One can never get enough of Christmas movies, especially around the holidays. And, seeing just how many streaming platforms are out there, it’s easier to find good (and bad) Christmas movies than ever. This article will focus solely on Starz and the films you can find there.
Without further ado, here are the ten best Christmas movies on Starz, ranked by their IMDb score from worst to best. There’s a little bit of everything for everyone here, from comedies and romances to action flicks, so I’m positive you’ll find just the perfect flick for you and your family.
10. A Belle For Christmas (2014)
IMDb rating: 4.7/10
What it’s about: A young boy and his sister wish for nothing more than a puppy for Christmas. Their wish comes true as they get beautiful, adopted little puppy called Belle. The joy is short-lived, however, as the pup is taken away by a gold-digging date from their widowed father right on Christmas Eve. The siblings and their neighborhood friends go on a rescue mission to save Belle.
Why you should watch it: The premise is incredibly simple and not that well-executed, even in its simplicity. However, it’s a relaxing family comedy that has a puppy in it. What more do you need than a snow-white, adorable little Christmas pup?
9. Deck the Halls (2006)
IMDb rating: 5/10
What it’s about: Steve Finch is an optometrist living a happy suburban life with his wife and kids. They have numerous Christmas traditions, but everything goes haywire when Buddy Hall and his family move in across the street. The Halls are completely different from the Finches – scammy, wild, and not really caring about other people.
The beef starts when Buddy puts so many Christmas lights on his house that it’s blinding – striving for his house to be seen from space. As the two house heads start butting heads, their families actually start getting along. Will the rivalry ruin Christmas, or will their differences bring everyone together in the end?
Why you should watch it: The IMDb rating is just bad, but I don’t find the movie that terrible. Matthew Broderick did a nice job, but Danny DeVito is always Danny DeVito – a frickin’ legend! While the ‘neighbors from hell’ premise might be a bit tacky and shabby already, there are some great jokes in the film that the entire family will enjoy. Not a Christmas classic, but close enough.
8. Buttons, A New Musical Film (2018)
IMDb rating: 5.3/10
What it’s about: Tho young girls living in an orphanage have a single Christmas wish – finding a loving, warm home for Christmas. Their guardian angels overhear their wishes and nudge them in the right direction to make it happen. The girls learn that if you believe enough, miracles can – and will happen.
Why you should watch it: Again, the rating might be a bit low if you ask me. It’s not the best musical you’ll ever watch, but it’s a sweet story worth your time. A big bonus for me was the fact that Kate Winslet and Robert Redford gave their voices as narrators, and honestly, if the acting was just a tad bit better, I’m sure the rating would be a LOT better than it is.
7. Happy Christmas (2014)
IMDb rating: 5.4/10
What it’s about: Jenny is an irresponsible girl in her twenties, and after a tough breakup, she decides to move in with her brother Jeff and his novelist wife, Kelly. The two women seem to butt heads right from the start, but after a while, Jenny’s free spirit rubs off on Kelly and helps her instigate an evolution, both in her personal life and her career.
Why you should watch it: I liked Happy Christmas due to the nature of the story – things aren’t always as they seem, and you shouldn’t disregard people based on first impressions. There’s something to learn from everybody, which both Jenny and Kelly realize after a rocky start of their life under the same roof.
Also, there’s Anna Kendrick and Melanie Lynskey, so fun and comedy are basically guaranteed.
6. All Is Bright (2013)
IMDb rating: 5.6/10
What it’s about: Dennis just got out of prison on parole, and he reluctantly accepts a get-rich-quick scheme of selling Christmas Trees with another guy named Rene. To make matters worse, Rene basically stole Dennis’ wife while the guy was in jail. The two will have to make things work if they want any chance at a profit – and normal life.
Why you should watch it: Although the plot is kind of choppy and not really well-rounded, Paul Giamatti (Dennis) and Paul Rudd (Rene) actually have good chemistry on screen. It’s a classic buddy comedy that will certainly make you laugh or at least giggle a few times.
