'Home Alone' Only Scored 66%? The 23 Highest-Rated Christmas Movies of All Time, According to Critics

What's your favorite Christmas movie? If you immediately thought of classics like Home Alone or Elf, you might be surprised to learn that professional critics have a different opinion. The list of the highest-rated holiday films from review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reveals a ranking that challenges many popular assumptions.

The Perfect-Score Classics

According to Rotten Tomatoes, a total of 23 films boast a Critics Score of 90% or higher. At the very top, the 1967 animated version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas and the 1942 classic Holiday Inn both hold a perfect 100% score. They're closely followed by The Shop Around the Corner (1940) and Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), both at 99%, proving the timeless appeal of golden-age cinema.

The Unconventional Contenders

The list also includes several films that spark the age-old debate: 'Is this really a Christmas movie?' The Bruce Willis action-thriller Die Hard (1988) earned a 94% score, while Tim Burton's fantasy Edward Scissorhands (1990) sits at 91%. A more recent addition, The Holdovers from 2023, received massive critical acclaim and a 97% score, quickly cementing its place as a new holiday staple.

The Beloved Favorites That Didn't Make the Cut

Perhaps the most startling revelation is the absence of widely adored fan-favorites. Home Alone (1990), often considered the quintessential Christmas movie, holds a surprisingly low score of just 66%. The Will Ferrell comedy Elf (2003) has a respectable 85%, while the classic A Christmas Story (1987) narrowly missed the list at 87%.