The most successful Christmas movies ever, ranked

Christmas classics that made millions

25. Scrooged: $160 million

Scrooged (1988) offers a twist on Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol. Bill Murray portrays Frank Cross, a selfish TV executive more interested in boosting his ratings than celebrating Christmas. However, on Christmas Eve, he’s visited by three ghosts who force him to confront his past, present, and future.

The dark comedy grossed $60.3 million at the box office, equivalent to $160 million when adjusted for inflation, cementing its place as the 25th highest-grossing Christmas movie on our list.

24. Christmas with the Kranks: $161 million

The comedy Christmas with the Kranks (2004) follows Luther and Nora Krank (played by Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis), who decide to skip Christmas in favour of a cruise. However, when their daughter unexpectedly returns home for the holidays, the couple scramble to throw together a last-minute celebration, leading to disaster. 

The film grossed over $96.5 million at the box office, equivalent to $161 million today. However, despite making our ranking of lucrative movies, it was a critical flop and is regularly featured in lists of the worst festive films ever. 

23. A Bad Moms Christmas: $168 million

The R-rated comedy A Bad Moms Christmas put a festive spin on its 2016 predecessor. The all-star ensemble cast of Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, and Kathryn Hahn returned as the bad moms, this time navigating the chaos of the holiday season.

Released in 2017, the film grossed over $130.5 million at the box office, or around $168 million in today's money. Despite its commercial success, the film faced a slew of negative reviews, with many critics comparing it poorly to the first movie.

22. The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause, $173 million

The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006) is the third entry in the highly successful The Santa Clause franchise. Tim Allen reprises his role as Santa Claus, this time taking on the challenge of preventing Martin Short's villainous Jack Frost from ruining Christmas. 

While the third movie is the lowest-grossing in the saga, it still earned over $110 million globally, which is an impressive $173 million when adjusted for inflation.

21. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation: $189 million

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) is the third entry in the National Lampoon comedy franchise. Chevy Chase returns as bumbling dad Clark Griswold, who's determined to throw the perfect Christmas for his family. However, true to the slapstick comedy style, things quickly spiral out of control...

The beloved Christmas classic grossed $75.5 million on its release, equivalent to $189 million in today's money.

20. Arthur Christmas: $212 million

19. The Nutcracker and the Four Realms: $218 million

Disney's big-budget bonanza The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018) is loosely based on The Nutcracker ballet. It follows a young girl named Clara as she journeys into a magical realm.

The film grossed over $173.9 million, or $218 million today. However, despite ranking as one of the highest-grossing Christmas movies ever, the fantasy flick was a huge flop. With a production budget of $120 million and factoring in additional costs such as marketing and distribution, the film ended up losing Disney a painful $65 million.

18. Daddy's Home 2: $232 million

Comedy sequel Daddy's Home 2 (2017) features Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg reprising their roles as co-parents Brad and Dusty, who put aside their differences to give their kids the perfect Christmas. However, chaos ensues when their own fathers, played by Mel Gibson and John Lithgow, arrive and reignite old rivalries.

17. The Nightmare Before Christmas: $235 million

Stop-motion animated film The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) is based on a poem by Tim Burton. The story follows Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, as he attempts to take over Christmas, causing mayhem along the way.

The frightful flick has become a beloved holiday classic, popular at both Christmas and Halloween, with fans debating whether it's a Halloween movie, a Christmas movie, or both. It grossed over $107.7 million on release, or $235 million today.

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16. Four Christmases: $240 million

The rom-com Four Christmases (2008) follows a couple, Brad and Kate (played by Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon), as they attempt to visit all four of their divorced parents on Christmas Day, leading to a series of chaotic and comedic encounters.

Although it received mixed reviews, the movie grossed $161.1 million globally, equivalent to an impressive $240 million today.

15. Jingle All the Way: $260 million

The Christmas action flick Jingle All the Way (1996) stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as Howard Langston, a dad on a desperate Christmas Eve mission to score his son the sold-out Turbo-Man action figure.

Despite negative reviews from critics, the movie earned a respectable $129.8 million globally, or $260 million when adjusted for inflation. Over the years, the zany flick has gained cult classic status and become a holiday-season staple.

14. The Santa Clause 2: $302 million

The Santa Clause 2 (2002) is the second entry in the beloved Christmas film franchise, with Tim Allen returning as Santa Claus. In this sequel, he must race to find a Mrs. Claus before Christmas Eve, or his time as Santa will come to an end.

