Cozy up With These Heartwarming Classic Christmas Movies—All Free To Stream!
From ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ to ‘It's a Wonderful Life,’ enjoy timeless holiday magic at no cost
When the weather gets cold and the snow begins to fall, there is nothing like curling up on the couch with a good classic Christmas movie. And this year, there are plenty of free ones available for you to stream that are practically guaranteed to put you in the holiday spirit. Read on to discover what they are.
‘Miracle on 34th Street’ (1947)
When it comes to Christmas, nothing beats Miracle on 34th Street. It follows an elderly man named Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) after he fills in as Santa in Macy’s annual Thanksgiving Day parade. In fact, he does so well that he gets asked to continue to work, even after Doris (Maureen O’Hara) and Susan (Natalie Wood) Walker begin to investigate if he’s the real Santa Claus.
“I have been the mother to almost 40 children in movies, but I have always had a special place in my heart for little Natalie,” O’Hara said, per Good Housekeeping. “She always called me Mamma Maureen, and I called her Natasha, the name her parents had given her.”
Miracle on 34th Street is available to stream for free on PlutoTv.
‘Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer’ (1948)
Everyone knows the story of Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer—and the classic 1964 Rankin/Bass TV special, which this is not—but in case you don’t, it follows a reindeer named Rudolph who must find the strength and courage to guide Santa and his sleigh on Christmas Eve. That’s exactly what happens in this 1948 animated short film, that’s comforting, family-friendly and sure to put anyone in the Christmas spirit.
Montgomery Ward department stores published the original Rudolph story and had this short film created to entertain children while they were waiting in line to meet the store’s Santa Claus. The animation was created by Max Fleischer, whose other animated shorts include such subjects as Popeye, Betty Boop and Superman.
Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer is available to stream for free on Tubi.
‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ (1946)
In this 1946 holiday masterpiece, a despairing George Bailey (James Stewart) is shown what the world would look like without him—and, in the process, comes to understand just how many lives he’s touched. Guided by a compassionate angel, George rediscovers the joy, purpose and love he thought he’d lost. Nominated for five Oscars, It’s a Wonderful Life remains one of the most cherished Christmas films ever made.
“It’s incredible to see how audiences [for the film] have changed over the years. There are so many kids now in their twenties—the majority of the audience now—and that’s just incredible. Then you’ve got older people bringing their children and little kids. It’s a whole ritual now. I enjoy it,” star Donna Reed’s daughter, Mary Ann Owen, told Woman’s World. “Somehow, I think the movie’s almost like going to church for people who probably don’t go to church…It really takes you on quite a path. It’s funny, but also… that ending—it’s happy-sad. If you don’t cry at that ending, boy, there’s something wrong.”
It’s a Wonderful Life is available to stream for free on Xumo Play.
‘Jack Frost’ (1979)
Want something more wintery and less Christmasy this holiday season? Then be sure to watch the 1979 cartoon Jack Frost (Robert Morse) , which follows a man of the same name after he tries to become human to win the heart of a mortal woman named Elisa (Debra Clinger). It’s a family-friendly film that is perfect for fans of romantasy (romantic fantasy) and star-crossed lovers. Like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman, it hails from Rankin/Bass.
Jack Frost is available to stream for free on Tubi.
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