The Most Underrated Christmas Holiday Movies
We all know about the typical holiday movies that play nonstop on cable channels (Elf, A Christmas Story and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation) but it’s my tradition to watch lesser-known holiday movies. Here is my list of some underrated Christmas holiday movies like Nothing Like the Holidays and Batman Returns that are fun to watch during the season!
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Underrated Christmas Holiday Films
The Preacher’s Wife
The Preacher’s Wife brings all the warmth and soul you could ask for in a Christmas movie. Starring Whitney Houston and Denzel Washington, this holiday favorite follows Dudley (Washington), an angel sent to help a struggling preacher (Courtney B. Vance) and his wife (Houston) as they face tough times during the Christmas season. The church is in financial trouble, the preacher’s marriage is strained, and his faith is wavering—until Dudley steps in to remind everyone of the power of love, faith, and miracles.
What makes The Preacher’s Wife so special is its heartfelt message and unforgettable soundtrack, led by Houston’s iconic voice. The movie brings a lot of Christmas spirit through its gospel music and themes of community, love, and hope. Houston’s performance as the preacher’s wife brings warmth and vulnerability, while Denzel Washington’s portrayal of Dudley adds just the right touch of charm and humor.
This Christmas
This Christmas is one of those underrated Christmas movies that just gets the holiday family dynamic right. The film follows the Whitfield family as they gather for the holidays at their mother’s house in Los Angeles. Starring an ensemble cast including Idris Elba, Regina King, and Chris Brown, This Christmas dives into the highs and lows of family reunions. There’s sibling rivalry, secrets, and drama—but also a whole lot of love and holiday cheer.
What makes This Christmas underrated is its balance between lighthearted fun and deeper emotional moments. It’s not all about the surface-level holiday cheer—this movie goes deeper into what it means to be a family, even when things aren’t perfect. The film weaves together various storylines, from a struggling marriage to a son hiding his true career from his family, all while celebrating Christmas traditions. There are some laugh-out-loud moments, a soulful soundtrack, and a few touching scenes that remind us of the importance of family.
The Family Man
The Family Man takes a reflective approach to this list of underrated Christmas movies. Starring Nicolas Cage as Jack Campbell, the movie follows a successful, career-driven bachelor who wakes up on Christmas morning to find that his life has completely changed. Instead of living in his luxury Manhattan penthouse, he’s now in a suburban New Jersey home with a wife (played by Téa Leoni) and two kids. Jack is forced to confront the life he could have had if he had made different choices years earlier.
The Family Man is about second chances and reevaluating what really matters in life. The movie plays on the classic “what if” scenario, allowing Jack to experience a life he once chose to walk away from. Set against the backdrop of Christmas, the movie is both a heartwarming holiday tale and a story of personal growth. As Jack navigates his new life, he begins to realize that wealth and success aren’t everything, and that family and love hold a different kind of value.
Batman Returns
You don’t typically associate Batman with Christmas, but Tim Burton sure knew how to throw a festive punch in Batman Returns. Set during the holiday season, this dark and stylish sequel sees Gotham City covered in snow, with Christmas lights twinkling against the backdrop of crime, chaos, and a few twisted villains. Michael Keaton reprises his role as Bruce Wayne/Batman, squaring off against Danny DeVito’s gorss Penguin and Michelle Pfeiffer’s sexy Catwoman.
So why does Batman Returns count as one of the best most underrated Christmas movies? Well, apart from being packed with Burton’s signature gothic charm, the film is brimming with Christmas imagery, from a giant Christmas tree in Gotham’s town square to snowy battles with villains under the holiday lights. At its heart, the movie deals with loneliness, redemption, and identity—all themes that resonate deeply during the holiday season. Plus, the chemistry between Batman and Catwoman adds an oddly festive (and highly stylized) romantic subplot.
A Diva’s Christmas Carol
A Diva’s Christmas Carol offers a fresh take on the classic Charles Dickens tale, but with a modern (and delightfully over-the-top) twist. In this underrated Christmas VH1 movie, Vanessa Williams stars as Ebony Scrooge, a self-centered, cutthroat pop diva who has lost touch with her bandmates and her humanity. Just like in the original A Christmas Carol, Ebony is visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, who show her how her selfish actions have affected those around her.
