With the Christmas season I full swing, I thought I’d spread some Christmas cheer with looking at my favorite Christmas movies. After all, Christmas is my favorite time of year, so naturally that comes with drinking hot chocolate, sweet treats, and watching those yearly movies. So, in no particular order because it’s really difficult, here are my favorite Christmas movies.
Honorable Mentions:
It’s a Wonderful Life:
I don’t watch it every year, and it’s only a Christmas movie at the second half, but this always chokes me up, and get some tears going. George realizing how impactful and special his life has been with seeing repercussions on friends, family, and especially his wife Mary, was very poignant. Him pleading with Clarence to give his life back, and then begging to God to let him live again, that is one of the most emotional scenes in film ever. The quiet crying, the snow falling, then the joyous prayer being answered, and the townspeople coming to his aid, really ends this film on a high note. A timeless message for a timeless film, but just not quite a Christmas movie the entire time.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas:
The live action version is a bit divisive, but I’ve come around on this film. Mainly for Jim Carrey. He truly carries (no pun intended) this film, so that’s mainly why I don’t watch this every year. It keeps the essence of the original story, and adding a few things, but I generally just watch the cartoon special.
Christmas Television Specials:
Speaking of the cartoon, I love watching it every year, along with Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, and Frosty the Snowman. Not movies, but well done TV specials. Especially the Grinch, the animation holds up very well, and gets me emotional at the end. Rudolph is very well done with its stop motion, while Frosty’s animation and sound is a bit off, but I still love all three. Oh, and Merry Christmas Mr. Bean. Who could forget him taking the town’s Christmas tree? And the turkey head? Iconic. These just aren’t movies, but I love watching yearly.
Okay, here are my favorite Christmas movies.
7. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
A sequel that feels repetitive of the first, but still enjoyable. Switching it up with Kevin being lost in New York, it adds the comedic element of the Plaza Hotel staff, especially with Tim Curry. Especially the shower scene is the funniest part. The movie within a movie “Angels with even filthier souls” is used so well, and maybe even more hilarious than the original.
Where it falters is the wet bandits, Marv and Harry, aren’t as present until about halfway, especially in their interaction with Kevin. The character of the homeless lady I don’t care for whatsoever. She has no emotional nor thematic connection with Kevin or the film. Unlike his neighbour Old Man Marley in the first. The opera scene I basically skip through.
While the booby traps are hilarious, if not more than the first, they’re too far out there, in comparison to the first. Especially with Marv, he gets the brunt of them, while the first was more evenly distributed. Yeah, bricks, electrical shock, tool chest down the stairs, and kerosene, are great, just a little too ridiculous. They’d very be dead many times.
So at times the movie is long, a bit darker, but overall I just enjoy seeing it every year.
6. The Santa Clause
Focusing on Santa Claus isn’t entirely new, but this movie is one of the best to do so. The first act is tons of fun with Tim Allen being Santa alongside his son. Memorable moments throughout. While the middle part isn’t as exciting, it’s well done with him slowly becoming Santa, and having not only to convince himself he is, coming to terms with it, but convincing others. His physical shape changes slowly, but also his personality.
Despite his lackluster fathering/enjoyment of Christmas, he’s the only adult to still be there for Charlie regarding Santa Claus. So while on the surface he appears the most pessimistic, he actually still has the child in him. I especially enjoy his rivalry with his ex-wife’s husband, Neil. But I also love the grownups’ reconciliation. Hearing when and why they stopped believing was moving. But most of all was Scott’s interaction with Charlie at the end. He makes a really good Santa, not just the costume, but his voice, personality, and energy he gives off. Especially with the interaction with a child named Sarah. He told her he’s lactose intolerant, so the next Christmas she left soy milk. Always makes me go aw.
An enjoyable Christmas movie made better with Tim Allen’s performance, and overall execution of the legendary figure Santa Claus.
5. The Polar Express
I’ll never get the divisiveness this movie gets. It’s animation is still great, at times it dips into the uncanny valley, but it’s really minor. This is a modern Christmas classic, and I hope it keeps getting more love in years to come. The soundtrack, especially its instrumental parts, are amazing, perfect Christmas feeling.
