Movies like There Ain't No Santa Claus (1926)
The best movies like There Ain't No Santa Claus (1926) are Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh (2008), Candy Cane Lane (2023) and Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special (1988). If There Ain't No Santa Claus hooked you with its comedy, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedA Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)7.7/10 from 824 votes
- NewestCandy Cane Lane (2023)Released 2023
Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh (2008)
Step brothers Drake and Josh must give a foster family the best Christmas ever or face years in jail for a Christmas party gone wrong.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisCandy Cane Lane (2023)
Determined to win the neighborhood's annual Christmas decorating contest, family man Chris makes a pact with an elf to help him out-do the competition. However, the elf casts a spell bringing the twelve days of Christmas to life, unleashing chaos on the small unsuspecting town.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisPee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special (1988)
Pee-wee Herman and pals are celebrating Christmas in the Playhouse in their own creative ways: Pee-wee makes a list for Santa Claus 1.5 miles long, teaches Little Richard how to ice skate, goes for a sleigh ride with Magic Johnson, enslaves Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello into making Christmas cards, receives a long phone call from Dinah Shore, even has more musical fun with k.d. lang, the Del Rubio Triplettes and Charo! Finally, Big Red arrives and announces that Pee-wee's Christmas list was so big, he didn't have enough presents for all the children of the world. Will Pee-wee follow his own advice and help others?
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Bad Guys: A Very Bad Holiday (2023)
To keep their annual Holiday Heist-tacular afloat, Mr. Wolf and his crew of animal outlaws will have to restore the whole city's Christmas spirit — fast!
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisClick & Collect (2018)
To save his daughter's Christmas, Andrew goes on a road trip with Dev, his neighbour from hell, to buy an elusive Sparklehoof the Unicorn Princess.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisJingle All the Way (1996)
Howard Langston, a salesman for a mattress company, is constantly kept busy at his job, disappointing his son. After he misses his son's karate exposition, Howard vows to make it up to him by buying an action figure of his son's favorite television hero for Christmas. Unfortunately for Howard, it is Christmas Eve, and every store is sold out of Turbo Man. Now, Howard must travel all over town and compete with everybody else to find a Turbo Man action figure.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisMickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse (2001)
When a huge snowstorm leaves everyone stranded, Mickey and all of his guests at the House of Mouse, including Pooh, Belle, Snow White, Cinderella, Ariel and many more of his old and new friends, break out the cookies and hot chocolate to help Donald mend his tattered Christmas spirit.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Best Man Holiday (2013)
When college friends reunite after 15 years over the Christmas holidays, they discover just how easy it is for long-forgotten rivalries and romances to be reignited.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisNational Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)
It's Christmastime, and the Griswolds are preparing for a family seasonal celebration. But things never run smoothly for Clark, his wife Ellen, and their two kids. Clark's continual bad luck is worsened by his obnoxious family guests, but he manages to keep going, knowing that his Christmas bonus is due soon.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisA Bad Moms Christmas (2017)
Amy, Kiki and Carla – three under-appreciated and over-burdened women – rebel against the challenges and expectations of the Super Bowl for mothers: Christmas. And if creating a more perfect holiday for their families wasn’t hard enough, they have to do all of that while hosting and entertaining their own mothers.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisA Christmas Story Christmas (2022)
Follows Ralphie, now adult, who returns to the house on Cleveland Street to give his kids a magical Christmas like the one he had as a child, reconnecting with childhood friends, and reconciling the passing of his Old Man.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisIt's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown (1992)
As the holiday season rolls around and all the Peanuts gang are getting ready for it. Whether it be Charlie Brown struggling to raise money for his girlfriend or Sally and Peppermint Patty struggling to rehearse and memorize their one word lines for the Christmas pageant, these kids try to keep with the Christmas spirit while Snoopy has his mischief to do.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Trailer Park Boys Xmas Special (2004)
In this holiday prequel, it’s 1997 and Sunnyvale Trailer Park is getting ready for the holiday season. Julian’s got a great idea to make money this Christmas, Ricky gets confused between God and Santa, and Bubbles tries to get the Boys together for an annual Christmas bonfire. Meanwhile, Mr. Lahey is thrilled because Christmas is the only day of the year that his wife Barb allows him to have a few drinks. Directed by series creator Mike Clattenburg, this hour-long special takes place before Jamie was J-Roc, before Randy and Lahey were a couple, and before the Shitmobile was missing a door.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisDaddy's Home 2 (2017)
Father and stepfather Dusty and Brad join forces to make Christmastime perfect for the children. Their newfound partnership soon gets put to the test when Dusty's old-school, macho dad and Brad's gentle father arrive to turn the holiday upside down. After a sudden change in plans, the four men decide to take the kids to a luxury resort for a fun-filled getaway that turns into a hilarious and chaotic adventure.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisA Flintstone Christmas (1977)
Santa has an accident at Fred's house on Christmas Eve, Fred and Barney have to continue his run for him.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisA Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
