Best Christmas Films Locations

Home Alone (1990) 

One of the most famous and entertaining Christmas movies ever made, Home Alone was released in 1990 and quickly became a huge success and a classic. Directed by Chris Columbus, the film follows eight-year-old Kevin (Macaulay Culkin), who is accidentally left home alone on Christmas Eve and has to protect the house from two burglars.

The exterior scenes, along with several interior sequences -such as the first-floor landing moment- were filmed at the real McCallister House at 671 Lincoln Boulevard in Winnetka, Illinois.

Die Hard (1988)

An action classic from the ’80s, John McTiernan’s Die Hard follows NYPD Detective John McClane (Bruce Willis) as he tries to rescue his estranged wife and other hostages after terrorists take over a Christmas Eve party at Nakatomi Plaza in Los Angeles.

The exterior scenes of the fictional Nakatomi Plaza were filmed at Fox Plaza in Los Angeles, California, located at 2121 Avenue of the Stars, Century City. Also known as 20th Century Studios Plaza, this iconic postmodern building stands 150 m (490 ft) tall and was constructed between 1985 and 1987.

Edward Scissorhands (1990)

Tim Burton’s romantic fantasy film Edward Scissorhands was released in 1990. The story follows Edward (Johnny Depp), an artificial man with scissor hands who is taken in by a suburban family.

Although the houses were painted in pastel colors, the town used in the film was a real location: Lutz, an unincorporated community in Florida. Parts of the film were shot on Tinsmith Circle. The Boggs House was located at 1774 Tinsmith Circle, Lutz.

The Holdovers (2023)

The 2023 film The Holdovers, directed by Alexander Payne, stars the incredible Paul Giamatti. Set in 1970, it follows a grumpy history teacher who stays on campus over the Christmas holiday break to supervise a few students and unexpectedly forms a bond with a smart but troubled kid. After its release, the film received excellent reviews and became one of the best films of the year. It also earned five Oscar nominations in 2024.

The Holdovers was filmed in Massachusetts, United States. The fictional Barton Academy scenes were shot at five different Massachusetts schools: Fairhaven High School, Deerfield Academy, Groton School, Northfield Mount Hermon School, and St. Mark’s School.

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

Frank Capra’s all-time classic, It’s a Wonderful Life, was released in 1946 and has since remained one of the most beloved Christmas movies ever.

On Christmas Eve, a despairing businessman named George Bailey (James Stewart) is visited by an angel who shows him the many lives he has touched and how different the world would be without him.

The film was shot at RKO Radio Pictures Studios in Culver City, California, one of the major studios during Hollywood’s Golden Age in the 1930s and 1940s. The studio also produced King Kong (1933), Citizen Kane (1941), and The Best Years of Our Lives (1946). Additional filming took place at RKO Encino Ranch.

Little Women (1994)

Based on Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel, Little Women is another beloved Christmas-season favorite. Directed by Gillian Armstrong and released in 1994, it features an ensemble cast including Winona Ryder, Susan Sarandon, Gabriel Byrne, Trini Alvarado, Samantha Mathis, Claire Danes, Kirsten Dunst, Christian Bale, and Eric Stoltz. The film received three Oscar nominations, including Best Actress for Ryder.

Little Women was filmed in Vancouver, Canada, and Massachusetts, United States. One of the filming locations was Craigdarroch Castle, located at 1050 Joan Crescent, Victoria. The Victorian castle, built between 1887 and 1890, is open for tours.

While You Were Sleeping (1995)

One of the most charming romantic Christmas films, While You Were Sleeping stars Sandra Bullock as the lead, along with Bill Pullman, Peter Gallagher, Peter Boyle, Glynis Johns, and Jack Warden. Lucy (Sandra Bullock), a subway ticket clerk, ends up falling for the brother of a man who’s in a coma. 

The film is set and was shot in Chicago, United States. Lake Point Tower Condominium, located at 505 N Lake Shore Drive, was used for the scenes featuring Peter Callaghan’s building. Lucy’s lovely apartment was located at 3017 W. Logan Blvd. Other iconic filming locations include Emmanuel Episcopal Church, the former Randolph/Wabash El Station, and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.