The Best '90s Christmas Movies

Ranker Film
Updated June 23, 2023 15.0K votes 1.8K voters 39.3K views
Over 1.8K Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best '90s Christmas Movies
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Vote up your favorite Xmas films that were released in the 1990s

The best '90s Christmas movies are super diverse and unique. Some of them are gritty and adventurous, while others are sweet and family-oriented. Do you prefer something a little darker, a little more fantastical? If so, you might vote for Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, a stop-motion dark fantasy romp through an imaginary world of creatures and misfits. Looking for something a bit lighter? Maybe Home Alone is up your alley. The story of a grade school kid named Kevin whose family accidentally leaves for vacation without him, Home Alone is packed with hijinks from top to bottom. When thieves target Kevin’s house, he has to protect himself and his home with every trick he can muster, from boxing glove boobie traps to threatening movie quotes.

This list of the best ‘90s Christmas movies also features plenty of family friendly entertainment, including Jingle All the Way, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sinbad as stressed out fathers seeking an exclusive Christmas toy. For a more sentimental story, look no further than Miracle on 34th Street, a remake of the 1947 classic tale of Santa Clause in New York City. These are just a few examples of the best Christmas movies for kids.

Vote up the best '90s Christmas movies below, and be sure to let us know what you think in the comment section.

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  • Home Alone
    1

    Home Alone

    Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern
    932 votes
    • Released: 1990
    • Directed by: Chris Columbus
    Home Alone, a comedic family film, spins the tale of Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin), an 8-year-old boy accidentally left behind when his family flies to Paris for Christmas. In their absence, he must defend his suburban Chicago home from two bumbling burglars, Harry (Joe Pesci) and Marv (Daniel Stern). Using wit and daring traps, Kevin turns the tables on the intruders. Directed by Chris Columbus, this movie won a British Comedy Award and received two Academy Award nominations, cementing its place in holiday movie history. It's a delightful mix of humor, adventure, and the indomitable spirit of a child.

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  • The Santa Clause
    2

    The Santa Clause

    Tim Allen, Judge Reinhold, Wendy Crewson
    721 votes
    • Released: 1994
    • Directed by: John Pasquin
    In the family-comedy film The Santa Clause, Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) inadvertently becomes Santa Claus. A regular father and business executive, Calvin stumbles upon a peculiar situation on Christmas Eve involving the real Santa. After donning the red suit and delivering gifts worldwide, he wakes up to find it wasn't a dream. The transformation begins gradually, and as the reality sinks in, he must juggle his everyday life with his newfound responsibilities at the North Pole. The movie cleverly weaves humor and fantasy, providing a fresh spin on holiday lore.

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  • Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
    3

    Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

    Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern
    358 votes
    • Released: 1992
    • Directed by: Chris Columbus
    In the sequel to the holiday classic, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York sees our young hero Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) once again separated from his family during Christmas. This time, a flight mix-up lands him in bustling New York City, while his family vacation in sunny Florida. Left to navigate the Big Apple alone, he crosses paths with familiar foes Harry (Joe Pesci) and Marv (Daniel Stern), the bumbling burglars from the first movie. Armed only with his wit and an array of booby traps, Kevin must outwit them in this comedic family adventure.

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  • The Muppet Christmas Carol
    4

    The Muppet Christmas Carol

    Michael Caine, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire
    522 votes
    • Released: 1992
    • Directed by: Brian Henson
    In The Muppet Christmas Carol, the iconic Charles Dickens tale gets a delightful puppet twist. Ebenezer Scrooge (Michael Caine) is visited by spirits of Christmases past, present and future. As he journeys through his life with these spectral guides, Scrooge's icy heart begins to thaw. The Muppets, led by Kermit the Frog (Steve Whitmire) as Bob Cratchit, infuse this classic story with their inimitable charm and wit. This film is a unique blend of comedy, musical and drama genres, presenting an inventive take on a timeless holiday story.

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  • The Nightmare Before Christmas
    5

    The Nightmare Before Christmas

    Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, Catherine O'Hara
    668 votes
    • Released: 1993
    • Directed by: Henry Selick
    In the hauntingly whimsical film, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Jack Skellington (voiced by Chris Sarandon), the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, stumbles upon Christmas Town. Enchanted by its stark contrast to his eerie homeland, Jack decides to replicate Christmas in Halloween Town. But he struggles to grasp the true spirit of this holiday. Directed by Henry Selick and produced by Tim Burton, this stop-motion animated musical has won numerous awards for its unique blend of horror and holiday cheer. Sally (voiced by Catherine O'Hara), a rag doll smitten with Jack, adds a tender element to this dark yet enchanting tale.

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  • Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas
    6

    Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas

    Milton Berle, Frank Welker, Jim Cummings
    145 votes
    • Released: 1999
    • Directed by: Jean-François Laguionie, Alex Mann
    Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas is a direct-to-video animated Christmas movie made by Walt Disney Home Video and won the Award for Best Animated Feature Film at the 5th Kecskemét Animation Film Festival in 1999. The video features Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Pluto, Pete, Goofy, Max, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Huey, Dewey and Louie, Scrooge McDuck, Mortimer Mouse, Figaro the Kitten and Chip 'n Dale with cameos by Owl, Clarabelle Cow, Horace Horsecollar, and a Beagle Boy. The film comprises three separate segments, with narration by Kelsey Grammer. A sequel, titled Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas, was released in 2004.