From cheesy Hallmark movies to black and white classics, one of the best parts of the holiday season is binging those comforting favorites and discovering new movies to love. But if you’re only indulging in movies with “Christmas” or “Santa” in the title, you’re missing out on a wealth of heartwarming classic movies set during Christmas.

If you’re looking to expand your Christmas movie repertoire (or find a socially-acceptable way to watch holiday movies all year long) check out these non-Christmas movies set during the winter season.

FYI – tvguide.com has the BEST up-to-date information on where you can screen movies and shows. Simply search for what you’re trying to watch, and click, “where to watch.”

All of these movies are available to purchase on Amazon, Google Play, etc. If they are available elsewhere, I’ve only listed the streaming platforms where they are free with a subscription. If they are only available behind a paywall, they are listed as such.

Streaming information changes all the time, so check TV Guide for the most up-to-date information!

Movies Set During Christmas

An Affair to Remember (1957)

Hailed as one of the most romantic movies of all time, An Affair to Remember is truly the pinnacle of mid-century romance. Stars Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr light up the screen with their natural charisma. An Affair to Remember is a classic will-they-won’t-they romance starring amazing cheekbones and the Empire State Building. Though it’s not a Christmas movie, the final reunion happens on Christmas Eve. Is there anything more romantic?

Available on: Amazon Prime, AppleTV, Google Play, Vudu (to buy or rent only on all platforms)

The Apartment (1960)

Another classic mid-century romance about a reformed playboy, the snappy dialogue and complicated characters have cemented The Apartment’s status as one of the greatest films of all time. A man rents his apartment to his boss for his boss’s various rendezvous, and falls in love with one of the women his boss brings to his apartment. Backdrop it in New York at Christmas, throw in Shirley MacLaine, and you’ll see why this sizzling romance won 5 Oscars.

Available on: Amazon Prime, AppleTV, Google Play, Vudu (to buy or rent only on all platforms)

Moonstruck (1987)

While the Cliff’s Notes premise of this movie is not especially appealing to modern audiences (a frumpy Cher and a hairy, angry Nicholas Cage fall in love in 1980s New York) trust me when I say this movie is one of the greatest love stories of all time. Cher & Cage have unmatched chemistry, and the setting of winter in New York is as magical as their blossoming romance. The entire cast is magical, but Olympia Dukakis more than earned her Oscar playing Cher’s mother in this film. Full of classic hilarious lines, you’ll be quoting this movie for the rest of your life.

Available on: fuboTV, HBO Max, Paramount +

Die Hard (1988)

Admit it: you knew this movie would be on here. Perhaps the best action movie of all-time (The Godfather is a drama not an action film – fight me) this classic film inspired multiple sequels, video games, and dozens of parodies. Bruce Willis invades Nakatomi tower to save his wife –  who’s been kidnapped by terrorists at her company Christmas party. The only relation to Christmas is the timing of the movie, so you can safely enjoy this thrilling romp all year long.

Available on: Amazon Prime, Peacock, STARZ

When Harry Met Sally (1989)

And now we arrive at the Meg Ryan portion of the list. While Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks dominated the 90s romcom scene, When Harry Met Sally is a truly A+ film – even if Tom Hanks doesn’t make an appearance. Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal star as two friends with fun, funny rapport and deeply realized character arcs who figure out they’re made for each other. Though Ryan and Billy Crystal don’t have the same chemistry as Ryan and Hanks, their friendship-come-romance builds so believably you won’t care. While the climax of the movie happens on New Year’s, not Christmas, the scenes of New York in the snow more than make up for it.

Available on: HBO Max, Netflix

Sleepless in Seattle (1993)

Pulling from An Affair to Remember, this movie catapulted Ryan and Hanks to the top of the world’s best on-screen chemistry list. When Ryan hears Hanks’s son beg for a girlfriend to make his dad happy for Christmas on the radio, her lame relationship with Bill Pullman is supplanted by an obsession with getting to know this mysterious Seattle resident with an adorable son. While there are some decidedly stalker elements to this film, it has one of the sweetest romantic climaxes ever.

Available on: Amazon Prime (free with subscription), fuboTV, Showtime

While You Were Sleeping (1995)

In case Bill Pullman’s betrayal in Sleepless in Seattle bothers you, you can always watch his comeuppance in While You Were Sleeping. Sandra Bullock stars as a young, lonely transportation worker whose Christmas takes a deceptive turn when the mysterious businessman she’s been pining over falls onto the tracks and she rescues him. A nurse mistakes her for his fiancé, and when his ebullient, welcoming family descends on her, she can’t bring herself to tell them the truth. Hijinks and Christmas lights sparkle as she falls for his solid, down-to-earth brother played by Pullman.

