When the holiday season rolls around each year, two things are always able to get people in the Christmas spirit: movies and music. Fortunately, these two treats often come together, withplenty ofChristmas filmsoffering tons of warm, lighthearted tunes that are perfect for the holidays.
Of course, holiday favorites can come in many different forms.Some are timeless classics that charmingly present a story based on the lyrics of a beloved carol, some are fully original features that include exciting new Christmas tunes, and others are simply holiday films that happen to use plenty of songs that feel right at home during the winter season. Whatever the case may be, thebest Christmas moviesand specials usually include plenty of songs that are bound to make anyone feel the Christmas spirit year after year.
Santa Claus is Comin' to Town
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In the 1970 stop-motion animated specialSanta Claus Is Comin' to Town, narrated by Fred Astaire, a mailman named S.D. Kluger recounts the origins of Santa Claus.
Santa Claus Is Comin' to Townnot only shares the same name as the beloved Christmas song from the 1930s, but it also presents a fun, lighthearted origin story of how the iconic holiday figure came to be, offering a creative take on the song’s lyrics.The stop-motion animated special (one of many by Rankin/Bass) follows Kris Kringle as he is raised by a loving family of toymakers,giving the toys they make as gifts to the children of the local town, eventually going on to becomethe one and only Santa Claus.
With their catchy music and fun lyrics, the songs ofSanta Claus Is Comin' to Townare an excellent way to usher in the holidays.
Santa Claus Is Comin' to Townfeatures plenty of timeless holiday songs, including a lovely rendition of the titular tune sung by Fred Astaire.The special does not conclude its musical repertoire there, though, offering several original tunes as well, including fan favorites like “The First Toymakers to the King” and “Put One Foot in Front of the Other.” With their catchy music and fun lyrics, the songs ofSanta Claus Is Comin' to Townare an excellent way to usher in the holidays.
The Polar Express
Based on the book by Chris Van Allsburg, The Polar Express is an animated holiday-fantasy film by director Robert Zemeckis. A young boy is spirited away on Christmas Eve aboard the magical Polar Express, where he meets new friends on a journey to rediscover their belief in Christmas.
For many people, particularly those who grew up in the 2000s,The Polar Expressis a holiday staple.Directed by Robert Zemeckis, this popular animated film follows the adventure of a young boy who boards a magical train bound for the North Pole on Christmas Eve, making new friends and learning valuable lessons along the way.The Polar Expressis known for many different things, including its heartwarming story and unique visual style, but what really propels it to holiday classic status is its music.
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One of the most notable songs fromThe Polar Expressis “Believe,” thanks in part to the smooth vocals of Josh Groban.With music by Alan Silvestri and lyrics by Glen Ballard, the song quickly became an iconic holiday tune, even earning a nomination for Best Original Song at the Academy Awards. Of course, no discussion of the music ofThe Polar Expresswould be complete without mention of “Hot Chocolate,” the show-stopping tune about everyone’s favorite holiday beverage, with vocals provided by Tom Hanks himself.
There have been numerous adaptations ofDr. Seuss’s classicholiday tale over the years, but only one is responsible for supplying the world with the beloved song about the titular character.The 1966 animated TV special,How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, was the first version of the story to feature “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,“the jazzy Christmas tune about the lone resident of Whoville who just can’t see why everyone seems to love the holiday so much.
“You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” has proved to be a lasting part of holiday culture, largely thanks to the smooth bass vocals of Thurl Ravenscroft, whose beautifully low voice certainly stands out among other holiday singers. The song has been covered countless times over the years, including versions by artists like Pentatonix and Tyler, the Creator.Of course, there is nowhere the song feels more at home than in the 1966 TV special,How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Henry Selick directs The Nightmare Before Christmas, a stop-motion fairytale from the mind of Tim Burton. Jack Skellington is the king of Halloween and one of Halloweentown’s most beloved citizens, but he longs for something more. When he stumbles across a magical door that leads him to discover Christmas, he makes it his mission to replace Santa Claus and bring festive cheer to his perpetually spooky hamlet.
