When you think about your favorite Christmas movie, what comes to mind? “A Christmas Story,” “Elf,” or maybe another movie special to your family? Whatever it may be, almost everyone has a holiday favorite. Whether you start watching as soon as the weather gets chilly or wait until after Thanksgiving, Christmas movies are an easy way to get into the holiday spirit.

    At Today’s Homeowner, we usually stick to our mission of helping you save time with in-depth reviews on topics like the best home warranty companies. However, with the spirit of the holidays in mind, we dove deep into America’s favorite Christmas movies to find the most popular one in every state. To do this, we surveyed more than 4,500 Americans and asked about their favorite Christmas movie. Additionally, we asked the debate-sparking question, “Is ‘Die Hard’ a Christmas movie?”

    Keep reading to see the state-by-state results.


    Results by State

    “A Christmas Story” ranked as the most popular Christmas movie in America, with 24 states choosing it as a favorite. However, when looking at each state’s top choice, it was surprising to see Indiana folks chose “Elf” over “A Christmas Story,” given that “A Christmas Story” takes place in the fictional town of Hohman, Indiana.

    “Elf,” starring Will Farrell, wasn’t far behind “A Christmas Story,” claiming victory in 11 states. Buddy the Elf’s Christmas spirit is hard to resist, and fans across America love how quotable and fun-filled the movie is.

    Another classic Christmas movie is “Home Alone,” a favorite in four states, followed by “It’s a Wonderful Life” a favorite in three. “Die Hard” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” tied with two states ranking it as their favorite Christmas movie.

    Even though “A Christmas Story” dominated the state tally, overall percentages between the movies were much closer. “Elf” was just 1.6 percentage points behind, and “Home Alone” was less than 4% away from the top spot despite winning only four states.

    If cartoons appeal to you, you have good company: 4.1% of Americans chose “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” as their favorite Christmas flicks.

    Note the “Other” category compiles all movies receiving less than 1% of votes.


    Is ‘Die Hard’ a Christmas movie?

    Now we’ll answer the question you’ve all been wondering: Is “Die Hard” a Christmas movie? We asked people all across America, and they delivered a mixed response.

    Most people say “Die Hard” shouldn’t be considered a Christmas movie. However, results vary significantly by state. Some states polled below 20% “yes,” while others polled at up to 65%. The bottom line: This age-old debate is destined to continue.


    Popularity and Impact

    Christmas movies remain popular for good reason — they bring many people joy, nostalgia, and togetherness during the holidays. From Ralphie’s quest for a Red Ryder BB gun in “A Christmas Story” to George Bailey’s guardian angel Clarence in “It’s A Wonderful Life,” these classic characters and tales don’t get old.

    Although often predictable and formulaic, Christmas movies remind us that with family, anything is possible. Many inspire us to embrace the Christmas magic through childlike wonder and belief. They almost all have a happy ending, central to the holiday movie genre.

    Many adult fans of Christmas movies conjure cherished memories of watching the same films year after year. For them, classics like “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Miracle on 34th Street” never grow old, perhaps because they reinforce timeless messages of hope, redemption, and the true meaning of Christmas. For many families, watching these fan favorites together is a beloved tradition.

    On the other hand, there’s a reality to Christmas movies that keeps the genre going. Christmas movies do big business during the holidays. Cable networks like Hallmark and Lifetime find their highest viewership with nonstop Christmas programming, and streaming services now add dozens of holiday titles to their collection to draw in new subscribers. Many popular films like “Elf,” “The Grinch,” and “A Christmas Story,” even drive merchandise sales.

    While Christmas movies may seem excessively cheerful, their appeal endures. As Buddy the Elf said best, “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.”

    Whether you dream of a white Christmas, decorate your home, or wait for Santa, nothing beats a good Christmas movie, even if it plays in the background during lunch, dinner or gift unwrapping. To get in the Christmas spirit, pull out your matching jammies, bake your favorite cookies, light the fireplace, and start binge-watching your favorite Christmas movies. Happy holidays!


    So, are Christmas Movies a Must for the Holidays?

    For many people, watching Christmas movies is essential to celebrating the holidays. These films remind us of cherished memories, inspire us to embrace the Christmas spirit, and provide wholesome entertainment. While not everyone is an enthusiast, their popularity suggests that many find them a source of joy and tradition.

