Every year during the holidays, fans return to familiar Christmas movies to re-explore childhood classics and modern favorites that work their way into the annual marathon rotation. Christmas movies can appear in all kinds of genres, though there is something especially refreshing about comedic holiday movies.
Christmas comedies generally explore familiar holiday concepts in fun new ways, whether through modern reimaginings of classic tales or relatable examinations of unique family dynamics. Movie fans have so many options to choose from on Christmas, so there's plenty of the most hilarious options for fans looking to laugh this holiday season.
10 How The Grinch Stole Christmas Is A Modern Remake Of The Beloved Cartoon
Jim Carrey starred as the titular Grinch in the modern adaptation of the classic Christmas story from Dr. Seuss. It was later turned into a beloved animated short in 1966 and played every year on television for decades.
2000's How The Grinch Stole Christmas, from director Ron Howard, expanded the original story and focused on the life of the Grinch. The Grinch was wonderfully brought to life by Jim Carrey and an incredible makeup team. While there have been quite a few adaptations of the Christmas story, Jim Carrey's How The Grinch Stole Christmas is without a doubt the funniest take.
9 Krampus Is A Comedy Horror That Explores The Dark Side Of Christmas
While most Christmas lovers know about the legend of Santa Claus, the darker tale told around the holiday hasn't been featured on the big screen as much. 2015's Krampus brought a fun selection of actors together for the comedy horror that explored the tale of the titular creature from European folklore.
While Krampus traditionally travels around with St. Nick to scare naughty children, Krampus featured a killer version of the legend. This version of fans' beloved Santa tore his way through a neighborhood before he set his sights on a dysfunctional family whose son had lost his Christmas spirit.
8 Home Alone Has Become A Comedic Favorite Around The Holidays
1990's Home Alone starred Macaulay Culkin as the young misunderstood child of a large family who finds himself left behind during the Christmas season. He is forced to defend himself and his home from a pair of burglars who have set their sights on his neighborhood while everyone is away celebrating.
Home Alone explores relatable family issues that can pop up during the Christmas season. But Home Alone is also filled with laughs, as the young child adapts to life on his own before he goes to light-hearted war against the burglars with a house full of traps and dangerous practical jokes.
7 National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation Is A Hilarious Holiday Classic
The Vacation series from National Lampoon followed the Griswold family on a number of hilarious holidays. None are as memorable as 1989's National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation starring Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo as the Griswolds.
Christmas Vacation explores Clark Griswold's attempts at hosting the perfect holiday dinner with the extended family. Christmas Vacation sees him compete with his neighbors' Christmas lights and spend a day sledding at the hill as only a Griswold can.
6 A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas Ended The Franchise With Holiday Cheer
The Harold & Kumar franchise started as a stoner-comedy with a heart. It that followed two recreational marijuana users as they navigated life, work and relationships. 2011 brought the trilogy to a close with A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas, which brought the distant friends back together for a number of holiday hijinks.
A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas is filled with Christmas cheer and unforgettable homages to stop-motion Christmas specials. It features typical humor for late-night comedy, so fans of Harold & Kumar and other similar movies will enjoy the festive film.
5 The Santa Clause Hilariously Reimagined The Legend Of Jolly Old St. Nick
Disney's The Santa Clause starred Tim Allen as a toy marketing executive who accidentally caused Santa Claus to fall off his roof and disappear, leaving him to put on the suit and take over Santa's duties. After a successful Christmas night, he is taken to the North Pole with his young son where he learns of a binding clause that makes him the new Santa.
He spends the next year of his life hilariously transforming into the joyful character against his wishes. The Santa Clause became a Christmas favorite that launched a franchise of movies for anyone looking to binge a holiday comedy series.
4 Bad Santa Proves That Not All Holiday Comedies Need To Be Family-Friendly
Billy Bob Thornton starred in 2003's Bad Santa as a professional thief and dedicated alcoholic who uses his position as a department store Santa Claus to rob the stores he works at during the holidays. The R-rated comedy is not the typical family-friendly holiday movie, though the spirit of Christmas is in full display as it begins to warm the heart of the depressed thief.
Not only does he find love with a local bar owner, but he also begins to mentor a young troubled boy who lives alone with his elderly grandmother in a house the thief chooses to crash in for the holidays. Bad Santa managed to become a seasonal favorite due to its raunchy comedy and surprisingly heartfelt tale.
3 A Christmas Story Is A Beloved Favorite About A Boy's Holiday Struggles
1983's A Christmas Story is a holiday favorite that has been enjoyed by families every year, though it isn't the usual happy family story. The narrator recollects about a Christmas when he was younger and his wishes for a BB gun that he was warned against by his family and even Santa Claus.
He's also forced to avoid a bully while other members of the neighborhood deal with a number of hilarious scenarios. The relatable story and dark humor have elevated A Christmas Story for Christmas fans who are looking for something a little bit different from their holiday movie selection.
2 Scrooged Put A Dark Modern Twist On A Christmas Carol's Classic Story
The classic story from Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol was given a modern twist in 1988's Scrooged starring Bill Murray. Scrooged follows an uncaring TV network executive who is putting on a live broadcast of the Charles Dickens story. He is forced to relive important and regretful moments in his life after he sets a series of events in motion with an armed and disgruntled employee.
He was guided on his journey through his past by three hilarious reimaginings of the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future, which has made Scrooged the preferred choice for some holiday fans with a taste for dark comedy.
1 Elf Is By Far One Of The Funniest Christmas Movies To Enjoy This Holiday
Will Ferrell starred in 2003's Elf as Buddy, a human who was raised in the North Pole after he crawled into Santa's sack during a trip to deliver presents at an orphanage. Buddy heads to New York City to find his biological father (who is on the naughty list) so he can figure out where he belongs in the world.
Elf is a heartwarming family tale that is filled with laughs from the always enjoyable Ferrell. Elf's Buddy tries to hilariously adapt to big city life and win over his father all while keeping the spirit of Christmas alive in order to help power Santa's sleigh and save the holiday.