5. Jingle All The Way (1996)
IMDb rating: 5.7/10
What it’s about: Howard is a busy man who lost track of what’s important in life, as he dedicates his life to work. That’s why he always misses important family events and forgets his promises. He vowed to make one thing right, though – get his son the super-popular Turbo Man action figure for Christmas.
He forgets yet again and goes out to get one on Christmas Eve, but every single store is sold out, so he embarks on a wild adventure to get Turbo Man and save his family.
Why you should watch it: If you’re looking for a comedy, look no further than Arnold Schwarzenegger’s accent in this movie. It’s a holiday classic despite the utter silliness of the situations that happen throughout the film. It’s a funny comment on consumerism, but you’ll have literally zero compassion and understanding for Arnie in this film.
4. The Family Stone (2005)
IMDb rating: 6.3/10
What it’s about: Everett Stone returns home to Connecticut for Christmas with his uptight girlfriend, Meredith. Despite her best efforts, she just can’t seem to get along with the Stones, who are much more outgoing, quirky, and free-spirited than her. The only one who seems to get and support her is Ben, Everett’s brother.
Meredith and Ben start hitting it off, and Everett doesn’t really seem to care, so Meredith calls her friend Julia for help. Suddenly, Julia and Everett develop somewhat of a chemistry. Will everything fall into place? Will love and understanding prevail?
Why you should watch it: The cast, led by Sarah Jessica Parker, is lovely, and the story is quite comical at times. That being said, I wasn’t too keen on the whole girlfriend-swap narrative between the brothers, but all is good in the name of love, I guess?
3. Scrooged (1988)
IMDb rating: 6.9/10
What it’s about: Francis Cross is a mean TV executive that’s as cynical and naughty as they get. He treats everyone with disrespect, especially his assistants – firing one of them on Christmas Eve simply because of a difference in opinions. To add to it, he refuses to visit his brother on Christmas despite being invited every single year.
That all prompt the good old visit from the three ghosts of Christmas, teaching Frank what Christmas is all about.
Why you should watch it: We’ve seen a million adaptations of A Christmas Carol with Ebenezer Scrooge as the central figure. Well, this movie is quite similar, but this time, another guy gets ‘Scrooged’ in a much more modern environment. As always, Bill Murray aces comedy, and the reimagining of the classic story will certainly intrigue you and the family.
2. The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017)
IMDb rating: 7/10
What it’s about: in the mid-19th century, Charles Dickens is out of ideas and at the bottom of his long writing career. Expenses and debt keeps growing for his family, and Charles decides to write a Christmas story with a deadline of two months.
To make matters harder, his estranged parents come to visit, making Charles reminisce about his childhood ruined by his father’s financial irresponsibility. What comes out, in the end, is A Christmas Carol, a story that’ll become a timeless Christmas classic.
Why you should watch it: Dan Stevens, Christopher Plummer, Morfydd Clark, and the rest of the amazing cast resulted in a fantastic Christmas movie. However, instead of focusing on the timeless story about Ebenezer Scrooge himself, the movie focuses on its creator, Charles Dickens, and the creative process leading to the writing of the story.
The movie is one of my favorites on the list, as it’s innovative, funny, emotional, and overall fantastic.
1. Die Hard (1988)
IMDb rating: 8.2/10
What it’s about: John McClane is an NYC cop that ends up being the last resort to save his estranged wife and a bunch of other hostages held by terrorists at the Nakatomi Plaza skyscraper during a Christmas party.
Why you should watch it: TA-DA! You didn’t think we’d actually skip Die Hard, the best Christmas movie of all time, did you? Yes, it’s a guns-blazing action thriller. No, there are no presents or Santa Claus. There’s Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman blasting off during a Christmas party, and that’s all we need to dub Die Hard a Christmas movie.
As for why you should watch it, I won’t even dive into that. If you haven’t watched Die Hard, what are you doing with your life? If you have watched it, you know what to expect, and it’s all the more reason to watch it again.
