Over 650 Free Christmas Movies You Can Watch Online

Whether you can’t afford a streaming service or you just want more options, there are plenty of free Christmas movies to watch online.

This post will comprise dozens of the best holiday movies you can watch for free.

Our lists will be organized by subgenre, and we will include films that are either public domain, provided for free by the studios, or free with ads.

NOTE: This post has been fully updated for the 2022 Christmas season. Happy Holidays!

• 10 Free Family-Friendly Christmas Classics
• 10 Free Holiday Horror Movies
• 10 Free Christmas Carols
• 10 Merry MST3k Movies
• 15 Classic Christmas Specials
• Over 600 Additional Christmas Movies
• And a Partridge in a Pear Tree

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10 Free Family-Friendly Christmas Classics

This section will list the most popular family-friendly Christmas movies that you can watch for free online. Most of these free Christmas movies are free with ads, but some are simply licensed for distribution on Youtube. These are holiday movies that you’ve probably heard of before, and some of them are absolute classics.

1. Scrooged

This is unquestionably one of the better adaptations of A Christmas Carol.

The film follows a television network executive played by Bill Murray as he discovers the true meaning of Christmas.

The decision to make the main character a wealthy media figurehead was perhaps ahead of its time, and it’s still pretty relevant today as a result.

 

Click here to watch Scrooged for free with ads on Pluto TV.

2. Rise of the Guardians

This is another movie that is considered by many to be a modern classic. It’s also a pretty popular CGI animated films that kids will love.

Santa joins the legendary likes of the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, and Jack Frost in this holiday film.

This free Christmas movie is available through IMDb TV on Amazon.

 

Click here to watch Rise of the Guardians on Freevee with ads.

3. Miracle on 34th Street (1955)

Although the original film came out in 1947 and won 3 Oscars, this Made-for-TV adaptation is also considered a classic.

Although it clocks in at under an hour, it’s definitely a good alternative to other versions of the story.

If you’d rather watch the movie that inspired all the rest, you’ll find Miracle on 34th Street (1947) on HBO Max.

 

Click here to watch Miracle on 34th Street (1955) on Tubi with ads.

4. It’s a Wonderful Life

Even though this movie was once in the public domain, it is no longer legally free to watch.

The studios managed to secure its copyright once more and it is no longer part of the public domain.

Thankfully, you can watch this slightly truncated version on Tubi for free with ads. If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can watch the full unedited version for free on Prime Video.

 

Click here to watch It’s a Wonderful Life on Tubi with ads.

5. The Nutcracker (1993)

Millennials who grew up in the 90s probably remember this adaptation of the classic ballet The Nutcracker.

Shortly after his success in Home Alone, Macaulay Culkin starred as The Nutcracker in this film. This may not be the most popular version of the story, but many consider it a holiday classic. 

 

Click here to watch The Nutcracker (1993) on Tubi with ads.

6. Joyeux Noel

Also known as “Merry Christmas,” this is probably the only war movie you’ll see on this list. That being said, it definitely deserves to be listed as one of the best free Christmas movies available.

This holiday film tells the true story of French, Scottish, and German soldiers who called a momentary truce in December of 1914 in honor of Christmas. If you haven’t seen this one, we highly recommend watching it at least once.

 

Click here to watch Joyeux Noel on Tubi with ads.

7. Santa With Muscles

This is another situation where you could make the case it’s not a “classic” Christmas movie.

Even so, a lot of Millennials and Gen Xers grew up with this holiday flick, and it has become something of a cult classic.

Starring none other than Hulk Hogan (Suburban Commando), it’s not difficult to see why this was popular among certain audiences. Thankfully, you can now watch it for free with ads!

 

Click here to watch Santa With Muscles on Tubi with ads .

8. Miracle on 34th Street (1994)

Even though the original film is not currently available, this slightly more modern remake is available to stream for free with ads.

Starring Richard Attenborough (Jurassic Park) as Kriss Kringle and Mara Wilson (Matilda) as the little girl, this is actually a pretty good adaptation of the story.

Written by none other than John Hughes (Home Alone), you can trust that this is one of the better holiday films on our list.

 

Click here to watch Miracle on 34th Street (1994) for free on Roku Channel with ads.

9. I Am Santa Claus

Alright, this might be a tough sell, but hear me out: have you ever wondered what life is actually like for the people who portray Santa Claus each Christmas?

This documentary depicts the lives and lifestyles of several Santa Clauses, including a look at what they get up to when they aren’t making kids happy.

Best of all, one of the Santa’s we get to see in this movie is none other than WWE legend Mick Foley!

 

Click here to watch I Am Santa Claus on Tubi for free with ads.

BONUS: If you’re looking for even more Christmas documentaries, consider either Believe or Becoming Santa.

Both films focus on the life of Santa, so they’re pretty similar to this one!

