How to Watch Christmas Specials and Movies on TV: 2019 Holiday Viewing Guide

Pour yourself a mug of eggnog and get settled in front of your screen. 'Tis the season for some holiday cheer, and the festive TV takeover tradition is well underway. If you're like us, you'll take all the onscreen merriment you can get, from feel-good cartoon Christmas classics to gushy holiday love stories to those joyful reality competition specials.

To help guide your holiday viewing plans, we combed through the libraries of the leading streaming services as well as the holiday schedules of all the major networks to give you this complete guide to what's available to watch this winter.

Check out the full holiday schedule and streaming offerings below (all times Eastern).

(Disclosure: Links to retailers may earn money to support our work.)

Jump to: Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Disney+, ABC, AMC, CBS, Freeform, NBC, Hallmark, Lifetime, HBO, Showtime, Starz, Epix

Netflix

New Originals
Holiday in the Wild

Let It Snow

Klaus(Nov. 15)
The Knight Before Christmas(Nov. 21)
Nailed It! Holiday Season 2 (Nov. 22)
Super Monsters Save Christmas (Nov. 26)
True: Winter Wishes (Nov. 26)
Holiday Rush (Nov. 28)
Merry Happy Whatever Season 1 (Nov. 28)
Sugar Rush Christmas (Nov. 29)
Team Kaylie Part 2 holiday episode (Dec. 2)
A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby (Dec. 5)
Spirit Riding Free: The Spirit of Christmas (Dec. 6)
Magic for Humans Season 2 holiday episode (Dec. 6)
A Family Reunion Christmas (Dec. 9)
Alexa & Katie Season 3 holiday episode (Dec. 30)

Other
The Christmas Chronicles

Christmas Inheritance
A Christmas Prince

A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding

Christmas Wedding Planner

Christmas with the Kranks

Christmas with a View

Dr. Seuss' The Grinch
(2018)
The Holiday Calendar

How the Grinch Stole Christmas
(2000)
Mariah Carey's Merriest Christmas

The Princess Switch

The Spirit of Christmas

A Very Murray Christmas

White Christmas

Jump to: Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Disney+, ABC, AMC, CBS, Freeform, NBC, Hallmark, Lifetime, HBO, Showtime, Starz, Epix

Hulu

The Christmas Calendar

Christmas Perfection

A Cinderella Christmas

Daddy's Home 2

Girlfriends of Christmas Past

The Holiday

Home by Christmas

Home for the Holidays

Second Chance Christmas

Jump to: Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Disney+, ABC, AMC, CBS, Freeform, NBC, Hallmark, Lifetime, HBO, Showtime, Starz, Epix

Amazon

Babes in Toyland

A Christmas Carol in Color!

Doctor Who Christmas specials
If You Give a Mouse a Christmas Cookie

It's a Wonderful Life

Jack Frost (1977)

Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas Is You

Merry Christmas from Funny or Die

A Norman Rockwell Christmas Story

Jump to: Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Disney+, ABC, AMC, CBS, Freeform, NBC, Hallmark, Lifetime, HBO, Showtime, Starz, Epix

Disney+

Disney's A Christmas Carol (2009)

Home Alone

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

Home Alone 3

I'll Be Home for Christmas

Mickey's Christmas Carol

Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas

The Muppet Christmas Carol

Noelle

The Nightmare Before Christmas

Santa Buddies

Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups

The Santa Clause

The Santa Clause 2

The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause

The Search for Santa Paws

Jump to: Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Disney+, ABC, AMC, CBS, Freeform, NBC, Hallmark, Lifetime, HBO, Showtime, Starz, Epix

ABC

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (Nov. 27 at 8 p.m.)
The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration (Nov. 28 at 8 p.m.)
Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (Dec. 1 at 8 p.m.)
CMA Country Christmas (Dec. 3 at 9 p.m.)
A Charlie Brown Christmas (Dec. 5 at 8 p.m.)
Same Time, Next Christmas(Dec. 5 at 9 p.m.)
The Great Christmas Light Fight(Dec. 2 at 8 p.m., Dec. 9 at 8 p.m., Dec. 16 at 8 p.m.)
Olaf's Frozen Adventure (Dec. 12 at 8 p.m.)
Toy Story That Time Forgot (Dec. 12 at 8:30 p.m.)
The Great American Baking Show: Holiday Edition (Dec. 12 at 9 p.m., Dec. 19 at 9 p.m., Dec. 26 at 9 p.m., and Jan. 2 at 9 p.m.)
Shrek the Halls (Dec. 17 at 9:30 p.m.)
Disney Prep & Landing(Dec. 19 at 8 p.m.)
Disney Prep & Landing 2: Naughty vs. Nice (Dec. 19 at 8:30 p.m.)
I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown (Dec. 22 at 7 p.m.)
Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade (Dec. 25 at 10 a.m.)
Happy New Year, Charlie Brown (Dec. 26 at 8 p.m.)

