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National Christmas Movie Marathon Day

Get into the holiday spirit with a National Christmas Movie Marathon Day! Pop some popcorn, grab your favorite blanket, and enjoy some festive films.

Wednesday

December 2026

Last updated February 7, 2026 · by the Holiday Calendar Team

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YEARLY DATEDecember 23

OBSERVED INUnited States

CATEGORYPop Culture

SUBCATEGORYMovies & TV

INTRO

Introduction

PHOTO

Get ready for a Christmas movie marathon on National Christmas Movie Marathon Day, December 23! This day has been around since the early 2000s and is celebrated by cuddling up in front of your favorite holiday flick with some family and friends. From classic black-and-white films to more modern favorites like Home Alone or Elf, there's something for everyone when it comes to celebrating this special day.

TIMELINE

National Christmas Movie Marathon Day Timeline

Release of "It's A Wonderful Life"

This classic movie directed by Frank Capra played a major role in establishing Christmas movies as a beloved tradition.

"A Christmas Story" Premiere

The release of "A Christmas Story", a family comedy set during holiday season, helps to popularize the idea of Christmas movie marathons.

"Home Alone" Hits Theaters

"Home Alone", a holiday favorite, intensified the love for Christmas movies with its box-office success.

Early Celebration of the Day

National Christmas Movie Marathon Day was informally celebrated by families and friends as early as 2000, further promoting the trend of holiday movie marathons.

"Elf" Joins the Canon

The release of "Elf", starring Will Ferrell, is embraced as an immediate classic and becomes a staple in holiday movie marathons.

GET INVOLVED

How to Celebrate National Christmas Movie Marathon Day

Organize a movie marathon

Invite friends and family over for a movie marathon. Choose a selection of classic Christmas movies, like Elf, Miracle on 34th Street, A Christmas Story, and It’s a Wonderful Life. Set up a cozy viewing area with snacks and festive decorations.

HOST

Host a themed party

Choose your favorite Christmas movie, then throw a themed Christmas movie marathon party around it. Ask guests to dress up as their favorite characters from the movie. Serve themed snacks and drinks, like eggnog and hot cocoa.

CREATE

Create trivia questions

Challenge moviegoers to test their knowledge of Christmas movies by creating trivia questions related to the films you’re screening. You can also assign points based on difficulty or offer fun prizes to the winners.

VOTE

Vote on favorites

Let each guest pick their favorite movie from the lineup and vote on the group’s top pick at the end of the night. This is an especially great way to get everyone involved in the celebration!

MAKE

Make it interactive

Create props for each film that viewers can use while they watch. For example, have Santa hats and candy canes for The Santa Clause or mugs of hot cocoa for The Polar Express.

WHY THIS DAY MATTERS

Why We Love National Christmas Movie Marathon Day

Movies help us escape reality

For one night each year we can forget about our troubles and immerse ourselves in a world of magic and joy. With National Christmas Movie Marathon Day, we can lose ourselves in the happiness of the season and just let go - if only for a few hours!

Christmas movies bring warm nostalgia

There's nothing quite like settling in for a Christmas movie marathon. Whether you love classic favorites like It's a Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street, or more modern offerings like Home Alone and Elf, these movies will surely fill your heart with holiday cheer!

Christmas movie marathons unite friends & family

The best part about National Christmas Movie Marathon Day is getting together with friends and family to watch the classics. There's no better way to get into the holiday spirit than by sharing laughs over favorite characters and quotes - plus, if you make it into an annual event, there'll be something for everyone to look forward too!

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