What exactly are underrated Christmas movies? Every December, the same few titles flood watchlists, but the holiday canon is much wider and weirder than the usual lineup. Beyond perennial favorites, there are inventive animations, offbeat thrillers, and heartfelt dramas that use the season to tell fresh stories. These are films that slipped through the cracks, built cult followings, or were overshadowed by louder hits.
Here are 10 underrated Christmas movies that deserve a second look. From cozy miracles to pitch black comedies, each one brings something different to the season.
1. Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010)
Why it’s underrated: A dark Finnish fairy tale that turns Santa lore into arctic horror fantasy.
Equal parts myth, menace, and deadpan humor, it is a perfect pick for viewers who like their cocoa with a chill.
Where to stream: Available on DVD and on streaming.
2. Tokyo Godfathers (2003)
Why it’s underrated: Satoshi Kon’s heartfelt odyssey about three homeless companions who find an abandoned baby on Christmas Eve.
It balances slapstick, sentiment, and grace with a generosity that feels truly seasonal.
Where to stream: Available on DVD and on streaming.
3. The Ref (1994)
Why it’s underrated: A caustic holiday comedy about a burglar stuck mediating a family meltdown on Christmas Eve.
Sharper and funnier than its reputation, it scratches the itch for anti holiday laughs without losing heart.
Where to stream: Available on DVD and on streaming.
4. The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)
Why it’s underrated: A snowy action thriller where a small town teacher discovers she used to be a spy.
Geena Davis and Samuel L. Jackson power a candy cane colored blast of quips and stunts that deserves yearly rotation.
Where to stream: Available on DVD and on digital.
5. Prancer (1989)
Why it’s underrated: A gentle, grounded family film about a girl who believes an injured reindeer is one of Santa’s.
It avoids cynicism and finds real magic in small town faith and kindness.
Where to stream: Available on DVD and on streaming.
6. The Ice Harvest (2005)
Why it’s underrated: Film noir by way of Christmas Eve in Kansas.
John Cusack and Billy Bob Thornton headline a bleakly funny caper that pairs tinsel with double crosses.
Where to stream: Available on DVD and on digital.
7. One Magic Christmas (1985)
Why it’s underrated: A melancholy miracle movie that earns its sentiment the hard way.
Mary Steenburgen anchors a story that mixes hardship and hope for a payoff that lingers.
Where to stream: Available on DVD and on streaming.
8. Joyeux Noël (2005)
Why it’s underrated: A World War I drama about the Christmas truce that opts for humanity over cynicism.
Multiple languages, multiple perspectives, one moving reminder of what the season can mean.
Where to stream: Available on DVD and on streaming.
9. The Silent Partner (1978)
Why it’s underrated: A clever Canadian thriller set around a bank inside a mall during the holidays.
Elliott Gould plays a teller who outsmarts a criminal Santa, delivering suspense with a festive backdrop.
Where to stream: Available on DVD and on streaming.
10. The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017)
Why it’s underrated: A creative biopic that shows Dickens wrestling his way to A Christmas Carol.
Playful staging and a lively Dan Stevens turn make it a smarter alternative to another rote adaptation.
Where to stream: Available on DVD and on streaming.
Final Thoughts
From wintry noir to animated grace notes, these underseen holiday gems expand the season beyond the familiar. If your annual rotation needs fresh sparkle, start here and let a few new favorites join the tradition.
Next week we saddle up for the Underrated TV Westerns run, beginning with the 1960s.
Be sure to check out other entries in this series:
- Underrated 2000s TV Dramas – 10 Series You Totally Forgot
- Underrated 80s TV Dramas – 10 Series You Totally Forgot
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