Jump to: Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Disney+, ABC, AMC, CBS, Freeform, NBC, Hallmark, Lifetime, HBO, Showtime, Starz, Epix

AMC

Christmas with the Kranks (Nov. 26 at 5 p.m. and 11 p.m., Dec. 1 at 10:30 p.m., Dec 2. at 7 p.m., Dec. 6 at 8 p.m., Dec. 7 at 6 p.m., Dec. 12 at 8 p.m., and Dec. 21 at 4 p.m. and 10:15 p.m.)
Elf (Nov. 26 at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., Dec. 4 at 8 p.m., Dec. 5 at 6 p.m., Dec. 8 at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., Dec. 10 at 8 p.m., Dec. 11 at 6 p.m., Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., Dec. 16 at 8 p.m., Dec. 17 at 6 p.m., Dec. 18 at 8 p.m., Dec. 19 at 6 p.m., Dec. 20 at 8 p.m., Dec. 21 at 6 p.m., and Dec. 24 at 7 p.m.)
Fred Claus (Nov. 27 at 4:30 p.m. and 9 p.m., Dec. 2 at 9 p.m., Dec. 3 at 5:30 p.m., Dec. 6 at 10 p.m., Dec. 12 at 10 p.m., Dec. 16 at 5:30 p.m., and Dec. 22 at 6:30 p.m.)
Four Christmases (Nov. 27 at 7 p.m., Dec. 2 at 11:30 p.m., Dec. 5 at 8 p.m., Dec. 6 at 6 p.m., Dec. 11 at 10:15 p.m., Dec. 19 at 8 p.m., Dec. 20 at 6 p.m., Dec. 22 at 9 p.m., Dec. 23 at 6 p.m., and Dec. 24 at 11:15 p.m.)
Great Christmas Light Fight (Nov. 28 at 7 p.m.)
The Polar Express (Nov. 29 at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., Dec. 4 at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m., Dec. 8 at 4 p.m. and 10 p.m., Dec. 10 at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m., Dec. 13 at 7 p.m., Dec. 14 at 5 p.m., Dec. 22 at 11 p.m., and Dec. 24 at 5 p.m.)
The Year Without Santa Claus (Nov. 30 at 5:45 p.m. and 11 p.m. and Dec. 13 at 10 p.m.)
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. and 8:15 p.m., Dec. 3 at 8 p.m. and 10:15 p.m., Dec. 7 at 8 p.m. and 10:15 p.m., Dec. 11 at 8 p.m., Dec. 12 at 5:45 p.m., Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m., Dec. 17 at 8 p.m., Dec. 18 at 5:45 p.m., Dec. 20 at 10 p.m., Dec. 21 at 8 p.m., Dec. 23 at 8 p.m. and 10:15 p.m., and Dec. 24 at 9 p.m.)
Planes, Trains & Automobiles(Dec. 2 at 5 p.m.)
Miracle on 34th Street (Dec. 5 at 10 p.m., Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., Dec. 17 at 10:15 p.m.)
How Murray Saved Christmas(Dec. 13 at 9 p.m.)
Frosty's Winter Wonderland (Dec. 13 at 11:15 p.m.)
Ernest Saves Christmas (Dec. 22 at 4:30 p.m.)

Jump to: Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Disney+, ABC, AMC, CBS, Freeform, NBC, Hallmark, Lifetime, HBO, Showtime, Starz, Epix

CBS

Frosty the Snowman (Nov. 29 at 8 p.m.)
Frosty Returns (Nov. 29 at 8:30 p.m.)
Robbie the Reindeer: Hooves on Fire (Nov. 30 at 8 p.m.)
Robbie the Reindeer: Legend of the Lost Tribe (Nov. 30 at 8:30 p.m.)
The Story of Santa Claus (Nov. 30 at 9 p.m.)
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Dec. 2 at 8 p.m.)
I Love Lucy Christmas Special(Dec. 20 at 8 p.m.)
A Home for the Holidays with Idina Menzel (Dec. 22 at 9 p.m.)

