It wouldn't be the Christmas season without a bit of marathon bingeing in front of the TV. But while there are plenty of movies to watch over the holidays (don't believe us? Just check out Digital Trends' best Christmas movies to stream), there are also a plethora of Christmas TV shows and episodes worth watching.
If you're looking for tree lighting or special deals from Mariah Carey, this list isn't for you. Instead, this list highlights classic TV specials from yesteryear, modern specials with dynamic talent like Hannah Waddingham, or holiday-themed streaming shows. From streaming services like Netflix and Hulu to TV networks like PBS, these 20 holiday shows should be streamed now.
Netflix
The Great British Baking Show: Holidays (2018-)
Netflix
NetflixWhat is that delicious smell in the air? For many, the holidays are about giving and receiving, but baking can be almost as important to the traditions of the season. The Great British Baking Show is a wonderful guide to a wide variety of holiday-themed treats, packaged just like a regular season of the show.
If you're looking for something low-key, cheerful, disarmingly friendly, and full of inspiration for your next holiday baking extravaganza, then these holiday specials are for you.
Dash & Lily (2020)
ALISON COHEN ROSA / Netflix
ALISON COHEN ROSA / NetflixDash & Lily is a love story set in New York City at Christmas that follows the lives of two teenagers who begin communicating through a diary that they pass around the city.
Thanks to the fact that the show was actually filmed in New York, the series also offers one of the best looks at the Christmas city, which has a romance all its own. However, with its charming leads and sharp writing, Dash & Lily is exactly what you need to blow your mind this holiday.
Merry Happy Whatever (2019)
Happy, happy, whatever | Official Trailer | Netflix
Merry Happy Whatever, a family-oriented sitcom set during the holidays, may be one of the best glimpses into what it's like to be with family during the holidays. Everyone may be grateful for the time off, but that doesn't mean dealing with family doesn't come with stress.
Still, at the end of the day, “Merry Happy Whatever” is quite an affirmation of the spirit of the season and why we keep our family with us, even when they cause us immense amounts of stress. In the end, all the stress is worth the reward.
The Bad Ones: A Very Bad Holiday (2023)
Netflix
Netflix“The Bad Guys,” a 2022 animated film based on the children's book of the same name, introduced the world to a group of notorious criminals who specialize in heists. The villains include Mr. Wolf, Mr. Snake, Ms. Tarantula, Mr. Shark and Mr. Piranha. Due to the film's popularity and box office success ($250 million worldwide), the criminal group returns for another adventure in a new television special titled “The Bad Guys: A Very Bad Holiday.”
Before the events of the film, the villains set out to pull off a heist on Christmas morning. Since most people are busy opening presents in the morning, Christmas is the perfect excuse for a robbery. But the plan is thrown into disarray when Christmas is canceled after an accident during the holiday parade causes a balloon to burst. Instead of stealing on Christmas morning, the villains set out to save the holiday by giving back to the community.
Home for Christmas (2019–2020)
Netflix
The first Norwegian Netflix series, “Home for Christmas” is about a single woman looking for a boyfriend during the Christmas season. Johanne (Ida Elise Broch) is a 30-year-old nurse who feels society's pressure to find a suitable partner to settle down with. At her family's Advent dinner, Johanne gives in to her family's constant urging to get into a relationship by telling them that she has a boyfriend. Johanne redoubles her will and says that her boyfriend will accompany her to Christmas dinner.
With less than four weeks until dinner, Johanne is searching for a potential boyfriend by any means possible. Johanne explores young professionals, old men and even women. She is willing to do anything to find a partner to take home for Christmas. But Johanne learns that the person she loves most has been right under her nose the whole time.
peacock
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)
CBS/CBS
CBS/CBSIf anyone knows the story of the Grinch, there's a good chance they first heard it through this classic TV special. (And yes, this counts as both a TV show and a movie; deal with it.) The furry green miser is annoyed with the people of Whoville and decides to ruin everyone's holiday by stealing all their presents and decorations .
An unusual children's story, yes, but a story that flips the script on how people came to imagine Christmas while also exploring the true meaning of the holiday. And with the incomparable Thurl Ravenscroft singing this now-iconic theme song, this adaptation of Dr. Seuss' classic story, the Grinch is probably as synonymous with Christmas as Santa Claus himself.
Moroccan Christmas, The Office (2008)
NBC
This wouldn't be a complete list of Christmas TV shows without an episode of The Office, and Moroccan Christmas is arguably the best holiday-themed episode. At one of Dunder Mifflin's many failed Christmas parties, a drunken Meredith sets her hair on fire and Michael stages an intervention with everyone in the office.
