By
Ali Teske
Updated
13 minutes ago
Ali is a former editor and seasoned list writer with Collider. She also has experience and bylines published by BridgeTower Media and Wealth of Geeks. While getting her Bachelor's in English and minor in creative writing, Ali studied film and literature at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. As a millennial and despite having just about every streaming service, Ali still maintains a large collection of DVDs and Blu-rays, with her all-time favorites including her box set of The Office and a 2-disc special features version of The Silence of the Lambs (yes, she's aware those are polar opposite genres). She's well-versed in navigating Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb scores because those windows are almost always open whenever she's watching a movie. Believing movies are best experienced in theaters, Ali still prints her tickets and has almost every stub from the last 15 years. Ali prefers movies to TV but never passes up the opportunity to binge through any limited Netflix series created by Mike Flanagan.
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When it comes to Christmas traditions, watching a legacy canon of movies is one not to be trifled with. Audiences have a specific line-up of holiday flicks that are watched on repeat every year, and penetrating that tradition with a new title is extremely difficult. The classics are a mixture of literature adaptations, tales of magic, and stories about finding the true meaning of Christmas. Not all holiday movies are meant to be comedic, but the funniest Christmas movies share similar themes. The best laugh-worthy features effortlessly relieve the stress of the season, entertain every member of the family, and allow audiences to live in nostalgia for a runtime.
From musicals to ruining the idyllic version of a family Christmas, the funniest movies of this sub-genre thrive on their quotable moments and pop culture influence. These movies range in rating from PG to R, establishing that there's something for all members of the party. So, when mentally preparing for the holiday dinner or selecting a background movie for gift wrapping, turn to the Christmas comedies that are sure to lighten the mood.
15 'Fred Claus' (2007)
Paul Giamatti as Santa and Vince Vaughn as Fred ClausImage via Warner Bros.
Everyone is aware of Santa Claus, but Fred Claus dives into the other, lesser-known member of the Claus family. Vince Vaughn stars as Fred Claus, the older brother of Nicholas Claus (Paul Giamatti), better known as the Christmas icon, Santa Claus. Living in the shadow of his younger brother has given Fred a cynical worldview, but when he’s arrested for a petty crime, he agrees to work off his bail money in the North Pole.
The comedy comes largely from the performances, where Vaughn is able to deliver his reliable, fast-talking charm, and Giamatti, who may not have been the first thought to play Santa, does very well in the role. Fred Claus was a financial disappointment upon release, but the movie has slowly drawn a crowd of fans thanks to high cable rotation, which raised its visibility. In a household where the same movies have been played enough times to be memorized, Fred Claus is a family comedy that could serve as a nice alternative to the traditional selections. —Brad LaCour
14 'Four Christmases' (2008)
Reese Witherspoon in Four ChristmasesImage via Warner Bros. Pictures
Visiting one family on Christmas can be stressful, but visiting four different households is an inhumane punishment in Four Christmases. Kate (Reese Witherspoon) and Brad (Vince Vaughn) enjoy celebrating the holidays on their own, but when they’re caught in a lie on national television, they’ll be forced to pay Christmas visits to the families they’ve been avoiding. With each visit holding different challenges for the couple, they’ll either form a rock-solid bond through trauma or have their Christmas spirits permanently broken.
Four Christmases is going to hit hardest for those who would rather get a decade’s worth of coal in their stocking before traveling on the holidays. Brad and Kate’s marathon session of familial obligations keeps the movie briskly paced, and the large cast of extended relatives offers distinct contributions. Four Christmases serves as a great reminder that sometimes a Christmas card is just as good, if not better, than an in-person visit. —Brad LaCour
13 'The Muppet Christmas Carol' (1992)
Miss Piggy, Kermit the Frog, and the gang eat dinner during The Muppet Christmas Carol.Image via Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
Operating on the idea that any story works better with muppets, Charles Dickens’ classic story gets retold using the beloved characters like Kermit the Frog (Steve Whitmire) and Gonzo (Dave Goelz). Starring Michael Caine as Ebenezer Scrooge, The Muppet Christmas Carol faithfully retells the story of how three ghosts visit the miser on Christmas Eve. By the time the night is over, Scrooge will have learned the error of his ways and pay someone to get him a Christmas goose.