Available on: Disney Plus

Fargo (1996)

If you’re dreaming of a dark, lonely, desperate Christmas, Fargo is for you. Part love letter to midwestern women, part parody, this ode to Minnesota has more layers every time you watch it. Fargo stars William H. Macy as a desperate, pathetic man who hires a team of goons to kidnap his wife to split the ransom, Steve Buscemi as one of the goons, and Frances McDormand as the motherly detective investigating their trail of carnage. Peppered with more cries of, “oh jeez” than you’ll hear by the video poker machines at Mystic Lake, this black comedy is best enjoyed in a snug home at wintertime.

Available on: Amazon Prime, STARZ

You’ve Got Mail (1998)

The final Meg Ryan movie on this list, You’ve Got Mail is unintentionally hilarious in 2020, with brief flashes of shocking relevance. Ryan plays the owner of a charming local bookshop whose livelihood is threatened by the behemoth Fox Books. She strikes up an online relationship with a pen pal whose identity is a mystery to her, but turns out to be the heir to the Fox Books fortune. The “unintentionally hilarious part” is that their correspondence takes place over early email – complete with the AOL man saying, “you’ve got mail.’ Their final romantic scene occurs in spring, but shots of “The Shop Around the Corner” in the snow, lit from within, gives all the Christmas feels.

Available on: HBO Max, Netflix, Peacock

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)

Though Hedwig’s theme is more commonly associated with Halloween than Christmas, the Christmas magic in the first Harry Potter movie is undeniable. The Weasley sweater, the feast in the great hall, the snow on the grounds at Hogwarts… need I say more? More pure and warm than the other Harry Potter movies, the magic of Harry’s first proper Christmas is almost as powerful as the magic of the wizarding world. Best watched with warm tea and a treacle tart.

Available on: HBO Max

Ice Age (2002)

Every US playground from 2002-2004 heard the iconic voice of Sid the Sloth emulated by millions of children. This heartwarming animated film follows a pack of Ice Age animals – each left behind by their herds and families, as they bring a Neanderthal baby whose mother dies back to its “herd.” Chock full of lessons on cooperation and family jokes, kids and grown ups alike can delight in this adorable movie.

Available on: Disney Plus

Mona Lisa Smile (2003)

Wellesley College in the 1950s gets shaken up by the arrival of a radical new art history professor played by Julia Roberts. Though many of the well-off women at the all-girls school are simply biding their time until marriage, Roberts seeks to teach them more than just how to tell Monet from Manet. Panoramic shots of a snow-covered Wellesley campus set a gorgeous backdrop against the preppy 50s fashion and budding second-wave feminism.

Available on: HBO Max

Just Friends (2005)

The possible origins of the phrase, “friend zone,” this 2005 comedy stars Ryan Reynolds, Amy Smart, and Anna Faris at their early career peaks. When music executive Reynolds finds himself stranded with a volatile pop star (Faris) in his hometown at Christmas, he rekindles his relationship with his high school crush (Smart). While at first this movie appears to be a triumph film for obnoxious executive bros everywhere, the true underlying message is that the path to love and happiness requires humility and authenticity. Not a fan of the fat suit, for the record. Braces and bad hair are probably enough to make Ryan Reynolds look like a dork.

Available on: Netflix

About Time (2013)

While the trailer makes this film seem like a romance in the vein of a Nicholas Sparks novel, this film actually follows a family with an unusual trait: the men in the family can travel back in time, a fact the youngest son uses to his advantage in fixing social gaffes. Domhnall Gleeson, Bill Nighy, and Rachel McAdams star as the central characters of the film. From twinkling London streets to a warm family Christmas in Cornwall, you’ll want to have some tissues handy when you watch this family dramedy.

Available on: Hulu

Frozen/Frozen II (2013/2019)

Though Frozen technically takes place during the summer, the intricate animation of snow, as well as the aggressively Norwegian art direction, will make you forget these children’s films don’t take place on Julaften (the Norwegian word for Christmas Eve). Idina Menzel’s powerhouse vocals have cemented these films in cinematic history, and Disney-loving adults are free to enjoy these tales of sisterly love and self-acceptance as much as children.

Available on: Disney Plus

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Even after the holidays are over, you can enjoy these movies set during Christmas all year long. In fact, I recommend that you do! Many of these movies also have cozy autumn moments that make them perfect for late fall and early winter. Between viewings of Miracle on 34th Street and Home Alone, make sure you sneak in Die Hard or While You Were Sleeping. Hot cocoa is optional, but strongly recommended.