The definitive ranking of holiday movie couples

Our favorite Christmas couples

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Everett Collection (2); Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock

It's the most romantic time of the year! As you nestle all snug on your couch and watch movies that everyone's talking about, you'll fall in love all over again with the greatest pairings that holiday films have ever given us. But which adorable duo is the all-time greatest? See who sits at the top of the tree in our countdown of 17 legendary Christmas couples, ahead.

17. Harry and Karen, Love Actually (2003)

LOVE ACTUALLY
Everett Collection

Played by: Alan Rickman and Emma Thompson

Harry and Karen seemed to have it all, but, somehow, it wasn't enough for him, and now life will always be a little bit worse.

16. Brad and Kate, Four Christmases (2008)

FOUR CHRISTMASES, from left: Reese Witherspoon, Vince Vaughn, 2008. ©New Line Cinema/courtesy Everet
Everett Collection

Played by: Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon

It's not a great sign when the main thing holding a couple together is a shared refusal to acknowledge their families or otherwise confront reality.

15. Buddy and Jovie, Elf (2003)

ELF, Will Ferrell, Zooey Deschanel, 2003, (c) New Line/courtesy Everett Collection
Everett Collection

Played by: Will Ferrell and Zooey Deschanel

I'm sorry, but I refuse to believe that Buddy has the life experience or emotional maturity to be in a functional relationship.

14. Miles and Iris, The Holiday (2006)

THE HOLIDAY, Kate Winslet, Jack Black, 2006. ©Columbia Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection
Everett Collection

Played by: Jack Black and Kate Winslet

Miles and Iris are both absolutely lovely people, there's just never any evidence of attraction between them — the accidental boob graze does not count — until the moment Miles volunteers to fly halfway around the world to spend New Year's with her.

13. Jamie and Aurelia, Love Actually (2003)

Film and Television
Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock

Played by: Colin Firth and Lúcia Moniz

Jamie and Aurelia are cute. Obviously, they are soulmates because sometimes they say the same things in different languages without realizing the other is saying the same thing in a different language. But that's just how love works, right? Right?

12. Nick and Peter, Single All the Way (2021)

Single All The Way
'Single All The Way'. Philippe Bosse/Netflix

Played by: Michael Urie and Philemon Chambers

Talk about a slow-burn romance: These two were friends for nine years before they confessed their feelings for each other. But, son of a nutcracker, they're too cute!

11. Abby and Harper, Happiest Season (2020)

Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis in 'Happiest Season'
Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis in 'Happiest Season'. Lacey Terrell/TriStar Pictures

Played by: Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis

Listen, Abby and Harper are both great. It's just a shame that their first Christmas with Harper's family is so completely traumatic that we all wished Abby had gotten together with Harper's ex (Aubrey Plaza) instead.

10. Jack and Sally, The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, Sally (voice: Catherine O'Hara), Jack Skellington (voice: Chris Sara
Sally and Jack in 'The Nightmare Before Christmas'. Everett Collection

Played by: Chris Sarandon/Danny Elfman and Catherine O'Hara

Obviously, Jack and Sally are iconic. But also, he could stand to be a little less self-absorbed, and she could definitely hold out for someone who isn't totally dismissive of her consistently accurate insight.

9. Bob and Betty, White Christmas (1954)

Film and Television
Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock

Played by: Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney

They're such an undeniably perfect pair, it doesn't even matter that their romance is so contrived!

8. Graham and Amanda, The Holiday (2006)

THE HOLIDAY, Jude Law, Cameron Diaz, 2006. ©Columbia Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection
Jude Law and Cameron Diaz in 'The Holiday'. Everett Collection

Played by: Jude Law and Cameron Diaz

With Miles and Iris as such an afterthought, The Holiday's real love story falls on Graham and Amanda, the latter of whom hasn't cried since she was 15. Guess who teaches her how to feel again?!

7. John and Holly, Die Hard (1988)

Die Hard II - Die Harder - 1990
20th Century Fox/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock

Played by: Bruce Willis and Bonnie Bedelia

Die hard. Love harder.

6. David and Natalie, Love Actually (2003)

Love Actually (2003)HUGH GRANT and MARTINE McCUTCHEON
Peter Mountain/Universal Studios

Played by: Hugh Grant and Martine McCutcheon

They aren't Love Actually's greatest love story, but David and Natalie are the best couple among the Christmas classic's various pairings. He sees past her potty mouth! She sees past his PM-ness! Chocolate biscuits for everyone!

5. Bruce and Selina, Batman Returns (1992)

Film and Television
Michelle Pfeiffer and Michael Keaton in 'Batman Returns'. Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock

Played by: Michael Keaton and Michelle Pfeiffer

Just like a fairy tale.

4. Mark and Bridget, Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)

BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY, Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth, 2001
Everett Collection

Played by: Colin Firth and Renée Zellweger

These two like each other, just the way they are. And what more could we ask for in a perfect Christmas couple?

3. John and Esther, Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)

MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, from left: Tom Drake, Judy Garland, 1944, 00198099, Photo by:Everett Collectio
Everett Collection

Played by: Tom Drake and Judy Garland

We admit that Esther's Grandpa (Harry Davenport) is a better dancer than John Truitt. But when the sneaky older man twirls her around the Christmas tree and she waltzes back out on the other side in the arms of the boy next door, it's nothing short of a St. Louis miracle.

2. Bob and Emily Cratchit, The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL, Tiny Tim, Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, 1992, © Walt Disney Television /
Everett Collection

Played by: Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy

We dedicate this No. 2 position to all Mr. and Mrs. Cratchits across all Christmas Carols. But what better couple to represent this sweet pair than Kermit and Miss Piggy?

1. George and Mary, It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, James Stewart, Donna Reed, 1946
Everett Collection

Played by: Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed

No contest. It really is a wonderful life for George and Mary Bailey, but how could it not be when they have each other?

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