These 5 Christmas Movies Are Illinois’ Favorites in 2025

I was just reading a piece about how much people seem to love the Christmas movies on the Hallmark Channel, and was blown away when I learned that the Hallmark Channel produces around 40 Christmas movies each holiday season.

Obviously we have no shortage of Christmas movies to watch, whether they're new ones from the Hallmark Channel or a plethora of old favorites that we've enjoyed year after year since childhood.

Setting aside the 40-plus offerings that Hallmark produces, I thought it would be fun to do some digging to find out what the top 5 Christmas movies overall are here in the Land of Lincoln (and even though Die Hard is a Christmas movie, it didn't make Illinois' top 5 list for whatever reason), so let's take a look.

We Like Our Christmas Movies To Have A Midwestern Feel To Them In Most Cases

When it comes to Christmas movies, everyone has an opinion. But what do Illinoisans actually love watching during the holidays? After digging into streaming trends, search data, and survey results for 2025, a pretty clear picture has emerged. Illinois has a mix of timeless classics and modern favorites, with a definite Midwest flair. Let's look at what we found:

1. Home Alone (1990)

It probably won’t surprise anyone that Home Alone tops the list. Maybe because it's set in the Chicago suburbs, it’s practically a hometown story for Illinois viewers. According to Google Trends data for December 2025, search interest in Illinois for Home Alone spikes higher than any other Christmas film. This is the movie that Illinoisans watch on repeat over and over.

2. A Christmas Story (1983)

This one’s pure Midwest nostalgia. A Christmas Story has long been a holiday staple, and Illinoisans are no exception. According to Statista, streaming platforms show consistently high viewership in the Midwest, and surveys indicate that many households start watching as soon as the first snow hits.

3. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

Whether it’s Clark Griswold’s lights or the holiday disasters, Illinois viewers resonate with the comedy of suburban family life. Google Trends shows December searches for “Christmas Vacation” spike every year, proving its longtime popularity.

Coming In At Number-Four And Number-Five...

4. Elf (2003)

A more modern classic, Elf brings a silly, heartwarming energy that appeals to both kids and adults. Streaming stats show it’s one of the most-watched Christmas movies by Illinois households under 40. With Will Ferrell as Buddy, along with Illinois native Bob Newhart as Buddy's dad, and New York City as its background, Elf proves that a Christmas movie doesn't have to be set in the Midwest for Illinoisans to love it.

5. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

Sure, it's almost 80 years old, but some classics never fade. Illinois families still tune in for It’s a Wonderful Life, especially on broadcast TV and cable channels around the holidays. With so many of us growing up with George Bailey every year, it's no surprise that this movie is beloved by generations of Illinois families.