For many Americans, Christmas time means gathering with family around the TV and watching classic holiday movies. Over the years, Hollywood has produced Christmas movies that are romances, action flicks, animated kids films, and even a few raunchy holiday-themed comedies.
Of course, not everyone has the same favorite holiday movie, but it’s interesting that tastes can even differ by state. People in some states prefer movies set in their own state, although many states share a favorite. The Christmas movies that people keep coming back to year after year vary from state to state — including several that prefer movies set in their own state.
To determine each state’s favorite Christmas movie, 24/7 Tempo reviewed information on the top trending movies on search engines in each state, gathered by TOP Data, a research and data marketing agency.
Many states that border each other have similar tastes in Christmas movies. In several northern states, for example, “Home Alone” ranks as the favorite holiday film, while others, especially in the South, prefer the Jim Carrey classic “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” A few newer Christmas films from the past few years, like “Holiday Rush” and “The Christmas Chronicles,” made the list as well.
The Christmas movies on this list are either new favorites or classics that have stood the test of time. However, not every Christmas movie becomes a holiday favorite. In fact, many Christmas movies come across as preachy, overly schmaltzy, or just plain boring. These are the worst Christmas movies of all time.
Alabama
> Favorite movie: How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
> IMDb rating: 6.2 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 49%
> RT audience score: 56%
> Starring: Jim Carrey, Taylor Momsen, Kelley, Jeffrey Tambor
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Alaska
> Favorite movie: The Christmas Chronicles (2018)
> IMDb rating: 7.0 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 67%
> RT audience score: 75%
> Starring: Kurt Russell, Darby Camp, Judah Lewis, Oliver Hudson
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Arizona
> Favorite movie: The Polar Express (2004)
> IMDb rating: 6.6 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 56%
> RT audience score: 63%
> Starring: Tom Hanks, Chris Coppola, Michael Jeter, Leslie Zemeckis
Arkansas
> Favorite movie: How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
> IMDb rating: 6.2 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 49%
> RT audience score: 56%
> Starring: Jim Carrey, Taylor Momsen, Kelley, Jeffrey Tambor
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California
> Favorite movie: The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
> IMDb rating: 8.0 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 95%
> RT audience score: 91%
> Starring: Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, Catherine O’Hara, William Hickey
Colorado
> Favorite movie: The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018)
> IMDb rating: 5.6 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 32%
> RT audience score: 34%
> Starring: Mackenzie Foy, Keira Knightley, Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren
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Connecticut
> Favorite movie: Christmas in Connecticut (1945)
> IMDb rating: 7.4 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 88%
> RT audience score: 75%
> Starring: Barbara Stanwyck, Dennis Morgan, Sydney Greenstreet, Reginald Gardiner
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Delaware
> Favorite movie: Home Alone (1990)
> IMDb rating: 7.6 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 66%
> RT audience score: 80%
> Starring: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Heard
Florida
> Favorite movie: Home Alone (1990)
> IMDb rating: 7.6 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 66%
> RT audience score: 80%
> Starring: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Heard
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Georgia
> Favorite movie: Almost Christmas (2016)
> IMDb rating: 6.1 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 49%
> RT audience score: 64%
> Starring: Kimberly Elise, Omar Epps, Danny Glover, Mo’Nique
Idaho
> Favorite movie: Elf (2003)
> IMDb rating: 7.0 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 85%
> RT audience score: 79%
> Starring: Will Ferrell, James Caan, Bob Newhart, Zooey Deschanel
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Illinois
> Favorite movie: Home Alone (1990)
> IMDb rating: 7.6 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 66%
> RT audience score: 80%
> Starring: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Heard
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Indiana
> Favorite movie: Home Alone (1990)
> IMDb rating: 7.6 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 66%
> RT audience score: 80%
> Starring: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Heard
Iowa
> Favorite movie: Home Alone (1990)
> IMDb rating: 7.6 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 66%
> RT audience score: 80%
> Starring: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Heard
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Kansas
> Favorite movie: Die Hard (1988)
> IMDb rating: 8.2 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 94%
> RT audience score: 94%
> Starring: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia, Reginald VelJohnson
Kentucky
> Favorite movie: How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
> IMDb rating: 6.2 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 49%
> RT audience score: 56%
> Starring: Jim Carrey, Taylor Momsen, Kelley, Jeffrey Tambor
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Louisiana
> Favorite movie: How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
> IMDb rating: 6.2 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 49%
> RT audience score: 56%
> Starring: Jim Carrey, Taylor Momsen, Kelley, Jeffrey Tambor
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Maine
> Favorite movie: It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
> IMDb rating: 8.6 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 94%
> RT audience score: 95%
> Starring: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell
Maryland
> Favorite movie: Holiday Rush (2019)
> IMDb rating: 4.9 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 40%
> RT audience score: 46%
> Starring: Romany Malco, Sonequa Martin-Green, Darlene Love, Amarr
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Massachusetts
> Favorite movie: The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
> IMDb rating: 7.7 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 76%
> RT audience score: 86%
> Starring: Michael Caine, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Jerry Nelson
Michigan
> Favorite movie: Holiday Rush (2019)
> IMDb rating: 4.9 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 40%
> RT audience score: 46%
> Starring: Romany Malco, Sonequa Martin-Green, Darlene Love, Amarr
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Minnesota
> Favorite movie: Home Alone (1990)
