TCM in December: Christmas Movies

It's time for my annual look at the Christmas movies on this year's Turner Classic Movies December schedule!

As usual, Christmas movies are scattered around the schedule in the first weeks of the month, leading up to the annual Christmas movie marathon. This year the marathon runs from December 19th through Christmas Day.

As there is inevitably some disappointment when a favorite film doesn't turn up on the schedule, I like to remind readers that it's normal and expected for some fluctuation in titles from year to year; this happens for a variety of reasons, including the licensing budget.

This year there won't be appearances by several films shown in 2023 or 2024, including HOLIDAY INN (1942), THE CHEATERS (1945), CHRISTMAS EVE (1947), GOOD SAM (1948), or THE HOLLY AND THE IVY (1952). The New Year's film REPEAT PERFORMANCE (1947) will also not be shown on TCM this holiday season.

On the other hand, several titles return to the schedule after not being shown last year, including AND SO THEY WERE MARRIED (1936), LADY ON A TRAIN (1945), THE MAN I LOVE (1947), MR. SOFT TOUCH (1949), and O. HENRY'S FULL HOUSE (1952).

This year will also see the TCM premiere of PRANCER (1989), a lovely film I saw when it was initially released theatrically. It's a worthy addition to TCM's holiday schedule which I hope many viewers will enjoy.

Looking ahead to New Year's Eve, this year there will be a Marx Brothers marathon during the daytime hours, followed by an evening of films with New Year's themes such as BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY (2001), SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE (1993), and more.

New Year's Day will feature a marathon of THIN MAN movies.

The schedule includes films with general religious themes along with Christmas movies. Please click any hyperlinked title to read a complete review. For films showing more than once in December, the review is only linked the first time it appears on the schedule.

December 3rd

A CHRISTMAS STORY (1972) (short) (TCM premiere)

December 4th

THE BISHOP'S WIFE (1947)

December 5th

OUR VINES HAVE TENDER GRAPES (1945)

December 6th

IT HAPPENED ON 5TH AVENUE (1947)

KING OF KINGS (1961)

December 7th

CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT (1945)

December 10th

YOURS, MINE AND OURS (1968)

THE GATHERING (1977) (TCM premiere)

December 13th

CASH ON DEMAND (1961) (Noir Alley)

December 14th

CASH ON DEMAND (1961) (Noir Alley)

HOLIDAY AFFAIR (1949)

IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMERTIME (1949)

THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER (1940)

MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS (1944)

December 19th

HOLIDAY AFFAIR (1949)

THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER (1940)

BELL BOOK AND CANDLE (1958)

BUNDLE OF JOY (1956)

BACHELOR MOTHER (1939)

A CAROL FOR ANOTHER CHRISTMAS (1964)

December 20th

TENTH AVENUE ANGEL (1948)

LOVE FINDS ANDY HARDY (1938)

ON MOONLIGHT BAY (1941)

PRANCER (1989) (TCM premiere)

THREE GODFATHERS (1948)

THE THIN MAN (934)

THE APARTMENT (1960)

REMEMBER THE NIGHT (1940)

WE'RE NO ANGELS (1955)

LADY IN THE LAKE (1947)

ALIAS BOSTON BLACKIE (1942)

COVER UP (1949)

THE CURSE OF THE CAT PEOPLE (1944)

December 21st

HELL'S HEROES (1929)

A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1938)

ROOM FOR ONE MORE (1952)

SUSAN SLEPT HERE (1954)

DESK SET (1957)

GOING MY WAY (1944)

THE BELLS OF ST. MARY'S (1945)

THERE AIN'T NO SANTA CLAUS (1926) (short) (TCM premiere)

CHRISTMAS PAST (1925)

MON ONCLE ANTOINE (1971)

PERIOD OF ADJUSTMENT (1962)

December 22nd

BLOSSOMS IN THE DUST (1941)

THE DAUGHTER OF ROSIE O'GRADY (1940)

OUR VINES HAVE TENDER GRAPES (1945)

METROPOLITAN (1990)

THE WORLD OF HENRY ORIENT (1964)

THE TROUBLE WITH ANGELS (1966)

NEVER SAY GOODBYE (1946)

IT HAPPENED ON 5TH AVENUE (1947)

THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER (1942)

FITZWILLY (1967)

LADY ON A TRAIN (1945)

MIRACLE ON MAIN STREET (1939)

ROADBLOCK (1951)

December 23rd

KIND LADY (1935)

AND SO THEY WERE MARRIED (1936)

THE MAN I LOVE (1947)

LARCENY, INC. (1942)

BACKFIRE (1950)

MR. SOFT TOUCH (1949)

MY REPUTATION (1946)

MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS (1944)

IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMERTIME (1949)

MEET JOHN DOE (1941)

LITTLE WOMEN (1949)

AUNTIE MAME (1948)

December 24th

THREE GODFATHERS (1936)

BACHELOR MOTHER (1939)

ALL MINE TO GIVE (1957)

THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER (1940)

IT HAPPENED ON 5TH AVENUE (1947)

HOLIDAY AFFAIR (1949)

CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT (1945)

THE BISHOP'S WIFE (1947)

AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER (1947)

A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1938)

O. HENRY'S FULL HOUSE (1952)

BEYOND TOMORROW (1940)

STAR IN THE NIGHT (1945) (short)

December 25th

BOYS TOWN (1938)

THE GREAT RUPERT (1940)

LITTLE WOMEN (1933)

MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS (1944)

POCKETFUL OF MIRACLES (1961)

THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER (1942)

IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMERTIME (1949)

December 27th

BEN-HUR (1959)

December 28th

KING OF KINGS (1927)

For more on TCM in December 2025, please visit my Quick Preview of TCM in December, TCM in December: Highlights, and TCM's online schedule. Additional monthly highlights will be coming soon!

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