The Christmas Movie You’ll Love, Based On Your Myers-Briggs® Personality Type
Looking for a memorable holiday movie, but tired of the “typical” choices? In today’s article we’re looking at Christmas movies carefully selected for each of the 16 Myers-Briggs® personality types. I surveyed my Twitter users, email list, and friends and family to get an idea of which movies appealed to each type before creating this list. I hope you’ll enjoy it!
personality questionnaire here. Or you can take the official MBTI® here.
The Christmas Movie You’ll Love, Based On Your Personality Type
The ENFP – It’s A Wonderful Life
George Bailey (James Stewart) longs to leave his life in the small town of Bedford Falls. His soul yearns for adventure, possibilities, and change. Yet no matter how hard he tries, his dreams keep getting postponed. He can’t stop dreaming of escape, new experiences, and a life of security for his family, but he keeps being tested with a hard decision: To do what is right or to have the adventures and freedom he’s always wanted. ENFPs will relate to Bailey’s character; his sense of wonder, imagination, and restlessness. They’ll also relate to the moral dilemmas he faces daily, and be inspired by his incredible acts of selflessness.
Other Recommendations: The Muppet’s Christmas Carol, The Holiday, Happiest Season, The Grinch who Stole Christmas.
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The ENTP – Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang
Though this crime comedy doesn’t revolve around Christmas entirely, there are enough Santa hats and Christmas elements scattered throughout to be included in this list. In this story, Harry (Robert Downey Jr.) is a small-time criminal who stumbles into an audition for a mystery film while on the run from the cops. Winning the part, he lands in Hollywood, where he’s thrown into a bizarre, murderous conspiracy with his childhood crush, Harmony Lane (Michelle Monaghan), and cynical private eye Perry van Shrike (Val Kilmer). Harry is an ENTP, and the film captures the irreverence, randomness, and absolute hysteria that occurs when an ENTP is thrown into completely chaotic, unpredictable situations.
Other Recommendations: In Bruges, Scrooged, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
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The INFP – Edward Scissorhands
INFPs often identify as misfits and, in turn, are moved by the stories of fellow misunderstood characters. In Edward Scissorhands, a scientist (Vincent Price) builds an animated human being – gentle, shy Edward (Johnny Depp). However, Edward’s creator dies before he can apply his finishing touches to finish him and Edward is left with scissors for his hands. With no one to care for him, he is left alone in an old house on the outskirts of town where eventually strange rumors begin to spread about him. INFPs will find compassion and empathy for Edward’s character as well as wonder at his story. The film is also a timeless ode to creativity.
Other Recommendations: The Nightmare Before Christmas, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, It’s a Wonderful Life, Polar Express, Miracle on 34th Street.
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The INTP – The Nightmare Before Christmas
INTPs enjoy movies that are offbeat, imaginative, and filled with quirky characters. Tim Burton’s stop-motion holiday classic tells the tale of Jack Skellington (Chris Sarandon), the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, who grows weary with the same old celebrations year after year. One day he stumbles upon Christmas Town and discovers his passion for the holiday, but there’s just one problem: Jack wants to become Santa Claus. INTPs will find themselves identifying with Jack’s boundless imagination, curious mind, and creativity.
Other Recommendations: It’s a Wonderful Life, Brazil, In Bruges, Die Hard
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The ENFJ – Klaus
In this non-traditional take on the Santa Claus story, a lazy, selfish postman (Jesper) is stationed in an island town to the far north and is tasked with delivering 6,000 pieces of mail in a year or risk losing his part of his family’s fortune. Yet the two clans on the island are constantly at war with each other, meaning that nobody has time or interest in sending letters. When Jesper happens upon a mysterious carpenter on the outskirts of town, he forms an unexpected friendship – and a means of getting people on the island to send letters again. ENFJs will appreciate the imagination, symbolism, and deeply nuanced characters in this gorgeously animated film. When Klaus says, “A true selfless act always sparks another” they will find themselves internally applauding.
Other Recommendations: It’s a Wonderful Life, Black Nativity, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, The Holiday.
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The ENTJ – Scrooged
Frank Cross is a cunning, cynical television producer who cares only about money and success. In this 1980’s retelling of “A Christmas Carol” Cross is visited by three ghosts, who make him face his own selfishness and come to terms with his sad and solitary childhood. ENTJs will find themselves connecting with Cross’ directness, strategic prowess, and comedic, blunt comebacks. But they’ll also laugh at how extreme his character takes these tendencies. Scrooged shows the transformation from cruel to compassionate with humor, absurdity, and imagination.
