City Cast Madison logo

Cozy Up With the Best Holiday Movies

Posted on December 26, 2023   |   Updated on September 30, 2025
Adrian González

Adrian González

a group of three people is sitting around a screen for a movie

Warm up your hot cocoa, we’re getting festive. (evgenyatamanenko / Getty)

Christmas may have come and gone but you can still hold on to that holiday cheer for a little while longer. Gather your new socks and blankets, and cozy up on the couch for some holiday movie binge watching.

The Classics

Let’s start off with the easy choices — I’m talking “Home Alone,” “Elf,” or “Love Actually.” These are best for when you don’t want to endlessly scroll for options, or when you just want a crowd pleaser. Here are a few other favorites.

  • “The Holiday” — Who knew Jack Black could be charming?
  • “Little Women” — You have three film adaptations from which to choose!
  • “The Nightmare Before Christmas” — We’re all a little bit of Jack Skellington.
  • “A Christmas Carol” — This one has a slew of film adaptations, including a Muppets version.
  • “Scrooged” — Or you could watch Bill Murray in the modern adaptation of the Charles Dickens novel.
  • “Carol” — One of the most beautiful on-screen affairs.

A Word About ‘Bad’ Holiday Movies

As an equal opportunity movie lover, I encourage you to watch whatever flicks you enjoy without an ounce of shame. There is simply no denying the hot-soup levels of comfort you can get from watching Hallmark movies and holiday rom-coms. Don’t let film bros tell you otherwise. One that I enjoy to an unreasonable degree is “Felíz NaviDAD,” starring Mario Lopez and his adorable dimples.

die hard screen shot of bruce willis in a building's air shaft

Is “Die Hard” a Christmas movie? (Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox)

Something Different

  • “Die Hard” — The debate on whether this is a Christmas movie rages on. Regardless, it’s a great time to watch.
  • “Black Christmas” — A 1974 gory horror classic.
  • “A Serious Man” — Comedy cringe a-la Coen brothers.
  • “The Lodge” — For the horror fans that want to partake in the holiday spirit.
  • “Santa Claus” — No, not the one with Tim Allen. I’m referring to the 1959 Mexican film, chock-full of weirdness.
  • “The Ice Harvest” — John Cusack as a conniving lawyer pulling a Christmas Eve con is quite enjoyable.
  • “Tangerine” — One of my favorites from 2015, this one follows a transgender sex worker in L.A. And it was all shot on an iPhone.

Happy watching!

Share article

Hey Madison

Sign up for your free daily toolkit to get the most of the city you love.

Can't subscribe? Turn off your ad blocker and try again.

Madison's Best

See All
Madison's BestJune 10

How to Celebrate Pride Month 2026 in Madison

The city’s biggest LGBTQ+ gathering, OutReach Magic Pride Festival, isn’t actually until August, but there are still plenty of ways to ce...

A group of 6 people sit on a bench smiling, looking on at the Middleton Pride Festival
Madison's BestJune 3

Your Guide to Frank Lloyd Wright's Madison

Legendary designer Frank Lloyd Wright called Madison home and he left his mark on the city. Here's some of his most famous buildings, fro...

A building with glass windows and a triangular roof.
Madison's BestJune 2

Your Guide to June 2026 in Madison

If you’re looking for a page-turner to take to the beach this summer, UW-Madison graduate Joseph Eckert is coming back to town to Lake Ci...

A group of people at tables in front of a marble building.
Madison's BestJune 1

How Madison’s Capital City Theatre is Reinventing ‘RENT’

Madison's Capital City Theatre is putting on a bold new version of the Tony-winning musical 'RENT' at the Orpheum Theater June 5-7. For i...

A woman gestures to several other people in a room.
Madison's BestMay 12

Wisconsin Authors Are an Open Book on New Podcast

On the new podcast "Writing Forward," Madison writer Jeff Oloizia interviews Wisconsin authors about their writing process, how to be suc...

A man in a blue shirt stands next to a shelf of books.
Madison's BestApril 30

Your Guide to May 2026 in Madison

From Brat Fest to Tulip Fest, from 'Newsies' to Charlie Berens, there's lots going on in Madison this spring.

A man in a gray shirt in front of a blue brick wall.
Madison's BestApril 29

The Madison Mystery Tour Is Coming To Take You Away

Over a half-century after they broke up, the Beatles still have a huge hold on popular culture. For over a decade, the Madison Mystery To...

A man in a bow tie plays an electric guitar behind a man playing a keyboard.
Madison's BestApril 27

Madison’s Circus Scene isn’t Clowning Around

While Circus World in Baraboo is what put Wisconsin's circus scene on the map, there's lots of acrobatics, clowning and more going on in...

A man and a woman in a circus ring juggling hoops.

The latest in Madison

Food & DrinkJune 11

Where to Watch the World Cup in Madison

The 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament kicks off today, and Madison soccer fans are ready. Here's where to watch the matches, including bars...

A man in purple cheers surrounded by fans in bleachers.
Food & DrinkMay 28

Madison's Best New Restaurants

This month's list of new restaurants include a new coffee shop on Winnebago Street, an ice cream shop coming to downtown Sun Prairie and...

A building with an orange outline of two palm trees on the side.
Madison, ExplainedMay 18

How Smart Studios Put Madison on the Musical Map

Why did Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Death Cab for Cutie and other bands want to record songs in Madison? As a new documentary explains, S...

A two-story red brick building on a street.
Food & DrinkMay 14

These Madison Butcher Shops Are a Cut Above

With summer coming up, you might want to stock up for the next cookout. Here are some of Madison's favorite butcher shops, from Meat Peop...

A man in glasses peers at a stack of hamburger patties.
Food & DrinkMay 7

Supper Clubs in Madison You Have To Try

You can savor the Wisconsin supper club tradition without traveling far from Madison, hitting historic spots like Tornado Steak House, Ka...

A photo of a plate of food and a nighttime photo of the exterior of a restaurant.
Madison, ExplainedMay 4

Quiz: Are you a True Madisonian?

You may live in Madison, but are you a true Madisonian?

A downtown street scene with a capitol dome at the top of the street.
Food & DrinkApril 16

Madison’s Favorite Neighborhood Bars

Madison has its share of high-end cocktail bars, but there's nothing like a neighborhood bar where it feels like everybody knows your nam...

The exterior of a bar with brick and red wood.
Madison HistoryApril 15

The History of Madison in 10 Isthmus Headlines

Madison alt-weekly Isthmus is celebrating its 50th anniversary this month. The editors dug through the archives to look to see how the ne...

A black-and-white photo of two men surrounded by newspapers.