Summary

• The 2000s brought a variety of Christmas movies, including family-friendly adventures, wild comedies, and R-rated options for older audiences.
• Some of these movies have become holiday favorites, while others are lesser-known gems that deserve a spot on fans' watchlists.
• The best Christmas movies from the 2000s offer heartfelt stories, captivating visuals, and talented casts, making them enjoyable for both children and adults alike.

There are certain holiday movies that have been popular with audiences for decades now, but the best Christmas movies from the 2000s prove there have also been some great festive options in the 21st century. While the 2000s might not have seemed like a long time ago for some people, it has been enough time for some of these Christmas movies to become new classics of the genre that people revisit again and again.

There is a great variety in the holiday movies of the 2000s with family-friendly adventures that show the Christmas spirit, wild comedies that capture the chaos of the season, and even some R-rated Christmas options for older audiences. Some of these movies have become beloved favorites for this time of year while others are lesser-known gems that could find their way into fans' regular Christmas movie watchlist. Overall, the 2000s was a great decade for Christmas movies that are available right now.

25 ‘Twas The Night (2001)

A Con Man Gets His Family Wrapped Up In Magical Christmas Misadventures

The Disney Channel has been fairly dedicated to releasing seasonal content for its audience every year, whether that be Halloweentown movies in the fall or Full Court Miracle in the winter. In 2001, they released one of the best Christmas movies of the 2000s — ‘Twas The Night, and it aired annually for years after.

Nick is great with computers, but he’s also a con man. When he lands himself in trouble, he decides to escape to his little brother’s house for the holiday season. While there, he ends up roped into watching his brother’s kids, and they all wind up in the middle of a scheme that involves him using Santa’s magical devices to burgle homes. It combines the magical elements of Disney movies with the dysfunctional family elements often found in holiday movies. It also features the always fantastic Bryan Cranston as Nick.

Available to stream on Disney+.

24 Snow (2004)

Santa's Son Finds Romance On A Holiday Mission

One of the most common tropes during holiday movies is a protagonist who must save Christmas for children the world over. In Snow, it’s the son of Santa Claus, played by Tom Cavanaugh, who has to rescue a young reindeer from a zoo and bring the animal back to the North Pole. Along the way, he falls for the woman (Ashley Williams) responsible for the reindeer’s care. It’s a charming story that relies heavily on the chemistry between its leads, and its popularity hasn’t waned much since it premiered in 2004. In fact, it spawned a sequel and usually ends up with a spot in Freeform’s 25 Days Of Christmas lineup in December.

23 RENT (2005)

A Broadway Adaptation Of A Bittersweet Holiday Story

RENT might not be considered a 2000s Christmas movie by every viewer, but it begins during the holiday season and ends the same period during the following year, chronicling the life of a group of friends who meet during a particularly difficult Christmas season, it qualifies. Based on Jonathan Larson’s Broadway musical, the movie even reunites most of the original Broadway cast. It might not feel as raw as the Broadway show, but it certainly has the same amount of heart, and the impressive vocals needed to pull off the rock-opera appeal of the story.

22 Nativity! (2009)

British Christmas Comedy Starring Martin Freeman

Holiday pageants and pantomimes are something of a tradition in European schools. This English Christmas movie from the 2000s Nativity! takes that idea and runs with it as it focuses on the competition to put on the best Nativity between two schools.

One teacher lies about his school’s Nativity being broadcast on television, and it sets off a chain of events that forces him to reevaluate his priorities and make sure the show still goes on. The movie is so popular in the UK that it has spawned multiple sequels and a stage musical adaptation of the story. The movie is a who’s who of British stage and TV actors as well, led by the charming and hilarious Martin Freeman.

21 The Polar Express (2004)

A Boy's Magical Christmas Journey To Believe Again

The Polar Express was released back in 2004, and it is a truly great animated film and has lived on as one of the best Christmas movies of the 2000s. While the animation makes it seem aimed at younger viewers, there are plenty of reasons why adults enjoy it too. Adapted from the beloved Chris Van Allsburg book, it follows a young boy whose faith in Christmas is waning only for him to be taken on a magical trip to the North Pole.

