More On: alfred molina|cary grant|colin firth|danneel ackles|dean cain|debra messing|denise richards|ernie hudson|evergreen|ewan mcgregor|frank capra|gene hackman|geoffrey rush|gwyneth paltrow|helena bonham carter|henry winkler|hilarie burton|john leguizamo|julie andrews|kristy swanson|lacey chabert|loretta young|mariah carey|molly shannon|randy travis|robert buckley|ron howard|stellan skarsgard|steven weber|tom arnold|tom hanks|tyler hilton|wes anderson|william baldwin
Tom Hanks tells fans to 'back the f–k off' as they almost knock Rita Wilson over
Charlie Sheen says his ex-wife Denise Richards is to blame for his daughter Sami joining OnlyFans
'Late Show' shares 'Star Wars'-style 'Cheers' theme to mark Obi-Wan series filming in Boston
Mariah Carey on making a Christmas special in a year that needs it: ‘We’re getting festive’
The best Christmas movies on Amazon Prime
The best Christmas movies on Amazon Prime right now
You will likely be spending a lot of time on Amazon during the holidays anyway, why not find some holiday films to watch on Prime Video as you browse which air fryer would be the best gift for the family member moving into a new apartment.
While the service isn’t teeming with holiday classics in the traditional sense, it does offer some out of the box choices for your viewing pleasure, all starring familiar faces in the world of TV Christmas movies, and film in general.
Here are some film picks we recommend to watch on Amazon Prime this winter that will help get you in the holiday spirit.
It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
Anytime is a good time to watch what many consider one of the quintessential classic films. The Frank Capra-directed tearjerker tells the story of a man ready to end his life, before a higher power intervenes to show him the devastating impact his loss would have to those that love him. The movie will also have you thinking differently about any time you hear jingle bells.
Watch It’s a Wonderful Life on Amazon Prime here.
EW grade: A+ (read the review)
Talent: Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore
Related reading: It’s A Wonderful Life is No. 1 on EW Presents: The Top 10 Holiday Movie Moments
Nothing Like The Holidays (2008)
How often do you see a mainstream movie with a majority Latinx cast? Much less a Christmas movie. This Alfredo Rodriguez de Villa-directed flick tells the story of a Puerto Rican family in Chicago who may be spending their last Christmas all together. Hijinks ensue as they try to make the most of it.
Watch Nothing Like The Holidays on Amazon Prime here.
EW grade: B (read the review)
Talent: John Leguizamo, Debra Messing, Alfred Molina
Related reading: Will & Grace: Where are they now?
The Bishop’s Wife (1947)
While it doesn’t have the iconic soundtrack of it’s remake The Preacher’s Wife, this classic film makes perfect use of its charming star Cary Grant who plays a literal angel sent down from heaven to help a bishop fix his life and his marriage. Only problem is the titular wife may be more interested in moving on with the angel than with her mortal spouse.
Watch The Bishop’s Wife on Amazon Prime here.
EW grade: B+ (read the review)
Talent: Cary Grant, Loretta Young, David Niven
Related reading: 13 classic holiday films to watch with their modern Christmas counterparts
The King’s Speech (2010)
Okay, hear us out. While this Best Picture winner isn’t fully devoted to depicting the holidays, part of the impetus for King George VI seeking out speech lessons is to have the ability to deliver a special Royal Christmas Message like his late father. The film also manages to pack in just as much family drama as any other holiday film, featuring one infamously uninvited sister-in-law.
Watch The King’s Speech on Amazon Prime here.
EW grade: B+ (read the review)
Talent: Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter, Geoffrey Rush
Related reading: Colin Firth and Guy Pearce came up with a 'peachy' new title for The King's Speech on set
The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
Again, not a Christmas movie in a traditional sense, but has all the entertaining elements a holiday film brings when it puts a dysfunctional family under one roof. Writer and director Wes Anderson’s meticulous production design also helps one get in the mood to be stringent with their holiday decorating.
Watch The Royal Tenenbaums on Amazon Prime here.
