The 13 Best Free Christmas Movies on YouTube

Thanks to streaming, Christmas movie time can by any time

By
Elise Moreau
Elise Moreau
Elise Moreau
Freelance Contributor
  • University of Ontario
  • George Brown College
Elise Moreau is a writer that has covered social media, texting, messaging, and streaming for Lifewire. Her work has appeared on Techvibes, SlashGear, Lifehack and others.
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Updated on January 26, 2024
Reviewed by
Christine Baker
Reviewed by Christine Baker
Christine Baker is a marketing consultant with experience working for a variety of clients. Her expertise includes social media, web development, and graphic design.
lifewire's editorial guidelines

Ah, Christmas. It's that time of year when it's too dark and cold outside to do anything but curl up with some hot chocolate or eggnog and settle in to watch Christmas movies and specials on the web, for free, if possible. YouTube is a great place to find free Christmas classics and newer holiday gems. Here's a list of the best free Christmas movies on YouTube.

01
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A Christmas Carol (1984)

A Christmas Carol (1984)

IMDb rating: 7.8/10

Genre: Drama, Family, Fantasy

Starring: George C. Scott, Frank Finlay, Angela Pleasance

Director: Clive Donner

Motion Picture Rating: PG

Running Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes

This is the entire film from 1984, originally based on the book by Charles Dickens. George C. Scott plays Ebenezer Scrooge, the Noel-hating miser who comes around thanks to the efforts of three ghosts who visit him on Christmas Eve.

02
of 12

On the 2nd Day of Christmas (1997)

On the 2nd Day of Christmas

IMDb rating: 6.1/10

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Family

Starring: Mary Stuart Masterson, Mark Ruffalo, Lauren Pratt

Director: James Frawley

Motion Picture Rating: TV-PG

Running Time: 1 hour, 36 minutes

Mary Stuart Masterson and Mark Ruffalo star in this Lifetime movie. Masterson plays Trish, a pickpocket who, along with her niece Patsy (Pratt), target wealthy shoppers at a department store. They get caught and, thanks to holiday closures, myst spend the weekend with security guard Bert (Ruffalo) before returning to the store to face charges.

03
of 12

The Man in the Santa Claus Suit (1979)

The Man in the Santa Claus Suit

IMDb rating: 6.5/10

Genre: Drama

Starring: Fred Astaire, Gary Burghoff, John Byner

Director: Corey Allen

Motion Picture Rating: TV-G

Running Time: 1 hour, 44 minutes

If you're a fan of older classic movies, you'll love this 1979 holiday drama. It's about a costume shop proprietor (Astaire) who rents Santa suits to three men who need them for different purposes. One hopes to impress a woman, one's hiding from the police, and the third is trying to connect with his son. Astaire reappears throughout the movie to help the men make their lives better.

04
of 12

Richie Rich's Christmas Wish (1998)

Richie Rich's Christmas Wish

IMDb rating: 4.0/10

Genre: Comedy, Family

Starring: David Gallagher, Eugene Levy, Keene Curtis

Director: John Murlowski

Motion Picture Rating: G

Running Time: 1 hour, 24 minutes

This direct-to-video, standalone sequel to the 1994 Macaulay Culkin film combines the world's richest kid with It's a Wonderful Life. After his attempt to deliver presents to the town ends in disaster, Richie uses a machine to wish he'd never been born.

05
of 12

Finding John Christmas (2003)

Finding John Christmas

IMDb rating: 6.3/10

Genre: Drama, Family, Fantasy

Starring: Valerie Bertinelli, William Russ, Peter Falk

Director: Andy Wolk

Motion Picture Rating: PG

Running Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes

This movie is part two of a Peter Falk trilogy that's well-loved by movie buffs. Falk plays Max, an angel who works to improve people's lives around the holidays. In this case, his goals are to reunite a family and save an emergency room.

