How To Watch Christmas Movies With a VPN

With a virtual private network (VPN), you can watch Christmas movies without buying a bunch of streaming subscriptions and digital rentals. A VPN allows you to change your digital location to other countries so you can unblock their regional content libraries.

We'll walk you through how to watch Christmas classics with a VPN, recommend the best VPNs for streaming, and share where to stream our favorite holiday movies.

How to stream Christmas movies from anywhere

Virtual private networks are primarily known for enhancing cybersecurity, but another perk they offer is international streaming. When you use a VPN, your IP address is being routed through a private tunnel to an offsite server with internet access. If that server is international, you can surf the web as if you’re in that country. This is useful whether you're an avid streamer or just tired of the selection of titles in your region.

Many VPN services offer a money-back guarantee anywhere from 30 to 45 days. If you're only looking to watch a ton of movies during December, you can cancel and receive a full refund.

How to use a VPN for streaming Christmas movies

Unblocking region-locked content on a VPN has never been easier. Once you've picked a VPN, you can follow these instructions:

1. Download your desired VPN's desktop, mobile, or browser extension interface.
2. Connect to a server in a country of your choice.
3. Log in to the streaming service that hosts your favorite Christmas movie.
4. Start streaming and enjoy!

Best VPNs for watching Christmas movies

The best VPNs allow you to stream what you want, when you want. We've compiled a short list of the best ones that work for us.

• NordVPN: NordVPN is one of our favorite VPN services because of features like its large, worldwide server network and Threat Protection, its ad and malware blocker.
  Customizable Coverage That is Simple to Use

  

  5.0

  AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

  Editorial Rating

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  On NordVPN's website

  VPN

  NordVPN

  BLACK FRIDAY: Up to 72% off + 3 free months

  • Ultra-secure, high-speed VPN complete with malware protection and automatic blocking of intrusive ads and third-party trackers
  • Other benefits include a premium password manager, dark web monitoring, and access to IP-restricted content
  • 3 plans to choose from for custom protection on up to 10 devices

  Get NordVPN | Read NordVPN Review
  

• ExpressVPN: ExpressVPN is a great VPN that offers fast connections thanks to its Lightway VPN protocol.
  Extensive Server Network Provides Protection Wherever You Go

  

  4.6

  AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

  Editorial Rating

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  On ExpressVPN's website

  VPN

  ExpressVPN

  BLACK FRIDAY: Save 61% + 6 months extra

  • Hides intrusive display ads when browsing the web, improving page speed and easing data usage on mobile
  • Privacy and safety benefits of a VPN with best-in-class encryption and innovative server technology in 105 countries
  • Enjoy no activity logs, malicious sites and trackers protection, and more on up to 8 devices

  Get ExpressVPN | Read ExpressVPN Review
  

• Surfshark: Surfshark is a budget-friendly VPN service that comes with an ad blocker, an option to upgrade to VPN + antivirus, and 3,200+ servers.
  Unlimited Device Protection and Large Server Network

  

  4.8

  AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

  Editorial Rating

  Learn More

  On Surfshark's website

  VPN

  Surfshark

  BLACK FRIDAY: Starting at $1.99/mo + 4 months extra

  • All-in-one VPN app with 24/7 protection thanks to 3,200+ servers in 100 countries
  • Real-time malware defense, webcam protection, alternative ID creation, ad blocking, and more
  • One subscription covers unlimited devices for your entire household with access to 24/7 support

  Get Surfshark VPN | Read Surfshark VPN Review

10 classic holiday movies to watch this holiday season

Once you’ve selected a VPN, you can review our list of holiday movie classics and where to stream them.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Charlie Brown feels that the commercialization of Christmas has made it lose its meaning, so he asks all of his friends about the true meaning of Christmas.

Release year: 1965

Available on: Apple TV+ (U.S.)

A Christmas Story

All little Ralphie Parker wants is an air rifle for Christmas, but he has to dodge bullies to even make it to Christmas Day.

Release year: 1983

Available on: Amazon Prime Video ($3.99)

Die Hard

New York City cop John McClane (Bruce Willis) goes to Los Angeles for a Christmas Eve party hosted by his estranged wife’s employer. When terrorists take over the building, it's up to John to stop them.

