The holiday season is a time to gather with family and friends, celebrate whatever holiday is meaningful to your family (Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, etc.) and watch movies that only seem appropriate to watch during the holidays. Movies have a way of connecting us all, as we can gather around the fire with the kids, siblings parents and grandparents and watch the same Christmas classic that feels like another family tradition! Below are 11 of my favorite Christmas movies that I look forward to watching each year.
Number 11 - It's A Wonderful Life
Released in 1946, Directed by Frank Capra
I'm not sure it's possible to have Christmas without watching It's A Wonderful Life. This movie is a classic, and is widely considered one of the greatest films of all time and the one of the best Christmas films! It has been recognized by the American Film Institute as one of the best 100 American films ever made. The movie stars James Stewart as George Bailey, a man who has given up his personal dreams to help others in his community and whose thoughts of suicide on Christmas Eve bring about the intervention of his guardian angel, Clarence Odbody. Clarence shows George all the lives he touched and what the world would be like if he had not existed. The only reason it's not higher on my list is because I prefer both newer movies and more comedic films. However, this movie is a must watch during the holiday season with the family!
Where To Watch: Prime Video
Number 10 - A Charlie Brown Christmas
Released in 1965, Based on the Comic Book Strip, Peanuts, Charles M. Schulz
Another holiday classic, beloved by all for it's nostalgia, emotional themes and sincere take on the true meaning of Christmas! This movie is considered the gold-standard in for Christmas specials, and has stood the test of time. It began as an animated television special airing in 1965, went on to air during broadcast television for 56 years and now is exclusively available on Apple TV. It's success has paved the way for a series of Peanuts television specials and films and a live theatrical version of A Charlie Brown Christmas has been staged as well!
Where To Watch: Apple TV
Number 9 - How The Grinch Stole Christmas
Released in 2000, Directed by Ron Howard
While I love the classic 1966 animated TV special, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, it was the 2000 live-action movie that really brought this story to life! This was the first Dr. Suess book to be adapted into a live-action feature film, with The Cat In The Hat also being remade in 2003. What I love about this Grinch movie is how great Jim Carrey is as the title character. As film critics have noted, "Carrey was born to play this role". Aside from how great he is, this movie does get some mixed reviews from critics on the rest of the movie. I personally love this adaption, and think that the sets are incredible, how the Whos of Whoville are portrayed and how the movie is told compared to the original story. We even get a cute backstory on why The Grinch is so mean!
Where To Watch: Prime Video
Number 8 - Edward Scissorhands
Released in 1990, Directed by Tim Burton
Out of all of the movies on this list, Edward Scissorhands is probably the least "Christmas-y". Yes, parts of the movie are set during Christmas and the snow scene is iconic, but most of the movie centers around Edward, his assimilation into suburbia and how he falls in love with Winona Ryder's character, Kim. It's one of my all-time favorite movies, and has one of the best soundtracks ever (from the legendary Danny Elfman). This movie explores a lot of themes, including loneliness, acceptance, love and a clash between innocence and a judgmental society that fears what's different. My favorite scene is towards the end of the movie when Winona Ryder is reminiscing on her time with Edward, and believing that he is still alive after all the years because it's snowing. The elderly version of Kim comments on the snow, concluding that, "Sometimes you can still catch me dancing in it."
Where To Watch: Disney+ & HBO Max
Number 7 - Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
Released in 1964, Animated Television Special
This stop motion animated Christmas special first aired on December 6th in 1964 and has gone on to become one of the best Christmas films ever made, being featured on numerous "top ten" lists. It has become extremely popular with both kids and adults familiar with the Christmas season. As with A Charlie Brown Christmas, Rudolph no longer airs merely once annually, but several times during the Christmas and holiday season. It has been televised every year since 1964, making it the longest running Christmas TV special in the United States. This is a must watch during the holiday season, and it's one of my all time favorites!!
Where To Watch: Freeform (Sunday 12/21 at 5:45 PM, Monday 12/22 at 1:35 PM, Christmas Eve at 8:15 PM & Christmas Day at 5 PM)
Number 6 - National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Released in 1989, Directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik
This movie is a MUST WATCH during the Christmas season! Christmas Vacation initially received mixed reviews from critics, but has since gained a following over time and now has become a cult classic and a Christmas staple. This movie is the third installment in the National Lampoon magazine's Vacation film series, following the original Vacation and European Vacation. What I love about this movie is that it's relatable. Everyone can relate to Clark Griswald, as he prepares his house for Christmas (the tree that's too big and the lights that are too much), all the family members that come to stay for the holidays and the chaos that ensues! My favorite scene in the movie is when Aunt Bethany is asked to lead the family in saying grace before dinner. Not only does she get confused about who Grace is, but she then proceeds to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Classic!