06
of 12

When Angels Come to Town (2004)

When Angels Come to Town

IMDb rating: 6.7/10

Genre: Fantasy, Family, Drama

Starring: Tammy Blanchard, Seann Gallagher, Peter Falk

Director: Andy Wolk

Motion Picture Rating: TV-PG

Running Time: 1 hour, 27 minutes

This film is the third centering around Peter Falk's helpful angel, Max. The other two are Finding John Christmas and A Town Without Christmas. In this one, Max accidentally helps the wrong family and has to move quickly to get back on track.

07
of 12

The Christmas Tree (1996)

The Christmas Tree

IMDb rating: 6.9/10

Genre: Adventure, Family, Drama

Starring: Julie Harris, Trini Alvarado, Andrew McCarthy

Director: Sally Field

Motion Picture Rating: NR

Running Time: 1 hour, 33 minutes

A rare TV Christmas movie from 1996 with a beautiful story that could make you tear up a bit. Sally Field directs this movie about a nun (Harris) who has been growing a tree for decades and the guy (McCarthy) in charge of finding the centerpiece of the Rockefeller Center holiday decorations.

08
of 12

Karroll's Christmas (2004)

Karroll's Christmas

IMDb rating: 6.0/10

Genre: Comedy

Starring: Tom Everett Scott, Wallace Shawn, Verne Troyer

Director: Dennis Dugan

Motion Picture Rating: TV-PG

Running Time: 1 hour, 27 minutes

Allen Karroll (Scott) is a greeting-card writer who hates Christmas thanks to a previous embarrassment from an ex. Will he ever get his holiday spirit back? Find out in this 2004 comedy.

09
of 12

Christmas Caper (2006)

Christmas Caper

IMDb rating: 5.6/10

Genre: Comedy, Family, Fantasy

Starring: Shannen Doherty, Ty Olsson, Conrad Coates

Director: David Winkler

Motion Picture Rating: PG

Running Time: 1 hour, 28 minutes

Christmas tends to bring out the best of people, even when they're at their most wicked. In this comedy, Shannen Doherty plays a crook who goes home for the holidays to hide out after a job goes bad.

10
of 12

Golden Winter (2012)

Golden Winter

IMDb rating: 3.9/10

Genre: Comedy, Family

Starring: Andrew Beckham, Shannon Elizabeth, Jason Brooks

Director: Tom Seidman

Motion Picture Rating: TV-G

Running Time: 1 hour, 29 minutes

Puppies make everything better, and Christmas movies are no exception. In this one, a boy makes some new friends: a litter of homeless Golden Retrievers who can talk to each other via special-effects wizardry. The new pals work together to thwart a holiday bank robbery. We're pretty sure Shannen Doherty's character from Christmas Caper isn't the mastermind, but that would be an amazing crossover.

11
of 12

A Smoky Mountain Christmas (1986)

A Smoky Mountain Christmas

IMDb rating: 6.9/10

Genre: Fantasy, Musical

Starring: Dolly Parton, Lee Majors, Bo Hopkins

Director: Henry Winkler

Motion Picture Rating: TV-PG

Running Time: 1 hour, 34 minutes

Dolly Parton charms us all in this feel-good Christmas movie. She plays country star Lorna Davis, who heads east to get away from Los Angeles. When she arrives at her friend's cabin in Tennessee, she discovers that seven orphans are squatting there. And that's not the only connection to Snow White, since there's also a witch trying to kill Lorna with a poisoned apple because she caught her boyfriend's eye. And we understand her anger, but it's really not fair because everyone loves Dolly Parton.

12
of 12

The Christmas Candle (2013)

The Christmas Candle

IMDb rating: 6.2/10

Genre: Drama, Family

Starring: Hans Matheson, Samantha Barks, Lesley Manville

Director: John Stephenson

Motion Picture Rating: PG

Running Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes

A lonely, troubled pastor moves to a small town that believes in a magical holiday candle. Will the pastor get his Christmas miracle?

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