#Best Christmas Movies of the 2000s

Regardless of the apparent decade, movies within the Christmas genre annually provide endless joy and holiday spirit. When it comes to the star-studded 2000s, many memorable Christmas-time favorites are etched into the archives of cinematic history. Between rom-com staples and cheesy storylines, 2000s Christmas movies have plenty to offer for viewers of all ages. While many of these films have been deemed as mediocre or below average, either due to lackluster box-office success or poor critical reception, plenty of them remain lovable flicks that movie-goers excitedly flock to.

Even though newer Christmas movies continue to release every year, the timeless classics at the dawn of the 21st century will forever electrify us with hopeful belief, along with a dash of feel-good nostalgia. Here are some of the best Christmas movies the 2000s had to offer.

10 Last Holiday

A dramatic Christmas rom-com, Last Holiday is an underrated gem with the talented Queen Latifah taking the spotlight. In it, Latifah plays Georgia Byrd, an innocent yet tense department store employee with an enthusiasm for cooking. After she receives a life-ending brain diagnosis, Georgia exchanges her mundane lifestyle as an aspiring chef for her final days as a lady of luxury when she travels to a resort in Europe before she dies. Latifah’s character excellently portrays the desire to enjoy life to the fullest, giving the movie not only a heartfelt message, but a point to never quit on yourself.

9 Surviving Christmas

Ben Affleck stars in Surviving Christmas as Drew Latham, a rich, but family-deprived advertising executive who, after his girlfriend breaks up with him, desperately tries to not spend Christmas on his own. After traveling to his Chicago childhood home on the advice of his therapist, Drew meets Tom Valco (James Gandolfini) and asks if he could spend Christmas with Tom’s family. However, Tom is unsurprisingly reluctant until Drew offers to pay him $250,000, to which Tom finally agrees. The film is hilariously charming with a star-studded cast, including performances from Christina Applegate and Catherine O’Hara.

8 Four Christmases

Four Christmases is a chaotic, exhilarating tale about a couple who, after their vacation plans unexpectedly fall through, are forced to visit with their dysfunctional families on Christmas. Furthermore, each of their parents are divorced, meaning they have four houses total to pay an undesirable visit to. Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn star in the hilariously funny holiday favorite, including several memorable scenes that are equally heartwarming and hysterical. In a film full of both disarray and aspiration, many life lessons are to be taught in this Christmas-time classic.

7 Eight Crazy Nights

Adam Sandler memorably performs triple-duty as he shines in this animated Hanukkah comedy. The plot follows Davey, a miserable wrongdoer who is facing the possibility of spending the next ten years in prison if he doesn’t clean up his act. Fortunately, Davey meets Whitey (also voiced by Sandler), a warm-hearted youth basketball referee who opens his heart and his home to Davey. The raunchy comedy classic features several memorable moments and original songs, and even provides a beautiful message at the end.

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6 The Polar Express

The Polar Express first widely impressed audiences back in 2004 with its revolutionary animation and gripping narrative. The live-action movie follows a young boy who, after continuously doubting his belief in Santa Claus, boards a train to the North Pole that is typically reserved for children who believe, and full of hidden truths. The Christmas-time classic is an enjoyable movie for people of all ages to enjoy, and compliments its visionary animation with a strong message of childhood belief and imagination. To add, Tom Hanks lends his legendary voice for several creative characters.

5 Love Actually

The beloved holiday staple features a predominantly-British ensemble cast, including Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant, Keira Knightley, Colin Firth and Liam Neeson. The film’s plot consists of several ongoing storylines within the tale’s progression. As the story continues, many of these subplots prove to be interlinking with each other, with several characters interconnecting between their own stories. The film is set five weeks before Christmas, and the stories occur in a weekly countdown until the big holiday. Despite its obvious detractors, Love Actually remains a traditional holiday classic with an abundance of iconic moments.

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4 Christmas with the Kranks

Jamie Lee Curtis and Tim Allen deliver stand-out performances in Christmas with the Kranks, which is about a husband and wife duo who, after their daughter joins the Peace Corps, decide to save money by skipping Christmas entirely. Based on John Grisham’s 2001 novel, Skipping Christmas, Luther and Nora Krank prefer to avoid the trials and tribulations of Christmas-time activities by taking a luxury cruise. However, their plans soon begin to crumble when their daughter announces a sudden intent to return home. The festival favorite is watched by thousands of people per year, and is often regarded as a hilarious guilty pleasure during the holiday season.

3 Bad Santa

Even the best of Christmas movies aren’t necessarily just for children. Billy Bob Thornton shines in his role as Willie T. Soke, an alcoholic, sex-dependent criminal who annually poses as a department store Santa Claus in an attempt to rob the mall after operating hours. Along the way, Willie forms a friendship with one of the kids who visits him, and decides that he’s whistling a different tune this year. Bad Santa is jam-packed with outrageous adult humor, including obvious sexual references and crude insults. It’s the perfect Christmas-time classic for adults to enjoy after putting the kids to bed for the night.

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2 How The Grinch Stole Christmas

Dr. Seuss’ live-action version of How The Grinch Stole Christmas is annually listed as one of the greatest Christmas movies of the 2000s. Jim Carrey delivers an outstanding performance as the titular Grinch, an elusive creature with a particular distaste for Christmas and the residents of Whoville. However, his priorities begin to change when he meets and forms a close bond with Cindy Lou Who (Taylor Momsen). The film remains a timeless classic with a plethora of hilarious moments, along with critical praise for its masterful performance by Jim Carrey and special-effects makeup.

1 Elf

If there were ever a singular movie that epitomized Christmas, 2003’s Elf would certainly take the cake. This quotable holiday favorite stars Will Ferrell as Buddy, an optimistic elf who learns that he is not actually an elf at all. Affected by this sudden news, Buddy travels to New York City in search of his biological father. Along the way, Buddy experiences a string of experimental firsts and unexpected disappointments, though his enthusiasm for spreading holiday cheer leaves its audience with a thoughtful message of what the meaning of Christmas truly is.

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