Even for those who don’t generally watch muppet movies (yes, they do exist), The Muppet Christmas Carol is accessible to audiences of all ages. The humor is there to accentuate the story, and not drive it, so the familiar plot doesn’t go off the tracks for any longer than it takes to sing a song. When it comes to the live-action performers, Caine doesn’t blow off his assignment just because the other actors have hands up their bodies; he delivers a Scrooge who slowly learns his lesson in a way that many actors neglect to do. —Brad LaCour
12 'The Ref' (1994)
Denis Leary dressed in black pointing a gun off-camera in The Ref - 1994Image via Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
A desperate thief takes the family from hell hostage in The Ref. Dennis Leary is Gus, a criminal looking to grab some festive loot on Christmas Eve, when he sets off an alarm that causes the police to set up roadblocks. Thinking on the fly, Gus takes husband and wife Caroline and Lloyd (Judy Davis and Kevin Spacey) hostage, not knowing their marriage is on the brink of collapse. As Gus tries to wait out the police, he will play a tough love marriage counselor to get them all through the night.
The Ref is black humor with a heart, resting its humor on a script that packs in as many sarcastic jabs and loaded barbs as possible per scene. The role of Gus is perfectly suited to Leary’s dry comic delivery, while Davis and Spacey give his unstoppable force two immovable objects to play against. Although The Ref didn’t perform well at the box office, it later found an audience on home video to become an underrated Christmas comedy. —Brad LaCour
11 'Trading Places' (1983)
Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd in Trading Places.Image via Paramount Pictures
Trading Places is one of the greatest comedies of all time, and can also be considered one of the greatest Christmas comedies of all time. Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy) lives on the streets, barely able to survive, and Louis Winthorpe III (Dan Aykroyd) is the definition of privilege and wealth. When two investment tycoons make a bet about nature versus nurture, they’ll disrupt the lives of Valentine and Winthorpe for their own personal amusement.
Christmas is not only the backdrop for Trading Places, but the season is incorporated into the comedy throughout. For the performances themselves, the established comedic presence of Aykroyd and the rising star power of Murphy created a dynamic pair that perfectly contrasted styles for maximum hilarity. Trading Places would be a breakout hit in 1983, going on to become the fourth-highest-grossing movie of the year. —Brad LaCour
10 'Spirited' (2022)
Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell in period costumes smiling at each other in front of a crowd in Spirited.Image via Apple TV+
While there are many adaptations of A Christmas Carol across the cinematic universe, this 2022 musical version brings something different to the table. Spirited stars Will Ferrell as The Ghost of Christmas Present, who changes course when Jacob Marley (Patrick Page) selects the season's grouch to be redeemed. Christmas Present is determined to get through to Clint Briggs (Ryan Reynolds), before Christmas Present retires, becoming human again. The entire movie turns into a song-and-dance of the original source material.
Simply put, Spirited is Will Ferrell being Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds being Ryan Reynolds (just not Deadpool Ryan Reynolds), and for many, that's enough. The pair feed off each other, making the story feel more about their comedic friendship than the darker themes of redemption usually depicted. Spirited is infectiously energetic and infuses the holiday spirit into the real-life Scrooges determined not to like it.
9 'Scrooged' (1988)
Bill Murray as Frank Cross holding a rose while standing on a commercial set in Scrooged.Image via Paramount Pictures
An imaginative, comedic retelling of the classic Charles Dickens story, Scrooged features Bill Murray as the unlikeable leading man gifted a rude awakening for Christmas. Frank Cross (Murray) is a successful TV executive whose selfish ambition and cynical demeanor drive everyone away and make his subordinates fearful. After firing Elliot (Bobcat Goldthwait) on Christmas Eve, Frank is visited by three comedic ghosts to show him the error of his ways.
Full of slapstick humor and Murray's commitment to the character, Scrooged is a refreshing version of A Christmas Carol that infuses comedy into the modernized version instead of remaining word-for-word loyal to the source material. Every character delivers, using Frank as a comedic punching bag with Murray holding his own against his co-stars' spot-on delivery.
8 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas' (2000)
Jim Carrey as the Grinch grinning and wearing a Santa costume in 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas'.Image via Universal Pictures
This live-action adaptation of the beloved Dr. Seuss book and animated special is divisive, but ultimately loaded with humor and memorable moments. How the Grinch Stole Christmas stars Jim Carrey as the titular green, hairy creature determined on stopping Christmas from coming, stealing the presents and joy from the Whos in Whoville. For some, the original Grinch was sly and charming, but the live-action version was over-the-top with too elaborate a backstory. Carrey maintains his exaggerated style, donning another green costume.
