8 (kind of) classic Christmas movies on Netflix

Saturday is here again, Christmas is right around the corner and if you're lucky enough to NOT have a family party to attend, you might be camped out on the couch today, needing a little Christmas cheer.

Netflix (the streaming version, the version you don't have to wait a week to arrive in the mail) has a host of Christmas movies, though you'll notice right away that seminal classics like A Charlie Brown Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, It's a Wonderful Life, and Miracle on 34th Street (either version) aren't on the list. However, these flicks are available to watch right now. Some are more classic than others, but all will fulfill your need for a little Yuletide joy (and most of them will make you chuckle, too). 

Scrooged
Starring Bill Murray, this 1988 film is a "modernization" of Charles Dickens' classic Christmas tale. It's Bill Murray, it's the '80s, it's Christmas, it's perfect. 

Christmas with the Kranks
Michigan native Tim Allen sure loves Christmas. He starred in three installments of The Santa Clause and didn't get his fill of the holiday. This 2004 flick also stars Jamie Lee Curtis, Dan Aykroyd, and Cheech Marin.

The Muppet Christmas Carol
Another twist on Dickens' story, this one stars Michael Caine as evil Ebenezer Scrooge alongside the entire cast of the Muppets. There's singing, dancing, and puppets. It's plenty wholesome for the whole family. 

Ernest Saves Christmas
Like Scrooged, this one also came out in 1988. Ernest (Jim Varney) tries to find a suitable replacement for old ass Santa. High jinks ensue. 

Nightmare Before Christmas
Check out our analysis of this 1993 Tim Burton classic here. 

Pee Wee's Playhouse: Christmas Special
Yet another Christmas classic from '88, Pee Wee and friends celebrate Christmas by making a list for Santa that's over a mile long, ice skating, going for sleigh rides with Magic Johnson, making Christmas cards, and even hanging out with k.d. lang. 

Love Actually
Maybe this one is a little cheesy, but Bill Nighy makes it all better. All hail Bill Nighy. 

Irving Berlin's White Christmas Perhaps the most classic of all the films on this list, Irving Berlin's White Christmas is a classic musical (released 60 years ago in 1954). It stars Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen.