{"id":2208829,"date":"2025-12-22T17:46:29","date_gmt":"2025-12-22T17:46:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2208829"},"modified":"2025-12-22T17:46:29","modified_gmt":"2025-12-22T17:46:29","slug":"12-christmas-movies-with-syracuse-cny-ties-you-can-watch-right-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/12-christmas-movies-with-syracuse-cny-ties-you-can-watch-right-now\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Christmas movies with Syracuse & CNY ties you can watch right now"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Looking for Christmas movies that aren\u2019t \u201cHome Alone,\u201d \u201cDie Hard,\u201d \u201cElf,\u201d \u201cA Christmas Story\u201d or \u201cNational Lampoon\u2019s Christmas Vacation?\u201d Maybe something with a little local spirit?<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve put together a list of 12 holiday films with Syracuse and Central New York ties that you can watch right now on streaming services. Highlights include movies filmed in Syracuse, starring actors from the Salt City, or featuring references to CNY.<\/p>\n

Merry streaming!<\/p>\n

* * * * *<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Holdovers\u201d <\/b><\/h4>\n

Rent on Amazon Prime<\/a><\/p>\n

Paul Giamatti stars in this acclaimed film about a New England boarding school teacher in 1970 who stays on campus over Christmas break to supervise held over students (including Dominic Sessa as a brainy troublemaker). The movie features an Oscar-winning performance by Da\u2019Vine Joy Randolph and a direct shoutout to Syracuse during the final moments (no spoilers).<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe Christmas Letter\u201d<\/b><\/h4>\n

Streaming on Amazon Prime<\/a><\/p>\n

This 2024 film centers on an everyday man from Utica (played by Angus Benfield) who decides to top his wealthy friend\u2019s annual Christmas letter by cashing out his 401K and taking his family on a year-long series of crazy adventures to create \u201cthe Christmas Letter<\/a> to rival all Christmas Letters.\u201d Scenes were shot throughout the Mohawk Valley, but the project was most notable for featuring a \u201cNational Lampoon\u2019s Christmas Vacation\u201d reunion<\/a> with Chevy Chase<\/a>, Randy Quaid<\/a> (in his first movie in 6 years) and Brian Doyle-Murray<\/a>. <\/p>\n

* * * * *<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a Wonderful Life\u201d <\/b><\/h4>\n

Streaming on Amazon Prime<\/a><\/p>\n

An angel helps Jimmy Stewart see the value of his own life in Frank Capra\u2019s 1946 holiday classic, set in Bedford Falls (inspired by Seneca Falls<\/a>). Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.<\/p>\n

\n
\"James
James Stewart, center, is reunited with his wife, Donna Reed, left, and children during the last scene of Frank Capra’s “It’s A Wonderful Life.” The classic 1946 film was partly inspired by Seneca Falls, N.Y.ASSOCIATED PRESS<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s a Wonderful Binge\u201d<\/b> <\/h4>\n

Streaming on <\/i>Hulu<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

American High\u2019s 2022 sequel to \u201cThe Binge,\u201d filmed in the Syracuse area, is set in a near future where all drinking and drugs are banned except for on one glorious day known as The Binge. This time, Binge Day falls on the same day as Christmas, leading to holiday hijinks with a cast that includes Eduardo Franco, Dexter Darden, Kaitlin Olson, Tim Meadows, Nick Swardson, Danny Trejo (in an \u201cIt\u2019s a Wonderful Life\u201d spoof scene) and Tony Cavalero (as a Syracuse, N.Y., resident named \u201cDavid Letterman\u201d).<\/p>\n

\n
\"The
This video still from “It’s a Wonderful Binge” shows a driver’s license for a character named David Letterman in Syracuse, N.Y. The American High movie is a sequel to “The Binge” and set during Christmas. (Hulu video still)Hulu<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

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\u201cScrooged\u201d<\/b><\/h4>\n

Streaming on <\/i>Amazon Prime<\/i><\/a> and <\/i>Paramount+<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

Syracuse native Bobcat Goldthwait is fired by Bill Murray\u2019s character in this 1988 adaptation of Charles Dickens\u2019 \u201cA Christmas Carol,\u201d featuring three ghosts who convince a cynical TV exec to find the true meaning of the holiday. (Fun fact: Goldthwait also directed Bill\u2019s brother, Joel Murray, in \u201cGod Bless America<\/a>,\u201d which was partly filmed in Syracuse.)<\/p>\n

* * * * *<\/p>\n

\u201cEyes Wide Shut\u201d<\/b><\/h4>\n

Streaming on <\/i>Tubi<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

If \u201cDie Hard\u201d is a Christmas movie, then so is \u201cEyes Wide Shut.\u201d Stanley Kubrick\u2019s 1999 erotic thriller stars Syracuse native Tom Cruise and his then-wife Nicole Kidman as a couple on a sexual adventure during the holiday season. (Note: This movie is rated R and could spark awkward conversations if you try to watch it with the family.)<\/p>\n

\n
\"Eyes
Syracuse-born actor Tom Cruise stars in the 1999 movie “Eyes Wide Shut.”Video still<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

* * * * *<\/p>\n

\u201cCarol for Another Christmas\u201d<\/b><\/h4>\n

Streaming on <\/i>YouTube<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

Syracuse native Rod Serling, best known for creating and hosting \u201cThe Twilight Zone,\u201d wrote this 1964 adaptation of \u201cA Christmas Carol\u201d about a wealthy industrialist embittered by the loss of his son in World War II. The TV movie features Sterling Hayden, Eva Marie Saint, Peter Sellers, Britt Ekland, Percy Rodrigues and Steve Lawrence, plus music by Henri Mancini.<\/p>\n