The Polar Express is very visually appealing from start to finish, and Tom Hanks voices many of the characters. This movie is a lot of fun, and it certainly appeals to everyone who has ever had a serious ion for Christmas — or those who read the original book as children. While The Polar Express was incredibly divisive (currently it sits at 56% on Rotten Tomatoes), those who enjoy the Tom Hanks Christmas film regard it as a classic — as did those critics who saw its potential when it first released in 2004.

Available to stream on Max.

20 Call Me Claus (2001)

Whoopi Goldberg Is Chosen As The Next Santa

Some holiday movies will argue that Santa Claus is an immortal being who lives forever and can keep doing his work because of the magic of Christmas and the belief of children. Others see Santa Claus as a job position ed on to new people every few generations, as in the early 2000s Christmas movie Call Me Claus.

Whoopi Goldberg stars as an executive for a TV shopping network who ends up hiring the real Santa Claus for a promotional spot just when he’s trying to track her down to take over his job. She, of course, has lost the Christmas spirit since he first chose her as his successor as a child, and has to learn to believe in the magic of the holidays all over again. It is a predictable and simple Christmas story that doesn't bring much new to the genre, but Goldberg’s comedic timing keeps it from feeling stale even 20 years later.

19 The Ultimate Christmas Present (2000)

A Magical Disney Channel Christmas Movie About Santa's Snow Machine

A Disney Channel Original Movie, The Ultimate Christmas Present features two teenage girls who find a miraculous weather machine they use to bring snow to Los Angeles. As it turns out, the machine malfunctions and one of the girls discovers her dad is going to be stuck at the airport for Christmas as a result of the blizzard they caused. The machine, of course, belongs to Santa Claus himself, who has to track it (and the girls) down.

This movie has such a unique and fun concept that kids who grew up with it would watch it for years after its initial broadcast date. While it offers to teach younger viewers a lesson, like a lot of early 2000s Christmas movies, it's still a rare gem among light Disney Channel fare.

Available to stream on Disney+.

18 Holiday In Handcuffs (2007)

A Kidnapping On Christmas Leads To Holiday Hijinks

Back when it was still called ABC Family, Freeform aired the 2007 original movie titled Holiday in Handcuffs, in which a struggling artist succumbs to the pressure of bringing a date home for the holidays by kidnapping one of the customers at the restaurant where she works. The concept is a little troubling, but the movie makes up for its problematic premise with a lot of humor and heart. Melissa Joan Hart and Maria Lopez have great chemistry together, and that's largely what makes this Christmas movie from the 2000s so fun to watch.

Available to stream on Prime Video.

17 Ghosts Of Girlfriends Past (2009)

A Rom-Com Take On A Christmas Carol

While not strictly a Christmas movie, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past draws its inspiration from one of the most popular Christmas stories of all time: A Christmas Carol. The movie follows Connor Mead as he attends his brother's winter wedding and relives the relationships of his past through his first girlfriend, his assistant, and his deceased uncle.

A Christmas Carol has become something of its own holiday trope, as even television shows use it in their holiday episodes. This particular movie provides a new twist on the idea, as Connor isn't particularly greedy or selfish, simply afraid of falling in love. Of course, the movie is made even better with some stellar casting with Emma Stone as Connor's first girlfriend, Jennifer Garner as the woman he's always been in love with, and Matthew McConaughey as Conner himself.

16 Serendipity (2001)

Christmas Shopping Leads To A Romance Based On Chance

Though this Christmas movie from the 2000s takes place over several years, Serendipity begins its story with two people shopping for Christmas presents. Jonathan and Sara meet when they both want to purchase the same pair of gloves. While they're interested in each other, they're both involved in other relationships, so Sara decides they should leave their potential next meeting up to fate, writing her number in a book, and his on a five-dollar-bill, and waiting to see if either finds their way back to them.

Serendipity is a frustrating series of missed connections between the two main characters. Every time it seems their paths will cross, they just miss one another, but that's part of what makes the audience engaged. While the premise is a little far-fetched, the happy ending makes it a perfect 2000s Christmas movie for the holiday season, as it hits all the right emotional notes. Plus, it's incredibly gratifying when the book and the money finally reemerge.

Available to stream on Max.