Release year: 1988

Available on: Hulu (U.S.), Amazon Prime Video (U.S.)

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Based on Dr. Seuss’ classic tale, everyone in Whoville loves Christmas, but up on the mountain, there's one fellow who hates it: The Grinch (Jim Carrey). The Grinch has a plan to steal everything from Whoville, but instead learns what Christmas means to them.

Release year: 2000

Available on: Amazon Prime Video (U.S.)

Elf

Buddy (Will Ferrell) is an interesting elf in Santa’s workshop — probably because he's the size of a human adult. After learning that he may not be an elf at all, he travels to New York to meet the man that might be his actual father.

Release year: 2003

Available on: Amazon Prime Video ($3.99)

Home Alone

The McAllister family is so busy making their vacation plans for Christmas, they end up leaving 8-year-old Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) home alone. Kevin seizes the opportunity to have some fun and thwart some robbers.

Release year: 1990

Available on: Disney+ (U.S.)

The Holiday

In this rom-com, lovelorn strangers Amanda (Cameron Diaz) and Iris (Kate Winslet) switch houses for the holidays to get away from their troubles.

Release year: 2006

Available on: Amazon Prime Video ($3.99)

It’s A Wonderful Life

On Christmas Eve, George Bailey (James Stewart) is frustrated with life, but an angel makes him see what life would be like if he never existed.

Release year: 1946

Available on: Amazon Prime Video (U.S)

Miracle on 34th Street

In a world where Santa Claus is not real, a man named Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) is tested to see if he's actually Santa or just mentally ill. It takes the magic of belief to prove his case in court.

Release year: 1947

Available on: Disney+ (U.S.)

The Muppet Christmas Carol

Michael Caine as Ebeneezer Scrooge joins Kermit, Miss Piggy, Gonzo, and the rest of the Muppets in a retelling of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.”

Release year: 1992

Available on: Disney+ (U.S)

The Santa Clause

Divorcee Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) finds that a man dressed as Santa Claus fell off his roof. But it was actually the real Santa, so Scott must take Santa’s place before Christmas arrives.

Release year: 1994

Available on: Disney+ (U.S.)

Where to watch the best Christmas movies

Movie	Where it’s streaming
A Charlie Brown Christmas	Apple TV+ (U.S.)
A Christmas Story	Amazon Prime Video ($3.99)
Die Hard	Amazon Prime Video (U.S.) Hulu (U.S.)
Elf	Amazon Prime Video ($3.99)
Home Alone	Disney+ (U.S.)
How the Grinch Stole Christmas	Amazon Prime Video ($3.99)
The Holiday	Amazon Prime Video ($3.99)
It’s A Wonderful Life	Amazon Prime Video (U.S.)
Miracle on 34th Street	Disney+ (U.S.)
The Muppet Christmas Carol	Disney+ (U.S.)
The Santa Clause	Disney+ (U.S.)

4 new Christmas movies to watch this year

While there are plenty of classics to watch with the family, it never hurts to watch new Christmas specials that might become new traditions. We've compiled a couple of new Christmas movies to get you started.

Candy Cane Lane

Eddie Murphy stars in a new Christmas comedy about a man who desperately wants to win a house decorating competition. He just has to make a deal with an elf to do it.

Release date: November 30, 2023

Available on: Amazon Prime Video (U.S.)

Dashing Through the Snow

A man who loses his Christmas spirit befriends a man in a red suit named Nick.

Release date: November 17, 2023

Available on: Disney+ (U.S.)

Best. Christmas. Ever!

Charlotte thinks that Jackie’s life is “too perfect,” so while spending Christmas together, she wants to prove that it isn’t.

Release date: November 16, 2023

Available on: Netflix (U.S.)

Checkin’ It Twice

When a hockey player gets traded to a different city, he falls in love with a real estate agent over Christmastime with her hockey-loving family.

Release date: November 10, 2023

Available on: Hallmark Channel (U.S.)

FAQs

Bottom line

One of the best ways to get into the holiday spirit is by watching your favorite holiday movies. If you can’t find the movies or tv shows you’re looking for with your streaming subscriptions, we urge you to try out a VPN. It’s great to use one of the best VPNs for streaming content when you're home, but they can give you that homely feel even if you're far away. Happy bingeing!