The elements for a great Christmas TV episode are simple: It should take place on or around the holidays. They can be heartwarming and light or dark and brooding, because, let’s be honest: We all have a little bit of both in all of us, especially at this time of year. From classic TV sitcoms to modern dramas, animated series, and more, these best Christmas episodes will bring the Christmas cheer right to your couch.
40 Best Christmas Episodes
1. The Simpsons, “Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire”
In the very first episode of The Simpsons to air, the essence of America’s favorite family is captured beautifully: Bart Simpson gets a tattoo, leading Marge to blow the family’s Christmas budget on its removal. When Homer learns that his boss, Mr. Burns, isn’t giving them Christmas bonuses, he works as a mall Santa to make ends meet and give his kids a good holiday—only to blow his money at a dog race. When the greyhound who comes in last place is abandoned by its owner, the Simpsons adopt him and name him Santa’s Little Helper. Yes, we are crying. How to watch: Stream on Disney+.
2. New Girl, “Christmas Eve Eve”
Come for the gang’s hijinks attempting a secret Santa. Stay for Megan Fox (who is criminally underrated as Nick’s girlfriend Reagan), a song from Darlene Love and a dose of heartwarming holiday magic. How to watch: Stream on Netflix.
3. The Office, “Christmas Party”
Michael Scott’s iPod debacle and Jim’s thoughtful teapot gift for Pam make this an episode of The Office to come back to every year to warm your heart (and crack you up) in the winter months. (Also check out our full list of the funniest The Office episodes!) How to watch: Stream on Peacock.
4. Community, “Abed’s Uncontrollable Christmas”
Community goes claymation in this adorable Christmas special that takes place (mostly) in the mind of Community’s most endearing oddball, Abed (Danny Pudi). Be sure to watch him and Troy (Donald Glover) in the credits, too! How to watch: Stream on Hulu and Netflix.
5. It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, “A Very Sunny Christmas”
There are few characters more irredeemable than The Gang from It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, and, well, even the spirit of Christmas can’t help them. From Charlie’s memorable meeting with a mall Santa to the indelible image of Danny DeVito’s Frank Reynolds being birthed from a couch, even the world’s biggest Grinch would crack up at this. How to watch: Stream on Hulu.
6. Happy Days, “Guess Who’s Coming to Christmas”
No one on the planet is cooler than The Fonz (Henry Winkler), which is why it was so heartbreaking to learn that he spent his Christmases alone. Let this Happy Days classic episode be a reminder to check in on your friends—even (and especially) the ones you assume don’t need it. How to watch: Stream on Paramount+.
7. The Golden Girls, “‘Twas the Nightmare Before Christmas”
The Christmas episode from Season 2 of The Golden Girls preceded Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, and the sentiment is much different: There’s hysteria, hilarity, heartbreak, hostages … and a homemade boudoir calendar from Blanche Devereaux. Ho ho ho, indeed! How to watch: Stream on Hulu.
8. Bob’s Burgers, “The Bleakening”
No one does holiday cheer like Bob’s Burgers and the beloved Linda Belcher—and when someone threatens to steal it away, you really see how Louise Belcher didn’t fall far from the tree. How to watch: Stream on Hulu.
9. Friends, “The One With the Holiday Armadillo”
From Ross’ iconic armadillo suit to Chandler’s Santa surprise, the Christmas-Hanukkah hybrid episode is a testament to the timelessness of Friends. How to watch: Stream on HBO Max.
10. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, “Deck the Halls”
Will (Will Smith) charms the world and gets festive with Ashley; while his rich relatives judge their decor, Carlton (Alfonso Ribeiro) carols his heart out. It’s light, frothy, family holiday cheer. How to watch: Stream on HBO Max.
11. Ted Lasso, “Carol of the Bells”
It doesn’t get more earnest than Ted Lasso, and “Carol of the Bells” is no different—and fans of Love Actually will get an extra kick out of this episode, which references one of that rom-com’s most famous scenes.How to watch: Stream on Apple TV+.
12. Black Mirror, “White Christmas”
One of the darkest Black Mirror episodes yet, “White Christmas” is rife with twists, turns, technological dystopia, an existential crisis, Easter eggs—and, as a bonus, Jon Hamm.How to watch: Stream on Netflix.
13. The O.C., “The Best Chrismukkah Ever”
Jewish-Gentile combination families finally get the representation they’ve been missing thanks to Seth Cohen (Adam Brody) and his adorable brood on The O.C..How to watch: Stream on HBO Max and Hulu.
14. 30 Rock, “Ludachristmas”
Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan) has to miss his own Christmas party (and its horny Santa), while Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) has a family outing with a Lemon Party reference (don’t Google it), making “Ludachristmas” a 30 Rock fan favorite.How to watch: Stream on Peacock.
15. The Twilight Zone, “Night of the Meek”
A mall Santa who’s down on his luck gets a Christmas miracle in this classic Twilight Zone episode. While many of the show’s themes veer towards darker, more tragic elements, “Night of the Meek” is heartwarming and gives a sense of hope, making it a beautiful outlier in Rod Serling’s usual cautionary tales.How to watch: Stream on Paramount+ and Pluto TV.
16. MAS*H, “Death Takes a Holiday”
The crew entertains orphans in their tent while desperately trying to save a wounded soldier on Christmas in his heart-wrenching MAS*H episode.How to watch: Stream on Hulu.