10. Noel

Alright, so this isn’t necessarily a classic holiday film, but it definitely should be. Although the production has the feel of a Hallmark film, it’s actually quite exceptional.

Starring Susan Sarandon (Thelma & Louise), Robin Williams (Hook) and many others, this is one free Christmas movie that’s definitely worth watching. 

 

10 Free Holiday Horror Movies

There have been Christmas-themed horror films for at least 50 years. Fans of the genre will be happy to see some of the best examples of holiday horror on this list. We’ll include both classics from the 70s and modern favorites from the last decade. Most of these free Christmas movies will be on services with ads.

1. Black Christmas (1974)

Before he directed the holiday classic A Christmas Story, Bob Clark made this beloved horror film.

This movie was so influential it eventually inspired more than one remake.

By modern standards it isn’t the scariest movie you’ll ever see, but it’s definitely enjoyable. Do yourself a favor and check out this classic holiday horror movie.

 

Click here to watch Black Christmas on Tubi with ads.

2. Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale

This one has become a modern favorite among horror fans for good reason.

A young boy living in rural Finland believes that his father may have caught Santa Claus in a trap.

The reality is far worse than either of them realize. The entire movie is in Finnish, so you might need to watch it with subtitles.

Even so, we highly recommend giving this one a chance!

 

Click here to watch Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale on Tubi with ads.

3. Silent Night, Bloody Night

If you’re looking for another classic, this is one of the earliest Christmas horror movies of them all.

This is also an early example of a slasher film, and it uses several elements of the subgenre. One of the nice things about this title is that it’s actually in the public domain.

The film was never copyrighted, so it has always been free and legal to watch.

 

4. Christmas Evil

This is another classic Christmas horror movie that every fan of the subgenre should see at least once.

When a toy factory worker is belittled at work, he has a breakdown and dresses up as Santa.

After taking on the role of father Christmas, he decides to give gifts to nice people and punish the naughty. 

 

Click here to watch Christmas Evil on Tubi with ads.

5. Jack Frost (1997)

Take a trip to Snowmanton and watch as a killer snowman takes out half the town. Yes, that’s literally the name of the town in this movie.

If you’re looking for something fun to watch that you shouldn’t take seriously, this is an absolute must.

The entire concept of a serial killer who gets chemically transformed into a snowman is just amazing. You can also watch this movie with Rifftrax commentary for free.

 

Click here to watch Jack Frost (1997) on Roku with ads.

6. Jack Frost 2: Revenge of the Mutant Killer Snowman

Yes, they actually made a sequel to the killer snowman movie. Say what you will, but these movies are definitely fun to watch.

This time around, the snowman finds himself on a tropical island where the killing spree continues.

If you’re questioning the logic behind this plot, you might want to consider something else on our list.

 

Click here to watch Jack Frost 2: Revenge of the Mutant Killer Snowman on Roku with ads.

7-10. Silent Night, Deadly Night 2, 3, 4, and 5

Although the first movie in this franchise is not currently available to stream, its sequels are free with ads.

That’s alright, because this movie features some of the most quotable scenes of all time.

Nothing about this holiday horror is high quality, but it’s definitely enjoyable. Many fans of the subgenre consider this a must watch each year.

In addition to the second movie, Silent Night, Deadly Night 3 – 5 are also free Christmas movies you can watch.

As usual, these movies just get worse as you go along. Even so, if you feel so inclined, at least they won’t cost you a thing to watch!

 

Click here to watch Silent Night, Deadly Night 2 on Tubi with ads.

Click here to watch Silent Night, Deadly Night 3 on Tubi with ads.

Click here to watch Silent Night, Deadly Night 4 on Tubi with ads.

Click here to watch Silent Night, Deadly Night 5 on Tubi with ads.

10 Free Christmas Carols

This list will compile all the free Christmas movies which are adaptations of the holiday classic A Christmas Carol.

If you click that link, it will actually take you to a free and legal copy of the original story that you can read!

Many of the Christmas Carol adaptations you’ll find below are in the public domain, and some of them are even quite historic.

Others are more modern takes on the Scrooge story, and I’m sure you’ll spot at least one or two versions you’ve seen before.

1. A Christmas Carol (1984)

This is probably one of the more easily recognizable versions of the classic Christmas story.

Legendary actor George C. Scott (Patton, The Changeling) stars in the role of Ebenezer Scrooge.

It’s safe to say this isn’t the most popular adaptation of the Charles Dickens tale, but it’s definitely one of the best.

 

Click here to watch A Christmas Carol (1984) on Tubi with ads.

This adaptation of Scrooge has been in the public domain for many years because its copyright was never renewed.

As such, you may recognize this version simply because it was frequently broadcast on television.

Although it might not be everyone’s first choice, this one is at least free and legal to watch.

