Top Ten Christmas Films to Stream This Festive Season, Curated by Robin Wiggs
From evergreen classics to modern hits, a new lineup of holiday titles is streaming now across major platforms.
A new roundup from film critic Robin Wiggs names ten Christmas movies that are currently available to stream, spanning eras and moods. The list is designed to help viewers curate options for 2025's festive season, balancing enduring family staples with crowd-pleasing modern picks. The titles reflect current catalogs across major platforms, including Disney+, Prime Video, Netflix, Sky/Now, BBC iPlayer and Studiocanal's streaming channels.
Leading the lineup is The Sound of Music (1965), streaming on Disney+. The beloved musical is followed by The Bishop's Wife (1947), available on Amazon Prime Video. The Holly and The Ivy (1952) is offered via Studiocanal Presents, with buy or rent options on Apple, Amazon and other platforms. The Holdovers (2023) arrives on Netflix, featuring Paul Giamatti in a standout performance set in a snowy New England boarding school. Elf (2003) remains a holiday staple on Sky and Now TV, bringing Will Ferrell's Buddy to life in a tale of Christmas cheer. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) lands on Disney+ as a fan-favorite Dickens adaptation starring Michael Caine and Kermit the Frog.
Rounding out the roster are Scrooged (1988), a modern take on A Christmas Carol streaming on Sky and Now, with Bill Murray as a television executive visited by three ghosts. The Holiday (2006) is available across Amazon, Disney+, Netflix and Sky/Now, pairing two women who swap homes for a feel-good season. Last Christmas (2019) lands on BBC iPlayer, Disney+ and Netflix, starring Emilia Clarke in a London-set romantic comedy built around a Christmas-tune soundtrack. The Family Stone (2005) closes the lineup on Disney+ and Netflix, a starry ensemble about a New England family gathering during the holidays.
The ten titles offer a spectrum of holiday mood—from the warmth of a classic musical to the whimsy of a Muppet-tinged Dickens tale and the brisk energy of late-20th-century comedies. Wiggs stressed that the list is not a ranked chart but a practical snapshot of what’s accessible across major platforms as the season approaches. Viewers should check their regional catalogs, as streaming rights and availability can vary by country.
Colorful and varied, the lineup underscores how streaming has reshaped holiday viewing. For families, there are timeless sing-alongs and family-friendly adventures; for adults, there are nostalgic comedies and romantic capers that blend festive charm with sharp humor. The top ten is intended as a starting point for a season of streaming, with new titles potentially joining as catalogs rotate.