'Christmas Vacation' surpasses 'Elf' as the most beloved timeless Christmas film in 2024.
Two beloved Christmas films, "National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation" and "Elf", are the most watched movies during the holiday season, frequently switching positions as the most popular. This year, "National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation" has taken the throne, according to data collected by Samba TV.
Samba TV, a TV technology company, analyzed the viewership of Christmas movies on both TV networks and streaming services from November 1 to December 10. They discovered that "National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation" had the highest viewership, with a slight boost compared to the previous year.
Ashwin Navin, co-founder and CEO of Samba TV, commented, "This holiday season showcases the enduring appeal of classic Christmas movies, with fan-favorite comedies leading the pack. For the third year in a row, 'National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation' and 'Elf' have been swapping positions for the top spot, proving the timeless appeal of classic Christmas comedies."
"National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation" Tops All Christmas Films
"National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation" attracted 9.4 million households in that time period, representing a 7% increase from the previous year. The movie revolves around perpetually optimistic family man Clark Griswold, played by Chevy Chase, who endeavors to orchestrate the perfect Christmas for his family, only for things to inevitably go awry.
The 9.4 million viewership surpassed the 8.7 million households that tuned in for "Elf", which held the No. 1 spot in 2023, surpassing the 2022 champion "National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation". "Elf" follows the journey of Buddy the Elf (Will Ferrell), a late bloomer who travels from the North Pole to New York City during Christmas to meet his biological father, resulting in a series of humorous events.
"Home Alone", in third place, had a much smaller audience compared to the top two, despite a significant 4.1 million households tuning in.
"Our Little Secret", Netflix's No. 1 new Christmas movie of 2024, starring Lindsay Lohan, had significantly fewer viewers than the top three.
Completed by "Four Christmases", starring Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn, who frantically navigate four holiday celebrations, and "The Holiday", a romantic comedy featuring Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz, the top five most-watched Christmas movies of 2024 were rounded out by these films.
"Our Little Secret" was the only new film to make it into the top 15, with five Hallmark Christmas movies also making the list.
How to Watch 'Christmas Vacation', 'Elf' and other Top Christmas Movies
Most of the top Christmas movies can be found on numerous linear and streaming platforms. Here’s where you can find them.
"National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation" (1989, PG-13)
You can watch "National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation" on Hulu, Max, Philo, YouTube, Disney , Sling TV, The Roku Channel, Amazon Prime Video, Fandango at Home, Google Play Movies & TV and Apple TV.
"Elf" (2003, PG)
You can watch "Elf" on Hulu, Max, Philo, YouTube, Disney , Sling TV, The Roku Channel, Amazon Prime Video, Fandango at Home, Google Play Movies & TV and Apple TV.
"Home Alone" (1990, PG)
You can watch "Home Alone" on YouTube, Disney , Sling TV, Amazon Prime Video, Fandango at Home, Google Play Movies & TV and Apple TV.
"Four Christmases" (2008, PG-13)
You can watch "Four Christmases" on Hulu, Max, Philo, YouTube, Disney , Sling TV, The Roku Channel, Amazon Prime Video, Fandango at Home, Google Play Movies & TV and Apple TV.
"The Holiday" (2006, PG-13)
You can watch "The Holiday" on fuboTV, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Sling TV, YouTube, Google Play Movies & TV, Apple TV and Fandango at Home.
- If you're looking to stream 'Elf' this holiday season, you can find it on platforms like Hulu, Max, YouTube, Disney, Sling TV, The Roku Channel, Amazon Prime Video, Fandango at Home, and Apple TV.
- Contrarily, 'Home Alone' streaming options include YouTube, Disney, Sling TV, Amazon Prime Video, Fandango at Home, Google Play Movies & TV, and Apple TV.
- If you're a fan of 'National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation', you can enjoy it on Hulu, Max, Philo, YouTube, Disney, Sling TV, The Roku Channel, Amazon Prime Video, Fandango at Home, Google Play Movies & TV, and Apple TV.
- With the popularity of streaming services, you can now watch 'Elf' and 'National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation' at home alone, as per this year's viewership data.
- This year, while 'Elf' and 'National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation' switched positions as the most watched Christmas films, 'Home Alone' had a smaller audience despite being available on several streaming platforms.
