Ever since the release of Santa Claus in 1898, Hollywood has had a soft spot for holiday films. Every year, moviegoers could count on seeing at least one film dedicated to the spirit of the season. By the 1980s, Hollywood’s Christmas spirit was finding its way into some surprising genres, such as horror slashers (Silent Night, Deadly Night) and action films (Die Hard is a Christmas movie and we’re sticking to it!)
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That spirit seemed to peak in the 1990s, a decade that saw a myriad of fantastic holiday films with wide-ranging appeal grace the big screen. Thankfully, the Hollywood Studio Gods have decided to import most of these 1990s Christmas classics to streaming services, and we couldn’t be more thankful!
The Preacher’s Wife (Available to rent)
Once upon a Christmas, Denzel Washington, Courtney B. Vance, and the late, great Whitney Houston got together to do a holiday film under the direction of Penny Marshall, and the result was pure magic. The Preacher’s Wife tells the story of an angel (Washington) who comes down from Heaven to help a preacher and his wife (Houston) save both their church and their family.
This touching tale of holiday cheer (and a little bit of humor, too) was a hit with critics and audiences alike. Released about two weeks before Christmas, The Preacher’s Wife raked in nearly $50 million at the box office and was nominated for an Academy Award for both Best Music and Original Musical or Comedy Score. Though the soundtrack lost out to that of the also-great Emma at the Oscars, it remains just as worth revisiting as the film.
The Muppet Christmas Carol (Available on Disney+)
This heartwarming film follows the beloved Muppets as they tell their version of the classic Charles Dickens story about Scrooge, the bitter old man who finds redemption and the holiday spirit on Christmas Eve after he is visited by three ghosts. The Muppet Christmas Carol is, in a lot of ways, a bittersweet film. Their creator, Jim Henson, passed away two years before the movie was released, and this was the first film made since his untimely passing.
Thankfully, director Brian Henson and the team at Jim Henson Productions (led by longtime collaborator Frank Oz) did the film justice. The movie feels emotionally dedicated to its fallen leader's incredible legacy. And, besides, it’s the Muppets. One always knows that hijinks will ensure when Kermit and the gang are involved.
Miracle on 34th Street (Available on HBOMax)
The original Miracle on 34th Street is still regarded as one of the best holiday films ever made, and the modern-day remake is likewise one of Hollywood’s best reboots, with the 1994 version being similar enough to the original that either make for satisfying Christmas Day fare.
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A New York lawyer and his little girl set out to prove that a man claiming to be jolly old St. Nick is, in fact, the real deal. Miracle on 34th Street pulls all of the same holiday heartstrings as the original and is worth a stream with the family with warm hot chocolate in hand.
Jingle All The Way (Available on YouTube)
Arnold Schwarzenegger is perhaps best-known as one of Hollywood’s iconic action actors. This "tough-guy" image only made it all the more amusing for audiences to see him take on his biggest and most challenging role to date; that of a dad braving horrid Christmas shopping crowds to get his kid a Turbo Man action figure for the holidays.
This film went on to make nearly $130 million at the box office during its original theatrical run. Although it was panned by critics and was successfully sued by Murray Hill Publishing for allegedly stealing the plot idea from a pre-existing screenplay, Jingle All the Way is now considered a holiday cult classic and preferred viewing for 1990s holiday film lovers.
The Nutcracker (Available on Tubi)
The Nutcracker has become a perfect example of a forgotten 1990s holiday-themed period piece. Based on the Russian ballet that was in turn based on an 1816 short story by E.T.A. Hoffmann, this is a movie that pulled out all the stops. Yet, the inclusion of The New York City Ballet, Macaulay Caulkin, who was just entering the height of his child star fame, and a huge budget to make its magical world come to life couldn't convince audiences to turn out.
Although very few people went to go see it when it opened in theaters (it only made $2 million during its original theatrical run), The Nutcracker has since gone into the cult classic territory. Regardless of anything, it is worth a watch just to see this famous ballet in movie form.
Home Alone 2: Lost In New York (Available on Disney+)
The first Home Alone was a holiday blockbuster; and when a film is a blockbuster hit, a sequel must be made. Lost in New York follows the title’s plot to a T. Kevin (Macaulay Caulkin) is alone once again for Christmas, this time in the big, urban jungle that is New York City (but seriously, how can parents lose the same kid twice?)
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The film was a lot darker than its predecessor and the cartoonish violence was kicked up to a 15 on the “Harry and Marv Scale," which some complained was a bit too much for kids. Despite those minor critical gripes, this was one of the biggest hits of the year, grossing nearly $360 million at the box office during its theatrical run and becoming a must-see along with its predecessor.
It’s Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown (Available on Apple TV)
It just doesn’t feel like the winter season without a visit from Charlie Brown and the gang. It’s Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown is not a movie in the traditional sense, but a collection of vignettes that were strung together to make a TV film. One involves Charlie Brown trying to sell holiday wreaths door-to-door while another shows Snoopy becoming Santa Claus.
The most heartfelt storyline, however, was Charlie Brown explaining the true meaning of Christmas to Sally, who is only concerned about getting presents. In true Charlie Brown fashion, It's Christmastime Again is honest about the downsides of the holidays while embracing what makes them truly great.
The Santa Clause (Available on Disney+)
This entry is the perfect representation of just how big Christmas-themed movies were in the 1990s. Tim Allen, right in the middle of his nearly eight-year stint playing the title character on the smash TV hit Home Improvement. Appearing here as everyman Scott Calvin, he accidentally causes Santa to fall off his roof. This happens on Christmas Eve, leaving Scott riddled with guilt and wondering how he can help save Christmas. With Santa recuperating, Scott has to become the new Santa.
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Was the plot full of holiday cheese? Absolutely; but it was a fun film that became one of the biggest hits of the year, bringing in nearly $190 million during its theatrical run. If your family is looking for an outright silly 90s holiday film full of laughter and some heart, The Santa Clause checks those boxes and then some.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (Available on Disney+)
As early as the mid-1970s, horror movies were getting into the holiday spirit with movies like Black Christmas. It continued in the 1980s with the highly controversial Silent Night, Deadly Night, and this posed a question for creator Tim Burton; how does one make a holiday film that is both a bit disturbing and kid-friendly?
The answer was The Nightmare Before Christmas, a nightmare-fuelled holiday movie that finds Jack Skellington, the king of Halloween Town, trying to bring Christmas to his town after discovering the joy of Christmas Town. This is widely regarded to be a groundbreaking film due to both its subversive subject matter and incredible animation, and it won both critical and audience praise upon its release. The characters were beautiful as they were creepy, making The Nightmare Before Christmas a multi-holiday classic.
Home Alone (Available on Disney+)
With the promotional slogan “A Family Comedy Without the Family,” audiences likely knew just what to expect when they entered the theaters at the tail end of 1990 to watch John Hughes and Chris Columbus's holiday romp Home Alone. The movie tells the story of Kevin McCallister, who was accidentally left home alone during Christmas (seriously, those parents were the worst) and has to defend his home against two bumbling crooks, Harry (Joe Pesci) and Marv (Daniel Stern).
Home Alone made history by becoming the highest-grossing live-action comedy ever, pulling in over $476 million at the box office. Yet, let's not forget the most important thing about this movie is the characterization of Kevin and his interactions with the hapless thieves. Despite its questionable premise of a family that just straight up forgets an entire child, Home Alone remains a giant among Christmas films.