Jump to: Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Disney+, ABC, AMC, CBS, Freeform, NBC, Hallmark, Lifetime, HBO, Showtime, Starz, Epix

Freeform

Richie Rich's Christmas Wish (Dec. 1 at 7 a.m., Dec. 6 at 7:30 a.m., Dec. 14 at 11:55 p.m., Dec. 15 at 9:05 a.m., Dec. 17 at 12:35 p.m., Dec. 18 at 11:05 a.m., Dec. 23 at 8 a.m., and Dec. 25 at 7 a.m.)
Deck the Halls (Dec. 1 at 9:05 a.m., Dec. 2 at 4:15 p.m., Dec. 4 at 12 a.m., Dec. 5 at 2:30 p.m., Dec. 10 at 4:10 p.m., Dec. 11 at 11 a.m., Dec. 15 at 1:20 p.m., Dec.16 at 7 a.m., Dec. 19 at 12:30 p.m., Dec. 20 at 11 a.m., Dec. 23 at 10 a.m., and Dec. 25 at 12 a.m.)
Arthur Christmas (Dec. 1 at 11:10 a.m., Dec. 5 at 4:35 p.m., Dec. 6 at 1:35 p.m., Dec. 10 at 6:15 p.m., Dec. 11 at 1:10 p.m., Dec, 14 at 9 a.m., Dec. 15 at 7 a.m., Dec. 20 at 11:55 p.m., Dec. 21 at 9:40 a.m., Dec. 23 at 2:05 p.m., and Dec. 24 at 11:30 a.m.)
The Simpsons Holiday-thon (Dec. 1 at 1:15 p.m., Dec. 3 at 12 a.m., Dec. 4 at 2 p.m., Dec. 10 at 12 a.m., Dec. 11 at 3:20 p.m., Dec. 14 at 11 a.m., Dec. 17 at 12 a.m., Dec. 18 at 1:10 p.m., and Dec. 24 at 12 a.m.)
The Santa Clause (Dec. 1 at 2:45 p.m., Dec. 6 at 9:30 p.m., Dec. 7 at 12 p.m., Dec. 12 at 6:50 p.m., Dec. 13 at 12:30 p.m., Dec. 15 at 7:45 p.m., Dec. 16 at 4:50 p.m., Dec. 21 at 5:05 p.m., Dec. 22 at 10:15 a.m., Dec. 24 at 1:30 p.m., and Dec. 25 at 11 a.m.)
The Santa Clause 2 (Dec. 1 at 4:50 p.m., Dec. 6 at 11:30 p.m., Dec. 7 at 2:05 p.m., Dec. 12 at 8:55 p.m., Dec. 13 at 2:35 p.m., Dec. 15 at 9:50 p.m., Dec. 16 at 6:55 p.m., Dec. 21 at 7:10 p.m., Dec. 22 at 12:25 p.m., and Dec. 25 at 3:35 p.m.)
The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (Dec. 1 at 6:55 p.m., Dec. 7 at 4:10 p.m., Dec. 8 at 2:05 p.m., Dec. 13 at 4:40 p.m., Dec. 14 at 2 p.m., Dec. 15 at 11:55 p.m., Dec. 16 at 11 a.m., Dec. 19 at 2:35 p.m., Dec. 20 at 1 p.m., Dec. 21 at 11:55 p.m., and Dec. 22 at 2:35 p.m.)
Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) (Dec. 1 at 9 p.m., Dec. 2 at 6:20 p.m., Dec. 5 at 8:20 p.m., Dec. 6 at 5:20 p.m., Dec. 10 at 8:20 p.m., Dec. 11 at 5:20 p.m., Dec. 14 at 9:15 p.m., Dec. 15 at 5:05 p.m., Dec. 18 at 8:20 p.m., Dec. 19 at 4:40 p.m., Dec. 21 at 9:15 p.m., Dec. 22 at 4:40 p.m., Dec. 23 at 9:20 p.m., and Dec. 24 at 5:40 p.m.)
Home Alone: The Holiday Heist (Dec. 1 at 11:30 p.m., Dec. 2 at 12 p.m., Dec. 9 at 2:10 p.m., Dec. 10 at 7:30 a.m., Dec. 13 at 11:55 p.m., and Dec. 14 at 7 a.m.)