 

9. A Christmas Carol (1910)

This is probably one of the most historic Christmas movies on our list.

Produced by none other than Thomas Edison, this film clocks in at just under 15 minutes in length.

At this time in history, movies were still relatively short and of course silent.

The “gimmick” behind it all was just seeing moving images on a screen.

My how times have changed! Since this film is over 95 years old, it has fallen into the public domain by default.

 

10. Scrooge, or Marley’s Ghost (1901)

Having been produced just around 5-10 years after movies hit the scene, this is arguably the earliest adaptation of A Christmas Carol currently available.

Released just 58 years after the book itself was published, this is certainly an important and historic film.

The reason we have the opportunity to enjoy it today is because the British Film Institute put it on their Youtube channel.

Now we can all enjoy one of the oldest free Christmas movies ever made!

 

10 Free Merry MST3k Movies

Some of the cheesier free Christmas movies have been lampooned by either Mystery Science Theater 3000 or Rifftrax.

If you’re a fan of their work, chances are you’ll enjoy these funny takes on terrible holiday classics.

While you usually have to pay for these commentary tracks, they do have a few of them on various services for free.

This list will cover some of the best free options available for the holiday season.

1. Rifftrax: Santa Claus (1959)

This is one of those very strange holiday films in the public domain, and the stars of MST3k had a blast cracking jokes about the movie.

Also known as “Santa Claus vs The Devil,” this movie has Santa facing off against a demon.

No really, that is the premise of the film. Oh, did we mention Santa seems to have some kind of space ship?

It’s a very odd film, and this is probably one of the best ways to watch it.

This is their more modern take on the film, but they also parodied Santa Claus on MST3k, and that version is also available for free.

 

Click here to watch Rifftrax: Santa Claus (1959) on Tubi with ads.

Click here to watch MST3k: Santa Claus (1959) on Tubi with ads.

2. RiffTrax: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians

Yes, the gang of MST3k fame has parodied this hilariously bad holiday film. Even if you haven’t seen this movie before, chances are you’ve at least heard about it.

As the name implies, Santa Claus does indeed face off against martians. Needless to say, this is a great way to get a few more laughs out of an often panned Christmas movie.

Once again, they also lampooned this movie on Mystery Science Theater 3000 back in the day. You can also enjoy that version for free!

 

Click here to watch Rifftrax: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians on Tubi with ads.

Click here to watch MST3k: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians on Tubi with ads.

3. Rifftrax: Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny

This is another often panned Christmas movie that has deservedly been given the Rifftrax treatment.

The plot focuses around Santa getting stuck on a Florida beach. Several people try to help him, including the likes of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn!

Unfortunately, nobody can get the job done until an ice cream bunny arrives. Why? Who knows. Let the crew of Rifftrax explain that one to you!

 

Click here to watch Rifftrax: Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny on Tubi with ads.

4. Rifftrax: Jack Frost

When you’re done watching this holiday horror film for free on Roku, you can watch the Rifftrax version as well!

Given how ridiculous the plot is, it’s not difficult to see why they chose to comment on Jack Frost.

If you find the movie a bit too silly on its own, this version will definitely make the experience more enjoyable.

 

Click here to watch Rifftrax: Jack Frost on Tubi with ads.

5. MST3k: Jack Frost (1964)

This isn’t any of the Jack Frost movies you’re probably familiar with. As a matter of fact, it’s probably a lot worse than the other films with that title.

Perhaps that’s why they covered it on MST3k! If you’re interested in a fairly obscure and barely festive film to watch with the gang, give this one a shot.

 

Click here to watch MST3k: Jack Frost (1964) on Tubi with ads.

Bonus RiffTrax

If you’re looking for even more laughs, the following RiffTrax have been added to Tubi as of December 2022:

• Beyond Christmas
• I Believe in Santa Claus
• Magic Christmas Tree
• Christmas Circus
• Santa’s Summer House

15 Free Classic Christmas Specials

The following list will compile some of the best holiday specials you can watch for free.

While a movie tends to be longer and more drawn out, these specials are either shorter than an hour or part of a television series.

Some of these specials have become family favorites for many audiences, so it would have felt wrong to leave them out of this post.

1. The Snowman

Clocking in at just 27 minutes, this is more of a holiday special than a full free Christmas movie.

Even so, it’s definitely one of the most beloved holiday classics of its generation.

Based on the Raymond Briggs book, this animated special features the vocal talents of none other than David Bowie. 

 

Click here to watch The Snowman on Tubi with ads.

2. Benji’s Very Own Christmas Story

If you grew up in the 70’s and 80s, chances are you remember the popular Benji series. Did you know this cute dog had his own Christmas special?

At around 45 minutes in length, this has been classified by some as a full-fledged movie. From our perspective, it fits this list a bit better!