What makes A Diva’s Christmas Carol stand out is how it adapts a timeless story for the modern age. The holiday spirit is there, but instead of Victorian England, it’s set in the glitzy world of the music industry, complete with concerts, entourages, and diva behavior. Vanessa Williams shines as the unapologetically diva-like Ebony, making her eventual redemption all the more satisfying.
Almost Christmas
Almost Christmas tells the festive story of a beloved patriarch who asks his family for one gift this holiday season: to get along. If they can honor that wish and spend five days under the same roof without killing one another, it will be a Christmas miracle. Share the holiday love, laughs, and charm with an all-star cast including Danny Glover, Mo’Nique, JB Smoove, Gabrielle Union, Jessie T. Usher, and Omar Epps.
Just Friends
Just Friends might not be the first film you think of when you’re in the mood for Christmas movie magic, but it absolutely should be. This hilarious romcom stars Ryan Reynolds as Chris Brander, a once-awkward teen who returns to his hometown for the holidays after transforming into a successful, charming music executive. But things quickly go awry when he’s forced to confront his past, including his high school crush Jamie Palamino (Amy Smart), who friend-zoned him years ago.
The reason Just Friends deserves a spot in the underrated Christmas movie hall of fame is simple: it’s laugh-out-loud funny and relatable. It taps into the awkwardness of coming home for the holidays, running into old flames, and dealing with family dysfunction in the most entertaining way. Reynolds brings his signature sarcastic wit to the role, and the slapstick humor is gold. The Christmas setting, complete with family gatherings, snowy small-town streets, and holiday parties, adds to the charm without overpowering the core of the story—Chris’s journey of self-discovery and rekindled romance.
Nothing Like the Holidays
Nothing Like the Holidays is all about family, culture, and heart. This ensemble dramedy follows the Rodriguez family as they gather for Christmas in their Chicago home. With an all-star cast featuring John Leguizamo, Debra Messing, and Alfred Molina, the movie dives into the complexities of family relationships during the holidays, with a focus on a Puerto Rican-American family reconnecting and resolving long-standing issues.
One of the reasons Nothing Like the Holidays is so underrated is because it offers a refreshing take on the traditional Christmas movie. It brings cultural diversity to the forefront, showing the unique traditions and dynamics within a Latino family, while also touching on universal themes of love, forgiveness, and family ties. The Christmas backdrop is integral to the story, with the family gathering symbolizing both celebration and a chance for healing old wounds.
Unlike many holiday movies that gloss over family tension for feel-good moments, Nothing Like the Holidays doesn’t shy away from real-life issues. It’s funny, heartfelt, and poignant in its portrayal of family drama, making it a standout holiday film. The movie is relatable for anyone who has experienced the ups and downs of family reunions, especially during the holiday season.
Last Christmas
Last Christmas is a heartfelt romantic comedy inspired by the unforgettable music of George Michael. In this underrated Christmas movie, Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones) stars as Kate, who works as an elf at a year-round holiday shop. Kate faces an endless streak of bad luck and poor decision-making until she meets Tom (Henry Golding, Crazy Rich Asians), a kind-hearted man with a mysterious past who challenges her cynical worldview.
Love the Coopers
LOVE THE COOPERS follows the Cooper clan as four generations of extended family come together for their annual Christmas Eve celebration. As the evening unfolds, a series of unexpected visitors and unlikely events turn the night upside down, leading them all toward a surprising rediscovery of family bonds and the spirit of the holiday.
Godmothered
While Godmothered is a family-friendly movie, its unique blend of fantasy, and holiday cheer makes it one of those underrated Christmas movies that viewers will love. The film follows Eleanor, a young fairy godmother-in-training who sets out to prove that the world still needs fairy godmothers by helping a single mom, Mackenzie, find happiness. Set during the Christmas season, Godmothered combines humor, and heart Eleanor helps Mackenzie rediscover the magic in her life.
What films are on your overlooked Christmas holiday film list? Share in the comments!
