There have been plenty of movies made about Christmas or set during the Christmas season.
Yet there are very few which we consider Christmas classics. I have my favorites. I’m sure you have yours.
A few years ago I asked my friends on Facebook what their number one must watch Christmas movie is.
Here’s the list they helped me build of 12 Christmas movies designed to entertain you and fill you with the Christmas Spirit.
1. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
What better way to kick off 12 days of Christmas movies than with Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, and the ever changing Griswold children?
This movie captures not only the hope of a great Christmas many of us want, but the reality of having a house full of relatives come in and upend your lives.
Especially when one of those relatives is Randy Quaid’s Cousin Eddie.
Kelly, who I’ve known since kindergarten, said Christmas Vacation is her favorite “because it is funny and reminds me of spending time with my family. I even recall seeing it in Wisconsin at the movies that year with my family.”
2. Miracle on 34th Street, 1947 version
Though remade three times, the first version is still the best version.
Edmund Gwenn’s Kris Kringle may be the best screen version of Santa Claus ever.
If ever there was a movie that might make you believe in miracles or Santa, this is definitely it.
As Lu’Anna said when saying this is her favorite Christmas movie, “I believe!”
3. Home Alone
I worked in the movie theater as a projectionist when Home Alone came out in 1990.
People just kept coming to see this movie week after week.
The antics of Macauly Culkin’s Kevin who is accidentally left behind by his family at Christmas and his battle with the Wet Bandits are just pure movie fun.
There’s also a very sweet and rewarding subplot with Old Man Marley that can really get to you.
4. A Christmas Carol, 1951 Version
We all know the Dickens’ story of the miser Ebenezer Scrooge.
I remember seeing it as a little boy, as a production of the junior high school where my dad taught.
There have been many big screen and television movie adaptations of this book.
I’m recommending this production starring Alistair Sim as Scrooge as it was the favorite of my longtime neighbor and good friend Gerri.
5. Holiday Inn
This classic film stars screen legends Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire with music by Irving Berlin.
Crosby’s crooner Jim opens the Holiday Inn which will only be opened on holidays.
The song “White Christmas” debuted here as Jim’s song for when the Inn was open on Christmas.
My friend Tosha put this one on the list, telling me, “I love it because it is my dads favorite and it is our father-daughter tradition each year to before Christmas watch it!!”
6. The Muppet Christmas Carol
I told you there had been many adaptations of this book.
In 1992, Jim Henson’s Muppets took a crack at it. And what’s more fun and Christmasy than having the Muppets telling a version this yarn?
Michael Caine stars as Scrooge to Kermit the Frog’s Bob Cratchit.
The only lament one could have about this movie is that Jim Henson had passed away two years early, but thankfully his Muppets lived on to make this flick.
My friend Kaysi added this to the list “because it’s funny and the bunny pulls at my heart strings. I like to watch it when I’m wrapping presents.”
7. Polar Express
Robert Zemeckis’s incredible film brought this book to life as it should be.
The animation is amazing as everything that Tom Hanks brings to it.
But as always, it’s the story that matters and this story has stood the test of time and has become an awesome Christmas movie.
And every time I think of this movie I crave hot chocolate. You’ll probably want to have some handy too.
Danielle told me, “ I always loved the book and they did such an amazing job with the animation. It feels like a classic even though it’s newer. I love the message of the Polar Express.”
8. Die Hard
How did this make the list?
Well for one it does take place on Christmas Eve and two after watching seven very Christmasy movies, we’ll need a change of pace to keep going.
What a better way than to watch Bruce Willis’s John McClain battle it out with Alan Rickman’s Hans Gruber?
I wouldn’t have initially put Die Hard on the list, but it definitely belongs there according to my friends Shannon and Angela, and I’d be foolish to disagree with them.
Yippie Kai Yay.
Oh…and if you’re looking for more less traditional Christmas movies to watch, tap this link to see my list of 5 Great Non Christmas Christmas Movies.
9. Love Actually
This movie seemed so weird to me when I first watched it.
It has a remarkable ensemble cast, but I didn’t know where it was going or if it had a point to it.
Yet as I kept watching I couldn’t help but laugh and by the end I was crying. It is absolutely one of my favorite Christmas movies ever.
My good friend Stephanie who made me watch Love Actually the first time says this is her favorite Christmas movie, “because it encapsulates every time of love that humanity encounters in life’s journey and shows how love transforms your life from one stage to another.”
Here’s some of Bill Nighy’s Billy Mack and “Christmas is All Around.”
10. Elf
What was life like before Will Ferrell gave us Buddy the Elf? It was probably a lot less caloric.
This is a fun and sweet Christmas movie.
The innocence of Buddy and his sheer love of Christmas is infectious. It’s hard not to want to go out and load up on the four main food groups of candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup.
My pal Ruth was one of the first to chime in when I asked people what their Christmas fave is and she said Elf, “cuz it’s funny and goofy like me!”
11. It’s A Wonderful Life
Frank Capra’s movie starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed is my all time favorite Christmas movie.
I think we’ve all been to the low point that George Bailey reaches in this movie.
While we won’t be able to go on the journey that Clarence the angel takes George, it is a powerful remind that no man is a failure who has friends.
Tribbit put it best when explaining why It’s A Wonderful Life is her fave.
“God, Family, faith, hope, love, forgiveness, and the little things that matter in life are all rolled up in movie. The best movie ever. I have watched it for years and i still cry like a baby. Love it, love it.”
12. A Christmas Story
The movie that made the phrase “You’ll shoot your eye out kid” famous.
A Christmas Story by Bob Clark and Jean Shepherd is exactly the right movie for Christmas Day.
Thankfully it typically plays for 24 hours straight that day.
The exploits and imagination of Ralphie take us back to a simpler Christmas time.
No not, 1950’s Ohio.
Childhood.
And Christmas as well as Christmas movies should always remind us of how it felt to look at the world with the wonder of a child.
And if you’re wondering if you should watch A Christmas Story Christmas, here’s my thoughts on the legacy sequel that was released straight to streaming on HBO Max.
I hope you get a chance to enjoy all of these Christmas movies.
Merry Christmas!