Inside: Finding festive, fun movies to enjoy with your teen can be hard, but these great holiday movies on Amazon prime video are perfect for a family movie night. Don’t forget the hot cocoa and cookies.
If you’re anything like me, the holiday season means trying to pry our big kids away from their screens (or at least get them to share the screen with us) and enjoy some cozy family movie time. Time with our teens can be the best gift.
I know it’s not always easy to find movies that everyone can agree on, especially with teens who might think they’re “too old” for certain holiday classics. But I’ve got a list of holiday movies streaming on Amazon Prime that can hopefully keep the whole family entertained—yes, even your too-cool teens!
Whether they’re into laughs, a bit of romance, or some holiday adventure, there’s something here that’ll might conjure a holiday miracle and make them want to put down the phone (for at least a little while) and get into the holiday spirit with you.
Grab some popcorn, pour the hot cocoa, and let’s get started!
The Best Holiday Movies To Watch With Teens On Amazon Prime
First lets start with some tried and true favorites that appeal to this generation of teens. They’ve probably been watching some of these for years, and that is what makes them perfect for holiday viewing as a family. Nostalgia is a powerful force for bringing people together. Everyone has a favorite line they can share or the part in the movie where they laugh as if its the first time they’re seeing it. Remind your teens that they can still be kids at Christmas!
Modern Holiday Movie Favorites For Teens
Elf
Story: A heartwarming classic that’s hilarious for all ages. It follows Buddy the Elf, who’s grown up in the North Pole thinking Santa Claus is his father, as he discovers his human roots and ventures to New York City.
Why Teens Will Like It: Will Ferrell’s over-the-top comedy never gets old, and there’s plenty of feel-good family humor.
Home Alone
Story: Not that you really need the recap as this hands down is one of the best Christmas movies ever, but just in case you haven’t seen it twenty times. This classic story of an 8-year-old Kevin Mccallister (Macaulay Culkin) left home alone who ends up defending his house from bumbling burglars is as fun now as it was back in the day.
Why Teens Will Like It: The clever traps and epic pranks never get old. Teens get a kick out of the nostalgia and the laugh-out-loud slapstick.
The Polar Express
Story: This animated classic follows a young boy on a magical train ride to the North Pole, where he rediscovers the spirit of Christmas and the power of believing.
Why Teens Will Like It: The stunning animation and adventurous journey make it captivating, plus it has that nostalgic vibe for teens who may have watched it when they were younger. Tom Hanks voices multiple characters, adding a bit of magic to the experience.
Holiday Movie Rom Com’s For Teens
Next, let’s add a little mistletoe and a few meet cutes with these favorite holiday rom-coms for teens that bring all the feels for the holidays (along with a few laughs too!). One is more modern and one has become an unconventional classic.
Last Christmas
Story: A modern romantic comedy set in London, featuring a young woman with a messy life who meets a mysterious and charming stranger. Inspired by George Michael’s music, it has a sweet and surprising story.
Why Teens Will Like It: It’s fresh, funny, and has a bit of romance—plus some good twists that keep things interesting.
The Holiday
Story: Two women (Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet) swap homes for the holidays, one traveling to a cozy English village, the other to L.A., and each finds love and a fresh start. It’s a little bit rom-com, a little bit holiday magic.
Why Teens Will Like It: With a mix of humor and romance, this one’s a cozy escape for teens who love romantic comedies.
Last Holiday
Story: Last Holiday stars Queen Latifah as Georgia Byrd, a shy, cautious woman who, after a surprising diagnosis, decides to spend her life savings on a luxurious European holiday. .
Why Teens Will Like It: Teens will enjoy Georgia’s inspiring “carpe diem” journey, her humorous misadventures, and her transformation into a bold, confident character.
Holiday Movie Comedies
The Best Funny Christmas Movies For Teens
There are some great comedic holiday movies that teens will love for their quirky characters, crazy capers and just all around seasonal silliness. Great to get everyone laughing together and and truly embracing the idea of holiday cheer.
Jingle All the Way
Story: A dad goes to ridiculous lengths to get his son the most popular toy of the season, only to realize that holiday spirit matters more.
Why Teens Will Like It: This comedy about over-the-top holiday shopping is as relatable as ever, and they’ll laugh at the ‘90s tech and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s hilarious antics.
