Here's a List of the Best Christmas Scenes from Non-Christmas Movies

Even Santa would approve of this "nice list" of nontraditional holiday movies

Christmas movie scenes

Grab the popcorn and candy canes!

'Tis the season for cozying up by the fireplace and turning on your favorite Christmas movie. Between films like 2003's Elf and holiday classics like 2000's How the Grinch Stole Christmas, many Yuletide revelers start streaming these seasonal flicks as early as Nov. 1, while others prefer to binge-watch right after Thanksgiving.

If you're frustrated that you only have a month to squeeze in these movies, you better not pout, and we're telling you why. Since the best festive moments don't always appear in holiday-themed films, we've rounded up some of the most iconic scenes from non-Christmas movies. They'll help you get into the spirit during the "most wonderful time of the year "and long after Dec. 25, too. 

Mean Girls

Christmas Movie Scenes
Michael Gibson/Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock

Right next to Rudolph, Regina George (Rachel McAdams) and the Plastics' winter talent show performance "goes down in history" as one of the most unforgettable Christmas moments ever. Their choreography to "Jingle Bell Rock" while decked out in Santa-styled outfits may have been on the naughty side of Mr. Claus' list, but Tina Fey's Mean Girls (2004) should definitely top your binge-watch list of non-Christmas movies.

Watch Mean Girls on Paramount+

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Christmas Movie Scenes
Warner Bros. Pictures

The Harry Potter films never fall short of magic, so there's no denying that the festive spirit is definitely in the air at Hogwarts during the holidays, especially in 2001's Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. The giant ornamented trees lining the Great Hall and the snowy courtyard outside set the tone for a cozy, wintry scene. And the best part? When Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and Ron (Rupert Grint) wake up on Christmas morning to presents under the tree, marking the first happy holiday Harry's ever experienced.

Watch Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone on Peacock

Step Brothers

Christmas Movie Scenes
Columbia/Kobal/Shutterstock

The 2008 film centers around two stepbrothers, 39-year-old Brennan (Will Ferrell) and 40-year-old Dale (John C. Reilly), who still live at home and are forced to co-exist after their parents fall in love. The movie ends in a hilarious scene showing both brothers sleep-walking while sleep-destroying the Christmas presents under the tree. Although a nontraditional holiday movie, some may make an exception for Step Brothers for its Christmas timeline and covering relatable themes many families experience during the season.

Watch Step Brothers on Roku

Lady and the Tramp

Christmas Movie Scenes
Moviestore/Shutterstock

Why not add another animated hit to the Christmas cartoons everyone knows and loves, such as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964), A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) and Frosty the Snowman (1969)? Disney's 1955 animated film Lady and the Tramp centers around Lady, a cocker spaniel puppy gifted as a Christmas present from Jim Dear to his wife, Darling. You'll want to grab a bowl of spaghetti for this one! After you've feasted your eyes on this sweet cartoon classic, follow it up with the 2019 live-action version featuring voice acting by Tessa Thompson and Justin Theroux.

Watch Lady and the Tramp on Disney+

Toy Story

Christmas Movie Scenes
Disney/Pixar

The animated flicks don't stop there! What would Christmas be without toys, and which film does it better than Toy Story? (Answer: none.) The 1995 Disney staple wraps up with all the toys in Andy's house on Christmas morning. While all seems merry and bright since the toys have reached their destination safely, the scene mirrors Andy's birthday party in the film's opening: The toys might be replaced by newer, cooler ones. Don't worry! There are plenty of Toy Story sequels for you to predict the fate of these beloved, plastic characters.

Watch Toy Story on Disney+

Goodfellas

Christmas Movie Scenes
Warner Bros.

We know what you're thinking: How does a gangster film squeeze in holiday cheer? A theme of merry and bright … holly and jolly? Well, Martin Scorsese's 1990 crime classic does just that (sort of) during an iconic and tense Christmas party scene centering around master thief James "Jimmy" Conway (Robert De Niro) and his decked-out cronies at the bash, all set to the tune of "Frosty the Snowman" and "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)."

Watch Goodfellas on Tubi

Rocky

Christmas Movie Scenes
United Artists

A pivotal scene in the 1976 sports drama occurs on Christmas Eve when a fuming, drunken Paulie (Burt Young) — Rocky's best friend — barges in on Sylvester Stallone's Rocky and his love interest, Adrian (Talia Shire), who is also Paulie's sister. Everything seemingly goes sour for him at that point. With a baseball bat in hand and a holiday wreath on his arm, this scene is basically a nightmare before Christmas for the boxer.

Watch Rocky on Max

Edward Scissorhands

Christmas Movie Scenes
20th Century Fox

Tim Burton's 1990 obscure tale of self-discovery has a magical scene in the latter part of the movie centering around Edward (Johnny Depp) and his love interest, Kim (Winona Ryder). The moment happens during Peg's (Dianne Wiest) annual Christmas party in a neighborhood immersed in the holiday spirit. The most Christmas-y scene occurs when she finds Edward making an angel ice sculpture that creates a beautiful sprinkling of "snow."

Watch Edward Scissorhands on Max

Related Articles