7 '90s Christmas Movie Actors Who Became Famous

The '90s were a glorious time for so many things: pop music, TV shows, scrunchies — they all had quite the decade. But perhaps nothing was better than '90s Christmas movies starring future famous people. The '90s were a golden age of Christmas movies (remember The Santa Clause? The Muppets Christmas Carol?) and those films were great for so many reasons — one of those being that they were a way for many actors to get their careers started. Just think: would the world even have known who Macaulay Culkin was without Home Alone? Sadly, I doubt it. And then who would've played Richie Rich? What kind of a world would that be?

Culkin is the most notable example of a '90s Christmas movie star who later got famous, but plenty of other actors made appearances in holiday movies early in their careers and went on to be quite well-known. It's crazy to look back on classic holiday films and see actors in really small parts who have gone on to give award show-caliber performances. Here are just a few of the now-famous actors who appeared in iconic Christmas movies during the '90s.

1. Jessica Biel, I'll Be Home For Christmas

Long before she was Mrs. Timberlake, Jessica Biel got to play the girlfriend of '90s royalty Jonathan Taylor Thomas in I'll Be Home For Christmas. It was wonderful.

2. Kieran Culkin, Home Alone

While his brother was unquestionably the star here, Kieran has also gone on to have a really great acting career in his own right. He was even on Broadway last year.

3. Allison Janney, Miracle On 34th Street

It might seem strange that there was a time when seven-time Emmy Award winner Allison Janney was a background player. In this movie, she was simply "woman in Christmas shop."

4. Paul F. Tompkins, Jack Frost

Paul F. Tompkins has been in great movies like There Will Be Blood and Tangled, but, back in 1998, he played an audience member in Jack Frost.

5. Mila Kunis, Santa With Muscles

This is a deep cut as far as '90s Christmas movies go. Hulk Hogan plays a greedy millionaire who hits his head and then thinks that he's Santa. Young Mila Kunis, meanwhile plays an orphan. Who knew?

6. Ethan Embry, All I Want For Christmas

This was way back when the actor went by Ethan Randall. Embry would go on to star in the classic '90s high school movie Can't Hardly Wait, and much later, play Lily Tomlin's son on Grace & Frankie.

7. Taylor Momsen, How The Grinch Stole Christmas

Though she would become a Gossip Girl and the lead singer of a band, Taylor Momsen will always be Cindy Lou Who in my heart.

The '90s were a magical time for Christmas movies and are truly a treasure trove of great performances by amazing actors. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go watch The Santa Clause and pretend it's 1994 again.

Images: 20th Century Fox