It's sweet and funny to see Michael try to help Meredith in his own misguided way, especially when he drags her into rehab. It's also nice to see Phyllis giving Angela a taste of her own medicine as chair of the party planning committee. “Moroccan Christmas” is “The Office” at its best and deserves a watch any time of year.
Disney+
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022)
Marvel Studios / Marvel Studios
Before our favorite group of heroes join forces in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, writer-director James Gunn gave fans a taste of comic book goodness with The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. In this 42-minute special, the Guardians prepare for Christmas as residents of Knowhere after purchasing it from the Collector.
After Kraglin (Sean Gunn) reveals a sad Christmas story about Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), Drax (Dave Bautista) and Mantis (Pom Klementieff) set out to find the best gift ever for their leader. Knowing that he is a lover of 1980s pop culture, Drax and Mantis head to Los Angeles to kidnap Kevin Bacon, playing a version of himself, and bring him back to cheer up Peter. The Christmas special gets to the heart of what makes the Guardians' films so successful: humor, heart and fun.
Hawkeye (2021)
Disney+
Hawkeye is the rare superhero story set during the holidays. It follows the weakest Avenger as he teams up with Kate Bishop to take on a gang in New York just before Christmas.
Hailee Steinfeld is absolutely perfectly cast as Bishop, and Jeremy Renner reminds us that he can be a truly great actor if you give him something to do. Hawkeye has been through a lot in his years as an Avenger, but what makes the show so good is that it balances out all that trauma with much lighter, much sillier material.
The Santa Clauses (since 2022)
Disney+
In 1994, Tim Allen's Scott Calvin wore the iconic red suit and grew a white beard to become the new Saint Nick in The Santa Clause. Almost 30 years later, Scott is still giving gifts to children around the world. However, it's time to think about finding a replacement as Scott is considering retiring from The Santas.
Now in his mid-sixties, reality sets in for Scott as his time as Santa Claus comes to an end. Scott has lost a step or two as his magic is wearing off. Scott also believes that a normal life for his wife Carol (Elizabeth Mitchell), son Cal (Austin Kane) and daughter Sandra would be good for his family. However, Scott cannot give up his duties as Santa Claus. Along with his team of elves at the North Pole, Scott sets out to find a replacement, which is crucial as the fate of Christmas hangs in the balance.
Marge Don't Be Proud, The Simpsons (1995)
20th Century Studios TV
It's hard to choose just one Simpsons Christmas episode, but if we had to, it would be this one. As usual with The Simpsons, Bart ruins the holiday celebrations. The key difference this time is that Bart gets caught shoplifting a video game, and Marge's disappointment with him is so great that she avoids Bart and keeps him at an emotional distance.
This hurts Bart far more than any other punishment could. And when he can't get the love he needs from his mother, Bart tries to get it from Milhouse's mother. The episode's climax is also an inspiring moment when Bart is forced to lie to Marge about loving her lackluster Christmas present, because if he had shown anything other than gratitude it could have jeopardized their reconciliation.
The big Christmas light fight (since 2013)
ABC
ABCMany homes are decorated with Christmas decorations for the holiday season, but the homes in The Great Christmas Light Fight are on a whole different level. In the decorating competition series, four families compete against each other and have the chance to show off their Christmas lights.
These exhibits are judged on design, Christmas spirit and use of lights. The creativity of each family is more than impressive. At the end of each episode, one lucky family will win the grand prize of $50,000. The display of these lights has to be seen to be believed.
Hulu
So-called angels, my so-called life (1994)
ABC
ABCOne of the most underrated Christmas episodes of the last 30 years is So-Called Angels, the 15th episode of the short-lived but popular ABC teen drama My So-Called Life. While the series usually revolves around lead actress Angela Chase (a young Claire Danes), this episode focuses on Angela's boyfriend Ricky (Wilson Cruz), who is seen spitting out blood for the first time in this episode falls and is ignored on a snowy snow road. Ricky, who is gay, has been evicted from his home and must deal with homelessness while others celebrate the holiday.
That sounds like a downer, but the beauty of the episode is how well it balances the seriousness and lightness of the material. There's also a clever, not-so-subtle nod to “It's A Wonderful Life” with an earthbound guardian angel played by singer Juliana Hatfield, and a genuinely moving final act that drives home what the holidays are all about without being too to be sweet as sugar.
