Here are the top 10 highest-grossing Christmas-themed movies of all time (based on their worldwide box office gross. These figures are collated from a general query posted in March 2023. However, you may disagree with the movies in the top 10 for their ‘quality’ there ain’t no denying the power of advertising to get some of these up there!
- 1 - Home Alone (1990) - $476.7 million
- 2 - Dr. Seuss' The Grinch (2018) - $511.6 million
- 3 - The Polar Express (2004) - $314.1 million
- 4 - Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992) - $358.9 million
- 5 - A Christmas Carol (2009) - $325.3 million
- 6 - Elf (2003) - $220.4 million
- 7 - The Santa Clause (1994) - $189.8 million
- 8 - The Santa Clause 2 (2002) - $172.9 million
- 9 - Four Christmases (2008) - $163.7 million
- 10 - A Bad Moms Christmas (2017) - $130.6 million
A Brief Summary of the 'top 10' Box Office Christmas Movies
Home Alone (1990) – After a young boy (Macaulay Culkin) is accidentally left behind by his family when they go on vacation for Christmas, he must fend off two burglars who are trying to break into his home.
Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch (2018) – This animated film follows the story of the Grinch (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch), a green, furry creature who tries to ruin Christmas for the inhabitants of Whoville.
The Polar Express (2004) – Based on the book by Chris Van Allsburg, this animated film tells the story of a young boy who takes a magical train ride to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. The cast includes Tom Hanks, Daryl Sabara, and Nona Gaye.
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992) – In this sequel to Home Alone, the young boy (Macaulay Culkin) finds himself stranded in New York City and must once again fend off burglars who are after him.
A Christmas Carol (2009) – This adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic features Jim Carrey in multiple roles, including Ebenezer Scrooge, who is visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve and learns the true meaning of the holiday.
Elf (2003) – After being raised as an elf at the North Pole, Buddy (Will Ferrell) travels to New York City to find his real father and spread Christmas cheer. The film also stars James Caan, Zooey Deschanel, and Bob Newhart.
The Santa Clause (1994) – When a man (Tim Allen) accidentally causes Santa Claus to fall off his roof on Christmas Eve, he must take on the role of Santa and save Christmas. The cast also includes Judge Reinhold and Wendy Crewson.
The Santa Clause 2 (2002) – In this sequel to The Santa Clause, Santa must find a wife before Christmas Eve or risk losing his job as Santa. The cast includes Tim Allen, Elizabeth Mitchell, and David Krumholtz.
Four Christmases (2008) – A couple (Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn) who usually avoid visiting their families for Christmas must attend four different Christmas celebrations in one day. The cast also includes Robert Duvall, Jon Favreau, and Sissy Spacek.
A Bad Moms Christmas (2017) – In this sequel to Bad Moms, three overworked and stressed-out moms (Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, and Kathryn Hahn) must deal with their own mothers visiting for Christmas. The cast also includes Christine Baranski, Susan Sarandon, and Cheryl Hines.
These movies are all popular choices for holiday viewing and have become classics in their own right. From family-friendly comedies to heartwarming tales, there’s a Christmas movie for everyone.