42 Romantic Christmas Movies That Will Warm Your Heart This Winter

JaycePark

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42 Romantic Christmas Movies That Will Warm Your Heart This Winter

Christmas movie magic isn't just for kids. There's something about the mix of good cheer, warm scarves, holiday miracles and secret wishes that make the Christmas a perfect backdrop for romance. So it's no wonder that so many of the best Christmas movies of all time are rom-coms — you just can't beat kisses in the snow. Of course, nobody understand this better than Hallmark, and they've set up a full schedule of Hallmark holiday movies for your viewing pleasure.

Then, once you finish the Christmas romances, you can check out the funny Christmas movies, animated Christmas movies, underrated Christmas movies and even Christmas horror movies. The holiday marathon never ends!

The best romantic Christmas movies have a lot of the same elements as the best rom-coms: There's the quiet yearning, the mistaken identities, the sworn enemies who turn out to be true loves and the "fake" dates that turn out to be something more. But the whole thing is wrapped in a layer of twinkling holiday lights, cozy plaid and buffalo-checked costumes and wintry goodness that make the whole thing extra special.

Then, once you finish the Christmas romances, you can check out the funny Christmas movies, animated Christmas movies, underrated Christmas movies and even Christmas horror movies. The holiday marathon never ends!

Love Hard (2021)

Part of the fun of the holidays is getting something you didn't expect — unless you're on a dating app, and you realize you've been catfished. In Love Hard, an L.A.-based dating columnist flies to New York to meet someone from a dating site, only to find she's been communicating with someone else — who says he'll set her up with the guy of her dreams if she pretends to be his girlfriend for the holidays first. No way this can backfire, right?

A Castle for Christmas (2021)

Ready to get away for this holidays? In this film, a writer seeks to escape a stateside scandal by traveling to Scotland, where she becomes intent on buying a castle that has a connection to her grandfather. During the escrow period, she must live with the Duke who owns it. Of course, they start off at odds, but there's still a chance for Christmas magic to do its thing. It comes to Netflix on November 26.

The Holiday (2006)

When two women, one from London and the other from Los Angeles, swap places and live in each other's home throughout the holidays, they realize there's more to life than the boy problems they had back at home. Watch when you some trans-continental romance.

Single All the Way (2021)

Ah, the old fake-date-for-the-holidays premise — it seems so plausible, yet sets the stage for so much hijinx. In this one, best friends Peter and Nick pretend to be each other's holiday dates, but their family has other plans. "You can expect pageantry, wine, hunky Santas, a little bit of deception, a whole lotta do-gooding, and Jennifer Coolidge," star Michael Urie tells Entertainment Weekly. The movie comes to Netflix on December 2.

The Holiday Affair (1949)

It's a classic Christmas love triangle: a woman, played by Janet Leigh, has to decide between the successful lawyer (Carl Davis) and someone rougher around the edges (Robert Mitchum). But she has to decide by New Year's Eve, since she has plans to marry the lawyer that day.

Happiest Season (2020)

This movie follows girlfriends Harper (Mackenzie Davis) and Abby (Kristen Stewart), who plan on spending the holidays with Harper's family, only for Harper to admit that she hadn't come out to her family yet. It's for anyone who's ever had to carry around a secret in front of their families.

Holidate (2020)

Tired of hearing her family's pitying comments about her love life, Sloane (Emma Roberts) agrees to bringing a platonic plus-one (Luke Bracey) to every holiday event (a.k.a. a "holidate") for a year. But how long can things stay platonic?

The Shop Around the Corner (1940)

Two coworkers at a store in Budapest couldn't be more at odds. They can't stand each other, but absolutely adore their faraway pen pals. As it turns out, the pen pals are much, much closer than they think. This romantic plot might sound familiar, as it inspired Nora Ephron's You've Got Mail.

A California Christmas (2020)

He's a rich son of a real estate tycoon sent to complete a land deal to buy a holdout farm. She's the headstrong owner of the dairy farm that refuses to sell. When he arrives, she mistakes him for a new farmhand — and things only escalate from there. If these characters grab you, A California Christmas: City Lights comes out December 16.

Holiday in the Wild (2019)

After getting dumped by her husband, Kate takes their planned second honeymoon by herself — finding a newfound love for life (and a handsome pilot) on her way.

Christmas in Connecticut (1945)

Barbara Stanwyck stars as Elizabeth Lane, a journalist who presents herself as a consummate homemaker living on a farm in her columns. In reality, it's all a fabrication, and she's a city-dweller who doesn't know how to cook. Things get dicey, then, when the head of the magazine announces that war hero will spend the holidays on her farm for a story (and even more complicated when he turns out to be played by the handsome Dennis Morgan).

Four Christmases (2008)

Brad and Kate (played by Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon) are an unmarried couple who, the product of two sets of divorced parents, have to attend four different family events on Christmas Day when their plans to go on vacation fail. Will the relationship survive?

Last Christmas (2019)

A cynical and struggling Christmas store employee finds her life turning around after meeting a handsome and mysterious stranger. As with all Christmas strangers, he teachers her truths about herself.

The Best Man Holiday (2013)

A 15-year college reunion during the holidays has this group of friends realizing a lot about their true colors — and maybe they’ll make enemies and fall in love along the way. This ensemble movie has it all, from melodrama to comedy to romance.

Holiday Rush (2019)

This time, it's a dad who has to learn to stop being so career oriented and slow down in his busy life to appreciate the little things. In this case, it's a radio DJ who, after being laid off from his station, has to move his four kids in with his aunt. He wants to buy the local station there, perhaps with his producer, Roxy — could sparks develop?

The Knight Before Christmas (2019)

She's a high school teacher, he's a medieval knight transported to modern day Ohio — it's not your average meet-cute, but it makes for a fun rom-com.

Elf (2003)

Sure, this comedy is about saving Christmas and father-son relationships — but it's also about the romance between Will Ferrell's Buddy and Zooey Deschanel's Jovie. Who could forget their "Baby, It's Cold Outside" duet?

Let It Snow (2019)

This movie follows the intersecting lives and loves of the teens in a small Midwestern town during one snowy day. There are wacky adventures, to be sure, but romance also heats up for some of the ensemble.

The Princess Switch (2018)

Can't get enough Vanessa Hudgens? Here, she plays both a princess-to-be and an American baker who decide to swap spots for the holidays after discovering they look like twins. If it hits home, you can go back for the sequels, The Princess Switch: Switched Again and The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star.

A Christmas Prince (2017)

A reporter flies to a country called Aldovia to get the inside scoop on a scandalous prince who's about to become king. As time goes on, however, she realizes she might have found her one true love. Netflix has gone on to make two sequels: A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding and A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby.

A Christmas in New York (2017)

Similar to Love Actually's storyline, A Christmas in New York tells the stories of six totally different couples celebrating the holiday in a fancy hotel. Each of them are battling their own problems, and in the process, discovering the meaning of love, family and happiness.

Christmas Inheritance (2017)

In order to take over her father's company, a socialite heiress must return to the charming small town where she grew up. It's a classic holiday-movie plot, but not an unenjoyable one.

Almost Christmas (2016)

This is one of those big, overstuffed movies that has a little of everything, including romance. The action starts when a man's four adult children try to spend a week together, families in tow, under one roof.