23 Christmas Movies That Are Almost Sure to Make You Cry
The holidays are a time of great emotions. The weather can be extreme, there can be too much to do, and family gatherings can cause wild swings of strong feelings: joy, excitement, apprehension, irritation, exhaustion. Movies (and life) teach us that any holiday dinner with enough guests must include some drama: someone gets pregnant, someone gets married or divorced, someone comes out of the closet, someone dies. This season truly has it all.
Movies give us the opportunity to escape from it all by watching other people deal with their own dramas—and we’re not so interested in the subtleties and nuances because that’s not what’s in the air. Is it even a Christmas movie if you’re not crying into your eggnog? Many of the saddest Christmas movies have very similar plot tropes (it’s Dickens’s world; we just live in it), but it’s the execution that makes them rise or fall. The most successful ones hit big and hit us right where we live.
It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
Obviously. It’s easy to dismiss It’s a Wonderful Life as overblown holiday fluff; Constant public displays revived it from near obscurity, but also turned it into seasonal wallpaper. He’s always playing in the background, but no one pays much attention to him – which is too bad, considering this is a much stranger and more nuanced film than the bit about angels and ringing bells would suggest. We can only watch as George Bailey compromises his dreams again and again, only to find that what little he has built rests on a house of cards. America, amirite? There’s real emotion in George’s breakdown and a (mostly) satisfying catharsis in the ending that’s harder to achieve than many of the softer, cozier Christmas classics. You can stream It’s a Wonderful Life on Prime Video and The Roku Channel.
Carol (2015)
The chemistry between Mara’s Theresa Rooney and Cate Blanchett’s Carol is palpable from the moment their eyes meet in a crowded department store, but it’s the 1950s and their love doesn’t dare say its name, even to each other. Queerphobia, as we all know, was completely eradicated decades ago, so it may seem strange that a gay romance would raise eyebrows, but that’s how it was back then. Women suffer because of their love, but tears come less when things go wrong and when it seems that something might have gone wrong for them. You can stream Carol on Paramount+ and Netflix or rent it from Prime Video .
Best Man’s Holiday (2013)
Sequel to the 2013 film “A Better Man.” This film quickly informs us of the aftermath of the previous film before moving into new territory (it’s not necessary to have seen the original if you want to jump right into the holiday festivities). Morris Chestnut, Taye Diggs, Regina Hall, Terrence Howard and Sanaa Lathan lead the sequel, which offers a bold mix of raunchy humor, hot shirtless guys, heartfelt religious themes and unashamedly heartbreaking plot twists. It all somehow basically holds together. It’s a well-executed soap opera with great moments of comedy, family drama and tragedy, delivering all the emotional moments you’d expect from a holiday movie. You can stream The Best Man Holiday on Prime Video .
Joye Noel (2005)
A fictionalized version of a true story, the Academy Award-nominated film tells the story of an extraordinary moment in the first year of World War I, when French, German and British soldiers negotiated a series of unofficial truces at several points along the front line. often mixed to celebrate Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The German Crown Prince even sent a soloist from the Berlin Opera to perform at the front, entertaining both sides. By dramatizing the event, the filmmakers understand that the truce was both glorious and absurd. These complex feelings, and the realization that what we are seeing represents a momentary lull in a war that will continue for years, create powerful emotional moments. You can stream Joyeux Noël on Paramount+ or rent it on Prime Video .
Midnight Clarity (1992)
Another war and another Christmas truce (of sorts) are featured in Keith Gordon’s Midnight Clear, set during the Battle of the Bulge near the end of World War II. A small, inexperienced reconnaissance force is sent to occupy an abandoned castle to gather information about German movements. The Germans quickly bring them into order, but retreat and instead begin sending signals (Christmas carols, snowball fights) that they are no longer interested in fighting. They understand that the war is coming to an end, and hope to make a deal with the Americans: a simulated battle and a quick surrender to avoid bloodshed. Of course, what sounds reasonable to the soldiers on the front lines is completely anathema to those giving the orders. You can stream Midnight Clear on Prime Video , Peacock and Tubi.
Stepmother (1998)
All the ingredients for a fairly typical seasonal comedy (or drama, anyway) are here: Chris Columbus ( Home Alone , Mrs. Doubtfire ) directs Susan Sarandon as Jackie, a woman forced to spend the holidays with her ex-husband’s girlfriend (whom played by Julia Roberts). However, the reason for this meeting is not about rom-coms: Jackie has lymphoma, and neither she nor we are falsely optimistic. She is dying, and this young woman will most likely become a stepmother to her children. Both the relationship between them and Jackie’s illness come to a head during Christmas.
You can rent Stepmom from Prime Video .
