It's the most wonderful time of the year! Therefore, here are my top ten favorite Christmas movies. I am only considering feature length movies, so no stop motion shorts such as Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) will make an appearance. I also only consider movies that have Christmas as a central theme, not merely taking place during Christmas like Die Hard (1988) or Batman Returns (1992). Alas, here are my favorite Christmas feature-length films:
10. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) [Ron Howard]
Won 1 Oscar (Best Makeup) / Nominated for 2 more (Best Costume Design, Best Art Direction)
A good-natured family comedy, Grinch makes this list not because its a great movie, but because I enjoyed it so much as a kid. Nostalgia creeps in as I see this year after year. I love the offhand jokes by Jim Carey and the overall setting of the Dr. Seuss book. It was my favorite book when I first started to learn how to read and the animated short from 1966 is my favorite Christmas television special. Seeing it all come to life was a great moment in my childhood. I don't care for the extended storyline too much, but this list had to start somewhere.
Won 1 Oscar (Best Makeup) / Nominated for 2 more (Best Costume Design, Best Art Direction)
A good-natured family comedy, Grinch makes this list not because its a great movie, but because I enjoyed it so much as a kid. Nostalgia creeps in as I see this year after year. I love the offhand jokes by Jim Carey and the overall setting of the Dr. Seuss book. It was my favorite book when I first started to learn how to read and the animated short from 1966 is my favorite Christmas television special. Seeing it all come to life was a great moment in my childhood. I don't care for the extended storyline too much, but this list had to start somewhere.
7. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992) [Chris Columbus]
Won 0 Oscars / Nominated for 0 more
The sequel to one of the classic Christmas greats (see below) is just as charming and entertaining as the first. Macaulay Culkin reprises his most famous character as a slightly older Kevin McCallister. He's not too old to lose his innocence and he is one of my all time favorite characters in family movies. This movie provides a lot of funny and lively situations and memorable lines. It branches out to the big city so its not as quaint and simple as the first movie's setting. This ultimately detracts from the movie as the best sequences are when Kevin is setting traps for Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern, two excellent actors in their own right. Some comments made below regarding Columbus and John Williams apply to this film as well. While its not the annual must-see like its predecessor, this movie still satisfies at many levels.
Won 0 Oscars / Nominated for 0 more
The sequel to one of the classic Christmas greats (see below) is just as charming and entertaining as the first. Macaulay Culkin reprises his most famous character as a slightly older Kevin McCallister. He's not too old to lose his innocence and he is one of my all time favorite characters in family movies. This movie provides a lot of funny and lively situations and memorable lines. It branches out to the big city so its not as quaint and simple as the first movie's setting. This ultimately detracts from the movie as the best sequences are when Kevin is setting traps for Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern, two excellent actors in their own right. Some comments made below regarding Columbus and John Williams apply to this film as well. While its not the annual must-see like its predecessor, this movie still satisfies at many levels.
8. Miracle on 34th Street (1947) [George Seaton]
Won 3 Oscars (Best Writing [Adapted], Best Writing [Story], Best Supporting Actor) / Nominated for 1 more (Best Picture)
The premise of this movie is what sucked me in the first time. The execution by the filmmakers is what keeps drawing me back every few years or so. The basic plot is that an old man claims to be the real Santa Claus. He has an incident at the store he works for and is declared mentally ill. A lawyer chooses to defend him in court. Not only is this a great family movie, with the notion of the Christmas spirit being exemplified in many ways, but it has well made courtroom drama scenes. This hodgepodge of comedy, drama, and courtroom genres is wonderfully mixed. Edmund Gwenn gives the performance of his lifetime as well and he gets his well deserved supporting Oscar. Its ultimately up to you to decide, but I truly believe Gwenn is the real Santa Claus.