Almost Christmas
Story: This comedy follows the Payne family as they come together for the first time in years to celebrate Christmas with their strict, recently widowed father. As tensions rise among the family members, they learn important lessons about love, forgiveness, and what it really means to be a family during the holiday season.
Why Teens Will Like It: With a star-studded cast including Gabrielle Union, Mo’Nique, and J.B. Smoove, Almost Christmas is a funny and heartfelt film that deals with relatable family dynamics. The humor, drama, and modern holiday themes offer teens an entertaining, fresh take on the Christmas movie genre.
Christmas with the Kranks
Story: Based on John Grisham’s novel Skipping Christmas, this is the story of a couple who try to skip the holiday only to have things spiral hilariously out of control.
Why Teens Will Like It: It’s all about rebelling against expectations (something teens know well), with plenty of slapstick humor.
Traditional Holiday Movie Classics For Teens
While the first one is actually a fairly new movie, it gives a new twist to one of the oldest Christmas classics, A Christmas Carol. A perfect blend of old and new. All the rest are holiday movies that established this cinematic genre and set the bar for all those that came after. Remember retro is in right now and this is a great way to get your teens to develop a true appreciation for the story and artistry of these early films.
The Man Who Invented Christmas
Story: This unique take on A Christmas Carol imagines how Charles Dickens came up with his famous story about Scrooge (the original grinch) and his ghostly visitors.
Why Teens Will Like It: This historical, behind-the-scenes story of how A Christmas Carol came to life is smart, creative, and has just the right amount of holiday cheer.
It’s a Wonderful Life
Story: A perfect Christmas Eve tale, this is the ultimate holiday classic that follows George Bailey, a man who gets a life-changing visit from his guardian angel. Features Jimmy Stuart and Donna Reed.
Why Teens Will Like It: The story is timeless, and it has a powerful message about family, community, and finding meaning in life—perfect for watching together.
The Bishop’s Wife
Story: An angel named Dudley (Cary Grant) is sent to help a troubled bishop (David Niven) raise funds for a cathedral but ends up helping the bishop and his wife (Loretta Young) reconnect and rediscover their love.
Why Teens Will Like It: With its magical, heartwarming story, and Cary Grant’s charming performance, this movie offers romance, humor, and a reminder of the importance of love and family. Teens will enjoy the fairy-tale-like atmosphere and relatable themes.
White Christmas
Story: White Christmas stars Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye as two Broadway entertainers who team up with a sister act (played by Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen) to perform a Christmas show in Vermont.
Why Teens Will Like It: With catchy tunes, charming performances, and a festive, feel-good storyline, White Christmas offers both musical numbers and humor that teens will enjoy.
Untraditional Holiday Movies For Teens
There are those that would argue that some movies really shouldn’t be counted as holiday movies, just because they happed to be set at the holidays. However, others would disagree and our teens tend to like things that go against tradition. It just feels a bit rebellious and that’s its own kind of holiday spirit. So, if they aren’t getting aboard the seasonal sleigh with the movies suggest above, maybe try one of these.
Die Hard
Story: Bruce Willis stars as NYPD officer John McClane, who must save a building full of hostages during a Christmas party that’s taken over by terrorists.
Why Teens Will Like It: Packed with thrilling action, suspense, and memorable one-liners, Die Hard blends Christmas with an action-packed adventure.
Gremlins
Story: A horror-comedy set during Christmas, it’s the story of a young man who unwittingly unleashes chaos when his pet Gizmo spawns mischievous little monsters.
Why Teens Will Like It: This has horror, humor, and some ‘80s nostalgia. It’s quirky, a little spooky, and a lot of fun.
Okay and let’s throw in one more bonus holiday move for teens, which was an Amazon Prime Original release last year.
Candy Cane Lane
Story: In this holiday comedy, Eddie Murphy plays Chris, a man who is determined to win his neighborhood’s Christmas decoration contest with the help of a mischievous elf named Pepper. As a result, the twelve days of Christmas come to life in hilarious and chaotic ways.
Why Teens Will Like It: Teens will love Candy Cane Lane for its wild blend of holiday magic, humor, and action. Eddie Murphy’s signature comedic style and the out-of-control magical elements provide a fresh take on holiday hijinks.
These holiday movies for teens cover a range of film types , so you’re bound to find something that’ll bring the whole family together for a cozy night in. Just don’t forget the snacks! If you’re looking for more ideas, be sure to check out our Holiday Movies for Teens on Netflix.
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