Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)
Director: Vincente Minnelli
Five years after The Wizard of Oz, Judy Garland sings again—this time in a Christmas movie. This nostalgic musical follows the everyday joys and struggles of the Smith family as they prepare for the 1904 World's Fair. Although the story spans all four seasons, the emotional high point takes place at Christmas: tender, wistful, and timeless. Not an over-the-top holiday spectacle—just heartfelt warmth that still moves audiences today.
available on Apple TV+
available on Google Play
available on Prime Video
Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
Director: George Seaton
A kind old man claims to be the real Santa Claus and ends up in court to prove it. Set in bustling New York, this classic gradually replaces cynicism with belief, wonder and hope. The magic here isn’t about sleighs and red suits, it’s about kindness, trust, and the courage to believe in the impossible.
A heartwarming reminder to let your inner child out every now and then.
Home Alone (1990)
Director: Chris Columbus
Eight-year-old Kevin is accidentally left behind when his family heads off for a holiday trip. At first, it’s all fun and games… until two clumsy burglars show up. Though holiday comedies usually rely on pop songs rather than symphonic music, Home Alone takes a different approach. The result is a theme that sounds almost magical, in the same spirit as what John Williams would later compose for Harry Potter.
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
Director: Brian Henson
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol has been adapted countless times, but never quite like this. Michael Caine plays the cold-hearted Scrooge, the only human actor in a sea of Muppets: Gonzo as narrator Dickens, Kermit as Bob Cratchit, and Fozzie Bear as Fozziwig. Dark when it needs to be, funny when it matters. A surprisingly touching take, directed by Brian Henson after the passing of his father Jim Henson, the creator of the Muppets.
Love Actually (2003)
Director: Richard Curtis
This beloved holiday classic weaves together multiple love stories, all set in the run-up to Christmas. From a shy boy learning to drum for his crush, to a Prime Minister falling for a staff member, each storyline sparkles with hope and magic. Love Actually is a gentle nudge that love (like Christmas) is all around, if you know where to look.
available on Netflix
Klaus (2019)
Director: Sergio Pablos
Why would one go back to 2D animation in a world where 3D has become the norm? Because Klaus does it beautifully, that’s why. The film tells the story of Jesper, a student at the postal academy who is stationed on an island at the edge of the Arctic Circle. It’s a place where everyone is at odds and no one sends letters anymore. Just when he’s about to give up, he meets a lonely carpenter named Klaus. A surprisingly touching, visually stunning reimagining of the Santa Claus myth.