Top Ten Christmas Films to Stream This Festive Season

As the festive season approaches, entertainment analyst Robin Wiggs has unveiled a Top Ten of Christmas films available to stream now, spanning old-school classics and contemporary hits for 2025. The short list is designed to help viewers dial into the mood with options across major platforms, from family-friendly musicals to sharp modern comedies.

The lineup includes The Sound of Music on Disney+, The Bishop's Wife on Amazon Prime Video, The Holly and the Ivy from Studiocanal (buy or rent on Apple and Amazon), The Holdovers on Netflix, Elf on Sky and Now, The Muppet Christmas Carol on Disney+, Scrooged on Sky/Now, The Holiday on Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Netflix and Sky Now, Last Christmas on BBC iPlayer, Disney+ and Netflix, and The Family Stone on Disney+ and Netflix.

Wiggs emphasizes variety within the selection, noting that it offers musicals, British drama, and feel-good comedies designed to suit different ages and tastes. The goal is to provide streaming-ready options that can become festive staples without requiring viewers to sift through an overload of seasonal titles.

The Sound of Music remains a perennial favorite, with Julie Andrews starring as a governess who joins a widowed captain and his large brood, a story steeped in music, family resilience, and wartime backdrop. Widely regarded as a landmark musical, it continues to be celebrated as a quintessential Christmas family film.

The Bishop's Wife presents a vintage holiday romance in which Cary Grant plays an angel assigned to help a busy bishop and his wife. The 1947 classic is widely regarded as a wholesome festive romcom and a hidden gem for audiences seeking something nostalgic and uplifting.

The Holly and the Ivy is a British Christmas drama from 1952, adapted from a 1950 play. It centers on a widowed reverend and his family, offering emotional depth and a sober meditation on family ties during the holiday season.

The Holdovers, available on Netflix, follows Paul Giamatti in an Oscar-nominated turn as a strict 1970s teacher at a New England boarding school. Set against a snowy backdrop, it unfolds as a feel-good tale about rediscovering the festive spirit amid difficult personal dynamics.

Elf, a longtime holiday staple on Sky and Now, follows Buddy the Elf as he travels from the North Pole to New York City to discover his identity and spread Christmas cheer. The film has become a benchmark for exuberant holiday energy and family-friendly humor.

The Muppet Christmas Carol on Disney+ reimagines the Dickens classic with Michael Caine as Scrooge and Kermit the Frog as Bob Cratchit, blending the beloved Muppets’ whimsy with a faithful adaptation of the classic ghost story.

Scrooged on Sky/Now reimagines A Christmas Carol in the 1980s, starring Bill Murray as a self-absorbed TV executive who is visited by three ghosts. The modernized setting and satirical edge give the story a distinctive, humor-driven take on the familiar tale.

The Holiday, available across Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Netflix and Sky Now, is a cozy romcom about two women swapping homes for the holidays and discovering new perspectives on love and life during the festive season.

Last Christmas, a London-set romcom released in 2019, stars Emilia Clarke and was co-written by Dame Emma Thompson. Streaming on BBC iPlayer, Disney+ and Netflix, it blends romance with a bittersweet note that resonated with many viewers around the holidays.

The Family Stone, on Disney+ and Netflix, is a New England Christmas comedy featuring a star-studded ensemble including Diane Keaton, Rachel McAdams and Sarah Jessica Parker. The film centers on a family gathering that tests relationships and ultimately reinforces the warmth of family bonds during the season.