Won 3 Oscars (Best Writing [Adapted], Best Writing [Story], Best Supporting Actor) / Nominated for 1 more (Best Picture)
The premise of this movie is what sucked me in the first time. The execution by the filmmakers is what keeps drawing me back every few years or so. The basic plot is that an old man claims to be the real Santa Claus. He has an incident at the store he works for and is declared mentally ill. A lawyer chooses to defend him in court. Not only is this a great family movie, with the notion of the Christmas spirit being exemplified in many ways, but it has well made courtroom drama scenes. This hodgepodge of comedy, drama, and courtroom genres is wonderfully mixed. Edmund Gwenn gives the performance of his lifetime as well and he gets his well deserved supporting Oscar. Its ultimately up to you to decide, but I truly believe Gwenn is the real Santa Claus.
9. A Christmas Carol (1951) [Brian Desmond Hurst]
Won 0 Oscars / Nominated for 0 more
This is the only movie on this list that I've only seen once. Originally titled Scrooge, this is probably one of the more favored iterations of Charles Dickens' classic tale. Alastair Sim plays the best Ebenezer Scrooge I've seen in the numerous adaptations out there. He is positively creepy in the beginning of the film, and its amazing to see how much his character develops through the outstanding acting. I try to see as many Christmas Carol/Scrooge movies I can get my hands on, but even after one viewing, I can say this is the all-time best. The movie is haunting, happy, touching, melancholy, and thrilling all rolled into an excellently paced 86 minutes. If you want to get your Scrooge on this Christmas season, throw away Bill Murray and pick up some Sim.
Won 0 Oscars / Nominated for 0 more
This is the only movie on this list that I've only seen once. Originally titled Scrooge, this is probably one of the more favored iterations of Charles Dickens' classic tale. Alastair Sim plays the best Ebenezer Scrooge I've seen in the numerous adaptations out there. He is positively creepy in the beginning of the film, and its amazing to see how much his character develops through the outstanding acting. I try to see as many Christmas Carol/Scrooge movies I can get my hands on, but even after one viewing, I can say this is the all-time best. The movie is haunting, happy, touching, melancholy, and thrilling all rolled into an excellently paced 86 minutes. If you want to get your Scrooge on this Christmas season, throw away Bill Murray and pick up some Sim.
6. The Santa Clause (1994) [John Pasquin]
Won 0 Oscars / Nominated for 0 more
This is another movie I try to watch every Christmas season. Tim Allen is a genuinely funny man, who doesn't have to resort to sexual or crude humor. While I like potty jokes as much as the next guy, Allen still makes me laugh my butt off throughout this movie. I enjoy the struggle his character has with becoming the real Santa Claus and the influence his child has on his life. The scenes involving the North Pole are awe-inspiring as are the scenes when Allen delivers presents. The supporting characters are great in this one. Eric Lloyd is the likeable son, David Krumholtz is the no-nonsense head elf, and even the reindeer are memorable characters. A true adventure and character-developing movie, a la A Christmas Carol, this is a heart-warming and tear-jerking picture.
Won 0 Oscars / Nominated for 0 more
This is another movie I try to watch every Christmas season. Tim Allen is a genuinely funny man, who doesn't have to resort to sexual or crude humor. While I like potty jokes as much as the next guy, Allen still makes me laugh my butt off throughout this movie. I enjoy the struggle his character has with becoming the real Santa Claus and the influence his child has on his life. The scenes involving the North Pole are awe-inspiring as are the scenes when Allen delivers presents. The supporting characters are great in this one. Eric Lloyd is the likeable son, David Krumholtz is the no-nonsense head elf, and even the reindeer are memorable characters. A true adventure and character-developing movie, a la A Christmas Carol, this is a heart-warming and tear-jerking picture.