Love how Tom Hanks performs the majority of the voices. Perfect casting. The 1950’s/60’s feel on full display. This movie hits home very hard for me because of its theme, message, and powerful story. What Christmas used to mean for me as a kid, and what it can still mean as a grown up.
The boy’s journey on the polar express is very profound, and his questioning of the North Pole, Santa, Christmas, his belief, the conflict going on is very well done. His doubts soon put aside as he sees Santa, but can’t hear the jingle bells. When he believes only then does he hear. It’s not a dream. And when he’s given the first gift of Christmas, he could’ve asked for anything. But he asked for the greatest gift of all; one of Santa’s jingle bells.
The ending monologue of the boy when he’s older is so profound. it’s one of the most important, and heart reasoning Christmas quotes. His friends and even younger sister soon stop hearing the bell, but he doesn’t. Do you still the wonderful sound of the bell? What it symbolizes for all.
This movie always gets me teary eyed, both happy and sad. Especially with Josh Groban’s “Believe” playing. Yeah, the ghostly hobo can be eerie and uncomfortable at times, but overall, this is such an amazing movie that moves you emotionally inside. I love the magical feel of this movie, and hope time will be kind with it. Don’t let the magic in you vanish. Let that little child in you remain.
4. Home Alone
What a hit from John Hughes and Chris Columbus. Perfect child star in Macaulay Culkin. A simple premise, executed to great heights. It has the theme of family, and tying it into Christmas was very well done. The first opening establishes the family dynamic, and why and how Kevin feels, and his relationship. And how he was left at home.
I Enjoyed seeing the shenanigans Kevin got into while home alone, but soon he gets scared, like a kid would. Especially when he encounters his neighbour Old Man Marley. It’s just so much fun the entire time. Him using the movie “Angels with filthy souls” against the pizza delivery is so iconic and quotable. Keep the change you filthy animal.
The wet bandits of Marv and Harry are present from pretty much the beginning, and the small interactions they have with Kevin eventually culminate in them trying to rob the house. Every booby trap is sprung, is always funny, memorable, and now are part of pop culture.
The story of his family, especially his mom, trying to get back to him, shows how much they love and miss him. His mom is desperate, tired, but never gives up. His wish to not have a family seems awesome at first, but he quickly regrets it and when he talks to Santa, he willingly gives up everything associated with Christmas (presents, treats, etc.) to have his family back. His interaction with Old Man Marley at church is quite emotional, as they form a bond, and the connection is relatable.
The ending, with him reconciling with his son, Christmas morning and snow falling, John Williams emotionally charging score playing, is a perfect ending. A great Christmas comedy with some nice drama and sentiment. Always a classic to watch every year.
3. Elf
A modern Christmas classic. Perfect Christmas gift, and such a blast watching it the first time.
An original story about a human adult who thinks he’s an elf. Played perfectly by Will Ferrell. The North Pole act is great because it uses forced perspective, stop motion, these old school tricks to good effect.
Just seeing Buddy’s journey and interaction through New York is so much fun. Eating gum off railings, snow ball fights, spinning around a revolving door, it’s all memorable. Endlessly quotable. And how he touches everyone with his genuine childlike behaviour and beliefs. These people who need that Christmas spirit and cheer. All the actors give it their all with their characters. Even Peter Dinklage in a minor role is so memorable.
But Buddy’s relationship with his father is the main factor. The toughest nut to crack, and while Walter’s character redemption arc is a bit rushed, I think it was still earned. The final act of everyone signing Santa Claus is coming to Town, which helps Santa’s sleigh fly as the world is lacking in believing in Santa, is just joyful to experience every year.
Really, everything about this movie is done well. It actually uses a modern setting, unlike several other Christmas movies, and uses it to great effect. It feels like a mixture of old and new, done so well. A hit with my family and I right out of the gate, as it has a little bit of everything to make a great Christmas movie.
2. A Christmas Story
While the setting is in 1940s Midwest America, it’s still timeless, because it takes place from the perspective of a child at Christmas time, and what he wants most. Perfect concept!