The Little Drummer Boy (1968) (Dec. 1 at 1:30 a.m., Dec. 2 at 7 a.m., Dec. 6 at 1:30 a.m., Dec. 21 at 7 a.m., Dec. 22 at 12:30 a.m., and Dec. 24 at 7 a.m.)
The Muppet Christmas Carol (Dec. 2 at 7:30 a.m.)
Wrap Battle (Dec. 2 at 11 a.m. and 9 p.m., Dec. 5 at 11 a.m., Dec. 7 at 1 a.m., Dec. 8 at 7 a.m., Dec. 9 at 9 p.m., Dec. 10 at 11 a.m.)
Santa Baby (Dec. 3 at 7:30 a.m.)
Decorating Disney: Holiday Magic (Dec. 3 at 1:40 p.m., Dec. 9 at 11 a.m., Dec. 11 at 10 p.m., Dec. 19 at 7:30 a.m. and 1 a.m., and Dec. 22 at 1 a.m.)
Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe (Dec. 4 at 7:30 a.m.)
Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (Dec. 3 at 4:45 p.m., Dec. 4 at 1 p.m., Dec. 20 at 4:40 p.m., Dec. 21 at 11:50 a.m., Dec. 24 at 9:55 p.m., and Dec. 25 at 4:45 p.m.)
Home Alone(Dec. 3 at 5:50 p.m., Dec. 4 at 4 p.m., Dec. 7 at 7:50 p.m., Dec. 8 at 4:10 p.m., Dec. 13 at 6:45 p.m., Dec. 14 at 4:05 p.m., Dec. 17 at 5:50 p.m., Dec. 18 at 3:10 p.m., Dec. 22 at 7:20 p.m., Dec. 23 at 4:10 p.m., and Dec. 25 at 5:50 p.m.)
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (Dec. 3 at 8:20 p.m., Dec. 4 at 6:30 p.m., Dec. 7 at 10:20 p.m., Dec. 8 at 6:40 p.m., Dec. 13 at 9:15 p.m., Dec. 14 at 6:35 p.m., Dec. 17 at 8:20 p.m., Dec. 18 at 5:40 p.m., Dec. 22 at 9:50 p.m., Dec. 23 at 6:40 p.m., and Dec. 25 at 8:20 p.m.)
Ghosting: The Spirit of Christmas (Dec. 4 at 9 p.m., Dec. 10 at 2:05 p.m., and Dec. 18 at 12 a.m.)
Holiday in Handcuffs (Dec. 5 at 7:30 a.m.)
Kung Fu Panda Holiday(Dec. 5 at 12 p.m., Dec. 6 at 11 a.m., Dec. 8 at 1:30 a.m., Dec. 9 at 4:20 p.m., and Dec. 24 at 11 a.m.)
Unaccompanied Minors (Dec. 5 at 12:30 p.m. and 12 a.m. and Dec. 15 at 11:10 a.m.)
The Nightmare Before Christmas (Dec. 5 at 6:40 p.m., Dec. 6 at 3:40 p.m., Dec. 15 at 3:25 p.m., Dec. 16 at 1:05 p.m., Dec. 19 at 7:20 p.m., and Dec. 20 at 3 p.m.)
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Dec. 6 at 8:30 p.m., Dec. 7 at 6:45 p.m., Dec. 20 at 6:15 p.m., Dec. 21 at 1:25 p.m., Dec. 24 at 8:50 p.m., and Dec. 25 at 3:40 p.m.)
Home Alone 3 (Dec. 6 at 11:30 a.m., Dec. 7 at 8 a.m., and Dec. 9 at 12 p.m.)
Frosty the Snowman (Dec. 6 at 8 p.m., Dec. 7 at 6:15 p.m., Dec. 20 at 5:45 p.m., Dec. 21 at 12:55 p.m., Dec. 24 at 8:20 p.m., and Dec. 25 at 3:10 p.m.)
Home Alone 4: Taking Back the House (Dec. 7 at 10 a.m. and Dec. 8 at 8 a.m.)
Same Time, Next Christmas (Dec. 11 at 8 p.m.)
The Perfect Holiday (Dec. 13 at 1:35 p.m.)

