Apple today got in the holiday spirit by announcing the top five best-selling holiday movies of all time on iTunes, ever since the movie rental section of the digital marketplace opened in 2008.

itunes-holiday-movies
The top five highest grossing iTunes holiday movies are:

  1. Elf [Direct Link] - $9.99 HD Purchase / $3.99 HD Rental
  2. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation [Direct Link] - $9.99 HD Purchase / $3.99 HD Rental
  3. Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas [Direct Link] - $9.99 HD Purchase / No Rental Available
  4. Home Alone [Direct Link] - $9.99 HD Purchase / $3.99 HD Rental
  5. The Polar Express [Direct Link] - $9.99 HD Purchase / $3.99 HD Rental

Apple didn't offer any specifics behind each film's download numbers, but gave snippets about plots, writers, directors, and actors for each holiday favorite.

The company prompted users to ask Siri on an iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV to search for the movies listed today, as well as other seasonal mainstays like Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, The Night Before, A Christmas Story, The Santa Clause, It’s a Wonderful Life, Love Actually and Mickey’s Christmas Carol.

Tag: iTunes
Related Forum: Mac Apps

Top Rated Comments

DrewDaHilp1 Avatar
106 months ago
Where does Die Hard rate?
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
WiseAJ Avatar
106 months ago
Die Hard is not on the list therefore the list in inaccurate and irrelevant.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Scottsoapbox Avatar
106 months ago
I'm surprised A Christmas Story didn't make the top five...
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Flash SWT Avatar
106 months ago
I LOVE Die Hard but it's weird that I never think of it has a holiday film. Probably the case for others.
There are two types of people in this world: Those who think Die Hard is a Christmas movie; and those who are wrong.
[doublepost=1482429148][/doublepost]
I wonder if the fact that A Christmas Story plays non-stop on certain networks this time of year, reduces the need to buy it on iTunes.
I bet you're right. I only own it on Blu-Ray because it was on sale for like $2.99. Otherwise you're guaranteed to get your fix from cable TV every year.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jayducharme Avatar
106 months ago
Interesting. I guess it shows the demographics of most iTunes buyers more than anything else. What you've watched as a child during the holidays will be the videos you look back on fondly when you're older.

I don't like any of their top five. As for the other "mainstays" there are just two that I enjoy. I guess I could view it as, "I think different". Or maybe, "I'm old". :)
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Scottsoapbox Avatar
106 months ago
No kidding, Home Alone and even worse, Polar Express over A Christmas Story? Come on people ...

FWIW, we're on about our about our 7-8th watch of A Christmas Story, 10 or so for Christmas Vacation :D
I wonder if the fact that A Christmas Story plays non-stop on certain networks this time of year, reduces the need to buy it on iTunes.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

2007 iPhone

Apple Discontinuing This 18-Year-Old iPhone Feature

Saturday February 8, 2025 3:51 pm PST by
The end of an 18-year era is on the horizon for the iPhone. Apple reportedly plans to announce a new iPhone SE as soon as next week, and the device is expected to feature a full-screen design with Face ID, instead of a Touch ID home button. That means Apple will no longer sell any new iPhone models with a home button, for the first time since the original iPhone launched. The home button...
oppo find n5 fingers

World's Thinnest Foldable Phone Launches Next Week

Monday February 10, 2025 3:05 am PST by
Oppo has confirmed a February 20 global launch for its Find N5, which the company claims is the world's thinnest device in the foldable phone category. The phone is expected to be re-branded as the OnePlus Open 2 in the US. The Chinese vendor has been teasing the device in the last few weeks, touting its waterproofing and nearly invisible display crease, and highlighting its thinness by compa...
m2 macbook air blue

M4 MacBook Air Release Continues to Appear Imminent

Monday February 10, 2025 10:56 am PST by
There continue to be signs of a new MacBook Air with an M4 chip, indicating that we could see the machine launch in the not too distant future. A private account on X today shared the identifiers that the MacBook Air will use, and those identifiers correspond to the M4 chip. According to the source, both the 13-inch MacBook Air and the 15-inch MacBook Air will be equipped with Apple's...
iPhone SE 4 Thumb 1

'New' iPhone SE Product Listing Appears on French Website

Wednesday February 12, 2025 6:49 am PST by
As the wait continues for Apple's long-rumored, fourth-generation iPhone SE, French electronics retailer Boulanger has prematurely published a product listing for a "new" model of the iPhone SE. The placeholder page says the device is "coming soon," but it offers no further information, and the price shown is obviously not real. The listing was spotted by a reader of the French technology...
watchOS 11 Thumb 2 1

Apple Releases watchOS 11.3.1

Monday February 10, 2025 10:04 am PST by
Apple today released watchOS 11.3.1, a minor update to the operating system that runs on the Apple Watch. watchOS 11.3.1 is compatible with the Apple Watch Series 6 and later, all Apple Watch Ultra models, and the Apple Watch SE 2. watchOS 11.3.1 can be downloaded by opening up the Apple Watch app and going to General > Software Update. To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to...
sequoia

Apple Releases macOS Sequoia 15.3.1

Monday February 10, 2025 10:11 am PST by
Apple today released macOS Sequoia 15.3.1, a minor update to the macOS Sequoia operating system that came out last September. macOS 15.3.1 comes a few weeks after the launch of macOS Sequoia 15.3. Mac users can download the ‌‌‌macOS Sequoia‌‌‌ update through the Software Update section of System Settings. Apple has also released macOS 13.7.4 and macOS 14.7.4 for those who are...
Powerbeats Pro 2 Orange

Powerbeats Pro 2 Given to Customer Early, Expected to Debut Tomorrow

Monday February 10, 2025 7:42 am PST by
Apple's long-awaited Powerbeats Pro 2 are finally expected to be announced this Tuesday. Ahead of time, one lucky Walmart customer was able to get their hands on the earbuds early, according to a since-deleted Reddit post over the weekend. A leaked image of the Powerbeats Pro 2 in Electric Orange "My local Walmart had them in the cage," the Reddit user explained. "I asked if I can buy them...
iOS 18

Apple Releases iOS 18.3.1 With Bug Fixes

Monday February 10, 2025 10:09 am PST by
Apple today released iOS 18.3.1 and iPadOS 18.3.1, minor updates for the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 operating systems that came out last September. iOS 18.3.1 comes two weeks after Apple released iOS 18.3. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Apple has also released iPadOS 17.7.5 for those still running...
apple silicon mac lineup 2024 feature purple

Apple Increases Mac Trade-In Values for a Limited Time

Sunday February 9, 2025 3:53 pm PST by
Apple today increased its estimated trade-in values for select Mac models in the United States, with the full changes outlined below. Apple says the extra trade-in credit for select Macs is available with the purchase of an eligible new Apple device through April 2. The trade-in values increased by between $10 and $50. Model New Value Old Value MacBook Pro Up to $925 ...