> IMDb rating: 7.6 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 66%
> RT audience score: 80%
> Starring: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Heard
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Mississippi
> Favorite movie: How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
> IMDb rating: 6.2 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 49%
> RT audience score: 56%
> Starring: Jim Carrey, Taylor Momsen, Kelley, Jeffrey Tambor
Missouri
> Favorite movie: The Polar Express (2004)
> IMDb rating: 6.6 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 56%
> RT audience score: 63%
> Starring: Tom Hanks, Chris Coppola, Michael Jeter, Leslie Zemeckis
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Montana
> Favorite movie: Home Alone (1990)
> IMDb rating: 7.6 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 66%
> RT audience score: 80%
> Starring: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Heard
Nebraska
> Favorite movie: Home Alone (1990)
> IMDb rating: 7.6 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 66%
> RT audience score: 80%
> Starring: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Heard
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Nevada
> Favorite movie: The Santa Clause (1994)
> IMDb rating: 6.5 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 72%
> RT audience score: 65%
> Starring: Tim Allen, Judge Reinhold, Wendy Crewson, Eric Lloyd
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New Hampshire
> Favorite movie: The Christmas Chronicles (2018)
> IMDb rating: 7.0 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 67%
> RT audience score: 75%
> Starring: Kurt Russell, Darby Camp, Judah Lewis, Oliver Hudson
New Jersey
> Favorite movie: Home Alone (1990)
> IMDb rating: 7.6 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 66%
> RT audience score: 80%
> Starring: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Heard
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New Mexico
> Favorite movie: The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
> IMDb rating: 8.0 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 95%
> RT audience score: 91%
> Starring: Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, Catherine O’Hara, William Hickey
New York
> Favorite movie: Home Alone (1990)
> IMDb rating: 7.6 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 66%
> RT audience score: 80%
> Starring: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Heard
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North Carolina
> Favorite movie: Holiday Rush (2019)
> IMDb rating: 4.9 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 40%
> RT audience score: 46%
> Starring: Romany Malco, Sonequa Martin-Green, Darlene Love, Amarr
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North Dakota
> Favorite movie: Home Alone (1990)
> IMDb rating: 7.6 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 66%
> RT audience score: 80%
> Starring: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Heard
Ohio
> Favorite movie: Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
> IMDb rating: 6.8 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 34%
> RT audience score: 61%
> Starring: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, Catherine O’Hara
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Oklahoma
> Favorite movie: Home Alone (1990)
> IMDb rating: 7.6 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 66%
> RT audience score: 80%
> Starring: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Heard
Oregon
> Favorite movie: The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018)
> IMDb rating: 5.6 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 32%
> RT audience score: 34%
> Starring: Mackenzie Foy, Keira Knightley, Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren
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Pennsylvania
> Favorite movie: Bad Santa (2003)
> IMDb rating: 7.0 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 78%
> RT audience score: 75%
> Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Bernie Mac, Lauren Graham, John Ritter
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Rhode Island
> Favorite movie: Home Alone (1990)
> IMDb rating: 7.6 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 66%
> RT audience score: 80%
> Starring: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Heard
South Carolina
> Favorite movie: The Polar Express (2004)
> IMDb rating: 6.6 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 56%
> RT audience score: 63%
> Starring: Tom Hanks, Chris Coppola, Michael Jeter, Leslie Zemeckis
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South Dakota
> Favorite movie: The Polar Express (2004)
> IMDb rating: 6.6 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 56%
> RT audience score: 63%
> Starring: Tom Hanks, Chris Coppola, Michael Jeter, Leslie Zemeckis
Tennessee
> Favorite movie: Four Christmases (2008)
> IMDb rating: 5.7 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 25%
> RT audience score: 47%
> Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Vince Vaughn, Mary Steenburgen, Robert Duvall
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Texas
> Favorite movie: How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
> IMDb rating: 6.2 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 49%
> RT audience score: 56%
> Starring: Jim Carrey, Taylor Momsen, Kelley, Jeffrey Tambor
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Utah
> Favorite movie: The Polar Express (2004)
> IMDb rating: 6.6 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 56%
> RT audience score: 63%
> Starring: Tom Hanks, Chris Coppola, Michael Jeter, Leslie Zemeckis
> Favorite movie: The Princess Switch (2018)
> IMDb rating: 6.1 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 69%
> RT audience score: 50%
> Starring: Vanessa Hudgens, Sam Palladio, Nick Sagar, Alexa Adeosun
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Virginia
> Favorite movie: Home Alone (1990)
> IMDb rating: 7.6 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 66%
> RT audience score: 80%
> Starring: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Heard
Washington
> Favorite movie: Die Hard (1988)
> IMDb rating: 8.2 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 94%
> RT audience score: 94%
> Starring: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia, Reginald VelJohnson
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West Virginia
> Favorite movie: How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
> IMDb rating: 6.2 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 49%
> RT audience score: 56%
> Starring: Jim Carrey, Taylor Momsen, Kelley, Jeffrey Tambor
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Wisconsin
> Favorite movie: Home Alone (1990)
> IMDb rating: 7.6 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 66%
> RT audience score: 80%
> Starring: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Heard
Wyoming
> Favorite movie: Home Alone (1990)
> IMDb rating: 7.6 out of 10
> Tomatometer score: 66%
> RT audience score: 80%
> Starring: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Heard
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