Thebest Christian Christmas moviesremind viewers just why celebrating the holiday is so important - and not just because of the Biblical event that led to the holiday in the first place. While there’s no shortage of Christmas movies out there, those that devote themselves to keeping themes like love, family, gratitude, and togetherness at their core feel few and far between by the 2020s.
This is what makes Christian Christmas movies so important. What’s more, the best Christianfilms to watch at Christmasaren’t limited to retellings of the birth of Jesus, either (though there are, of course, several that adapt this important Bible story). There are many movies with all sorts of settings and characters that have an important faith-based message about the holiday, and viewers seeking a solid seasonal holiday film with Christian themes have no shortage of variety to choose from.
The Christmas Candle
Cast
The Christmas Candle is a period drama set in the 19th century English village of Gladbury. The film follows David Richmond, a progressive young minister who challenges the long-held tradition of the Christmas Candle, believed to bring miracles. Starring Hans Matheson and Samantha Barks, the film explores themes of faith, tradition, and community.
Based on the novel of the same name by Max Lucado,The Christmas Candleis a heartwarming period drama that tells the tale of a fictional village with its very own guardian angel. In this Christian Christmas movie, the village of Gladbury is visited every quarter century by an angel who grants a wish to whoever lights the Christmas candle. However, not everyone in the village believes in the angel, and the most skeptical is - somewhat ironically - the local pastor, Reverend David Richmond (Hans Matheson).
Biblical theology plays a central part of the themes and messages behind the story ofThe Christmas Candle,much like the original Max Lucado novel.Reverend Richmond struggling with his faith is used a vehicle to convey many Christian themes and ideas, especially when it comes to the meaning and reason for Christmas, making it a great piece of faith-focused viewing for the holiday season.
The Star
The Star is an animated family film centering on a small but brave donkey named Bo, who, along with his animal friends, plays a pivotal role in the first Christmas story. Released in 2017, the film offers a unique perspective on the nativity through the eyes of its animal protagonists.
Many Christian Christmas movies focus on Mary and Joseph’s journey to Nazareth and the birth of Jesus. However, few manage to make the story as approachable as the 2017 animated biblical comedyThe Star.Created by the Jim Henson Company and directed by Timothy Reckart,The Starboasts an all-star voice cast that includes the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry, Steven Yeun, Gina Rodriguez,and Keegan-Michael Key, among others.
The story ofThe Starshows how a young mill donkey named Bo (Steven Yuen) realizes his life will soon change when he witnesses a shooting star. It turns out Bo couldn’t be more right, as following the royal caravan to Nazareth leads to him being present for the birth of Jesus.It’s a truly wholesome and hilarious animated comedy that retells the Biblical reason for the season in a way that will have younger viewers spellbound.
The Bells of St. Mary’s
The Bells of St. Mary’s is a musical comedy-drama that centers on a priest and a nun who must face off with a wealthy businessman to keep their school from being torn down.
There are many classic Christian Christmas movies fromthe Golden Age of Hollywood, and one of the best is 1945’sThe Bells of St. Marys,which was directed by Leo McCarey and starred silver-screen legends Bing Crosby and Ingrid Bergman. It’s a Christmas tale that’s layered with many Christian themes, which is only to be expected given the premise of the plot.
The Bells of St. Maryssees Crosby taking up the role of Father Chuck O’Malley, with Bergman as nun Sister Mary Benedict. The two start off as rivals but quickly have to learn to put aside their differences to save a local school.While the plot isn’t as Christmas-centric as the likes ofIt’s a Wonderful Life,scenes like the school’s Christmas pageant and the movie being released in December when it debuted in 1945 have led to it being synonymous with festive films.
The Preacher’s Wife
The Preacher’s Wife is a romantic comedy-drama centered around Reverend Henry Biggs, who faces challenges in his marriage and work while an angel, Dudley, arrives to offer divine assistance. The film explores themes of faith and love as Biggs navigates personal and professional struggles.
1996’sThe Preacher’s Wifeis a remake of 1947’sThe Bishop’s Wife,and while both are great Christmas movies with Christian themes and messages, the modern version of the tale is considered by many to be the superior take.Starring Denzel Washingtonand Whitney Houston,The Preacher’s Wifeis a comedy-drama focusing on with wife of a pastor who is regularly visited by an angel.
The angel (Denzel Washington’s Dudley) manages to help Reverend Henry Biggs (Courtney B. Vance) solve several problems in the run-up to Christmas. These include repairing his marriage to Julia (Houston) and stopping a local property magnate from buying Henry’s church to turn the land into condominiums.While it’s full of laugh-out-loud comedy,The Preacher’s Wifefocuses on its message of the importance of faith at its core.
Chasing the Star
Chasing the Star is a film featuring three Magi priests from diverse regions, who traverse a harsh desert to seek evidence of an ancient prophecy. Along their journey, they face antagonistic kings and fallen angels intent on thwarting them, compelling the Magi to confront their past as they await a newborn king.
2017’sChasing The Staris an adaptation of the story of the birth of Jesus. However, rather than focusing on the journey of Mary and Joseph to Nazareth,the epic Biblical movieChasing The Starinstead tells the tale of three others present for the miraculous virgin birth - the Three Wise Men (or Three Kings, depending on the specific iteration).
