It’s that time of year again and you’re probably wondering which streaming service has the best Christmas movies. Here are our top 10 Christmas movies on Hulu this year.
What kind of Christmas movies are on Hulu?
Hulu’s library of Christmas movies is less conventional than other streamers. There are titles the family can enjoy together, but many are for when the kids are in bed.
10 Christmas movies to watch on Hulu this year
We’ve got our Hulu Christmas movies in 3 categories — animation, comedies (including rom-coms) and thrillers.
Animated Christmas movies on Hulu
Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas (2009)
Everyone’s favorite monkey is having his very first Christmas, and The Man in the Yellow Hat is teaching him all about the season. However, the 2 friends are soon faced with deciding what to get the other for Christmas — while George wreaks havoc now and then.
Kids around 3 to 7 will enjoy this most.
My Little Pony: A Very Minty Christmas (2005)
Ponyville risks losing Christmas when pink-and-green pony Minty breaks a magic candy cane. And a journey to the North Pole is the only solution.
Bronies aside, the 44-minute Hasbro commercial may or may not hold the attention of its 3-year-old target audience for the full runtime. But with plenty of bright colors and a catchy Christmas tune, it’s worth a shot.
Arthur Christmas (2011)
Santa’s clumsy son, Arthur, is better suited for the Letter Department than the sleigh. Fortunately, his other son, Steve, is the heir apparent to take the reins. But when trouble arises, it will be up to Arthur (of course) to save Christmas.
Enjoyed on multiple levels, parents may want to watch it too.
Christmas comedies on Hulu
Santa Claus: The Movie (1985)
John Lithgow plays a wicked toy tycoon out to steal Christmas and it’s up to Santa – and his exiled elf, Patch – to save the season.
A verified box office bomb, this movie may be loathed in America, but it’s loved enough to be mandatory holiday viewing in the UK. Fine performances, beautiful sets and costumes, and a wonderful musical score — the Brits know what they’re talking about.
This one can be enjoyed by kids and adults alike.
12 Dates of Christmas (2011)
Starring Amy Smart and Zack from Saved By the Bell, this made-for-TV movie is essentially the Christmas rom-com version of Groundhog Day. And that’s not really a bad thing – when we’re talking about Christmas movies.
If you like 50 First Dates and The Good Place, there’s a 120% chance you’ll enjoy this opposites-attract holiday fling. It’s also fairly tame as rom-coms go, so it’s fine for older tweens.
A Merry Friggin’ Christmas (2014)
You can probably tell by the title that this isn’t family-friendly. The dark comedy-drama stars Robin Williams (in one of his final roles) as an estranged father who embarks on an 8-hour, Christmas present rescue mission road trip with the son who hates him.
It wasn’t a hit with critics – or a lot of viewers – but if you enjoyed Four Christmases and Bad Santa, put this on when the kids have visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads.
Happiest Season (2020)
There aren’t a whole lot of LGBTQ Christmas movies to choose from, so thankfully Happiest Season is a good film. This coming-out rom-com has plenty of drama as the secret romance trope gets a dash of fish-out-of-water. But who you end up cheering for might surprise you.
It’s got positive messages and role models, but there’s a bit of profanity and implied sex, so this is one to watch with kids 13 and older.
Christmas thrillers on Hulu
Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010)
Home Alone meets Raiders of the Lost Ark in this folk-tale-inspired Santa story.
An American corporation excavates Korvatunturi, a stout Finnish mountain best known as the home of Father Christmas. And what they unearth on Christmas Eve will change things for everyone.
With steady tension throughout, it strikes a fine balance between horror and dark comedy – all on a budget of less than $2 million. Outstanding performances and cinematography, along with a compelling screenplay and score, make signing up for Hulu’s free trial worth it just for this.
Pooka! (2018)
This “movie” is actually from Hulu’s Into the Dark horror anthology series that had episodes based on different holidays. And Pooka was a Christmas hit.
An out-of-work actor gets a gig as the life-sized stuffed animal of the Christmas season’s hottest toy – Pooka. But he soon develops a split personality.
It’s from the producers of The Purge and Happy Death Day, which should tell you this isn’t one to watch with the kids.
The Lodge (2020)
The week before Christmas, a soon-to-be stepmom and her 2 future stepchildren head up north to the family cabin in hopes of bonding while Dad’s at the office. Things don’t go as planned.
If you enjoyed Saint Maud or The Shining, this creepy holiday slow-burn is worth watching over a cup of hot cocoa.
It’s only streaming on Hulu and, obviously, The Lodge is another one to watch when the kids are in bed.
Our takeaway: subscribe to Hulu for unconventional Christmas movies
Hulu isn’t packed with holiday classics, so if that’s your wish, you’ll prefer the Christmas movies on Disney+ or even Prime Video’s Christmas movies. But if you’re looking for a good chuckle and a few chills in your holiday movies, Hulu’s got what you need.
And if you’re looking for more options, check out our 25 Best Christmas Movies streaming across all streaming platforms.
Douglas Wright
Douglas Wright is a freelance writer based in Japan. A former web designer and technical writer, he left beautiful Vancouver for bustling Tokyo, where he spent a decade recruiting for software and high-tech firms. No longer commuting through the world’s busiest train station, he writes fiction and a wide range of formats for clients around the world. When he gets AFK, he’s either outdoors with his two boys, streaming a show with his wife, or reading a book over a French-pressed, hand-ground coffee.