The Georgetowner’s 2025 Holiday Movie Soundtrack Playlist
By • December 16, 2025 0 45
One of my favorite things about the holiday season are the timeless classics to watch every year, sharing them with friends and family. This year, instead of asking Georgetowner staffers their favorite holiday tunes again, we chose to create a festive playlist with songs from holiday movies both old and new. Enjoy the playlist found at the end of this post, and don’t forget to follow us on Spotify!
- “White Christmas” by The Drifters – Who can forget the iconic scene from Home Alone where Kevin has just come out of the shower, towel around his waist as he lip syncs to The Drifters singing “White Christmas?” The scene is just before the even more iconic aftershave hands on cheeks “AHHH!” scream.
- “It Feels Like Christmas” from The Muppet Christmas Carol – ‘90s kids know just how beloved The Muppet Christmas Carol is. The song is so catchy and there’s just something about Jim Henson’s beloved creations that puts us automatically in the Christmas spirit.
- “Hey Santa Claus” by The Moonglows – This song plays in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation just before the audience sees Clark shopping and flirting with the salesperson with the festive name, Merry when Clark’s son Rusty slyly wanders over, pulling his dad out of his flirtatious trance.
- “Baby It’s Cold Outside” by Zooey Deschanel & Leon Redbone – The 2003 hit has become a modern classic, and this version by Zooey Deschanel and Leon Redbone is on Elf’s soundtrack. Deschanel, who has a retro crooner-like voice, sings it in a funny shower scene where Buddy the Elf sings along with her innocently in the bathrooms and she yells at him to get out, where hilarity ensues.
- “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Judy Garland – The movie musical Meet Me In St. Louis, which first came out in 1944, was responsible for the song by Judy Garland, which birthed multiple remakes by various artists. This wistful version by the singer is the crown jewel of them all.
- “All I Want for Christmas is You” by Mariah Carey – Another 2003 hit, Love Actually, had a smile-inducing scene at a Christmas pageant for a British primary school. Young Sam slowly falls in love for Joanna, and when she sings the Mariah Carey song at the show, he falls head over heels. He quickly frowns though when he realizes she’s not just singing to him!
- “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” – Of course we had to include the original song from the original 1966 film. Generations have shared a love for the green creature and his adorable dog Max. Of course, it turns out the Grinch is not so bad after all! Judging from the Grinch merch out now, we have to agree.
- “Silver & Gold” by Burl Ives – Burl Ives’ version of “Silver & Gold” from the 1964 movie “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” always gets us feeling lots of holiday cheer. Ives’ snowman became so recognizable, you’ll be able to spot him in Elf too!
- “Winter Wonderland” by Ray Charles – Although not officially a holiday movie, When Harry Met Sally has lots of Christmas scenes. We love the scenes of New York City during the holidays set to Ray Charles’ “Winter Wonderland,” culminating in the chuckle we always get seeing Harry and Sally struggle to buy their Christmas tree.
- “The Chanukah Song” by Adam Sandler – Adam Sandler of course gave us the amazing Hanukkah song, “The Chanukah Song,” and put it in his 2002 animated hit “Eight Crazy Nights.” Since the 1994 original, Sandler has put out multiple other versions updating it with more modern references.
- “Snow” by Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and Rosemary Clooney – White Christmas is the ultimate classic Christmas film. When its stars are on the train to Vermont singing about snow, there’s just something that gets you excited about the possibility of a true white Christmas, even if you live in Florida!
- “Somewhere in My Memory” from Home Alone – John Williams wrote this gorgeous piece of music specifically for Home Alone, invoking all the feelings of nostalgia and warmth with a memorable melody and lyrics like “Candles in the window, shadows painting the ceiling, gazing at the fire glow, feeling that gingerbread feeling.” Hearing it makes us millennials feel like we’re kids again, opening presents in the house we grew up in, surrounded by family.
- “Jingle Bells” from The Santa Clause – Tim Allen’s 1994 holiday classic instantly became a hit when it was released. The fun use of “Jingle Bells” happens during Scott Calvin’s son Charlie’s soccer game, when he finally starts embracing the fact that he is indeed now Santa Claus.
- “Mele Kalikimaka” by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters – When this Bing Crosby hit plays during Christmas Vacation, Clark is imagining what his backyard would look like with a swimming pool he wants to put in with his Christmas bonus. The use of this song is perhaps one of the best placed in a holiday movie ever, as many still associate this song with the movie.
- “Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas” by John Williams – This song, also by John Williams, was written for Home Alone 2: Lost In New York. A soaring choir sings it, and it plays during the credits, making for a beautiful ending song.