* * * * *<\/p>\n

\u201cSecond Chance Christmas\u201d<\/b><\/h4>\n

Streaming on <\/i>UP Faith & Family<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cSecond Chance Christmas<\/a>,\u201d which was filmed in Armory Square and other parts of Syracuse in 2017, is an UP TV movie about a couple torn apart by amnesia over the holiday season. Previously known as \u201cLove Strikes Twice\u201d and \u201cOld Acquaintance Be Forgot,\u201d the TV movie stars Tilky Jones (\u201cNashville\u201d), Katrina Begin (\u201cGossip Girl\u201d), Charlene Tilton (\u201cDallas\u201d) and Steven Ted Beckler (\u201cLuke Cage\u201d).<\/p>\n

* * * * *<\/p>\n

\u201cAutumn in New York\u201d <\/b><\/h4>\n

Streaming on <\/i>Tubi<\/i><\/a> (free) or Rent on <\/i>Amazon<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

North Syracuse high school graduate Richard Gere begins a May-December romance with a terminally ill Winona Ryder, including ice skating while surrounded by Christmas lights and trees in New York during the holidays. Also starring Syracuse University alumna Vera Farmiga.<\/p>\n

* * * * *<\/p>\n

\u201cPottersville\u201d<\/b><\/h4>\n

Rent on <\/i>Amazon<\/i><\/a> or <\/i>YouTube<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

Oscar nominee Michael Shannon stars as a local businessman who gets drunk in a gorilla costume and accidentally sparks rumors of Bigfoot sightings, prompting a tourism craze as reality TV\u2019s \u201cMonster Hunter\u201d (Thomas Lennon) tries to catch the beast with Ian McShane. Filmed in 2016 in Hamilton<\/a>, Syracuse, and at the former film hub in DeWitt \u2014 and set in the fictional town of \u201cPottersville,\u201d named after the town from \u201cIt\u2019s a Wonderful Life.\u201d<\/p>\n

* * * * *<\/p>\n

\u201cReba McEntire\u2019s Christmas in Tune\u201d<\/b><\/h4>\n

Streaming on <\/i>Lifetime<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

Juliet and Keith Giglio, a married screenwriting duo in Manlius, N.Y., have written three Lifetime holiday movies, including 2021\u2019s \u201cReba McEntire\u2019s Christmas in Tune,\u201d starring Reba McEntire and John Schneider (\u201cDukes of Hazzard\u201d); 2019\u2019s \u201cChristmas Reservations<\/a>\u201d starring Melissa Joan Hart (\u201cClarissa Explains It All,\u201d \u201cSabrina the Teenage Witch\u201d) and Michael Gross (\u201cFamily Ties\u201d); and 2018\u2019s \u201cA Very Nutty Christmas<\/a>\u201a\u201d starring Hart and Barry Watson (\u201c7th Heaven\u201d).<\/p>\n

\n
\"Keith
From L to R: Keith Giglio, Juliet Giglio, Reba McEntire and John Schneider on the set of “Christmas in Tune,” a new Lifetime Christmas movie written by the Giglios from their home in Manlius, N.Y.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

* * * * *<\/p>\n

\u201cRise of the Guardians\u201d <\/b><\/h4>\n

Streaming on <\/i>Peacock<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

This 2012 animated film features Alec Baldwin, who frequently visits family in Syracuse, as Santa Claus (a.k.a. North). He and \u201cguardians\u201d like the Easter Bunny (Hugh Jackman) and the Tooth Fairy (Isla Fisher) recruit Jack Frost (Chris Pine) to stop the evil spirit Pitch Black (Jude Law) from shrouding the children of the world in darkness.<\/p>\n

* * * * *<\/p>\n

Can\u2019t get enough? You can also try watching movies filmed in Syracuse during the winter, such as \u201cSlap Shot\u201d and \u201cAdult World,\u201d or TV episodes with CNY ties like:<\/p>\n

\u201cSpongeBob SquarePants\u201d season 8, episode 23<\/b>: \u201cIt\u2019s a SpongeBob Christmas!\u201d (streaming on Paramount+<\/a>) starring Syracuse native Tom Kenny as the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants.<\/p>\n

\u201cNew Girl\u201d season 3, episode 11<\/b>: \u201cClavado en un Bar\u201d (streaming on Hulu<\/a>) – Schmidt, Nick and Winston are all Syracuse University alumni<\/a>, and this episode reveals Schmidt once worked for Old Man McCue, the \u201cChristmas Tree King of Syracuse.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPee-wee\u2019s Playhouse: Christmas Special\u201d <\/b>(streaming on Tubi<\/a>) – Oneonta native Paul Reubens stars as Pee-wee Herman, celebrating the holidays with guest stars like former Syracuse resident Grace Jones<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

\u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n

\u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.syracuse.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Looking for Christmas movies that aren\u2019t \u201cHome Alone,\u201d \u201cDie Hard,\u201d \u201cElf,\u201d \u201cA Christmas Story\u201d or \u201cNational Lampoon\u2019s Christmas Vacation?\u201d Maybe something with a little local spirit? We\u2019ve put together a list of 12 holiday films with Syracuse and Central New York ties that you can watch right now on streaming services. Highlights include movies filmed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2208829","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-entertainment"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2208829","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2208829"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2208829\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2208830,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2208829\/revisions\/2208830"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2208829"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2208829"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2208829"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}