Whether you are hosting the family dinner, settling in for a long winter break, or ringing in the new year with friends, the right movie can set the entire tone. Here is our 2026 guide to the best holiday films to stream, organized by mood and occasion.

Classic Christmas Comforts

• Die Hard (1988) — Still the greatest action Christmas movie ever made. Streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.
• Home Alone (1990) and Home Alone 2 (1992) — Disney+ retains the rights through the holiday season.
• It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) — Free on Peacock through December, also on Amazon Prime Video.
• Elf (2003) — Max (formerly HBO Max) and rotation play on cable throughout December.
• The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) — Disney+.

Modern Holiday Hits

• The Holdovers (2023) — Peacock, a perfect blend of curmudgeon warmth and holiday soul.
• Happiest Season (2020) — Hulu, a rom-com that has aged into a modern queer holiday staple.
• Klaus (2019) — Netflix, still the best animated Christmas origin story in years.
• 8-Bit Christmas (2021) — HBO vault via Max.
• Noelle (2019) — Disney+, the Anna Kendrick vehicle that deserves a second look.

Thanksgiving Watch List

• Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) — Paramount+ and Apple TV.
• The Addams Family Values (1993) — The ultimate dysfunctional-family comedy, streaming rotation on Max.
• Miracle on 34th Street (1947) — The definitive non-Thanksgiving classic that pairs perfectly with the long weekend.

New Year’s Eve Movie Marathon

For the countdown crowd, you cannot beat When Harry Met Sally (1989) and Sex and the City (2008) on Max, or the absolute chaos of Birdman (2014) on Netflix. For family-friendly energy, Sing Street (2016) on Paramount+ delivers a hopeful note to close out the year.

2026 New Releases to Watch For

Netflix has a new animated holiday special dropping in November 2026, and Amazon is releasing a Christmas-themed adventure in early December. We will update this guide as titles are confirmed. Check back closer to the holidays for the full calendar.