EW grade: A (read the review)
Talent: Gene Hackman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Anjelica Huston, Ben Stiller
Related reading: How Wes Anderson recast NYC for Tenenbaums
Angels and Demons (2009)
Why not catch a Catholic mystery before attending midnight mass? Based on the bestselling Dan Brown novel, this thriller directed by Ron Howard involves the threat of a terrorist attack at the Vatican, and a new definition for the Illuminati. Maybe pair it with Die Hard for a high octane holiday double feature.
Watch Angels and Demons on Amazon Prime here.
EW grade: B (read the review)
Talent: Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor, Stellan Skarsgard
Related reading: Ranking 23 of Ron Howard's movies
Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas is You (2017)
The queen of Christmas music lent three songs and some narration to this animated film about a young version of her going great length to finally be gifted a puppy. When her peers invite her to walk a charity fashion show, she accepts without owning a pet, takes a job dog sitting for her uncle, and ends up falling in love with the raucous pup.
Watch Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas is You on Amazon Prime here.
Talent: Mariah Carey, Henry Winkler, Lacey Chabert
Related reading: Mariah Carey shares new look at All I Want For Christmas Is You movie
One Special Night (1999)
A lesser known role in Dame Julie Andrews’s oeuvre, this TV movie still packs on the charm with her opposite the titular star of The Rockford Files as two strangers who take refuge in a cabin during bad winter weather, and fall in love.
Watch One Special Night on Amazon Prime here.
Talent: Julie Andrews, James Garner, Patricia Charbonneau
Related reading: Hear Julie Andrews recount a humorous anecdote in audiobook of new memoir Home Work
12 Days of Christmas Eve (2004)
Steven Weber has played some shady characters over the years on shows like iZombie and 13 Reasons Why, so it’s fun to watch him get his comeuppance in this TV movie playing a Scrooge-like man who has to live Christmas Eve over and over again until he finally gets it right.
Watch 12 Days of Christmas Eve on Amazon Prime here.
Talent: Steven Weber, Molly Shannon, Patricia Velasquez
Related reading: What's your favorite SNL holiday sketch?
The Christmas Contract (2018)
It’s a One Tree Hill reunion! While this holiday film doesn’t take its stars back to the fictional town of Tree Hill, North Carolina, it does reintroduce them as conspirators in a plot to make an ex jealous with the whole “bring a fake partner home for the holidays” rom-com plot.
Watch The Christmas Contract on Amazon Prime here.
Talent: Hilarie Burton, Robert Buckley, Danneel Ackles
Related reading: Hilarie Burton and Jeffrey Dean Morgan pitch a quarantine Christmas movie
Christmas on the Bayou (2013)
In this smaller One Tree Hill reunion, Hilarie Burton once again plays a successful New York woman coming home to the south for the holidays, but this time she has a son, and falls in love with Tyler Hilton’s character.
Watch Christmas on the Bayou on Amazon Prime here.
Talent: Hilarie Burton, Tyler Hilton, Randy Travis
Related reading: One Tree Hill cast reunites, performs theme song
Christmas Trade (2015)
Sure there’s been a lot of body swap comedies, but have you seen any holiday versions? Here William Baldwin plays a widower who switches places with his 11-year-old son. It’s also a holiday movie based in Los Angeles, which doesn’t happen as much as you’d think.
Watch Christmas Trade on Amazon Prime here.
Talent: William Baldwin, Denise Richards, Tom Arnold
Related reading: Holiday TV movies in 2015: What's new and used (a lot)
Merry Ex-Mas (2014)
At this point, Dean Cain himself has become a TV Christmas movie cliché, but there’s a reason the folks over at Lifetime, Hallmark, UP, and the like keep using him. Here he plays opposite Kristy Swanson, the original Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as a man snowed in with his ex-wife, her family, and a wealthy suitor, just trying to make the best of it.
Watch Merry Ex-Mas on Amazon Prime here.
Talent: Dean Cain, Kristy Swanson, Ernie Hudson
Related reading: 22 Celebrities you forgot made TV Christmas movies
Related content:
- The best Christmas movies on Netflix right now
- Here's when all 40 new Hallmark Christmas movies will air: first photos
- Deathcember star AJ Bowen shares his top 5 Christmas horror movies
- 13 classic holiday films to watch with their modern Christmas counterparts
This story originally appeared on: EW - Author:Marcus Jones