Other Recommendations: Joyeux Noel, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, A Christmas Carol.
The INFJ – The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe
INFJs are interested in human beings, behavior, and the psychological motivations behind them. When it comes to Christmas movies, they enjoy something that stirs their soul, lets their imagination take flight, and gives them a sense of something bigger than day-to-day life. They will appreciate the rich symbolism in this film – particularly with respect to archetypes (i.e., Aslan as representative of God) and the exploration of good vs evil. INFJs will also relate to Lucy’s character, who is portrayed as curious, sensitive, and highly imaginative – traits that are valued in children but often ignored in adults.
Other Recommendations: Joyeux Noel, Carol, It’s a Wonderful Life, It Happened on Fifth Avenue, Little Women, A Little Princess, The Nutcracker and the Four Realms.
Read This Next: 12 Amazing Fictional INFJ Characters
The INTJ – Joyeux Noel (Merry Christmas)
INTJs grow weary of the shallow, sappy holiday films that they are forced to watch with their families every December. Joyeux Noel offers a refreshing change of pace with its realistic, thought-provoking, portrayal of the World War I truce between French, British, and German soldiers. This film is based on true events and offers a different perspective on the Christmas holiday – one of peace and brotherhood. INTJs will appreciate the film’s unromanticized view of war as well as its intelligent and nuanced exploration of human nature.
Other Recommendations: It’s a Wonderful Life, In Bruges, Die Hard, A Charlie Brown’s Christmas
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The ESFP – Elf
ESFPs will often eschew the overly-sentimental Hallmark movies for something that makes them laugh. They enjoy movies that are goofy and filled with mischievous characters. Elf is a classic holiday romp about Buddy, an overly-excited elf who was raised by Santa’s elves after accidentally being transported to the North Pole as a baby. As he journeys to New York to find his father, Buddy spreads Christmas cheer and hilarity in equal measure. ESFPs will love the film’s non-stop energy, colorful characters, and feel-good messages.
Other Recommendations: Almost Christmas, Christmas in Connecticut, The Holiday, Jingle All the Way, Home Alone, The Night Before.
The ESTP – Lethal Weapon
I know Christmas isn’t the first thing people think of when they remember this iconic buddy cop action movie from the ’90s, but for the sake of this post it still counts. ESTPs will appreciate this movie’s fast-pace, humor, intricate storyline, and the ways it blends action, drama, and comedy seamlessly. They will also enjoy the dynamic between the two lead characters – Riggs, the loose cannon cop with a death wish (possibly an ESTP himself), and Murtaugh, the by-the-book family man. The movie is full of thrilling car chases, shootouts, and hilarious one-liners that ESTPs will love.
Other Recommendations: Die Hard, Christmas in Connecticut, Jingle All the Way, Krampus, Trading Places, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, The Night Before, Anna and the Apocalypse.
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The ISFP – Arthur Christmas
ISFPs are gentle and whimsical souls who often enjoy movies that have a sense of magic and wonder about them. Arthur Christmas tells the story of Santa’s clumsy, but well-meaning son, Arthur, who sets out to deliver a present to a little girl in England who missed Christmas. This film is charming, funny, and visually stunning with its mix of CGI and stop motion animation. ISFPs will appreciate the film’s message of hope and joy, as well as the compassionate underdog character of Arthur himself.
Other Recommendations: The Happiest Season, A Little Princess, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, Last Holiday, It’s a Wonderful Life.
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The ISTP – Die Hard
Die Hard is the perfect Christmas movie for ISTPs for a number of reasons. It’s action-packed, suspenseful, and full of thrilling chase scenes. But it also has a clever plot, interesting characters, and plenty of humor. ISTPs enjoy movies that keep them on their toes and don’t get overly-sentimental. You likely won’t find them tuning into the Hallmark channel come holiday season. But Die Hard gives them the chance to sit back and enjoy some good old-fashioned intrigue and excitement without the saccharine.
Other Recommendations: In Bruges, Lethal Weapon, It’s a Wonderful Life, A Charlie Brown’s Christmas, Edward Scissorhands.
Read This Next: 12 Amazing Fictional ISTPs
The ESFJ – The Shop Around the Corner
ESFJs love movies that capture intriguing personal dynamics, memorable characters, and a feel-good message. The Shop Around the Corner delivers all of this and more. It tells a story about two shop employees who fall in love through letters but loathe each other in real life. This is a classic movie for a reason, with its witty dialogue, charming performances, and heartwarming story. ESFJs will appreciate the film’s exploration of love and relationships, as well as its celebration of the Christmas season.
