15 Holiday Movies Guaranteed To Bring A Tear Every Year
Some movies just hit differently during the holidays.
They wrap you in nostalgia, sprinkle in a little magic, and before you know it, you’re reaching for the tissues.
Whether it’s a classic black-and-white gem or a modern animated wonder, these films know exactly how to tug at your heartstrings year after year.
Disclaimer: All film details, release years, and plot elements reflect publicly available information at the time of writing.
Readers seeking additional historical or production context should consult verified studio sources, reputable film archives, or updated reference guides.
1. Meet Me In St. Louis (1944)
Judy Garland shines as Esther Smith, navigating family drama and young love in turn-of-the-century St. Louis.
When little Tootie destroys the snow people in a fit of sadness, your heart absolutely shatters.
The family faces moving to New York, threatening to tear apart their perfect world.
If “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” doesn’t wreck you emotionally, check your pulse. Just saying.
2. The Shop Around The Corner (1940)
Two coworkers despise each other but unknowingly fall in love through anonymous letters.
Set in a charming Budapest gift shop during Christmas, the tension builds beautifully until the big reveal.
James Stewart delivers vulnerability like nobody’s business, making you root for these pen pals turned soulmates.
Where modern rom-coms rush, this one takes its sweet time, rewarding patience with genuine emotional payoff.
3. The Bishop’s Wife (1947)
An angel named Dudley arrives to help a stressed bishop, but ends up charming everyone, especially the bishop’s neglected wife.
Cary Grant radiates otherworldly charisma, reminding a workaholic man what truly matters during the holidays.
The ice skating scene feels like pure magic captured on film.
By the finale, you’ll realize this isn’t about miracles but rediscovering love that was always there.
4. A Christmas Story (1983)
Ralphie wants a Red Ryder BB gun more than life itself, despite every adult warning he’ll shoot his eye out.
Narrated with hilarious grown-up perspective, this film captures childhood Christmas obsession perfectly.
From the leg lamp to the frozen tongue incident, every scene drips with nostalgia and absurdity.
Though it’s mostly comedy, the final moment when Ralphie gets his wish hits surprisingly deep emotionally.
5. Home Alone (1990)
Kevin McCallister gets accidentally left behind when his family jets off to Paris for Christmas.
What starts as a kid’s dream, pizza and jumping on beds, turns into a battle against bumbling burglars.
Macaulay Culkin’s performance mixes mischief with genuine loneliness that sneaks up on you.
When Kevin reunites with his mom on Christmas morning, even the toughest viewers get misty-eyed. Family matters most.
6. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
Charlie Brown feels depressed about Christmas commercialism, which honestly still hits different in today’s world.
He picks the saddest little tree imaginable, gets ridiculed, then watches his friends transform it with love.
Linus delivers that iconic Bible verse speech, and suddenly everything makes sense.
The simple animation and jazz soundtrack create something timeless that reminds us what the season truly means. Pure nostalgia.
7. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
Rudolph gets bullied for his glowing nose until a foggy Christmas Eve makes him the hero.
Alongside misfit toys and an elf who dreams of dentistry, this stop-motion special celebrates being different.
Hermey and Rudolph’s friendship reminds us that outcasts often find each other and change the world.
If the Island of Misfit Toys doesn’t make you emotional, you might actually be a robot.
8. The Polar Express (2004)
A doubting boy boards a mysterious train to the North Pole on Christmas Eve, searching for belief.
Tom Hanks voices multiple characters in this motion-capture wonder that divides audiences visually but unites them emotionally.
The animation style might feel uncanny, but the message about faith resonates deeply.
When that first bell rings for the boy, signaling renewed belief, tissues become absolutely necessary. Believe, friends.
9. Klaus (2019)
A selfish postal worker gets exiled to a frozen town where he befriends a reclusive toymaker named Klaus.
This Netflix gem reimagines Santa’s origin story with stunning hand-drawn animation that looks like a painting come to life.
Acts of kindness ripple outward, transforming an entire community from bitter to joyful.
The emotional climax involving Klaus’s past will absolutely move you in the best possible way. Phenomenal storytelling.
10. The Apartment (1960)
C.C. Baxter lends his apartment to executives for their affairs, hoping for a promotion while sacrificing his dignity.
Set during the holidays, this Billy Wilder masterpiece explores loneliness and moral compromise with sharp wit.
Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine create chemistry that feels achingly real.
Though it’s technically a comedy, the moments of isolation and heartbreak cut deep, especially during the Christmas Eve scenes. Timeless cinema.
11. Scrooged (1988)
Bill Murray plays a cruel TV executive who gets visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve, Dickens style.
This modern take on “A Christmas Carol” adds dark humor and 1980s excess to the classic tale.
Murray’s transformation from heartless man to emotional mess feels earned, not rushed or forced.
The live broadcast finale, where he breaks down on camera, delivers unexpected emotional punch. Redemption never looked so chaotic or beautiful.
12. Holiday Inn (1942)
Jim leaves showbiz to run a farm that only opens on holidays, because apparently that’s a solid business plan.
Fred Astaire dances like gravity doesn’t apply to him, and Bing Crosby sings like an angel with a microphone.
Their rivalry over the same woman adds drama, but the holiday spirit wins.
Though it’s less famous than its spiritual successor, this gem introduced the world to “White Christmas.”
13. Miracle On 34th Street (1947)
An old man claims he’s the real Santa Claus, and suddenly a courtroom debate about faith and imagination unfolds.
Little Susan learns to believe again, and honestly, so do we.
The trial scenes mix humor with genuine emotion, making grown-ups question their own cynicism.
When the cane appears in the final scene, waterworks commence. This one proves magic exists if you’re brave enough to trust it.
14. White Christmas (1954)
Two war buddies team up with singing sisters to save their former general’s struggling Vermont inn.
Bing Crosby croons that iconic title song, and suddenly you’re transported to a simpler time.
The loyalty, the romance, the snow falling perfectly on cue, it’s pure cinematic comfort food.
However, the real tearjerker moment comes when the soldiers surprise their beloved general with a heartfelt tribute.
15. It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)
George Bailey stands on a bridge, ready to give up, when an angel named Clarence shows him what life would be like without him.
Every moment hits like a ton of bricks wrapped in Christmas lights.
The town he saved, the lives he touched, the love he shared, all vanish in an alternate reality.
By the end, you’ll believe in second chances and the power of one person’s kindness. Grab tissues, seriously.