Jump to: Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Disney+, ABC, AMC, CBS, Freeform, NBC, Hallmark, Lifetime, HBO, Showtime, Starz, Epix

NBC

Ellen's Game of Games holiday special (Nov. 27 at 8 p.m.)
93rd annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (Nov. 28 at 9 a.m.)
It's a Wonderful Life (Nov. 30 at 8 p.m. and Dec. 24 at 8 p.m.)
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966) (Dec. 3 at 8 p.m. and Dec. 25 at 8 p.m.)
Christmas in Rockefeller Center (Dec. 4 at 8 p.m.)
A Saturday Night Live Christmas Special (Dec. 5 at 9 p.m. and Dec. 23 at 9 p.m.)
A Legendary Christmas with John and Chrissy (Dec. 12 at 10 p.m.)
DreamWorks Trolls Holiday (Dec. 14 at 8:30 p.m.)
Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) (Dec. 25 at 8:30 p.m.)
A Toast to 2019!(Dec. 31 at 8 p.m.)

Jump to: Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Disney+, ABC, AMC, CBS, Freeform, NBC, Hallmark, Lifetime, HBO, Showtime, Starz, Epix

Hallmark

Christmas Under the Stars (Nov. 16 at 8 p.m.)
Write Before Christmas (Nov. 17 at 8 p.m.)
Christmas at Graceland: Home for the Holidays (Nov. 23 at 8 p.m.)
Cherished Memories: A Gift to Remember 2 (Nov. 24 at 8 p.m.)
A Christmas Duet(Nov. 25 at 8 p.m.)
Check Inn to Christmas(Nov. 26 at 8 p.m.)
The Christmas Club(Nov. 27 at 8 p.m.)
Christmas at the Plaza (Nov. 28 at 8 p.m.)
Christmas in Evergreen: Tidings of Joy(Nov. 29 at 8 p.m.)
Christmas in Rome(Nov. 30 at 8 p.m.)
Christmas Town (Dec. 1 at 8 p.m.)
A Christmas Love Story(Dec. 7 at 8 p.m.)
Christmas at Dollywood (Dec. 8 at 8 p.m.)
Holiday Date (Dec. 14 at 8 p.m.)
A Cheerful Christmas (Dec. 15 at 8 p.m.)
It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas (Dec. 21 at 8 p.m.)
Double Holiday (Dec. 22 at 8 p.m.)
When Calls the Heart Christmas (Dec. 25 at 8 p.m.)
New Year, New Me(Dec. 28 at 8 p.m.)

Jump to: Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Disney+, ABC, AMC, CBS, Freeform, NBC, Hallmark, Lifetime, HBO, Showtime, Starz, Epix

Lifetime

Christmas a La Mode (Nov. 15 at 8 p.m.)
Christmas in Louisiana (Nov. 16 at 8 p.m.)
Random Acts of Christmas (Nov. 17 at 8 p.m.)
The Magical Christmas Shoes(Nov. 22 at 8 p.m.)
Twinkle All the Way(Nov. 23 at 8 p.m.)
Christmas 9 to 5(Nov. 24 at 8 p.m.)
A Very Vintage Christmas (Nov. 27 at 8 p.m.)
A Christmas Wish(Nov. 28 at 8 p.m.)
Staging Christmas (Nov. 29 at 8 p.m.)
Merry Liddle Christmas (Nov. 30 at 8 p.m.)
You Light Up my Christmas (Dec. 1 at 8 p.m.)
A Storybook Christmas (Dec. 6 at 8 p.m.)
Mistletoe & Menorahs (Dec. 7 at 6 p.m.)
Christmas Unleashed(Dec. 7 at 8 p.m.)
Grounded for Christmas (Dec. 8 at 8 p.m.)
Christmas Stars(Dec. 13 at 8 p.m.)
Matchmaker Christmas (Dec. 14 at 6 p.m.)
A Christmas Winter Song(Dec. 14 at 8 p.m.)
Rediscovering Christmas (Dec.15 at 8 p.m.)
The Christmas Temp(Dec. 20 at 8 p.m.)
Christmas Love Letter (Dec. 21 at 8 p.m.)
Christmas Hotel (Dec. 21 at 8 p.m.)
A Date by Christmas Eve(Dec. 22 at 8 p.m.)

Jump to: Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Disney+, ABC, AMC, CBS, Freeform, NBC, Hallmark, Lifetime, HBO, Showtime, Starz, Epix

HBO

Jingle All the Way

Love Actually

Santa Buddies

The Search for Santa Paws

Jump to: Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Disney+, ABC, AMC, CBS, Freeform, NBC, Hallmark, Lifetime, HBO, Showtime, Starz, Epix

Showtime

A Bad Moms Christmas

Christmas at the Chateau

The Man Who Invented Christmas

You Better Watch Out

Jump to: Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Disney+, ABC, AMC, CBS, Freeform, NBC, Hallmark, Lifetime, HBO, Showtime, Starz, Epix

Starz

Disney's A Christmas Carol (2009)

The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About Christmas

Saving Santa

Jump to: Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Disney+, ABC, AMC, CBS, Freeform, NBC, Hallmark, Lifetime, HBO, Showtime, Starz, Epix

Epix

Kirk Cameron's Saving Christmas

Daddy's Home 2

Jump to: Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Disney+, ABC, AMC, CBS, Freeform, NBC, Hallmark, Lifetime, HBO, Showtime, Starz, Epix