How to watch every Christmas Day TV marathon this year

If you prefer your Christmas Day viewing to be determined by the whims of live TV, Culturess has the guide for you. There’s holiday content galore!

There’s something soothing about TV during the holidays. Whether you’re actively engaged in it or just playing it in the background, television provides a comfort blanket, sheltering you, at least for a while, from the din of life. Fortunately, there is no shortage of potential comfort blankets to choose from this Christmas Day. From classics to modern favorites, broadcast to cable, the small screen is loaded with viewing options.

So, put on your coziest sweater, grab a cup of hot chocolate, and settle down for one (or more) of these movies.

On the broadcast side, NBC is airing two versions of How the Grinch Stole Christmas back-to-back. First up is Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, a 1966 animated television special directed by Chuck Jones and featuring Boris Karloff as the titular grump and the narrator. It’s the more beloved of the two, thanks to its bright colors and catchy soundtrack. But if you’re in the mood for something a little darker, Ron Howard’s live-action remake starring Jim Carrey is also available.

"Date: Tuesday, Dec. 25Start time: 8 p.m. ET / 8:30 p.m. ETChannel: NBCLive stream: Watch live on Fubo TV. Sign up now for a free seven-day trial. You can also watch on NBC’s website or app."

Over on TBS, you can find the annual marathon of A Christmas Story. Few movies capture the feeling of the season as accurately or evocatively as Bob Clark’s nostalgia-tinged coming-of-age comedy. It’s got everything you could ask for: family bickering, a longed-for gift that literally backfires, an angry Santa, casual racism. A Christmas Story is a staple for a reason. Still, instead of airing it 24 hours straight, the marathon this year will end at primetime, when episodes from season 7 of The Big Bang Theory will take over.

"Date: Tuesday, Dec. 25Start time: 12 a.m. ET / 8:00 p.m. ETChannel: TBSLive stream: Watch live on Fubo TV. Sign up now for a free seven-day trial. You can also watch on TBS’s website or app."

If you prefer your Christmas hijinks to come with a pun, switch between Freeform and AMC to catch all three installments of The Santa Clause. Tim Allen plays an everyman who accidentally kills the real Father Christmas and has to assume the role himself. The premise is macabre, but the movie, rated PG, is family-friendly. Freeform airs the original and The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause, while AMC airs The Santa Clause 2.

"Date: Tuesday, Dec. 25Start time: 4:45 p.m. ET / 6:50 p.m. ETChannel: FreeformLive stream: Watch live on Fubo TV. Sign up now for a free seven-day trial. You can also watch on Freeform’s website or app. Date: Tuesday, Dec. 25Start time: 3:00 p.m. ETChannel: AMCLive stream: Watch live on Fubo TV. Sign up now for a free seven-day trial. You can also watch on AMC’s website or app."

Lastly, for classic film aficionados, TCM will celebrate Christmas this year by airing a series of loosely holiday-themed comedies. The marathon commences in the afternoon with Bachelor Mother starring Ginger Rogers and continues well into morning the next day, ending with Never Give a Sucker an Even Break starring W.C. Fields. In between, you can catch The Man Who Came to Dinner, Some Like It Hot, and Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, among others.

Although none of the films directly relates to Christmas, they all tie into ideas of found family and making the best of unpleasant situations. What describes Christmas better than that?

"Date: Tuesday, Dec. 25Start time: 12:00 p.m. ETChannel: TCMLive stream: Watch live on Fubo TV. Sign up now for a free seven-day trial. You can also watch on TCM’s website or app."

For more listings, check your local TV guide.