7 Oscar-Worthy Films Released On Christmas Day

Every year, tons of movies are released on Christmas Day, yet very few of these films are actually Christmas movies. Instead, major movies and counterprogramming are released in an attempt to capitalize on the holiday season, as many audience members have days off from work and are looking for things to do with their families. While these Christmas Day releases can be a mixed bag, a surprising number of Oscar-nominated movies have been released on December 25, and these are the best ones.

7) Nosferatu

Nosferatu has been remade several times, and somehow, nearly every remake has been a massive critical success. The same goes for the 2024 Robert Eggers remake, which was also released on Christmas. The loose Dracula adaptation remakes the iconic 1922 German horror movie, this time with Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult, and Bill Skarsgård in the starring roles.

Although 2024’s Nosferatu didn’t win any Oscars, it was nominated for several. The film received nominations for Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, and Best Makeup and Hairstyling.

6) The Wolf of Wall Street

One of Martin Scorsese’s most popular movies, 2013’s The Wolf of Wall Street, was actually released on Christmas Day. The film tells the story of Jordan Belfort and the Wall Street corruption and crimes of his firm, Stratton Oakmont. The movie has an all-star cast, featuring the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie, Matthew McConaughey, Rob Reiner, Jon Bernthal, and more.

The Wolf of Wall Street is divisive with audiences, but it remains one of Scorsese’s most critically acclaimed movies. The film was nominated for five Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actor.

5) Little Women

The classic book Little Women has been adapted countless times, but Greta Gerwig’s version is the definitive take in recent years. The film was released on December 25, 2019, and stars Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, and Eliza Scanlen as the titular March sisters.

2019’s Little Women is an Oscar-winning film, taking home the award for Best Costume Design. The film was also nominated for Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Original Score.

4) Dreamgirls

2006’s Dreamgirls comes from director Bill Condon, and the musical movie was also released on Christmas. The film tells the story of a singing trio known as the Dreamettes, who, after being spotted by a talent manager, go through the ups and downs of fame as their careers progress.

Dreamgirls won two Oscars, those being Best Supporting Actress and Best Sound Mixing. However, it was nominated for many more: Best Supporting Actor, Best Art Direction, and Best Costume Design. Dreamgirls was also nominated three times in the Best Original Song category, for “Listen,” “Love You I Do,” and “Patience.”

3) Django Unchained

Quentin Tarantino has made a lot of critically acclaimed movies over the years, but 2012’s Django Unchained has the unique quality of being a Christmas release. The film stars Jamie Foxx as Django, a freed slave who works alongside a German bounty hunter in order to track down his enslaved wife and free her.

Despite its controversies, Django Unchained was a major success at the Oscars. The film won Best Supporting Actor and Best Original Screenplay, and it was nominated for Best Picture, Best Cinematography, and Best Sound Editing.

2) To Kill a Mockingbird

Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird is a classic, and so is its 1962 film adaptation of the same name. The film is seen through the eyes of the young Finch siblings, who watch their lawyer father, Atticus Finch, as he takes on the rape case of a wrongfully accused black man.

The movie adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird is almost as well-received as its source material, with it being one of the most iconic movies of all time. The film was a major critical success at the Academy Awards, with it winning Best Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Art Direction. The film was also nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actress, Best Cinematography, and Best Original Score.

1) The Sting

1973’s The Sting is one of the most popular and influential crime movies of all time, and it comes from director George Roy Hill. The movie stars Robert Redford and Paul Newman as two master con men who team up to scam a ruthless crime boss who caused the murder of one of their friends. The film was released on December 25, 1973, and made $275 million against a $5.5 million budget.

The Sting was a major presence at the Oscars, being nominated and winning in all sorts of categories. The Sting took home the Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, and Best Scoring: Original Song Score and Adaptation or Scoring: Adaptation. The film was also nominated for Best Actor, Best Cinematography, and Best Sound.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

7 Christmas Movies That You Forgot Were Awesome