12 Tearjerker Christmas Movies That Will Make You Cry (In the Best Way)

‘Tis the season for tearjerker Christmas movies to sob through while eating way too much chocolate. Before we get into the list, let’s talk about why emotional holiday movies hit so hard—and why they can even affect your mood or menstrual cycle.

Emotional films trigger the “happy tear effect,” a release of oxytocin, endorphins, and tension. These hormones help you bond with characters, feel empathy more deeply, and experience that emotional “reset” crying often brings. It can be great to watch movies that bring about this effect as a way of release during PMS. 

Premenstrual syndrome regularly occurs in the one to two weeks before the start of each menstrual period. Your emotions are heightened, you’re a little more sensitive, and you experience mood swings–you’re happy one minute, then irritated the next. 

Many women experience stronger reactions to films during certain phases of their cycle because hormones exaggerate emotional processing. Crying at movies is normal, healthy, and very human—especially during the holidays when everything already feels a little tender.

So, if you’re ready for a good cathartic cry, here are the top tearjerker Christmas movies this holiday season.

1. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

George Bailey (Stewart) reaches a breaking point on Christmas Eve until an angel shows him what life would look like if he’d never existed. It’s a powerful reminder of the unseen impact we have on others. Its final scenes are almost guaranteed to bring tears of gratitude, hope, and relief. It’s a Wonderful LIfe cements itself as one of the saddest Christmas movies of all time, if not, the saddest.

2. The Family Stone (2005) — Starring Diane Keaton, Sarah Jessica Parker, Rachel McAdams, Luke Wilson

What begins as an awkward holiday gathering turns into a deeply emotional portrait of a family navigating love, loss, and change. Keaton’s performance as the family matriarch — and the film’s blend of humor and heartbreak — make this one hit especially hard. Watching it this year may hit even harder since Keaton’s passing earlier this year, but it’ll certainly make you cherish her character more. It’s top of the list of movies to cry to during PMS if you ask us.

Also read: Top 10 TV and Movie Moms That We Love

3. The Holiday (2006) — Starring Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, Jack Black

Two women swap homes for Christmas to escape their messy lives, only to find healing and unexpected love. Winslet’s storyline in particular — especially her monologue about unrequited love — is touching and relatable. Cameron Diaz also gives us all the feels when she enters the life of a widowed father who shows her that a simple life is a great life. It’s a certified cozy, romantic cry, and one of the top tearjerker Christmas movies to watch this holiday season.

4. Last Christmas (2019) — Starring Emilia Clarke & Henry Golding

A quirky holiday romance with a twist inspired by George Michael’s music. Clarke plays Kate, whose life is spiraling until she meets Tom (Golding), a stranger who brings meaning back into her world. Its emotional reveal turns a charming rom-com into a true tear-jerker about healing and purpose. Plus, Clarke’s outfits and spunky personality paired with Golding’s proper gentleman ways and sensibility is the perfect “opposites attract” combination. Last Christmas, although a more recent release, is slowly being canonized as one of the best emotional holiday movies.

Also read: Top 10 Female TV Characters Who Inspire & Empower

5. A Boy Called Christmas (2021) — Starring Henry Lawfull, Maggie Smith, Kristen Wiig

This magical adventure follows young Nikolas on a journey to find his father — and ends up exploring themes of loss, belief, and bravery. Maggie Smith’s role as the storyteller adds warmth, while the film’s message about choosing hope is genuinely moving. A Boy Called Christmas is sure to land several top tearjerker Christmas movies lists, and we’re glad to add it to ours!

6. Little Women (2019) — Starring Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen

Though not strictly a Christmas movie, its winter scenes and themes of sisterhood make it a holiday favorite, and yes, one of the best movies to cry to during PMS. Greta Gerwig’s adaptation brings new emotional depth to the March sisters, especially Beth’s storyline. Expect tears over love, dreams, family, and growing up. It also doesn’t hurt to watch Timothee Chalamet and Florence Pugh play “will they, won’t they?” to the backdrops of Paris and England: two locations that definitely give Christmas vibes.

7. Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) — Starring Judy Garland

A nostalgic musical set around the 1904 World’s Fair, this classic becomes deeply emotional when Garland sings “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” (Really, no one holds a candle to her rendition.) Her performance captures longing, tenderness, and the ache of change — it’s a soft but powerful cry, and one of the very few timeless tearjerker Christmas movies sure to fulfill that old-timey craving during the holidays.

Also read: What Wicked Teaches Us About Female Friendships

8. Klaus (2019) — Voices of Jason Schwartzman, J.K. Simmons, Rashida Jones

This gorgeously animated Santa origin story centers on kindness, connection, and unlikely friendships. As a selfish postman and a reclusive toymaker transform a gloomy town, the film builds into a beautifully emotional ending about legacy and compassion. If you’re looking to add a little animation to your list of sad Christmas movies for the kids (or yourself), Klaus is it.

9. The Noel Diary (2022) — Starring Justin Hartley & Barrett Doss

A novelist returns home after his estranged mother’s death and meets a woman searching for her own family history. Together, they unravel secrets, heal childhood wounds, and discover new love. Quiet, reflective, and full of emotional warmth, The Noel Diary is a sure win for movies to cry to during PMS, and it doesn’t hurt that you get a full 90+ minutes looking at Justin Hartley (This Is Us fans know).

Also read: 10 Things To Look For In A Relationship

10. The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017) — Starring Dan Stevens & Christopher Plummer

This creative retelling of how Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol blends humor with emotional depth. Watching Dickens turn his personal struggles into a timeless story of compassion feels uplifting and tear-worthy — especially through Plummer’s portrayal of Scrooge. Although there are many emotional holiday movies using the same material (A Christmas Carol), this one tops them all: the acting is superb, the cinematography is gorgeous, and the message is loud and clear: we need Christmas.

11. The Christmas Shoes (2002) — Starring Rob Lowe & Kimberly Williams-Paisley

One of the most iconic tearjerker Christmas movies. A young boy wants to buy a pair of shoes for his dying mother, and his path crosses with a man who needs a heart reset of his own. It’s sentimental, emotional, and nearly impossible not to cry through. While it may be a made-for-TV Christmas flick, do yourself a favor and make this a must-watch this holiday season.

Also read: The Power of Presence: Why Fathers Matter More Than We Sometimes Realize

12. While You Were Sleeping (1995) — Starring Sandra Bullock & Bill Pullman

A lonely transit worker pretends to be the fiancée of a man in a coma — only to fall for his brother. Beneath the rom-com charm is a deeply emotional story about longing, belonging, and finding family in the most unexpected places. While some may not consider it a “sad” Christmas movie to watch, let alone, a Christmas movie––if we can argue that Die Hard is a Christmas movie, then so is While You Were Sleeping.

BONUS FILM(S): Miracle on 34th Street (1947 & 1994) — Maureen O’Hara, Natalie Wood (’47); Richard Attenborough, Mara Wilson, Elizabeth Perkins (’94)

A lawyer defends a man who claims to be the real Santa Claus — and a skeptical little girl slowly begins to believe in magic again. Whether you love the classic version or the ‘90s remake, both explore faith, kindness, and childhood wonder in ways that bring on warm, nostalgic tears. You’re in for one of the best tearjerker Christmas movies of all time and will surely fall in love with Santa Claus all over again…maybe even start believing in him again, too.

Whether you’re in the mood for nostalgia, romance, or a full-on sob session, these tearjerker Christmas movies offer the emotional release many women crave this time of year. And if you feel a little extra sensitive? Blame the hormones — and enjoy the catharsis.

And just added to streaming that’s not a Christmas movie, but came right in time for our Christmas viewing pleasure, Freakier Friday! Read our review of this beloved film starring Jamie-Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan: Freakier Friday: A Funny, Heartfelt Love Letter to Motherhood and Sisterhood