Although some may argue thatThe Nightmare Before Christmasis more of a Halloween movie,many consider this Tim Burton classic to be an essential film for the Christmas season.This stop-motion animated feature is much darker than most holiday films, telling the story of Jack Skellington, the leader of Halloween Town who decides that he should be responsible for Christmas for a change. Of course, with such a dark, unique story, it was only proper to include music that matched this description.
The Nightmare Before Christmasis packed with original songs composed by Danny Elfman, the acclaimed composer/musician responsible for the scores of over a hundred feature films.
While the opening song, “This Is Halloween” may feel more at home during the month of October, plenty of entries in the film’s beloved soundtrack are perfect for adding a bold but lighthearted twist to the holidays.Songs like “What’s This?” and “Kidnap the Sandy Claws” are popular examples of tunes from the movie that highlight an outsider’s perspective on Christmas.
The Year Without a Santa Claus
The Year Without a Santa Claus is a 1974 stop-motion animated television special produced by Rankin/Bass Productions. The story follows Santa Claus, who considers skipping his annual Christmas Eve journey due to feeling unappreciated. Mrs. Claus and two elves embark on a mission to restore holiday cheer and prove that Christmas cannot be celebrated without Santa. The special is known for its memorable musical numbers and classic holiday charm.
The Year Without a Santa Clausmay not be quite as popular asSanta Claus Is Comin' to Town, but this later Rankin/Bass special contains plenty of music that has been captivating its viewers for half a century.This charming stop-motion special explores what happens when Santa decides that he needs to take a break from his Christmas duties for one year. What follows is a heartwarming holiday story full of tunes to get anyone (including Santa) back in the Christmas spirit.
The music ofThe Year Without a Santa Clausoffers something for everyone, featuring plenty of recognizable classics and catchy original songs.While the animated special’s renditions of “Blue Christmas” and “Here Comes Santa Claus” are always lovely to hear, the clear fan favorites of the special are the songs performed by Heat Miser and Snow Miser. These jazzy tunes are fun, exciting, and the perfect way to balance the more mellow, heartfelt songs. Although it’s up for debate whose version is better, these parallel songs are sure to liven up the holidays.
The Muppet Christmas Carol
The Muppet Christmas Carol adapts the classic Charles Dickens novel with Michael Caine starring as Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly old man who’s visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve and learns to embrace the holidays.
First written by Charles Dickens in 1843,A Christmas Carolis perhaps the most iconic Christmas tale of all time.The story of the miserly businessperson who learns to change his ways after being visited by various spirits has been adapted and performed countless times over the years. However, few efforts to adapt the story have been done quite as creatively asThe Muppet Christmas Carol. This 1992 feature brings everyone’s favorite Muppet characters into a new rendition ofA Christmas Carol, one which is (like most Muppet projects) a musical.
The latter even letsOscar-winner Michael Caineshow off his vocal skills, charmingly capturing the childlike excitement of Scrooge when he wakes up on Christmas Day.
The Muppet Christmas Caroldoes what Jim Henson’s colorful characters have always done best; dazzle the audience with fun musical numbers while also maintaining a real element of heart.Performed by Muppets new and old, the film features fully original songs that feel right at home during the holidays, such as “It Feels Like Christmas” and “Thankful Heart.“The latter even letsOscar-winner Michael Caineshow off his vocal skills, charmingly capturing the childlike excitement of Scrooge when he wakes up on Christmas Day.
Frosty the Snowman
Frosty the Snowman is a 1969 animation film from Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass. Considered one of the most iconic iterations of the character, the TV special centers on a magical snowman who comes to live and helps a group of children escape from a greedy magician who is out to steal Frosty’s magical hat.
The animated TV special,Frosty the Snowman, serves as another delightful instance of a popular holiday tune going on to inspire a full story of its own. Although the original song was first recorded in the early 1950s, the complete story of the snowman who magically came to life was never revealed until this 1969 special was released. This particular special may be shorter than most other Rankin/Bass classics, but it nonetheless tells a touching story full of holiday spirit.