Christmas Tree (1969)
Terence Young, best known for his early James Bond films, stars William Holden as Laurent Segur, a wealthy Frenchman on the verge of a new romance who learns that his 10-year-old son Pascal is dying from exposure to radiation. Determined to make their son’s last days as special as possible, the three set off on a series of small adventures. The tone isn’t overtly tear-jerking, but there’s no escaping the poignancy of the central message of appreciating what you have while you have it. You can stream “The Christmas Tree” on Tubi .
Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)
For a musical perhaps best known for Judy Garland’s epic ode to vintage streetcars, there is surprising emotional depth here. Following the upper-class Smith family over the course of a year, beginning in the summer of 1903, the film is about changing times and changing circumstances – nothing overly dramatic, unless you’re Margaret O’Brien’s gleefully morbid Tootie, who suddenly discovers that the fact that she expected them to never change was more dangerous than she thought possible. The key moment is Judy Garland’s heartbreaking rendition of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” a song that was later played on the radio but in this case encourages us to enjoy what we have while we have it because the future is uncertain. . You can stream “Meet Me in St. Louis” on Max and Tubi.
Miracle of the Whole Court (2003)
In this seasonal production that combines inspiring sports movies with a dash of holiday magic, teenagers at the Hebrew Academy of Philadelphia struggle to build their basketball team despite their truly terrible coach. A struggling outsider comes onto the scene who may just be able to set them on the right path, if only the students and teachers will believe in him. The moment when the local rabbi tells the story of Hanukkah in connection with a kids’ basketball game is pretty darn effective. You can stream A Miracle in the Whole Court on Disney+ .
Into the Gloomy Midwinter (1995)
Indie writer/director Kenneth Branagh is nowhere near as dour (or bleak) as the title might suggest, but rather a dark comedy about a depressed, out-of-work actor who is persuaded to put on a Christmas production of Hamlet (very Branagh, that) in an attempt to save the church. his sister from greedy developers (aren’t they always). The “let’s put on a show to save anything” idea was carried out, but the strong performances from the cast and the director’s clear affection for Shakespeare give the film additional emotional resonance, even if you’re not a fan of stories about finding the true spirit of the season in communicating with others, and who’s really Isn’t that really the case? You can stream In the Bleak Midwinter (also known as A Midwinter’s Tale ) on Hoopla .
One Magical Christmas (1985)
The Granger family can be forgiven for abandoning the holiday spirit entirely: Jack is unemployed and Ginny’s job at the grocery store isn’t enough to save the family home, which doesn’t really matter since she’s about to lose. that concert too. And that’s all before a bank robbery gone wrong leaves their two children with only one parent. Luckily, there’s an angel waiting in the wings, but he’s played by Harry Dean Stanton, so he’s definitely not the funny one. Daughter Abby turns out to be the family’s only hope for something resembling a happy ending, but there are plenty of reasons to shed tears before the final act. You can stream One Magic Christmas on Disney+ or rent it on Prime Video .
Family Man (2000)
We can’t get enough of alternate timelines and looks at roads less taken, and The Family Man delivers a slightly more modern, totally Nicolas Cage-esque and therefore more extreme version of this trope. Here, a boring (but successful) corporate worker ends up in an alternate timeline where he marries Téa Leoni (the one who ran away in his home timeline) but remains unemployed and stressed over his inability to provide for his family. I think no life is perfect. Returning to his timeline, he takes the opportunity to reunite with an old girlfriend who could have become his wife, but even with the lessons learned, there is no way to get back the time they lost or the children they had in the other world. schedule. (It’s all very much like one episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation .) You can watch The Family Man onNetflix and Peacock .
Remember the Night (1940)
New York District Attorney John Sargent (Fred MacMurray), with the spirit of old Christmas, agrees to release shoplifter Lee Leander (Barbara Stanwyck) on bail and even offers her a ride to her mother’s home in Indiana. way to your family meeting. The ride naturally includes moments of comedy and hints of romance, but it’s the ambiguous, less-than-happy ending that really makes an impact, suggesting that the manipulative Leigh may have been genuinely touched by her time with John. You can stream Remember the Night on Plex .
Last Christmas (2019)
Emilia Clarke and America’s sweetheart Henry Golding have amazing chemistry as a down-on-her-luck aspiring singer and the slightly mysterious man with whom she shares a wonderful and inspiring holiday season. The twist ending here will either work for you or it won’t (it’s fun on paper either way). I was ready to laugh, but it still got to me in the end. You can stream Last Christmas on Max or rent it on Prime Video .
A Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
I’ve yet to find a Muppet movie that doesn’t leave me in a puddle, so this is an easy addition. That’s truer now than ever, however, with Disney+ finally making available the music segment that was cut shortly after release and which, while occasionally available on various home releases, hasn’t been part of the film for quite some time. It’s a moment between Scrooge (both present and past) and Belle, whose love he cast aside before succumbing to a life centered on money. The Muppet’s silliness stops for just a few moments, making Scrooge’s emotional stakes clear and giving Sir Michael Caine a chance to hum the tune. You can watch A Muppet Christmas Carol on Disney+ .
A Christmas Tale (2008)
A Christmas Tale uses some of the same ideas as The Family Stone , even down to casting a legendary lead actress—in this case, Catherine Deneuve as a matriarch recently diagnosed with leukemia. This French comedy-drama takes a slightly deeper and darker look at family dynamics during the holidays, but also approaches its central family with greater empathy, recognizing that as we change, even our most stable relationships change. You can watch A Christmas Carol on AMC+ .
Christmas again (2014)
A familiar (and welcome) face to American indie film fans, Kentucker Audley plays a Christmas tree salesman returning home to New York, an act that only deepens the downward spiral of depression and feelings of failure in which he has been mired for years. He lives in a trailer and barely survives when a mysterious woman comes into his life, along with some strange and eclectic clients who help him fight his self-destructive impulses. There are familiar beats here, but shot with more realism and restraint (writer-director Charles Pockel partially financed the film with money from his own depressing job as a Christmas tree salesman), so the dark moments hit a little harder and the light moments feel very good earned. You can stream It’s Christmas Again on The Roku Channel .
Klaus (2019)
A charming, bespoke origin story for Santa based on nothing in particular, Klaus finds the lazy son of a postmaster general in 19th-century Norway forced to move to a remote island town where he is tasked with delivering 6,000 letters within a year or else he will be laid off. from family fortune. When he arrives there, he discovers that the two main feuding families haven’t bothered to send him letters, but that an elderly widower can help him in a scheme he’s come up with to convince the town’s children to write letters in hopes of receiving toys in return – toys created by old Klaus in hopes of to create a family that never materialized. It’s all beautifully animated by hand, and the genuine emotion brings tears to the eyes with Pixar efficiency. I encourage you not to cry during the final act. You can stream Klaus on Netflix .
The Pledge of Beauty (2018)
Will Smith plays an advertising executive who passes away after the death of his daughter. His friends and family cannot find a common language, and he tries to cope by writing letters to his ideas about Love, Time and Death, and they all respond. It’s all a bit silly, but Smith leads a great cast that just about executes a fantastic premise and offers some truly tearful moments. You can rent Collateral Beauty on Apple TV .
My Uncle Antoine (1971)
Set in Quebec, this story is less heartbreaking and more a quietly emotional coming-of-age tale in which young Benoit helps his undertaker uncle on the eve of Christmas in their rural town. The two become close and fight while transporting the body of a teenager who unexpectedly died. Once Benoit’s hero, Antoine discovers over the course of the day that he hates his job and his life, and that drinking has become his only salvation. As a picture of coming of age through difficult times, this is a great film in every way. You can stream Mon Oncle Antoine (aka My Uncle Antoine ) on the Criterion Channel .
Jack Frost (1998)
While it does feel a bit like a horror film at times, Jack Frost starring Michael Keaton is surprisingly impressive, especially to the generation of kids who watched it at the right age. A year after the Christmas death of his often absent father, his young son Charlie discovers that he has magically returned to life as a snowman on the lawn. On paper, the idea of a snowman possessed by the ghost of your dead father must have been a tough sell, but as a story about a deep-rooted desire to spend one more day with a lost loved one, it works. You can stream Jack Frost on Hulu .
Prancer (1989)
This dark seasonal drama is already depressing at first glance—the story follows a young girl who resolutely maintains a holiday spirit despite her mother’s recent death, her father’s depression, and the collapse of the family business—but somehow it gets worse. for the absolute realism with which director John Hancock treats the material; the film is slow, almost colorless and downright unsentimental, even when the girl rescues an injured reindeer that she is convinced fell from Santa’s sleigh. The ending refuses to be too happy; the best he can offer is a reconciliation between the girl and her depressed father, who suggests that even if their whole lives continue to go downhill, at least they will still have each other. Merry Christmas! You can stream Prancer on AMC+ and MGM+.
Snowman (1982)
This beautiful Oscar-nominated short film follows a little boy who has a series of adventures with a particularly elaborate snowman. Suffice it to say, Bigfoot’s season is too short, and the lesson here turns out to be a very poignant one about the bittersweet beauty of impermanence and change. You can stream The Snowman on Vudu and Pluto TV or watch it on YouTube linked above.