17. South Park, “Merry Christmas Charlie Manson!”
Dark? Yes. Crass? Yes. Hilarious? Absolutely. For everyone? Probably not. Family-friendly? Absolutely not.How to watch: Stream on HBO Max and Philo.
18. Doctor Who, “A Christmas Carol”
19. Batman: The Animated Series, “Christmas With the Joker”
Adults and kids alike can enjoy this classic episode of Batman: The Animated Series, complete with the Joker’s signature holiday tune—and lest we forget, the Joker is voiced by none other than Mark Hamill!How to watch: Stream on HBO Max.
20. Curb Your Enthusiasm, “Mary, Joseph, and Larry”
Larry David learns the hard way about the importance of tipping generously near Christmas.How to watch: Stream on HBO Max.
21. My So-Called Life, “So Called Angels”
Singer-songwriter Juliana Hatfield features in this bittersweet episode of My So-Called Life, where Angela (Claire Danes) and Rickie (Wilson Cruz) learn (and teach us) a lesson about teen homelessness.How to watch: Stream on Hulu.
22. The West Wing, “Noël”
The West Wing delivers a powerful and nuanced portrayal of PTSD in “Noël.“How to watch: Stream on HBO Max.
23. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, “Amends”
Angel (David Boreanaz) is more tortured than ever by his past. A voice tells him that the pain will go away if he kills Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar), but he refuses and attempts to sacrifice himself instead—and what happens next is nothing short of a Christmas miracle.How to watch: Stream on Hulu.
24. Fresh Off the Boat, “The Real Santa”
The impacts of representation—or lack thereof—are real, and the Huang family does a great job at skewering the white-washing of the holiday season on Fresh Off the Boat. (Bonus points for making the “Boss Santa” a woman!)How to watch: Stream on Hulu.
25. Parks and Recreation, “Christmas Scandal”
This Christmas episode of Parks and Recreation is so great that you can forgive the plot’s close parallels to a classic Golden Girls episode and just enjoy the rollercoaster ride.How to watch: Stream on Peacock.
26. The Real Ghostbusters, “Xmas Marks the Spot”
27. Lost, “The Constant”
28. The X-Files, “How the Ghosts Stole Christmas”
29. The Mary Tyler Moore Show, “Christmas and the Hard Luck Kid II”
30. Pinky and the Brain, “A Pinky and the Brain Christmas”
Both little ones and grown-ups will get a kick out of Pinky and the Brain’s take on Christmas, with adults chuckling at pop culture references and criticism of commercialization of the holiday—and kids just chuckling whenever Brain does something absurd.How to watch: Stream on Hulu.
31. Seinfeld, “The Strike”
Relive the birth of Festivus for the rest of us!How to watch: Stream on Netflix.
32. The Bob Newhart Show, “His Busiest Season”
You know who else was discussing seasonal depression on TV in 1972? No one. It’s one of the many elements that makes The Bob Newhart Show so groundbreaking, and his onscreen occupation of a psychologist makes this a natural fit.How to watch: Stream on Hulu.
33. Family Matters, “Christmas Is Where the Heart Is”
There are few scenes more idyllic than a Winslow Christmas. Each Family Matters Christmas episode has its special moments, but “Christmas Is Where the Heart Is” drives its title message home in a big way when Carl (Reginald VelJohnson) and Steve Urkel (Jaleel White) wind up stuck on a train together.How to watch: Stream on HBO Max.
34. Mad Men, “Christmas Waltz”
35. The BoJack Horseman Christmas Special
Though technically a standalone and not a Christmas episode, this special examines ’90s sitcom tropes as well as heavier topics like surveillance and mental illness—all with the trippy, darkly hilarious elements you’d come to expect from BoJack Horseman.How to watch: Stream on Netflix.
36. Frasier, “Perspectives on Christmas”
Frasier, Niles and Martin Crane, along with Daphne, each give their own perspective on why Christmas was ruined. Imagine if Rashomon was a holiday episode of one of the best sitcoms ever, and you’ll have “Perspectives on Christmas.” We just wish Eddie got a storyline, too! How to watch: Stream it on Hulu, Paramount+ and Peacock.
37. How I Met Your Mother, “How Lily Stole Christmas”
A lot of How I Met Your Mother doesn’t necessarily age well (i.e., Barney’s take on drunk women), but “How Lily Stole Christmas” is great. Think of the worst word you can call a woman. Speaking to his kids, Ted euphemizes it with “Grinch” when he recalls using the slur on Lily during Christmas.
38. Boy Meets World, “A Very Topanga Christmas”
Cory has his own version of A Christmas Carol when Mr. Feeny shows him the true meaning of Christmas: Showing those you love (i.e., Topanga!) how much they mean to you. How to watch: Stream on Disney+.
39. Black-ish, “Compton Around the Christmas Tree”
When Dre is called a “valley dad,” he takes his family to check out his Compton roots—and the family learns the importance of giving back and never forgetting where you come from. How to watch: Stream on Disney+ and Hulu.
40. Superstore, “Christmas Eve”
Superstore captures the magic and the mania of the Christmas season, from holiday shopping rushes to the sugary-sweetness of falling in love. How to watch: Stream on Hulu and Peacock. Next, crack up at this collection of the best Christmas movie quotes ever!