5. Bad Santa (2003) [Terry Zwigoff]
Won 0 Oscars / Nominated for 0 more
The complete opposite side of the spectrum from Tim Allen's humor, Billy Bob Thornton is a grotesque, sexually charged, and disheveled pig. The movie does seem to drag at points, but the change up from family orientated holiday flicks is well worth it. I love the sarcasm and bleakness that Thornton portrays throughout the movie. Its funny and also realistic for many people who feel like even Christmas doesn't improve their outlook on life. Tony Cox, the elf, is terrible so its a testament to how much I like Thornton's performance to get this movie so high on my list. The child character is notable as well as his innocence prevails in every scene and makes his interactions with Thornton downright hilarious. This is the second funniest Christmas movie of all time and I would rank it up there with some of the funniest films ever. Watch out for alcoholic Santa Clauses at a mall near you.
Won 0 Oscars / Nominated for 0 more
The complete opposite side of the spectrum from Tim Allen's humor, Billy Bob Thornton is a grotesque, sexually charged, and disheveled pig. The movie does seem to drag at points, but the change up from family orientated holiday flicks is well worth it. I love the sarcasm and bleakness that Thornton portrays throughout the movie. Its funny and also realistic for many people who feel like even Christmas doesn't improve their outlook on life. Tony Cox, the elf, is terrible so its a testament to how much I like Thornton's performance to get this movie so high on my list. The child character is notable as well as his innocence prevails in every scene and makes his interactions with Thornton downright hilarious. This is the second funniest Christmas movie of all time and I would rank it up there with some of the funniest films ever. Watch out for alcoholic Santa Clauses at a mall near you.
4. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) [Henry Selick]
Won 0 Oscars / Nominated for 1 more (Best Visual Effects)
This is a polarizing movie. You either hate it or love it and I definitely fall into that latter group. I adore the visual style of the stop motion animation and I love the combination of holidays. The concept of holiday themed worlds always appealed to me growing up. I wish they showed more of the Easter world or the St. Patrick's Day land. It would be interesting to see different takes on the concept of living worlds that provide the benefits of our favorite days of the year. I also love the music in this one. Danny Elfman's work has become immortalized into Christmas classics, my favorite being "What's This?" The characters are all fun here too, with Jack Skellington leading the charge as the top Halloween scare guru. Being the Halloween expert he is, he tries to apply what he knows to Christmas and wants to become "Sandy Claws" for the night. What transpires is a fun, musical, and fantastical adventure.
Won 0 Oscars / Nominated for 1 more (Best Visual Effects)
This is a polarizing movie. You either hate it or love it and I definitely fall into that latter group. I adore the visual style of the stop motion animation and I love the combination of holidays. The concept of holiday themed worlds always appealed to me growing up. I wish they showed more of the Easter world or the St. Patrick's Day land. It would be interesting to see different takes on the concept of living worlds that provide the benefits of our favorite days of the year. I also love the music in this one. Danny Elfman's work has become immortalized into Christmas classics, my favorite being "What's This?" The characters are all fun here too, with Jack Skellington leading the charge as the top Halloween scare guru. Being the Halloween expert he is, he tries to apply what he knows to Christmas and wants to become "Sandy Claws" for the night. What transpires is a fun, musical, and fantastical adventure.
2. It's a Wonderful Life (1946) [Frank Capra]
Won 0 Oscars / Nominated for 5 more (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Sound, Best Film Editing)
I consider this one to be in my top three favorite movies of all time. A true masterpiece of cinema, It's a Wonderful Life tells the classic tale of what would life be like without me? George Bailey, played by the wonderful Jimmy Stewart, asks just that question. However, this doesn't occur until the latter half of the story. Capra and company do a marvelous job of setting up and developing Stewart's character through the first two acts of the film. The viewer truly feels for the struggles George Bailey goes through towards the end of the film. It is heart warming to experience just how positive he is on everybody's life. I've seen this exact plot done in countless television shows, most notably for me, in a Rugrats episode. There is no telling just how much influence this film has had on all of movies and story telling alike. The acting is superb, the pace is perfect, and the characters are truly believeable (even almost 70 years later). If you want drama, romance, fantasy, comedy, or just a good cry, look no further than this. Dramatic perfection.