Ralphie’s attempts to convince his parents to buy him a Red Ryder BB gun is always enjoyable, because it reminds you of how you tried to get that thing you soooo wanted the most for Christmas. His narration and description of the events he goes through is perfect, exactly what a child would think and speak. Especially in regards to his punishment of having soap in his mouth. Oh fudge! And his thoughts of how his father would react to him fighting at school.
His inner thoughts being portrayed in a silly childlike way; his use of the BB gun against criminals, the sound effects, X’s over their eyes, or his parents lamenting over him going blind as he consumed too much soap, just put a smile on your face, allowing your inner child to shine.
Even though the main plot is dealing with getting a gift for Christmas, I love the little subplots. His friend getting his tongue stuck to a pole, his father and mother’s battle over a sexy lamp prize, and Ralphie’s excitement – and eventual disappointment – over a Little Orphan Annie secret decoder ring. All these vignettes keep the pace of the story brisk and fun, never giving a dull moment. And provide tons of humour and quotes.
His encounter with a department store Santa toes a fine line between fun and creepy, as Santa can be scary or intimidating for really small kids. Santa’s reaction, as well as other adults around him, to Ralphie’s request for a BB gun is forever engrained in pop culture memory: You’ll shoot your eye out kid.
The climax of the film, Christmas Day, is so wonderful. The music playing, the lights, shiny wrapping paper, the tired parents, excited kids, so simple but perfectly encapsulated the day. Except the neighbour’s dogs stealing the turkey. Ralphie’s final inner monologue is very beautiful, and the instrumentals of Silent Night, and We Wish You a Merry Christmas, playing while showing the house lite up with the Christmas lights, snow steadily falling, is an almost indescribable feeling. Great way to end a wonderful Christmas film that perfectly executes its angle and concept.
1. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
My absolute favorite Christmas ever, by far! My family and I watch it every Christmas Eve, as a way to signal the start of the actual festive celebration. I’ll never forget the first Christmas watching it at the age of ten, and just absolutely laughing every opportunity.
This movie is just endlessly quotable, with endless scenes and scenarios still making me laugh, and the memorabilia shows. My older cousins and I also quote this movie to each other. I’ll only name two scenes that are incredible because otherwise I’ll just list them all: Clark’s rant on his boss Mr. Shirley canceling a Christmas bonus, and then his rant to his family sticking together for the season, as in-laws try to leave. Those are endlessly hilarious.
It has my favorite Christmas song, the movie’s theme song unfortunately isn’t easy to find physically, and impossible digitally. I found one cd on amazon that had this song, and it was the only reason I bought it!
Following the shenanigans of the Griswold family, it shows all the mayhem they get into in the weeks leading up to Christmas (especially Clark). From the opening scene of finding a Christmas tree, to Clark painstakingly setting up 25,000 lights for the house, to annoying cousin-in law Eddie barging in for the holiday, a burned turkey, and the mean neighbours unintentionally having their property damaged, this movie I just perfection.
Mainly because it shows how attempting to create that perfect Christmas is not possible, and the harder you try, the more stressful and less enjoyable it is. That message is something I’ve tried taking to heart, not stressing over every little aspect of this holiday. Not needing to be a perfectionist means I can relax a little more, and enjoy Christmas. It’s not about the lights, tree; the ‘good old fashioned family Christmas’ is just spending time with that family. It reminds you of what Christmas really is and about and isn’t afraid to show that Christmas isn’t always fun.
Finally, all the characters of the family, and some non-family members, are memorable and have moments or a few lines that make them memorable, which is hard for this size of a cast of characters.
The ending with the theme song playing is a nice bookend to the film, and it’s at this moment we all go to bed, knowing the beginning of Christmas is here. The perfect way to welcome this wonderful holiday I love so much. I could watch this film several times through December, but I love having it as a once a year event, because it makes it even more special. And because the film is so memorable, I never forget a moment. The best Christmas movie.
Well, there you have it. My favorite Christmas movies. Which one make you say ho-ho-ho? Make you laugh, smile? Nostalgic? Warm inside? Or bring the inner child out? Comment below, and have a Merry Christmas!
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