When Charlie Brown complains about the overwhelming materialism that he sees amongst everyone during the Christmas season, Lucy suggests that he become director of the school Christmas pageant. Charlie Brown accepts, but it is a frustrating struggle. When an attempt to restore the proper spirit with a forlorn little fir Christmas tree fails, he needs Linus' help to learn the meaning of Christmas.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe 12 Days of Christmas Eve (2022)
When Brian Conway, a successful businessman whose family relationships have suffered, gets in a car accident on Christmas Eve, Santa gives him twelve chances to redo the day and repair the relationships in his life, including with his daughter Michelle.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisSpirited (2022)
Each Christmas Eve, the Ghost of Christmas Present selects one dark soul to be reformed by a visit from three spirits. But this season, he picked the wrong Scrooge. Clint Briggs turns the tables on his ghostly host until Present finds himself reexamining his own past, present and future.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisPrep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice (2011)
Lanny and Wayne are at it again! With the Big 2-5 fast approaching, Wayne and Lanny must race to recover classified North Pole technology which has fallen into the hands of a computer-hacking Naughty Kid! Desperate to prevent Christmas from descending into chaos, Wayne seeks out the foremost Naughty Kid expert to aid in the mission: a bombastic member of the Coal Bucket Brigade who also happens to be his estranged brother, Noel.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisBeethoven's Christmas Adventure (2011)
A Christmas elf accidentally takes off in Santa's sleigh, crash lands in a small town, and loses the magic toy bag. Beethoven must rescue the elf, recover the bag from greedy crooks, and return the sleigh to Santa in time to save Christmas.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisViolent Night 2 (2026)
When Santa forgets the true meaning of Christmas, he finds himself in the heart of a lively mall community in desperate need of his help. Sapped of his magic, he’ll need another way to take on the goons threatening the mall, and time is running out. Santa has to rediscover his faith in goodness and call in some last-minute reinforcements from the one person no baddie wants to tangle with: Mrs. Claus.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
Coming SoonMovies like thisMuch Ado About Christmas (2021)
Haley is a wealthy heiress known for her acts of kindness. Haley meets hopeless romantic Claud, and she keeps her wealthy family a secret. When Claud pitches an ad campaign to Haley's mom and Haley's secrets are revealed, things get...complicated.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
Christmas Time Is Here (2021)
Nia Moore ia a successful small-town real estate agent trying to sell a resort to her client, Julian. Much to Nia's dismay, the only resort that Julian wants to buy belongs to her widower father, Patrick. Patrick is ready to retire, but Nia wants to keep the property and the family memories it holds.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
Royally Wrapped For Christmas (2021)
Lindsay Palmer, the NY director of an international charity organization, is called to the Kingdom of Veronia by the royal family who runs the foundation to interview for the job of overseeing the whole operation. As Lindsay is put through the interview process, she ends up finding true love with the prince.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
A Kindhearted Christmas (2021)
Jamie owns a sightseeing and tour company in the small town of Cooperville, New York. Navigating the holidays with enthusiasm is trickier for Jamie since her husband Matt passed. Matt loved Christmas and found unparalleled joy in giving to others. While reminiscing with family, Jamie realizes the town desperately needs someone with Matt’s genius for thinking of the small gestures that bring genuine happiness to the holidays.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisYou, Me and the Christmas Trees (2021)
An arborist helps a fourth generation Christmas tree farmer whose evergreens are dying just before the holiday. As she tries to get to the root of the problem before the town tree lighting, they begin to fall in love.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
A Meowy Christmas (2017)
A couple of bumbling burglars are mistaken as two aliens by a talking cat that watches too many conspiracy videos. Regardless it's up to Ms. Whiskers and her rat friend, Chuck, to capture them and save Christmas.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas (1977)
Bing Crosby and his family spend Christmas at the estate of a distant relative in England.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
A Lot Like Christmas (2021)
Jessica Roberts owns the most popular Christmas Tree lot in the picturesque New England town of Hudson Springs. But when big-city marketing executive, Clay Moore moves a "Big Box" store into the area and starts selling trees, Jasmine finds her business in jeopardy. As their professional competition escalates, Jasmine and Clay run into another complication - they start falling for each other.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
Sugar Plum Twist (2021)
After failing to get the coveted role of the Sugar Plum Fairy in this year's production of The Nutcracker, Vivíana Serrano joins forces with Natalia, to create a surprise reprise of the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy...with a Latin twist.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like There Ain't No Santa Claus?
The closest matches to There Ain't No Santa Claus are Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh (2008), Candy Cane Lane (2023) and Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special (1988). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after There Ain't No Santa Claus?
Start with Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh (2008), the closest match to There Ain't No Santa Claus.
What is the highest-rated movie like There Ain't No Santa Claus?
A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965), rated 7.7/10 by 824 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like There Ain't No Santa Claus?
Candy Cane Lane (2023) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there English movies like There Ain't No Santa Claus?
Yes: Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh (2008), Candy Cane Lane (2023) and Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special (1988).
How are movies similar to There Ain't No Santa Claus chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside There Ain't No Santa Claus, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.