The family-friendly flick grossed over $172.8 million at the worldwide box office. Today, that’s a magical $302 million.

13. The Holiday: $322 million

Rom-com The Holiday (2006) features an all-star cast of Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, and Jack Black as unlucky-in-love singles who find unexpected romance during the Christmas season.

The movie grossed over $205.8 million on release, or a stellar $322 million today. Almost two decades later, the heartwarming flick remains a festive favorite.

12. Die Hard: $382 million

11. Elf: $392 million

The Christmas comedy Elf (2003) has become a staple of the holiday season. It stars Will Ferrell as Buddy, a human raised as an elf at the North Pole. Hilarious hijinks ensue when Buddy travels to New York City to find his biological father, a grumpy businessman named Walter Hobbs, who's in desperate need of some festive cheer.

Elf was a huge box office hit, grossing $228.9 million globally, an incredible $392 million when adjusted for inflation.

10. The Santa Clause: $405 million

Released in 1994, The Santa Clause is the first entry in the Santa Clause franchise. It stars Tim Allen as Scott Calvin, an ordinary man who's forced to take on the role of Father Christmas after accidentally making Santa fall off his roof.

The first film in the franchise is also the highest-grossing, earning $190.5 million globally. That's an impressive $405 million today.

9. Love Actually: $428 million

Love Actually (2003) boasts an all-star cast, including Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Alan Rickman, and Keira Knightley. The plot follows the lives of various couples living in London in the lead-up to Christmas.

A huge hit, the film grossed $250.2 million, or $428 million today. Over two decades on, it's gained Christmas classic status and is one of the most-watched films during the festive season.

8. Gremlins: $467 million

Horror-comedy Gremlins (1984) follows a group of mischievous monsters that unleash mayhem upon a small American town during the festive period.

The deliciously dark film grossed $153.9 million globally, the equivalent of $467 million today. Its success led to a 1990 sequel, Gremlins 2: The New Batch, though this new entry wasn't set at Christmas.

7. A Christmas Carol: $478 million

6. The Polar Express: $531 million

The Polar Express (2004) is another Christmas movie directed by Robert Zemeckis. The motion-capture film follows a young boy on Christmas Eve as he embarks on an enchanting journey to the North Pole aboard the Polar Express train.

The movie received mixed reviews upon release, with some describing the experimental animation style as "creepy." Regardless, it grossed $318.3 million globally, or a spellbinding $531 million today.

5. Die Hard 2: $579 million

The explosive sequel Die Hard 2 (1990) performed even better than its predecessor at the box office, grossing $240 million, or an epic $579 million when inflation-adjusted. 

Bruce Willis returns as John McClane, who finds himself battling terrorists once again on Christmas Eve, this time at Washington Dulles International Airport.

4. How the Grinch Stole Christmas: $634 million

3. The Grinch: $678 million

Claiming the third spot in our round-up is another adaptation of the Dr. Seuss festive favorite. The Grinch, released in 2018, is an animated version of the tale featuring British actor Benedict Cumberbatch as the voice of the cranky creature.

A massive hit, the movie grossed over $540 million worldwide, or $678 million today, cementing its status as a modern-day Christmas classic.

2. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York: $806 million

Sequel Home Alone 2: Lost in New York hit screens in 1992, two years after its predecessor. Macaulay Culkin returns as the mischievous Kevin McAllister, who finds himself lost in New York City over the Christmas period after accidentally boarding the wrong plane during a family trip to Miami. While in the Big Apple, he runs into Harry and Marv, the same burglars he faced in the first movie.

The movie pulled in almost $359 million globally, or an astounding $806 million today. Over three decades later, it remains one of the most popular Christmas movies ever.

1. Home Alone: $1.1 billion

Home Alone (1990) isn't just one of the most beloved Christmas flicks; it's also the highest-grossing. The comedy classic earned over $476.6 million on release, a sensational $1.1 billion in today's money.

Macaulay Culkin stars as young troublemaker Kevin McAllister, who's forced to defend his home against a pair of burglars (played by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern) on Christmas Eve. Decades after its release, the film remains as popular as ever and is a true Christmas Classic, coining the festive catchphrase "Merry Christmas, ya filthy animal".

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