Fans of this version recognize it as a go-to every year for silly gimmicks amplified by Carrey's all-out performance. From fourth-wall breaks to sarcastic lines like "[Santa Claus] only comes out once a year, and he never catches any flak for it! Probably lives up there to avoid the taxes," this version allowed a younger generation to connect with the comedic brilliance that is Jim Carrey.
7 'The Santa Claus' (1994)
Eric Lloyd as Charlie and Tim Allen as Scott/Santa in The Santa Clause.Image via Disney
In true Disney movie fashion, this magical movie includes humorous one-liners that slide over the heads of its young audiences and right into the funny bones of the adult members watching. The Santa Claus features Tim Allen as Scott Calvin, as he scares Santa Claus off his roof and is forced to take over the responsibility of delivering gifts on Christmas. Convinced it was all a dream, Scott pushes back on assuming the identity of Santa before realizing the importance of the magic of the legendary figure.
Allen's humor translated from Home Improvement to The Santa Claus, his annoyingly charismatic persona winning over audiences. His ability to play off his co-stars brings all the more laughter as he contends with younger actors like Eric Lloyd as his son Charlie, and David Krumholtz as the head elf Bernard. This version of Santa Claus is a staple in the holiday genre, and for some, difficult to imagine anyone else besides Allen as the man of mystery. The magical and comedic continuity established in the first film remains in the rest of the trilogy and the Disney+ series.
6 'Home Alone' (1990)
Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) holding his hands to his face and screaming in front of the mirror in Home Alone.Image via 20th Century Studios
"Bless this highly nutritious microwavable macaroni and cheese dinner and the people who sold it on sale," said Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) to the most delicious-looking bowl of mac-and-cheese that he'd never get to savor. Home Alone is an iconic holiday film about an eight-year-old left behind on the family's Christmas vacation, having to fend off home burglars. John Hughes' script paired with Culkin's witty delivery, makes this '90s comedy one of the best of the decade, regardless of time of season.
While Culkin carries the movie's laughs for most of the runtime, Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern steal the rest of the movie as the Wet Bandits suffer at the hands of Kevin's pranks. Home Alone has more than one scene stealer with Catherine O'Hara's beloved "KEVIN!" and John Candy's Midwestern niceness. It is the quintessential holiday film that caters to adults with its star-studded cast and draws the giggles from youth, empowered by Kevin's creative survival tactics.
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National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
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I find scrooged to be much funnier than 9
2024-12-23 07:50:33 Upvote 5 Downvote Reply CopyTrading Places?
2024-12-23 12:17:20 Upvote 4 Downvote Reply CopyList confirms author doesn't have a sense of humour. Is probably a fan of the Big Bang Theory.
2024-12-23 18:38:42 Upvote 3 Downvote Reply CopyIt's The Santa Clause. You forgot the E.
2024-12-22 23:10:43 Upvote 3 Downvote Reply CopyAnyone who puts ‘love actually’ as the #2 funniest Christmas movie cannot be taken seriously. Not even in the top ten. Terrible article
2024-12-23 20:26:05 Upvote 3 Downvote Reply CopyA very Harold & Kumar 3d Christmas should've definitely made it onto the list. Love Actually...booo. Just Friends would be my Christmas/comedy/romance over Love Actually.
2024-12-24 19:44:24 Upvote Downvote Reply Copy1,3,5,7,9 are great. 2,4,6,8,10 are lousy.
2024-12-24 21:32:43 Upvote Downvote Reply CopyUhh, home alone 2, where are you????
2024-12-23 10:46:08 Upvote 1 Downvote Reply CopyFour Christmases got robbed here. Another one for the naughty but hilarious list is The Night Before. Seth Rogan high out of his mind gets me every time.
2024-12-22 19:02:52 Upvote Downvote Reply CopyYou forgot Fred Claus and Four Christmas
2024-12-22 16:22:34 Upvote Downvote Reply CopyHow The Grinch Stole Christmas? Are you high? That film was awful and not funny. "The Ref", on the other hand, was hilarious!
2024-12-23 20:16:23 Upvote Downvote Reply Copy