80 Classic Christmas Movie Quotes from Your Favorite Holiday Films

Famous Christmas movie quotes

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

2. “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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

9. “There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.” —A Christmas Carol (1951)

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

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

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

13. “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)

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

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

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

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

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

19. “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)

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

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

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

23. “I think there must be something wrong with me, Linus. Christmas is coming, but I’m not happy. I don’t feel the way I’m supposed to feel.” —A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)

Heartwarming Christmas movie quotes

24. “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)

25. “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)

26. “The bell still rings for me, as it does for all who truly believe.” —The Polar Express (2004)

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

28. “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)

29. “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)

30. “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)

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

32. “Can’t you just wave your hand, and like, Jedi mindtrick the cops?”/ “I’m Santa Claus, Teddy, not Yoda.” —Christmas Chronicles (2018)

33. “Oh, don’t worry about frostbite. I’m an expert at reattaching fingers and toes.” —The Christmas Chronicles 2 (2020)

34. “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)

35. “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)

36. “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)

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

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

39. “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)

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

41. “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)

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

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

44. “You know, I think this Christmas thing is not as tricky as it seems.” —The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Funny Christmas movie quotes

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

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

47. “I don’t know what to say, but it’s Christmas, and we’re all in misery.”—National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

48. “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?” —A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)

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

50. “You smell like beef and cheese. You don’t smell like Santa.” —Elf (2003)

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

52. “Can I refill your eggnog for you? Get you something to eat? Drive you out to the middle of nowhere, leave you for dead?” —National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

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

54. “I spend months picking out the perfect present for everyone. You know the only thing I get in return? Coupons, free back rubs.” —A Bad Moms Christmas (2017)

55. “Son of a nutcracker!” —Elf (2003)

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

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

58. “I think you’re really beautiful and I feel really warm when I’m around you and my tongue swells up.” —Elf (2003)

59. “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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Short Christmas movie quotes

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

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

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

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

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

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

73. “I don’t want to spend the holidays dead!” —National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

74. “You’ll shoot your eye out, kid!”— A Christmas Story (1983)

75. “You put on the suit, you’re the big guy.” —The Santa Clause (1994)

76. “I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” —A Christmas Carol (1951)

77. “No space of regret can make amends for one life’s opportunity misused.” —A Christmas Carol (1951)

78. “You sit on a throne of lies!” —Elf (2003)

79. “I’m a cotton-headed ninny muggins!” —Elf (2003)

80. “The best things happen while you’re dancing.” —White Christmas (1954)

Why trust us

At Reader’s Digest, we’ve been sharing our favorite quotes for over 100 years. The sayings and quips that appear in the magazine’s “Quotable Quotes” (formerly “Remarkable Remarks”) are curated from interviews and essays originally published in the magazine, reprints from trusted titles and other verified sources. For this piece, Associate Editor Mariah Thomas tapped her experience as a writer and editor to ensure that all information is accurate. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.