There are multiple Marvel Cinematic Universe Christmas movies and shows now, and here is a ranking of the festive MCU content. As Marvel Studios continues to explore different sub-genres of entertainment within the confines of the superhero franchise, there is a growing section of the catalog that revolves around Christmas. Hollywood has long made a habit of making movies set around the holiday season, so it was only a matter of time before Marvel also began regularly telling stories that also revolve around it. Now, there are three MCU Christmas movies and TV shows for fans to enjoy each year.
Marvel Studios' first Christmas-set production came in 2013 with Spider-Man: No Way Home is also deserving to be mentioned in an MCU Christmas movie ranking. However, the majority of the movie is not set around the December holiday. For that reason, Spider-Man: No Way Home does not qualify. Now, here is every MCU Christmas movie and show ranked from worst to best.
3. Hawkeye
Released in late 2021 on Disney+, everything about Hawkeye revolves around Christmas. The series finale aired only a few days before the holiday, but the entire premise of the series was built around the nearing festivities. Viewers watched as Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) got entangled in a mess with Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld) built around Avengers: Endgame's Ronin suit resurfacing. One of Hawkeye's main concerns is making sure he returns to the Barton farm by Christmas so he does not break another promise to his kids. Hawkeye's Christmas setting is prominently on display with ugly Christmas sweaters, Christmas parties, and giant Christmas trees.
The Christmas spirit flows out of Hawkeye, but the show is not perfect. The relationship between Clint Barton and Kate Bishop was a highlight to be sure, while introducing Echo (Alaqua Cox) and bringing back Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) helped elevate the series. Hawkeye's biggest issue was its villain, a common problem for Marvel's Disney+ shows. Red herrings about the villain's identity were too obvious, and the ultimate reveal that Kingpin (Vincent D'Onofrio) was involved came too late. It left the series feeling a bit rushed from a plot perspective, even if most of Hawkeye is light-hearted fun set over the Christmas season.
2. Iron Man 3
Iron Man 3 is the original MCU Christmas movie, as it was released in theaters in May 2013. The movie continued director Shane Black's trend of making films set around Christmas, as he did so before with Robert Downey Jr. with Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Their reunion for Iron Man 3 brought some holiday spirit to the MCU, as Tony Stark had some Christmas plans with Pepper Potts before The Mandarin's attacks began. The movie does not lean as heavily into the Christmas setting as other MCU projects, but it does end with Tony giving Pepper the gift of blowing up every Iron Man suit.
For what Iron Man 3 might lack in overt Christmas spirit, the movie makes up for with an action-packed story built around Tony's PTSD from The Avengers. Tony's journey to overcome his demons and be a hero again gives the film a strong foundation for the Aldrich Killian villain plot to build on. The movie might be best ed for its controversial Mandarin twist, but that is easier to forgive as more Marvel retcons happen, allowing Iron Man 3 to be a strong end to the trilogy and an easy MCU Christmas movie to rewatch.
1. The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
The best MCU Christmas movie or show is The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. Set between Thor: Love and Thunder and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, James Gunn created a fun Christmas adventure starring Mantis (Pom Klementieff) and Drax (Dave Bautista). The hilarious special shows the two characters' journey to Earth to kidnap Kevin Bacon so he can be given as a Christmas gift to Star-Lord (Chris Pratt). The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special is packed to the brim with Christmas decorations, while it also features a very special Christmas soundtrack to elevate the holiday feelings.
The key reason why The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special tops this MCU Christmas ranking is that it truly explores the meaning of the holiday season. Mantis and Drax go out of their way to get a present for Star-Lord because they want to cheer him up and make him happy. The special even gives more insight into why Christmas is important to Peter, and gives him another gift with the Mantis sister reveal. An exploration of the Christian-based holiday might not be included, but The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special shows just how much the MCU team loves one another.
