7 Classic Movies That Released in Christmas Week

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As a movie fan, I’ve noticed something interesting: even with all the streaming options now, Christmas week is still huge for theaters! For decades, studios have been releasing their biggest films between December 19th and 25th, and it makes total sense. People are already going to the movies during the holidays! Interestingly, sometimes studios will even release a big, risky movie on Christmas Day – a sort of ‘all-in’ gamble when they know audiences are guaranteed to be there. Remember The Spirit and 47 Ronin? There have been some weird picks around the holidays too, like Hellbound: Hellraiser II, Trespass, Street Fighter, Dracula 2000, and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem. But today, I want to talk about the best movies that came out during Christmas week. Even if a movie wasn’t a huge hit, it could still make the list if it was a genuinely good film.

The films needed to have been shown widely to the public during that period. Limited releases, even if they qualified for Academy Awards like A Beautiful Mind, Monster, Match Point, Children of Men, and The Revenant, didn’t count. The films had to be accessible to audiences across the United States – and generally, around the world.

7) Django Unchained (12/25/12)

Quentin Tarantino’s films aren’t typically associated with Christmas, but several of them have actually been released around the holidays. Jackie Brown came out on December 8, 1997, and had a wide release on Christmas Day. Django Unchained followed suit in 2012, premiering on December 11th and expanding to more theaters on December 25th. Most recently, The Hateful Eight debuted on December 7, 2015, with a wide release also on Christmas Day.

While any of these three films could be highlighted, we’re choosing Django Unchained. It’s interesting that all three were released around Christmas. Both Django and The Hateful Eight are quite long, possibly offering families a chance to spend quality time together. The winter setting of Django and the snow-covered landscape of The Hateful Eight also make their holiday release fitting. However, despite the festive timing, neither film tells a particularly cheerful story.

Stream Django Unchained on Paramount+.

6) Tombstone (12/24/93)

Many consider Tombstone to be Kurt Russell’s best film and a top Western of all time. Interestingly, recent successful Christmas releases of Westerns—like those from Quentin Tarantino—show that December can be a great month to release this type of movie, even if it doesn’t seem obvious.

Tombstone is a fantastically cast, fast-moving, and genuinely fun film. Even if it’s not the greatest Western ever made, it’s definitely one you’ll want to watch again and again. Val Kilmer is captivating as Doc Holliday, and the film succeeds where Wyatt Earp, with Kevin Costner, fell short. Movies released around Christmas need to prioritize entertainment. People are either in a cheerful or melancholy mood during the holidays, and they want a film that matches that feeling – something uplifting if they’re down, or something that won’t ruin a good mood. Tombstone delivers exactly that kind of experience.

Stream Tombstone on fuboTV.

5) As Good as It Gets (12/23/97)

James L. Brooks’ last three films – Spanglish, Ella McKay, and How Do You Know – weren’t successful, receiving negative reviews and performing poorly in theaters. However, releasing feel-good movies in December made sense, considering his earlier film, As Good as It Gets, was a huge hit at this time of year, so he and the studios hoped for a repeat success.

I think As Good as It Gets really showed everyone that a Christmas movie needs more than just a happy vibe to be a hit. It needs genuine emotion and characters who actually grow and change. So many other films like Spanglish, Ella McKay, and especially How Do You Know just felt…empty. But As Good as It Gets? It really touched my heart, with amazing performances from Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt, and Greg Kinnear. It was the perfect Christmas release, and it’s still a movie my family loves to watch every year.

Stream As Good as It Gets on Netflix.

4) Cast Away (12/22/00)

The film Cast Away is a compelling survival story that, while sometimes sad, is generally easy to watch – like most movies directed by Robert Zemeckis. It’s a particularly good choice for holiday viewing and was a huge commercial success, earning almost $430 million globally despite costing only $90 million to make.

In 2000, while The Family Man felt more relevant to the holiday season, Cast Away resonated more with general audiences. At its heart, Cast Away is a story about hope and appreciating relationships – a theme that aligns perfectly with the spirit of Christmas. Combined with its captivating premise and Tom Hanks’ immense popularity at the time, it’s no surprise the film became a major cultural phenomenon.

Stream Cast Away on Netflix.

3) Titanic (12/19/97)

James Cameron’s Titanic was a huge box office success, breaking numerous records. But it wasn’t his last film to come out around Christmas. All three Avatar movies – which are the only ones he’s made since Titanic – premiered in December.

Despite opening against strong competition – the new James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies and the second week of Scream 2 – this historical romance quickly became a hit. In fact, Cameron’s film held the number one spot for an impressive 15 weeks in a row.

Stream Titanic on fuboTV.

2) The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (12/19/01)

Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is widely considered one of the greatest movies to ever win an Oscar. It brilliantly opened up the previously exclusive world of Tolkien’s fantasy to a massive audience, and most people eagerly accepted the invitation.

This movie was a classic Christmas blockbuster, with themes of hope and friendship that fit the holiday season perfectly. Previous films in the series – including The Two Towers, The Return of the King, The Hobbit trilogy, and the animated The Lord of the Rings: The War of Rohirrim – also premiered in December. However, The War of Rohirrim didn’t perform as well as expected.

Stream The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring on HBO Max.

1) Scream (12/20/96)

Wes Craven’s Scream is a funny, scary, and brilliantly acted classic that single-handedly brought horror movies back to life in the late 90s. It’s a true masterpiece and a highly enjoyable film, especially for fans of that era.

This isn’t your typical Christmas movie. While it has some funny parts, it also features a very violent scene involving a woman and a garage door.

Stream Scream on Paramount+.

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2025-12-23 00:41