Because of its relatively short runtime,Frosty the Snowmandoesn’t include much in terms of original music.However, this does not by any means detract from the quality of the special itself. Instead, it allowsFrostyto remain fully dedicated to the beloved tune that inspired it, reminding audiences why the song became so popular in the first place. For a heartwarming take on a classic Christmas song,Frosty the Snowmanis an excellent option.
The Holdovers
The Holdovers is a comedy-drama film starring Paul Giamatti as Paul Hunham, a prep academy professor hated by peers and students alike. Stuck at the academy for the holidays with no family or friends to visit, he finds himself in the company of a bright-but-troublemaking young student named Angus and the school’s head cook, Mary. Together, the three will create a makeshift family as they bond during the holiday season.
Alexander Payne’s Oscar-winning 2023 film,The Holdovers, may not be a musical, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t full of music that helps set the tone for the holiday season.This tender instant classic tells the touching story of the unlikely bond that forms between a strict history teacher, a grieving cafeteria manager, and a lonely student when they find themselves stuck together during Christmas. Along with the writing and performances, part of what madeThe Holdoverssuch a hit was its soundtrack.
The Holdovers Ending Explained
Strict Professor Paul Hunham and troubled student Angus Tully are stuck together for Christmas vacation, but the two form an unlikely bond.
The Holdoversis set in New England during the early 1970s, so, fittingly, most of the music in the film is from that era.Along with an original score by Mark Orton, the film features songs by artists such as Labi Siffre, Cat Stevens, and The Temptations, among many other prominent musicians of the 70s. Not every song included inThe Holdoversis specifically a Christmas song, but they nevertheless feel right at home during the holidays, often offering warm messages about love and togetherness.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a 1964 animated television special directed by Larry Roemer. The story follows a young reindeer named Rudolph, ostracized by his peers due to his glowing red nose. As Rudolph ventures through the North Pole, he encounters various characters including Hermey the elf and Yukon Cornelius, ultimately finding his place within Santa Claus’s reindeer team. The special has become a classic, particularly during the Christmas season.
Rankin/Bass Productions introduced the world to numerous Christmas specials over the years, but the very first was none other thanRudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.This stop-motion special offers a lighthearted interpretation of the 1949 Johnny Marks carol of the same name, which had skyrocketed in popularity thanks to the voice of Gene Autry.Just as the song describes,Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeershows how Rudolph’s differences are what made him special, offering a positive message for young viewers.
While the most well-known tune fromRudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeeris the song that inspired the entire special, there are tons of other songs to love as well.One prime example comes when the special first begins.Rudolphopens with a catchy rendition of “A Holly Jolly Christmas,” performed by Burl Ives, perfectly setting the tone for the story that follows. Other fan-favorites fromRudolphinclude “We Are Santa’s Elves” and “Silver and Gold,” two songs bound to get viewers young and old into the holiday spirit.
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Released in 1965, A Charlie Brown Christmas is an animated holiday television movie directed by Bill Melendez. The Peanuts gang are brought together during the Christmas season when Charlie Brown is chosen to direct a holiday Christmas play for his neighborhood. Despite his depression during the season, the group comes together to create a memorable Christmas event.
For many, the holidays simply wouldn’t be complete withoutA Charlie Brown Christmas.Featuring the characters from thePeanutscomics by Charles Schulz, this popular special follows a saddened Charlie Brown as he struggles to fully understand the true meaning of the holiday season. In ultimately finding joy alongside his friends, Charlie Brown has been helping viewers rediscover their love for Christmas year after year.
Of course, the beautiful bow on top ofA Charlie Brown Christmasis the memorable melodies featured in the special.Along with various jazz-inspired instrumental tunes by Vince Guaraldi, the special features a heartwarming rendition of “Christmas Time Is Here,” sung by a choir of children. The beautiful chorus of children’s voices is enough to help anyone remember what the holidays are all about, providing the perfect melodies to share with loved ones during Christmas.