Other Recommendations: The Muppet’s Christmas Carol, Love, Actually, Little Women, Last Holiday, My One Christmas Wish, It’s a Wonderful Life, The Preacher’s Wife.
The ESTJ – White Christmas
ESTJs will love this classic holiday movie for its upbeat music, dazzling dance numbers, and feel-good messages. It tells the story of two song-and-dance buddies who team up with a sister act to save their former commander’s hotel. In the film, the main characters work together to solve a series of problems and rely on their dependability, sense of commitment, and organizational skills to do so. ESTJs will appreciate that this movie is fun and light-hearted while also celebrating loyalty, honesty, and generosity.
Other Recommendations: A Christmas Carol, Jingle All the Way, It’s a Wonderful Life, Christmas in Connecticut, Meet Me in St. Louis.
The ISFJ – Little Women
ISFJs will enjoy this heartwarming Christmas movie based on the classic novel by Louisa May Alcott. It tells the story of four sisters who come of age while their father is away at war. The sisters face many challenges but ultimately learn to rely on each other and find happiness in their lives. This film is full of touching moments, fun characters, and the warmth of holiday spirit. ISFJs will be touched by this story that honors the many different stages of love and family relationships.
Other Recommendations: While You Were Sleeping, the Bishop’s Wife, Happiest Season, It’s a Wonderful Life, The Holiday.
Read This Next: 10 Fictional ISFJ Characters
The ISTJ – Christmas in Connecticut
All the ingredients of a great holiday film for ISTJs are present in this movie: an intriguing narrative, plenty of humor, and a sense of nostalgia. Christmas in Connecticut tells the story of Elizabeth Lane, one of the country’s most famous food writers. In her columns, she describes herself as a hard-working farm woman, taking care of her children and creating delectable dishes. But in reality, she is an unmarried New Yorker who can’t even boil an egg. The recipes come from her dear friend Felix. The owner of the magazine she works for has decided that a heroic sailor will spend his Christmas on her farm and hilarity ensues as Elizabeth pretends to be a proficient chef, wife, and mother – with absolutely zero experience.
Other Recommendations: A Christmas Carol, It’s a Wonderful Life, Die Hard, The Shop Around the Corner, Lethal Weapon.
Read This Next: 12 Amazing Fictional ISTJ Characters
What Are Your Thoughts?
Do you agree with these choices? Are there any other movies you’d add to this list? Let us (and other readers) know in the comments!
Find out more about your personality type in our eBooks, Discovering You: Unlocking the Power of Personality Type, The INFJ – Understanding the Mystic, The INTJ – Understanding the Strategist, and The INFP – Understanding the Dreamer. You can also connect with me via Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter!
As an ENFP I loooove “the holiday”. It’s my fav movie ever ^^
INFJ here, and while I very much enjoy TCoN:tLtWatW, it would never make my list of top Christmas movies. It has one small scene that mentions Christmas and that’s it. Doesn’t qualify in my book. Various versions of “A Christmas Carol” especially musical ones like the Muppets’ version, It Happened on 5th Avenue, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and While You Were Sleeping would probably be my favorite Christmas movies.
For INFJ’s I highly recommend Dash and Lily on Netflix.
For me as an INFP this is very accurate
I am really amazed by this analysis amongst these 16 movies I have seen only one and that one I liked a lot and amazingly it matches my personality type…
My Type INFJ ;Movie -Chronicles of Narnia
INTJ here.
I LOVE Joyeux Noël. I have it on DVD, I love it that much. It’s a beautiful film, extremely well made and perfectly cast.
Another INFJ here…I like “Groundhogs Day.”
lotsa introspection, perfectionism (modifying behavior to eventually getting positive responses from people), and what’s more enduring than a narcissist that develops good character towards the end of the movie (after enduring multiple deaths and resurrection).
As an INFP I hate all those suggestions. Depressing, manipulative and/or schmaltzy; and Polar Express is full of factories and capitalist exploitation of the differently-abled (!). Yes to Charlie Brown. That sad little tree–my life is full of those. I have the soundtrack. That says it all.
Intj; I hate Christmas movies, but I secretly watched some like Christmas Carol animation with Jim Carrey, which I actually liked. I watched it in July.
I will watch your recommendation.
OMG how did you know… I don’t suppose many would suggest “Die Hard” as a Christmas movie for a middle-aged woman, but then, I happen to be an ISTP and absolutely love the flick 😀
Miracle on 34th street only shows up once! For INFP
This is surprising.
I think it’s incredibly endearing that you love It’s A Wonderful Life so much that you recommended it to almost everybody. <3 I’m some kind of NP and I saw it for the first time last year. It really is that good.