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60 Classic Christmas Movie Quotes from Your Favorite Holiday Films

Updated: Jan. 13, 2024

Sharing the best Christmas movie quotes is the next best thing to actually watching the movies themselves

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‘Tis the season for wrapping yourself in a blanket with a mug of hot chocolate to watch your favorite Christmas movies by the fire. From romantic Christmas movies to funny Christmas movies, there’s something for everyone these days. And if you’re the type of person who loves watching holiday flicks, especially the popular ones that play on TV year after year, then these Christmas movie quotes are for you.

We have compiled a list of the most iconic Christmas movie quotes from the classics—some funny and some heartwarming—that will make everyone feel all the nostalgia this Christmas.

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“Tell her that you love her. You’ve got nothing to lose and you’ll always regret it if you don’t.” —Love Actually (2003)

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“You can mess with a lot of things. But you can’t mess with kids on Christmas.” —Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)

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“I just like to smile. Smiling’s my favorite.” —Elf (2003)

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“Of course. Santa. The big man. The head honcho. The connection.” —A Christmas Story (1983)

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“A true selfless act always sparks another.” —Klaus (2019)

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“Oh, Christmas isn’t just a day. It’s a frame of mind.” —Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

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“This place reminds me of Santa’s Workshop. Except it smells like mushrooms and everyone looks like they want to hurt me.” —Elf (2003)

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“There’s no greater gift than friendship.” —The Polar Express (2004)

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“Never be afraid when people can’t see what you see. Only be afraid if you no longer see it.” —Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (2020)

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“We’re not just doing this for us. We’re doing it for the kids. For every kid who ever sat on Santa’s lap.” —Jingle All the Way (1996)

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“Ah, Christmas. Time for Santa Claus and his eight prancing rein-bear.” —A Muppet Family Christmas (1987)

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“You say you hate Washington’s birthday or Thanksgiving, and nobody cares, but you say you hate Christmas, and people treat you like you’re a leper.” —Gremlins (1984)

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“Well, in Whoville, they say that the Grinch’s heart grew three sizes that day.” —How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

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“Thanks, but I’m seeing someone in wrapping.” —The Santa Clause (1994)

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“Now you listen to me, young lady! Even if we’re horribly mangled, there’ll be no sad faces on Christmas.” —The Grinch (2000)

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“You have such a pretty face. You should be on a Christmas card.” —Elf (2003)

Check out these Christmas movies on Netflix to find more funny Christmas movie quotes.

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“No one should be alone on Christmas.” —How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

If you love these Christmas movie quotes, see if any of these Christmas movies on Amazon Prime have quote-worthy moments.

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“Just because you can’t see something, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.” —The Santa Clause (1994)

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“Just because I cannot see it, doesn’t mean I can’t believe it!” —The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

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“Remember, George: No man is a failure who has friends.” —It’s a Wonderful Life (1947)

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“If you look for it, I’ve got a sneaky feeling you’ll find that love, actually, is all around.” —Love Actually (2003)

If you’re a connoisseur of Christmas movie quotes, see if you can nail this Christmas movie trivia.

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“I believe, I believe, it’s silly, but I believe.” —Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

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“A toy is never truly happy until it is loved by a child.” —Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)

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“It’s all humbug, I tell you.” —A Christmas Carol (1938)

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“If you’re worried and you can’t sleep, count your blessings instead of sheep. Then you’ll fall asleep counting your blessings.” —White Christmas (1954)

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“The thing about trains … it doesn’t matter where they’re going. What matters is deciding to get on.” —The Polar Express (2004)

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“I never thought it was such a bad little tree. It’s not bad at all, really. Maybe it just needs a little love.” —A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)

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“It’s Christmas Eve. It’s the one night of the year when we all act a little nicer, we smile a little easier, we cheer a little more.” —Scrooged (1988)

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“It’s Christmas Eve, and we are going to celebrate being young and being alive.” —The Holiday (2006)

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“Nobody’s walking out on this fun, old-fashioned family Christmas.” —Christmas Vacation (1989)

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“There’s a certain magic that comes with the very first snow. For when the first snow is also a Christmas snow, well, something wonderful is bound to happen.” —Frosty the Snowman (1969)

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“It’s Christmas Eve. A time of mystery, expectations, who knows what might happen.” —The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018)

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“Christmas is just about my favorite time. Ever since I was a little kid, I always felt like it was my own personal holiday.” —Ernest Saves Christmas (1988)

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“I want my house to be seen from space!” —Deck the Halls (2006)

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“This is Christmas. The season of perpetual hope.” —Home Alone (1990)

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“You’re skipping Christmas! Isn’t that against the law?” —Christmas with the Kranks (2004)

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“Merry Christmas, you filthy animal.” —Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)

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“I myself believe that when it comes to matters of the heart, the only sin is turning your back on love because of what other people think.” —Holiday Heart (2000)

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“I just woke up thinking about going home with you and got very excited about Christmas.” —The Happiest Season (2020)

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“Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can’t see.” —The Polar Express (2004)

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“Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives. When he isn’t around he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?” —It’s a Wonderful Life (1947)

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“Faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to.” —Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

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“Seeing isn’t believing; believing is seeing.” —The Santa Clause 2 (2002)

After reading all these Christmas movie quotes, see if you can crack these Christmas riddles while you’re in the holiday mood.

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“Every setback is a setup for a comeback.” —The Best Man Holiday (2013)

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“The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” —Elf (2003)

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“Maybe Christmas … perhaps … means a little bit more.” —How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

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“Will you please tell Santa that instead of presents this year, I just want my family back.” —Home Alone (1990)

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“Everybody likes Denny’s, it’s an American institution.” —The Santa Clause (1994)

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“Think you might be overdoing it, Dad?” —National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

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“What’s the matter? Haven’t you ever seen a talking snowman before?” —Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)

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“Christmas will always be as long as we stand heart to heart and hand in hand.” —How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

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“Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.” —It’s a Wonderful Life (1947)

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“We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corn and syrup.” —Elf (2003)

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“Bless this highly nutritious microwavable macaroni and cheese dinner and the people who sold it on sale.” —Home Alone (1990)

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“That’s what Christmas memories are made from, they’re not planned, they’re not scheduled, nobody puts them in their Blackberry, they just happen.” —Deck the Halls (2006)

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“Yes! Yes I do! I like Christmas! I love Christmas!” —A Christmas Carol (2009)

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“And we’re going to have the hap-hap-happiest Christmas.” —Christmas Vacation (1989)

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“Christmas was on its way. Lovely, glorious, beautiful Christmas, upon which the entire kid year revolved.” —A Christmas Story (1983)

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“But for now, let me say. Without hope or agenda. Just because it’s Christmas. And at Christmas you tell the truth. To me, you are perfect.” —Love Actually (2003)

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“Just remember, the true spirit of Christmas lies in your heart.” —The Polar Express (2004)

Now that these Christmas movie quotes have you feeling festive, read up on these Hallmark Christmas movies to see which ones you want to add to your watch list this year.