The Most Iconic Christmas Movie Soundtracks Of All Time

A soundtrack can make or break any movie and no more is this true than a Christmas film! It’s a fine line to tread, too cheesy and you cheapen the story, not christmassy enough and you’ll miss the festive spirit entirely!

Over the years there have certainly been some real trainwrecks of Christmas films, but every so often, Hollywood pulls one out of the bag! Following our history of Christmas carols, we thought we’d delve into the world of cinema.

So without further ado, here are just a handful of our favourite christmas movie soundtracks of all time and why we think they are the best way to kick off the holiday season. So sit back, grab the popcorn and snuggle up to some of these classics!


Home Alone (1990)

A John Williams composition doesn’t go amiss in any film, but what perhaps couldn’t be further from the likes of Star Wars, but remains such as iconic is the Home Alone soundtrack. For many, it’s a Christmas staple that sets off the holiday season and “Somewhere In My Memory.” is an absolute essential for households up and down the country. A beautiful blend of festive warmth and inviting magic, the slow build-up from solitary woodwind to primary school choir is just ecstatic enough to secure a place on our list!

The Snowman (1982)

Perhaps one of the most iconic British stories of all time, The Snowman’s beautiful silent translation of Raymond Briggs’ book is perhaps the ultimate proof that a great soundtrack is what makes a movie. Howard Blake accepted the challenge to make a composition that relied on little to no dialogue and more than delivered, capturing unbelievable soundscapes and detailing within the film. From tiptoeing delicately across creaky floorboards to the iconic climax of ‘Walking In The Air’ the film’s soundtrack continues to warm living rooms around the world.

Elf (2003)

Not only does Will Ferrell’s Buddy the Elf make for a fantastic protagonist in this modern Christmas staple, but Jon Favreau is able to seamlessly capture the beautiful combination of a hustling and bustling New York City with sentimental Christmas classics that we all love to bring out. Brilliant lace ins from jazz icons Frank Sinatra and Louis Prima will leave your head bopping whilst of course Zooey Deschanel’s soft tones on ‘Baby It’s Cold Outside’ or ‘Santa Claus Is Coming To Down’ don’t go amiss either!

The best way to speak Christmas cheer really is singing loud for all to hear!

The Muppets Christmas Carol (1992)

Comedian and actor Ricky Gervais once said that the best story ever written was Charles Dickens ‘A Christmas Carol’...And there’s only one way to make that story better.

A muppets christmas carol.

And we couldn’t agree more. It’s silly, it’s fun and it fills you to the core with Christmas fun. There’s something about Paul Williams and puppets that just works. After turning Kermit into a chart-topping success with “Rainbow Connection,” Williams returned to bring some holiday fun to the Muppets world.

Whilst Williams song writing makes for joyous listening, Miles Goodman’s beautiful scores only help enhance the magic further. If you’ve never experienced the wonder that is A Muppets Christmas Carol, now’s the time to start!

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

One that is constantly up for a debate as spooky isn’t normally the first word that comes to mind when talking about Christmas, but an amazing soundtrack nonetheless...We couldn’t let Danny Elfman’s holiday spectacular ‘What’s This?’ go to waste!

Collaborating with Tim Burton on their long standing history once more, the two artists styles blend impeccably. Whether it be ‘Jack’s Lament’ and his almost Shakespearean approach, to the jazzy satire of “Oogie Boogie’s Song.” The Nightmare Before Christmas is a great watch and soundtrack to enjoy so earns its place on our list!

Love Actually (2003)

Some people call it the perfect rom com, others call it a totally unrealistic mess. Whatever your stange, there’s no denial that Love Actually has one hell of a soundtrack and is one of the best ways to inject a plethora of christmas classics into your living room...Not to mention Bill Nighy’s iconic ‘Christmas Is All Around’.

White Christmas (1954)

An old classic with one of the most identifiable songs of all time. Interestingly though, this wasn’t the first time the song made an appearance when it first showed up in another holiday classic Holiday Inn (1943) where it’s original composer Irving Berlin won 1943 academy award for best original song.

Did we miss your favourite? There are certainly a million more that we could cover, but we’d be here until new year! Let us know your favourites over on social media using the #MillersMusic!

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