 

Click here to watch Benji’s Very Own Christmas Story on Tubi with ads.

3. The Flintstones Christmas

For those who grew up with Hanna-Barbera, chances are you’re familiar with this special.

There have been a few Flintstones Christmas specials, including a Christmas Carol adaptation. In this one, Fred plays the role of Santa Claus and eventually helps him save Christmas!

We had to dig a bit to find this one, but it is indeed available to watch for free on Tubi.

 

Click here to watch The Flintstones Christmas on Tubi with ads.

4. He-man & She-ra Christmas Special

If you’ve got fond memories of watching He-man and She-ra when you were a kid, this cheesy trip down memory lane might be just what you need to awaken the Christmas spirit.

We won’t speak to the quality of this Christmas special, but fans of the characters might have a fun time with it.

 

Click here to watch the He-man & She-ra Christmas Special on Tubi with ads.

5. Davey and Goliath: Christmas Lost and Found

If you were born either in the 80s or earlier, there’s a good chance you’ll have some recollection of this show.

At the very least, you’ll remember the animated claymation style from similar shows like Gumby.

Younger viewers might also recognize the style of this show from Moral Orel, a show which is directly referencing Davey and Goliath.

Released in 1965, this is one of those Christmas specials with a heavy Christian message.

If you want to see some of the most historic claymation out there, this is a great way to celebrate the holidays. 

 

Click here to watch Davey and Goliath: Christmas Lost and Fount on Tubi with ads.

6. Jack Frost (1979)

Not to be confused with the horror film or any other adaptation, this is actually one of the Rankin Bass holiday productions.

You’ll remember their style from Santa Claus is Coming to Town and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

Although this Christmas special is oft forgotten, it’s still definitely worth checking out.

Many consider this special a classic and a must-watch every holiday season.

 

Click here to watch Jack Frost (1979) on Roku with ads.

7. Quantum Leap: A Little Miracle

I’m a big Quantum Leap fan, so I had to include this on the list of Christmas specials.

I’m sure some audiences don’t even remember that there was a holiday-themed episode of this show! It’s essentially the tale of A Christmas Carol, and Al plays the ghost!

If you remember loving this show when you were younger, this holiday episode is definitely worth watching.

 

Click here to watch Quantum Leap: A Little Miracle on Roku with ads.

8. Sonic’s Christmas Blast

This Christmas special is based on the original SATAM series of Sonic the Hedgehog. After Santa Claus announces his retirement, Sonic has to save Christmas!

Most audiences agree that this was a surprisingly good cartoon based on the video game character.

If you have fond memories or watching this show as a kid, this holiday episode is a must watch. 

 

Click here to watch Sonic’s Christmas Blast on Tubi with ads.

9. The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About Christmas!

Whether you or your kids are Dr Seuss fans, this holiday special might be worth watching.

After throwing a party, the Cat in the Hat must help a baby reindeer get home.

This is a modern take on the Dr Seuss characters, and it’s probably best suited to younger viewers.

Even so, if you’re looking for something family-friendly, this is a great option.

 

Click here to watch The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About Christmas on Tubi with ads.

10. Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas

If you’re a fan of the modern Christmas classic Elf, the bad news is that it’s not currently available for free streaming with ads (as far as we know).

The good news is that you can watch this special based on the movie for free! 

This stop-motion animated Christmas special is sure to be a hit with fans of the original film, as it’s essentially an adaptation of that movie.

 

Click here to watch Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas for free on Tubi with ads.

11. Merry Christmas Mr. Bean

If you grew up watching Mr. Bean, chances are you’ll be at least somewhat familiar with this episode.

Thankfully, it’s now available to watch for free on the Mr. Bean Youtube channel!

If you’re a fan of the show and Rowan Atkinson, this is an absolute must watch for Christmas.

Even if you’re not a fan, we still recommend giving it a shot.

 

12. The Smurfs Christmas

Most people who grew up in the 80s are familiar with the Smurfs. Some of you might even remember this Christmas special!

This time around, the Smurfs have to help two children and their grandfather when their sleigh crashes.

Thanks to the official Youtube channel of The Smurfs, you can watch this holiday classic for free!

 

13. The Pink Panther: A Very Pink Christmas

There has actually been more than one Pink Panther Christmas special. This is the most modern adaptation, having been released in 2011.

It’s one of those odd cases where they decided to produce a holiday special for a long forgotten character.

Even so, it’s not the worst holiday show you’ll ever see, and the animation is actually very crisp.

This one is available to watch for free on the Official Pink Panther Youtube channel.

 

14. Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas

This is another somewhat modern take on a classic character. After the Curious George movie came out in 2006, they made an animated series to go along with it.

The series ran for quite some time, and this Christmas special was based on that cartoon. Fans of the show will know it’s actually still running!

You can watch this one for free on the official Curious George Youtube channel.