Where To Watch: HBO Max
Number 5 - The Santa Clause
Released in 1994, Directed by John Pasquin
At the Fox household, this movie is watched EVERY YEAR, and it never gets old! This is a must watch during the holiday season, as well as the two sequels that followed. According to IMDB, The Santa Clause is ranked number 18 on the Top 100 Christmas movies of all time list. What makes this movie so special is how they remind you to believe in Santa, no matter what. We all grow up and get jaded, but Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) reminds us what makes Christmas and the holidays so special! It's the perfect mix of comedy, relatable family themes and holiday magic. Also, how great is Tim Allen?!
Where To Watch: Disney+
Number 4 - Elf
Released in 2003, Directed By Jon Favreau
Who doesn't love Elf? Again, this is a must watch when the friends and family are all over for Christmas! Elf is centered around Buddy, a human elf, played by Will Ferrell, who learns about his origins and heads to New York City to meet his biological father. This movie is so great, and the film succeeds because Will Ferrell is, well, Will Ferrell. My favorite scene (the clip above) is when they announce that Santa will be coming to the department store the next day and Buddy loses his mind in excitement. It's an iconic Christmas scene, and one of the reasons this movie is ranked number 7 on the Top 100 Christmas movies of all time list. Elf is the best!!
Where To Watch: HBO Max
Number 3 - The Ref
Released in 1994, Directed by Ted Demme
Ok, this one may be a bit of a curveball for this list, but it's one of my all time favorite movies and it's such a great holiday movie for maybe all the wrong reasons. There's a bit of everything: a marriage falling apart, family in-fighting and drama, a burglary, a bribery, hostages and more! The Ref is centered around a family gathering on Christmas Eve and the insane drama that ensues once a burglar's plan goes awry and he takes the main characters, Lloyd and Caroline Chasseur, hostage while their family comes over to the house. One movie critic's review states that, "this nasty romp delivers so many honest laughs, you may end up watching it twice in the same night to make sure you weren't hallucinating". It's not all chaos though, as (spoiler alert), the ending shows the main characters reconciling and having a merry Christmas after all! If you haven't seen it, do yourself a favor and go watch it before Christmas!
Where To Watch: Only available to rent or purchase on Prime Video
Number 2 - A Christmas Story
Released in 1983, Directed by Bob Clark
I don't think you can go through the holiday season without watching A Christmas Story. This movie is a Christmas staple, and one that never gets old. All Ralphie Parker wants for Christmas is a Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-shot Range Model air rifle, and everyone he tells that to ends up telling him that he will shoot his eye out. Throughout the movie, there are so many great scenes that make this movie one of the best of all time: the flat tire scene, the triple-dog dare tongue to the flagpole scene (above), the "major award" that turns out to be a leg in the snape of a woman's leg and the ending where they go eat "Chinese turkey" at the only restaurant open on Christmas Day! It's a great movie, and one that will love on through the end of time every single Christmas season!
Where To Watch: HBO Max
Number 1 - Home Alone
Released in 1990, Directed by Chris Columbus
Was there any other option for the number one choice?! Home Alone is THE ULTIMATE Christmas movie, and it's definitely on one or two times during the holidays at our house! Home Alone is widely considered one of the best Christmas films of all time, and according to IMDB, it's ranked number 2 on the Top 100 Christmas movies of all time list (right behind It's A Wonderful Life). It was also selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as a "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant" movie. When you re-watch Home Alone, you realize just how many good holiday songs are in the movie: "White Christmas", "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree", "Run Rudolph Run" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", to name a few. We also get incredible music by John Williams, iconic performances from Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern and Catherine O'Hara and every 8 year old kid's dream: to be home alone with no parents! It's the best of all time, and deserves the number one spot!
Where To Watch: Disney+
Fun Fact: The actor who played Ralphie in A Christmas Story, Peter Billingsley, also appears in Elf as Ming Ming. Elf was directed by Jon Favreau, who was also an actor in the movie, The Break-Up, with Peter Billingsley.