Frosted Diaries | What to Watch Before Christmas
Okay, be honest.
How many times have you scrolled through your streaming apps, stared at all the holiday movies, & somehow ended up rewatching The Office?
Because same.
That’s why I made this guide, not a “you must watch all of these or December is ruined” list, but more of a “here’s what hits depending on your mood, energy level, & snack situation” list.
Whether you want chaos, comfort, or something that just makes you feel mildly festive while you’re texting through it, there’s something in here for you.
Ready?
Let’s discuss.
+ Classic Christmas Comfort
These are the movies that make December feel official the second they’re on. The ones you grew up with. The ones you half-watch while wrapping presents. The ones that still hit every single year.
|
Title |
Mood |
|---|---|
|
The Santa Clause (1–3) |
Peak early-December energy. Tim Allen Santa is basically Christmas muscle memory. |
|
Home Alone (all of them) |
Loud. Chaotic. Iconic. Kevin invented holiday survival. |
|
Elf |
The serotonin hit of the season. Watch when your spirit needs immediate lifting. |
|
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation |
Family meltdown cinema at its finest. |
|
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Jim Carrey) |
A little dark, a little dramatic, fully heart-healing by the end. |
|
A Christmas Story |
Pure nostalgia. Perfect to watch when wrapping gifts. (Just try it.) |
|
Miracle on 34th Street (either one) |
Gentle belief in magic, no matter your age. |
|
The Polar Express |
Uncanny animation aside, it’s pure Christmas dreamscape. |
|
Jack Frost |
Emotional, nostalgic, you may shed a few tears. |
|
Frosty the Snowman |
Short, sweet, & part of our generation’s childhood memory. |
+ Cozy Winter Movies That Aren’t Fully Christmas
For nights when you want winter energy without ornaments screaming at you.
|
Title |
Mood |
|---|---|
|
Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas |
Halloween? Christmas? Tim Burton said yes. |
|
Disney’s A Christmas Carol |
Moody, animated, & kind of existential in a good way. |
|
Little Women (2019) |
Gentle, snowy, sisterhood vibes. |
|
While You Were Sleeping |
Cozy romance with gentle winter charm. |
|
The Holiday |
Soft escapism, love, beautiful homes, healing arcs. |
|
Serendipity |
Bittersweet fate & city-winter magic. |
|
The Family Stone |
Messy family dynamics with serious emotional payoff. |
+ Romantic & Feel-Good Holiday Picks
Because sometimes you want love without the heartbreak.
|
Title |
Mood |
|---|---|
|
Love Hard |
Awkward, sweet, modern holiday romance done right. |
|
My Secret Santa |
Cozy mystery with romantic charm. |
|
Champagne Problems |
Mistakes, emotions, December longing. |
|
A Merry Little Ex-Mas |
Tension, old love, unresolved feelings. |
|
Last Christmas |
Romance, grief, growth, & healing. |
|
Something From Tiffany’s |
Soft seasonal fate energy. |
|
Holidate |
Chaotic chemistry with holiday charm. |
|
Falling for Christmas |
Light, snowy, low-stress romance. |
+ Modern Holiday Magic
These feel like the new classics, the movies that still carry magic without feeling dated.
|
Title |
Mood |
|---|---|
|
The Christmas Chronicles |
Kurt Russell as Santa should not work this well… but it really, really does. |
|
Noelle |
Sibling energy, soft magic, actual warmth. |
|
Arthur Christmas |
Animated heart with surprising depth. |
|
Klaus |
A beautifully told origin story with warmth & soul. |
|
Jingle Jangle |
Visual magic, music, & adventure. |
|
Let It Snow |
Intertwined stories, young love, winter vibes. |
+ Holiday Chaos, Drama & Big Energy
For nights when your plans include loud laughter, popcorn, & not being emotionally responsible.
|
Title |
Mood |
|---|---|
|
This Christmas |
Family tension, music, love, growth. A holiday staple. |
|
Deck the Halls |
Pure ridiculous rivalry chaos. |
|
A Very Jonas Christmas Movie |
A fresh, modern holiday drop with cozy chaos, brotherly banter, & full 2025 festive energy. New comfort, instant cheer. |
|
Jingle Bell Heist |
Holiday meets crime caper. |
|
Four Christmases |
Absolute family nightmare, which makes it amazing. |
|
Almost Christmas |
Family grief, joy, & tradition colliding. |
|
Last Holiday |
Glamour, joy, & unexpected transformation. |
|
A Bad Moms Christmas |
Unhinged. Hilarious. Mentally restorative. |
+ Just-for-Fun Nostalgia Lane
These are the emotional equivalent of fuzzy socks.
|
Title |
|---|
|
The Princess Switch (all of them) |
|
A Cinderella Christmas |
|
12 Dates of Christmas |
|
Christmas With the Kranks |
How I’m Watching this December
Here’s how it goes: I start with the classics (The Santa Clause, Home Alone, Elf), they open the door to the season. Then I wander into romance (Love Hard, The Family Stone, The Holiday) for emotional texture. The Nightmare Before Christmas sneaks in when I least expect it. & somewhere in the middle, I always rewatch The Holiday & pretend I have a cottage in Surrey.
Not every night needs to be an event. Some nights it’s a cozy drink & background noise. Other nights it’s full candlelit drama with your phone on Do Not Disturb. Both are valid. Both are December.
Watch what you want. Rewatch what you love. Skip what bores you. This season doesn’t need to be curated, it just needs to feel like yours.
If one night all you do is fall asleep to Elf with a mug of lukewarm cocoa on your coffee table? That still counts as being present with the season.
Let it be easy. Let it be fun. Let it play in the background while you scroll.
It’s still all the magic.
What’s your favorite Christmas movie? I’d love to know.
Tell me in the comments below.
OH! Also.
If this kind of slow, intentional December energy feels like home to you, you’ll love The Glowhaus Society. It’s my cozy-luxe corner for seasonal living, grounded routines, & the kind of soft ambition that actually changes your life.
Stay tuned!
Ciao, babes!
– L
xx