Directed by Bret Miller and starring Yancy Butler, Rance Howard, and Terence Knox among its ensemble cast,Chasing The Starfocuses on three Magi priests who follow a star. They don’t know their destination but have faith that the holy sign will lead them true (despite regular attempts by the Devil to sway them from their course).It’s more serious in tone than many other Christian Christmas movies but stands as a strong Biblical drama that explores the event that spawned the holiday from a unique perspective.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) is a fantasy film directed by Andrew Adamson. It follows the story of four siblings who discover a magical wardrobe that leads to the enchanted land of Narnia. They join forces with Aslan, the majestic lion, to battle against the evil White Witch. The film features Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, William Moseley, and Anna Popplewell in the leading roles.
The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobeis the 2005 adaptation of the 1950 novel by C.S. Lewis. Disney brought the modernization of the classic novel to life with Andrew Adamson in the director’s chair, and despite being an epic high-fantasy adventure, it’s also filled to the brim with strong faith-based messaging. This is unsurprising given the source material too, as authorC.S. Lewis was incredibly outspokenabout his Christian faith and how it helped shape his stories.
The importance of faith is at the core ofThe Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe,and this isn’t lost in Disney’s 2005 version of the story.It’s also, of course, a Christmas film too - even to the point that never getting to celebrate the holiday despite being locked in perpetual winter is a specified part of The White Witch’s curse on the land of Narnia.
The Nativity Story
The Nativity Story is a 2006 film that portrays Mary and Joseph’s challenging journey to Bethlehem leading to the birth of Jesus. This visually rich adaptation delves into the historical and spiritual aspects of the biblical narrative, capturing their experiences as they seek refuge for this momentous event.
When it comes to Christian Christmas movies that directly tell the story ofthe birth of Jesus Christ, few can match 2006’sThe Nativity Story.This epic Biblical drama is an adaptation of Mary and Joseph’s perilous journey to Nazareth which, of course, culminates with the arrival of the son of God.Directed by Catherine Hardwicke with a cast that includes the likes of Oscar Isaac and Keisha Castle-Hughes, there are few Biblical movies with quite as ambitious a scope asThe Nativity Story.
Of course, the 2006 film is far from the only film that directly tells the story of the birth of Jesus. However, it’s undeniably one of the best. It’s especially noteworthy for humanizing many of the characters involved, especially Mary and the struggles she faced as a pregnant teenager in the ancient world (and the doubt many showed when she explained how she fell pregnant despite being a virgin).
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Released in 1965, A Charlie Brown Christmas is an animated holiday television movie directed by Bill Melendez. The Peanuts gang are brought together during the Christmas season when Charlie Brown is chosen to direct a holiday Christmas play for his neighborhood. Despite his depression during the season, the group comes together to create a memorable Christmas event.
1965’sA Charlie Brown Christmasis considered essential viewing for the festive season in households across the U.S., regardless of their specific faith or if they’re even religious. However, this doesn’t change the fact that the most famousCharlie Brown and Snoopy filmof all time makes no secret that it’s a Christian Christmas movie with a strong Biblical message at its core. This is made clear by one of the final scenes inA Charlie Brown Christmas.
While the image of Linus playing the piano while the rest of theCharlie Brownkids sing “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” around the forlorn-looking Christmas tree, the speech Linus gives before is taken directly from the Bible.Linus recites verses 8 to 14 of the second chapter of the Gospel of Luke, telling Charlie Brown that they represent the true meaning of Christmas.This brings the heartfelt message of togetherness the rest of the film preaches together and gives the story meaning, makingA Charlie Brown Christmasone of the most understandable and approachable Christian Christmas movies for viewers of any age.
Miracle on 34th Street
The Christmas classic Miracle on 34th Street follows a department store Santa Claus who claims to be the actual St. Nicholas and a lawyer who defends him in court. Released in 1947, the original movie was later remade in 1994 by John Hughes.
1947’sMiracle on 34th Streethas strong messagesof the importance of faith, belief, and unconditional love throughout.Even though it focuses more on Santa Claus than Jesus, it’s still undeniably a Christian Christmas movie when it comes to the core message it delivers to viewers. The same is true of the 1955 and 1994 remakes, though many still consider the 1947 original to be the best version of the tale, especially when it comes to conveying a more wholesome, Biblical interpretation of the importance of the holiday.
Not only doesMiracle on 34th Streetdo a great job at conveying the importance of Christmas and why it’s celebrated, but it’s also filled to the brim with great performances. It’s a movie that truly epitomizes why the Golden Age of Hollywood got its name, and the performances of the likes of Maureen O’Hara, John Payne, and Natalie Wood still stand out as being absolutely incredible.
It’s a Wonderful Life
Frank Capra’s classic Christmas film tells the story of George Bailey, a small-town business and family man who, after a series of personal and business losses, attempts to jump off a bridge on Christmas Eve. Bailey is stopped before he can jump by Clarence, an angel who wishes to show him how much impact he has had on those around him in order to keep him from killing himself. Jimmy Stewart stars as George Bailey, with a further cast that includes Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, and Henry Travers.
1947’sIt’s a Wonderful Lifeisn’t just one of the best Christian Christmas movies out there, but it’s also regarded by many asthe best Christmas movieof all time, period. Despite being overlooked by critics when it was first released,It’s a Wonderful Lifehas come to be seen as the movie that most effectively delivers the meaning of Christmas to viewers. The entire film focuses on George Bailey (James Stewart), and how the intervention of his Guardian Angel (Henry Travers) at Christmastime causes him to see that family, togetherness, and gratitude for what one has are the real reasons for the season.
It’s a Wonderful Lifewas helmed by legendary director Frank Capra, who co-wrote the script alongside Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett. It’s a movie with an incredible legacy that dwarfs its initially middling reception (though it was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture).When it comes to Christian Christmas movies that teach a Biblical message about why the holiday is so important, few can matchIt’s a Wonderful Life.
