15 Top-Grossing Holiday Movies of All Time

The top money-making holiday film ever has stuffed more than $285 million into its stocking at the U.S. box office since it came out in 1990. Any guesses? We won’t ruin the suspense of scrolling to the end of this list of 15 top-grossing holiday movies, but the top one is definitely yelling “keep the change, ya filthy animal” to the rest of the flicks.

Fun fact: Of the 15 movies, only one made its theatrical debut in the 1980s (Die Hard), four came in the 1990s, eight were released in the 2000s and two are representing the 2010s, based on domestic earnings stats we compiled from Box Office Mojo.

1. Lifetime gross: $73,780,539
2. Memorable quote: “Look at us, we kind of look like uncooked chicken.” — Tim Allen as Luther Krank

1. Lifetime gross: $75,082,668
2. Memorable quote: “Jack, please, I'm only an elected official here, I can't make decisions by myself.” — Mayor, voiced by Glenn Shadix

1. Lifetime gross: $83,519,093
2. Memorable quote: “Now I know what a TV dinner feels like.” — Bruce Willis as John McClane

1. Lifetime gross: $84,500,122
2. Memorable quote: “I'm gonna kick the coal out of whoever did that.” — Martin Short as Jack Frost

1. Lifetime gross: $104,029,443
2. Memorable quote: “Why does a duck have feathers? To cover up his butt quack.” — John Lithgow as Don Whitaker

1. Lifetime gross: $120,146,040
2. Memorable quote: “That marker in your mouth, I peed on it.” — Reese Witherspoon as Kate

1. Lifetime gross: $137,855,863
2. Memorable quote: “Ghost of the Future, I fear you more than any spectre I have seen.” — Jim Carrey as Ebenezer Scrooge

1. Lifetime gross: $139,236,327
2. Memorable quote: “Ready, set! Seven swans-a-swimming! Six geese-a-laying! … Hike!” — Jamal Allen as Elf quarterback

1. Lifetime gross: $144,833,357
2. Memorable quote: “Here we are. Denny's. Always open.” Tim Allen as Scott Calvin

1. Lifetime gross: $173,398,518
2. Memorable quote: “You sit on a throne of lies. … You’re a fake.” — Will Ferrell as Buddy

1. Lifetime gross: $173,585,516
2. Memorable quote: “If you need somebody to trust, it can be me. I won't forget to remember you.” — Macaulay Culkin as Kevin McCallister

1. Lifetime gross: $186,493,472
2. Memorable quote: “There's no greater gift than friendship.” — Tom Hanks as Santa

1. Lifetime gross: $223,324,225
2. Memorable quote: “Today we will do mean things and we will do them in style.” — Benedict Cumberbatch as The Grinch

1. Lifetime gross: $260,044,825
2. Memorable quote: “Oh, the Who-manity.” — Jim Carrey

1. Lifetime gross: $285,761,243
2. Memorable quote: “This is my house, I have to defend it.” — Macaulay Culkin as Kevin McCallister