This adorable 1945 Christmas romcom is a true screwball classic. Barbara Stanwyck plays Elizabeth Lane, a fast-talking magazine writer from New York City, who poses as a wholesome suburban wife and mother for her cooking column. An elaborate Christmas caper begins when her editor invites a recovering naval officer to her (pretend) farm in Connecticut for the holidays. Soon enough, she finds herself with a fake husband, a fake farm and a fake baby as she hosts the officer. And, naturally, things get even more complicated when she starts to fall for him. 

Based on the beloved children’s book series by Kay Thompson, Eloise At Christmastime is a little-known children’s Christmas movie about a precocious pink-loving six-year-old who lives on the top floor of New York’s Plaza Hotel with her cockney nanny, played by a delightful Julie Andrews. Eloise finds herself embroiled in a festive romantic subplot when the daughter of the Plaza’s owner comes home for the holidays with a new fiance, but, as far as Eloise can tell, she’s seemingly still in love with Bill the charming busboy. There’s also a wonderful turn by Christine Baranski as the hotel’s tough-as-nails event planner. This film may be for kids, but it’s got a great romance, beautiful 1950s-inspired costumes and a heavy dose of festive escapism. 

The Apartment has gone down in history as one of the best romcoms of all time, and it’s easy to see why. The smart satire of city life has at its heart a charming, slow-burn romance. Jack Lemmon plays CC Baxter, a lowly worker bee in an insurance company who has been bullied into loaning out his apartment to bigwig execs for their affairs. Things get complicated when he discovers that the love of his life, elevator girl Fran (Shirley MacLaine), things get complicated. It may not put Christmas front and centre, but I’d argue that like Die Hard, The Apartment is a Christmas movie.  

Sorry to Greta Gerwig’s Little Women truthers, but I am a 1994 girl. Gillian Armstrong’s sumptuous adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s beloved novel feels like a warm hug. Starring Winona Ryder, Christian Bale, Susan Sarandon, Claire Danes and a very young Kirsten Dunst, it’s a showcase of wonderful performances. The film moves through all four seasons, but its opening scenes are so festive that you’ll want to don your finest long white nightgown, grab a tapered candle and start singing Christmas carols with the loveable March girls.

You’ve Got Mail fans, listen up. If you haven’t seen The Shop Around The Corner, stop what you’re doing and watch it immediately. This charming little romcom, based on the Hungarian play Parfumerie, inspired Nora Ephron’s 1998 classic. Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullavan star as two employees at a Budapest shop. Though they hate each other in real life, they are, unknown to them, falling in love as anonymous pen pals. And it all happens at Christmastime.

The Bishop’s Wife stars Cary Grant as a debonair guardian angel who is sent to Earth to help guide a bishop. Things get a little messy when this angel starts to fall for the bishop’s wife, Julia. Though this may sound like a Hallmark-worthy romcom plot, The Bishop’s Wife is a charming romance and surprisingly philosophical fare. 

Nora Ephron is perhaps best known for her Meg Ryan romcom trilogy, all of which feature delightfully aesthetic Christmas scenes. However, it was with her lesser-known 1994 comedy, Mixed Nuts, that Ephron went fully festive. The darkly funny film sets the scene at a suicide helpline’s office party. Starring comedy legends Steve Martin, Rita Wilson and Madeline Kahn, the film isn’t necessarily everyone’s cup of tea (it has a terrible 13% rating on Rotten Tomatoes). Nevertheless, if you’re an Ephron fan looking to branch out after Meg Ryan fall, it may be worth giving this little-known film a try.

Meet Me In St. Louis may not strictly be a Christmas movie – like Little Women, it takes us through all four seasons. However, it is the film that features Judy Garland crooning Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas and there are some beautifully magical snowy scenes. This old Hollywood musical is a Technicolour classic filled with Golden Age tunes, swoon-worthy romance and a touching story about the power of family.

Looking for a good old-fashioned 90s romcom that takes place entirely over the Christmas period? Look no further than Sandra Bullock’s While You Were Sleeping. Bullock plays Lucy, a loner with a crush on a man she’s never met who is mistaken for his fiancee after he falls into a coma. As she is embraced by his family, she begins to develop feelings for the man’s brother.

A brand new soon-to-be classic, Hot Frosty may not yet be on your permanent Christmas film list, but we think it deserves a spot there. This sharp Netflix holiday romcom is laugh-out-loud funny and surprisingly touching. And yes, it’s about a snowman who comes to life and is, well… hot. An instant classic.