It Was The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Golden Girls (1986)
NBC
NBCIf you want something short and light this season, just spend some time with Dorothy, Blanche, Rose and Sophia. It's always a pleasure to watch The Golden Girls, and 'Twas the Nightmare Before Christmas is a great example of how funny the series can be. The girls all decide to give each other homemade gifts, which leads to a funny exchange where Rose gives Dorothy “a wooden brooch in the shape of a turkey head” (or so Dorothy thinks) and Blanche gives everyone a racy calendar: “The Men of Blanche’s Boudoir.”
Add to that Blanche's strange sexual attraction to Santa Claus, an armed Santa Claus, a suicidal Howard the Duck backer, and an empty dinner that exudes the true Christmas spirit, and you have a classic sitcom Christmas episode.
(HBO) Max
The Bath Product Gift Hypothesis, The Big Bang Theory (2008)
Image used with permission of the copyright holder
Jim Parsons received his first Emmy nomination for season two's “The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis.” In “The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis,” an already iconic episode of Big Bang, Penny gives Sheldon a Christmas present and forces the notoriously anal scientist to buy something of equal value in return. Sheldon buys several gift baskets, which he then gives to Penny when he discovers that her gift to him is a signed autograph by Leonard Nimoy.
Parsons is an incredibly talented comedian, and his reaction to the autograph is a comedic triumph. The entire sequence is hilarious and confirmation that The Big Bang Theory owes its success to Sheldon. Many scenes followed in the following years, each showing different aspects of Sheldon's quirks. However, the gift scene remains probably his finest moment.
Holiday Baking Championship (2014-)
Holiday Baking Championship – New Season November 4th at 9pm
If you like Bake-Off but want something a little more stressful, the Holiday Baking Championship is for you. Although the prize money is relatively small at $25,000, the show is a hit every year, also because you can admire a large selection of elaborate sweets made by the show's participants.
While there are certainly plenty of disasters, the Holiday Baking Championship is a show that aims to celebrate the skills of its bakers, even as it subjects them to sometimes grueling or impossible schedules in the kitchen.
Apple TV+
Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas (2023)
Hannah Waddingham: Home For Christmas – Official Trailer | Apple TV+
Holiday deals aren't as trendy as they used to be, but Apple TV+ has changed that this holiday season. Most people know Hannah Waddingham for her Emmy-winning role as Rebecca Welton in Ted Lasso. However, Waddingham began her theater career as an excellent singer and stage actress, and when she appeared as presenter at the last Eurovision competition, she can sing a tune like no other.
In Hannah Waddingham: Home For Christmas, Waddingham gets into the Christmas spirit as she sings and dances to carols at the London Coliseum. She will be joined by Ted Lasso colleagues Phil Dunster and Juno Temple, as well as Hamilton natives Leslie Odom Jr. and Luke Evans.
A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
Lee Mendelson Film Productions / Lee Mendelson Film Productions
Move over, big pumpkin! It's time for a Peanuts Christmas special. When Charlie Brown is depressed during this happy season, he decides to lift his spirits by putting on a Christmas play with all the other children. But in typical Charlie Brown fashion, things don't go as planned and he struggles to create a true Christmas experience for everyone.
This animated classic is a poignant and heartwarming story about friends coming together and finding true Christmas joy. Undoubtedly, this is the quintessential Peanuts story, with such iconic moments as the kids ice skating together, some bizarre dance moves and decorating Charlie Brown's little tree. But the special's music alone is just as memorable, capturing the joy and nostalgia of the holidays in their purest form.
PBS
Season of Light: Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir (2023)
PBS
This year marks the 20th anniversary of PBS's annual Christmas offering with the Tabernacle Choir Christmas Special. This year the choir was joined by Tony Award winner Lea Salonga (Mulan, Miss Saigon) and actor Sir David Suchet (Agatha Christie's Poirot). Salonga sang a selection of her favorite holiday songs as well as Payapang Daigdig, a World War II-era song she sang in her native Tagalog.
One of the other important parts of this year's concert was Suchet's account of the late Sir Nicholas Winton, a man who helped save hundreds of Jewish children from the Holocaust just before World War II. It's a moving story that continues to inspire decades after it came to light.
Call the Midwife Holiday Special (2023)
BBC/PBS
It has become tradition for British drama series Call the Midwife to host a Christmas special a few months before the upcoming season. Ahead of Call the Midwife's 13th season next year, PBS will air this year's special, which takes place two weeks before Christmas 1968.
“Delicate situations cause uncertainty among midwives,” says the official description of the special program. With the Apollo 8 launch imminent and celebration preparations beginning, a treacherous heavy snowfall could complicate everyone's holiday celebrations.” The special will air on Christmas Day.
Editorial recommendations