Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)
This hilarious movie is about a woman named Bridget (played by Renée Zellweger) who tries to improve herself for the new year by keeping track of literally everything in her diary. Who can't relate? But of course, romance gets in the way, and she finds herself torn between two men. It's based on the novel of the same name by Helen Fielding.
The Holiday (2006)
When two women, one from London and the other from Los Angeles, swap places and live in each other's home throughout the holidays, they realize there's more to life than the boy problems they had back at home. Watch when you're in the mood for some trans-continental romance.
The Preacher's Wife (1996)
A remake of the Cary Grant movie The Bishop's Wife, this film is about a guardian angel, the charismatic Dudley (Denzel Washington), who comes to help a preacher who is losing control of his church. As Dudley helps the preacher, he also starts to fall for the preacher's wife, Julia (Whitney Houston).
Four Christmases (2008)
Brad and Kate (played by Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon) are an unmarried couple who, the product of two sets of divorced parents, have to attend four different family events on Christmas Day when their plans to go on vacation fail. Will the relationship survive?
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