Many families have a Christmas film they watch every year, but choosing one that everyone agrees on can be difficult. Luckily, instead of debating, numbers give a clear answer. Using combined ratings from Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb, we’ve put together a list of the best Christmas films ever made. And on top of the list is a timeless favourite from 1946.

The rankings bring together critic scores and audience ratings to show which films have remained popular across generations. They also highlight newer festive releases that have quickly earned a strong reputation.

You can have a look at the interactive graphic below.

At the top of the list is It’s A Wonderful Life, a film many still consider the ultimate Christmas classic.

Jimmy Stewart plays a man who questions whether his life has made any difference, before a guardian angel steps in and shows him what would have happened if he had never been born.

Rotten Tomatoes calls it “the holiday classic to define all holiday classics” and “one of a handful of films worth an annual viewing”.

It holds a 94% critic score and a 95% audience score, along with an 8.6 rating on IMDb, which is the highest combined score of any film included.

Second place goes to Klaus, the 2019 hand-animated story about a postal worker who forms an unlikely friendship with a toymaker.

The film has been widely praised for its emotional story and distinctive animation.

Third is The Holdovers from 2023. It stars Paul Giamatti as a strict teacher left to supervise students who cannot go home for the holidays.

Rotten Tomatoes described it as a “thought-provoking dramedy” with strong performances and a nostalgic feel.

The rest of the top 10 features The Shop Around the Corner, starring Jimmy Stewart again, the action favourite Die Hard with Bruce Willis, the Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine comedy The Apartment, and Tim Burton’s animated musical The Nightmare Before Christmas.

But the data also reveals the films viewers may want to avoid this Christmas.

Rotten Tomatoes shows Deck The Halls, starring Matthew Broderick and Danny DeVito, as the lowest-rated festive film among critics.

For audiences, the weakest score went to Red Christmas, a 2016 horror centred on a family under threat.

IMDb users ranked The Mean One, a 2022 horror inspired by the Grinch character, as the poorest Christmas movie overall.

When all ratings were combined, Deck The Halls tied for last place with A Merry Friggin’ Christmas, the 2014 comedy featuring Robin Williams.