Movies Like The Christmas Bus

If you liked The Christmas Bus (1972), a movie directed by Carroll Nyquist, here are 20 movies with a similar feel, based on TMDB's recommendations. Each one links to its cast, trailer and where it's streaming.

1
Lucy Shimmers and the Prince of Peace (2020)
★ 8.4/10
Second chances start when a hardened criminal crosses paths with a precocious little girl who is helped by an angel to change hearts during the holiday season.
2
Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
★ 7.4/10
Kris Kringle, seemingly the embodiment of Santa Claus, is asked to portray the jolly old fellow at Macy's following his performance in the Thanksgiving Day parade. His portrayal is so complete that many begin to…
3
Arthur Christmas (2011)
★ 6.8/10
For hundreds of years, the Claus family has delegated the title "Santa" to a chosen few of its members, which can be passed down upon retirement. Each Christmas, Santa and his vast army of highly trained elves produce…
4
The Smurfs: A Christmas Carol (2011)
★ 6.7/10
When Grouchy Smurf behaves badly to everyone and refuses to celebrate Christmas, the Smurfs of Christmas Past, Present and Future teach him to appreciate Christmas.
5
Noelle (2019)
★ 6.6/10
Kris Kringle's daughter, Noelle, sets off on a mission to find and bring back her brother, after he gets cold feet when it's his turn to take over as Santa.
6
The Simpsons: O C'mon All Ye Faithful (2024)
★ 7/10
The residents of Springfield search for Christmas cheer.
7
Dutch (1991)
★ 6.5/10
To get to know his girlfriend's son, a man volunteers to pick him up from a prep school... only to learn that her son's not the nicest kid.
8
Goodbye June (2025)
★ 6.5/10
Four siblings' lives change drastically when their ailing mother takes a turn for the worse over the holiday season.
9
Good Luck Charlie, It's Christmas! (2011)
★ 6.7/10
Teddy Duncan's middle-class family embarks on a road trip from their home in Denver to visit Mrs. Duncans Parents, the Blankenhoopers, in Palm Springs. When they find themselves stranded between Denver and Utah, they…
10
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (2024)
★ 6.8/10
The Herdman kids are undeniably the worst kids in the history of the world. They lie, steal, cheat, bully and overall terrorize their small community. But this Christmas, they're taking over their local church Pageant…
11
Scarecrow (1973)
★ 7/10
Two drifters bum around, visit earthy women and discuss opening a car wash in Pittsburgh.
12
Last Christmas (2019)
★ 7.2/10
Kate is a young woman who has a habit of making bad decisions, and her last date with disaster occurs after she accepts work as Santa's elf for a department store. However, after she meets Tom there, her life takes a…
13
Angela's Christmas (2017)
★ 6.8/10
A trip to church with her family on Christmas Eve gives young Angela an extraordinary idea. A heartwarming tale based on a story by Frank McCourt.
14
I'll Be Home for Christmas (1998)
★ 6/10
Estranged from his father, college student Jake is lured home to New York for Christmas with the promise of receiving a classic Porsche as a gift. When the bullying football team dumps him in the desert in a Santa…
15
Three Wise Men and a Baby (2022)
★ 7.5/10
Three brothers get the surprise of their lives when they are forced to work together to care for a baby over the holidays. As they slowly get the hang of things, they find themselves on unexpected journeys of…
16
Love the Coopers (2015)
★ 6/10
When four generations of the Cooper clan come together for their annual Christmas Eve celebration, a series of unexpected visitors and unlikely events turn the night upside down, leading them all toward a surprising…
17
It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
★ 8.3/10
George Bailey has spent his entire life giving to the people of Bedford Falls. All that prevents rich skinflint Mr. Potter from taking over the entire town is George's modest building and loan company. But on Christmas…
18
Your Christmas or Mine? (2022)
★ 6.4/10
Students Hayley and James are young and in love. After saying goodbye for Christmas at a London train station, they both make the same mad split-second decision to swap trains and surprise each other. Passing each…
19
Spirited (2022)
★ 6.8/10
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…
20
Double Holiday (2019)
★ 7/10
Rebecca must throw the company holiday party with office rival, Chris. It coincides with Hanukkah, so she must juggle her work, family traditions, and nemesis to make the party a success.