Australia’s favourite Christmas films of all time have been revealed, and the movie that tops the list may not be the one you would expect.
From timeless classics to modern blockbusters, IMDb’s ratings have revealed the top 10 festive favourites that people truly love the most, including Love Actually, Home Alone, and Miracle on 34th Street.
Did your favourite Christmas film make the list? Let us know in the comments.
10. Love Actually (2003)
This heartwarming British blockbuster is a favourite every holiday season, so it’s no surprise it’s kicking off our list.
With a star-studded cast including the likes of Alan Rickman, Liam Neeson, and Emma Thompson, Love Actually weaves together multiple love stories taking place in the five weeks before Christmas.
Who could forget Hugh Grant dancing down the Downing Street stairs to the Pointer Sisters? Or that heartbreaking Emma Thompson scene? With so many hilarious and memorable moments, it’s little wonder this romantic comedy has been voted as one of the best Christmas films by many Australians.
You can watch Love Actually on Binge.
9. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
This comedy classic follows Clark Griswold’s (Chevy Chase) desperate mission to create the perfect family Christmas, and the hilarious chaos that follows.
Also starring Randy Quaid, Beverly D’Angelo, and Johnny Galecki, the film is the third instalment in the National Lampoon series.
From lights malfunctioning to disastrous dinners, the relatable Christmas calamities have helped cement the movie as one of Australia’s favourite festive films of all time.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is available to stream on Stan, Binge, and Foxtel.
8. Home Alone (1990)
The film that shot Macaulay Culkin to fame has been ranked as number eight.
When eight-year-old Kevin McCallister (Culkin) is accidentally left behind while his family jets off on a Christmas holiday, he’s forced to defend his home from two hapless burglars.
With a boatload of comedic and heartwarming scenes, this film is the perfect festive flick – as well as its sequels!
Watch Home Alone and its sequels on Disney+.
7. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
The perfect Christmas film for Halloween lovers, Tim Burton’s gothic tale follows Jack Skellington as he discovers the joy of Christmas for the first time.
He then becomes obsessed with the holiday and celebrating it in his own way. However, his attempts to take over the festivities take a spooky twist and lead to chaos.
Starring Chris Sarandon and Catherine O’Hara, the film was nominated for an Academy Award and has gone on to maintain a cult following.
The Nightmare Before Christmas is available to stream on Disney+.
6. Miracle on 34th Street (1994/1947)
This timeless movie still warms the hearts of Aussies, almost 80 years after the 1947 original was released.
Miracle on 34th Street follows Kris Kringle (played by Richard Attenborough and Edmund Gwenn) as he’s hired to play Father Christmas in a department store, and claims he’s the real-life Santa.
He’s faced with scepticism, but one little girl (Mara Wilson, Natalie Wood) believes in him and the magic of Christmas.
Watch Miracle on 34th Street on Disney+.
5. The Holdovers (2023)
The most modern Christmas movie to make our list, The Holdovers is a 2023 movie about curmudgeonly teacher Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti) as he is forced to stay at a boarding school over the Christmas holidays to supervise a group of students.
In what begins as a dull two weeks at the school, the professor grows fond of the students, and they form an unlikely bond.
This heartfelt movie was raved about by critics and nominated for several awards, including five at the Academy Awards. Just two years after its release, it has become a firm festive favourite.
Rent it on Apple TV or Amazon Prime Video.
4. A Christmas Carol (various versions)
Charles Dickens’s classic tale continues the stand the test of time, but narrowly misses out on a place in our top three Christmas movies.
The iconic story follows Ebenezer Scrooge, a grumpy old man who hates Christmas, and how he changes his ways after a visit from the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come.
The book’s powerful message has inspired countless film adaptations, namely the 2009 animation starring Jim Carrey as Scrooge.
Various versions of A Christmas Carol are available on Disney+, Paramount+, and ABC iview.
3. Die Hard (1988)
In bronze position comes the most debated Christmas movie in history.
On Christmas Eve, cop John McClane (Bruce Willis) battles a group of terrorists when they hijack a skyscraper in Los Angeles. What follows is a tense and explosive showdown between McClane and the villainous Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman).
Its action-packed scenes and Christmas setting has sparked decades of family rows over whether it is indeed a Christmas film. But whichever side of the debate you’re on, Die Hard remains a Christmas Day classic.
Watch it on Disney+.
2. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
In this sweet animation, Charlie Brown searches for the true meaning of Christmas after feeling it has been ruined by commercialisation.
He takes over the school pageant, and his friends group together to decorate an old fir tree.
The friends begin to understand that Christmas is about spending time with loved ones, rather than presents and decorations.
A Charlie Brown Christmas is on Apple TV.
1. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
It may be nearly 80 years old, but It’s a Wonderful Life still holds a special place in our hearts. With a 8.6 IMDb rating, this Christmas classic takes our top spot.
This enduring classic tells the story of George Bailey (James Stewart), a man who is frustrated with his life until an angel shows him what the world would be like without him.
The poignant film has become synonymous with the spirit of Christmas, and it’s message remains just as powerful today.
Stream It’s a Wonderful Life on Stan or Binge.