    Christmas movies often reflect holiday themes — family, giving, and finding meaning in life’s small moments. They allow us to reminisce while looking forward to new memories. As cheesy as some are, Christmas movies evoke the nostalgia, connection, and childlike wonder many crave amid the season’s hustle and bustle. While Christmas movies may not make everyone’s nice list, they hold a special place for those wanting holiday cheer.

    If you’re preparing your home for the holidays and looking for a home warranty, check out our American Home Shield review and our Choice Home Warranty review.


    Methodology

    We surveyed 4,580 Americans in mid-November 2019, asking them to select their favorite Christmas movie from the Rotten Tomatoes’ List of Top 50 Christmas Movies. Respondents were not limited to specific demographics. We estimate the margin of error at 1%.

    To dig deeper into preferences, we asked several follow-up questions:

    • When do you start watching Christmas movies each year?
    • How many do you watch on average during the holidays?
    • Which platforms do you use to watch them?
    • Do you have any family traditions related to Christmas movies?

    The responses provided context on factors influencing people’s Christmas movie-watching habits. For instance, more than 35% said they start before Thanksgiving each year. More than 60% estimated they watch at least five movies during the season, and 75% said they watch holiday films on cable networks like Hallmark and Lifetime.

    Many also shared beloved Christmas traditions, like always watching “Elf” on Christmas Eve or having marathons after decorating a Christmas tree. Understanding these preferences and habits provides more nuance into why Americans love Christmas movies.


    FAQs About Christmas Movies

    What are the most popular Christmas movies?

    Surveys and streaming data show some of the most popular are “A Christmas Story,” “Elf,” “Home Alone,” “It’s a Wonderful Life,” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” Classics like “Miracle on 34th Street” and “White Christmas” remain fan favorites decade after decade.


    When do Christmas movies start showing on TV?

    Many cable networks air Christmas movies in late November, usually around Thanksgiving. However, some holiday-only channels like Hallmark and Lifetime start as early as October.


    Where can I stream Christmas movies?

    You can stream Christmas movies on popular platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, and Amazon Prime. Many streaming platforms create special sections or channels for Christmas films during the holiday season.


    What makes a good Christmas movie?

    Opinions vary, but most popular Christmas movies include themes of nostalgia, family importance, celebrating the season, clean humor, heartwarming moments, memorable music, and an uplifting tone.


    Do people really watch Christmas movies as early as October?

    While it may seem strange, many devoted fans start streaming favorites by late October. Cable networks capitalize on the occasion by airing Christmas movies for months ahead of December.


    What snacks do people eat while watching Christmas movies?

    Some classic snack options for holiday movies include hot chocolate, popcorn, cookies, candy canes, eggnog, gingerbread, apple cider, and more Christmas-themed snacks. Comfort foods like macaroni and cheese or takeout pizza are popular Christmas movie marathons.


    How much money do popular Christmas movies make?

    Though Christmas movies rarely premier at blockbuster-level, the most popular ones can earn impressive revenues. “Home Alone” made $476 million worldwide, “Elf” grossed $220 million globally, and classics like “It’s a Wonderful Life” make money decade after decade.


    Editorial Contributors
    avatar for Mitchell Layton

    Mitchell Layton

    Mitchell Layton is a former professional mover who currently lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mitchell spent years packing and moving for REAL Rock N Roll Movers, a commercial and residential moving company based in Los Angeles that’s primarily staffed with up-and-coming musicians. That gave him plenty of experience navigating box trucks up and down the winding streets of LA. In addition to moving hundreds of happy customers into new homes and apartments all across Southern California, Mitchell has also performed corporate moves on company lots for Nickelodeon, Warner Bros, Universal Studios, Paramount, and more. After pouring blood, sweat, and tears into his profession, Mitchell has all the helpful tips you need for your next move.

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    photo of Sabrina Lopez

    Sabrina Lopez

    Editor

    Sabrina Lopez is a senior editor for Today’s Homeowner with over 7 years of writing and editing experience in digital media. She has reviewed content across categories that matter to homeowners, including HVAC services, home renovations, lawn and garden care, products for the home, and insurance services. When she’s not reviewing articles to make sure they are helpful, accessible, and engaging for homeowners like herself, Sabrina enjoys spending time with her family and their two parrots.

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