Won 0 Oscars / Nominated for 5 more (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Sound, Best Film Editing)
I consider this one to be in my top three favorite movies of all time. A true masterpiece of cinema, It's a Wonderful Life tells the classic tale of what would life be like without me? George Bailey, played by the wonderful Jimmy Stewart, asks just that question. However, this doesn't occur until the latter half of the story. Capra and company do a marvelous job of setting up and developing Stewart's character through the first two acts of the film. The viewer truly feels for the struggles George Bailey goes through towards the end of the film. It is heart warming to experience just how positive he is on everybody's life. I've seen this exact plot done in countless television shows, most notably for me, in a Rugrats episode. There is no telling just how much influence this film has had on all of movies and story telling alike. The acting is superb, the pace is perfect, and the characters are truly believeable (even almost 70 years later). If you want drama, romance, fantasy, comedy, or just a good cry, look no further than this. Dramatic perfection.
3. Home Alone (1990) [Chris Columbus]
Won 0 Oscars / Nominated for 2 more (Best Original Song ["Somewhere in My Memory"], Best Original Score)
These top three movies are absolute must-see films for me every single year. Home Alone is another nostalgic movie that takes me back to my childhood every time I put it on. The music by John Williams is an absolute masterpiece and epitomized Kevin McCallister's adventure as the boy who gets left behind for Christmas vacation. Witnessing the interactions Macaulay Culkin has with other adults is funny and witty. The character seems grown up enough to be clever and take care of himself, but just young enough to have a pervading sense of innocence. The performances by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern are top notch as well. Pesci is always a good bad guy and Stern is an excellent dunce. Like the sequel, the sequences at the end in which Kevin sets traps for Pesci and Stern is classic and never gets tiring.
Won 0 Oscars / Nominated for 2 more (Best Original Song ["Somewhere in My Memory"], Best Original Score)
These top three movies are absolute must-see films for me every single year. Home Alone is another nostalgic movie that takes me back to my childhood every time I put it on. The music by John Williams is an absolute masterpiece and epitomized Kevin McCallister's adventure as the boy who gets left behind for Christmas vacation. Witnessing the interactions Macaulay Culkin has with other adults is funny and witty. The character seems grown up enough to be clever and take care of himself, but just young enough to have a pervading sense of innocence. The performances by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern are top notch as well. Pesci is always a good bad guy and Stern is an excellent dunce. Like the sequel, the sequences at the end in which Kevin sets traps for Pesci and Stern is classic and never gets tiring.
1. Christmas Vacation (1989) [Jeremiah S. Chechik]
Won 0 Oscars / Nominated for 0 more
Also in my top three favorite movies of all time, Christmas Vacation is the funniest movie ever made. At least for my sense of humor. For all intents and purposes, this picture is 1A while Wonderful Life is 1B, but I rank this higher due to more exposure and fond memories. This is a movie I not only watch every year (I always watch it on Thanksgiving night to kick off the season), but watch it multiple times. I honestly can't remember the last time in which I did not see this more than once in a year. Every scene is hilarious and every character makes me laugh in their own unique way. Clark Griswold is the main character who just wants to put on the best family Christmas. His parents and in laws come to town, as does my favorite character, his idiotic cousin Eddie. In true Vacation style, shit keeps hitting the fan, scene after scene. Each joke is comedic genius and each situation is more bizarre than the last. This movie never grows stale and will have you in stitches throughout the whole experience and beyond. This is one of those movies I can recite nearly every line from memory. It was one of the few things I did together with my family every year so it also holds nostalgic memories for me. As soon as I hear the opening theme set to the animated short at the beginning, my eyes grow wide with anticipation. This is something I look forward to every year and I hope anybody reading this will give it a shot. You won't be disappointed and "YULE CRACK UP!" Comedic perfection.
Won 0 Oscars / Nominated for 0 more
Also in my top three favorite movies of all time, Christmas Vacation is the funniest movie ever made. At least for my sense of humor. For all intents and purposes, this picture is 1A while Wonderful Life is 1B, but I rank this higher due to more exposure and fond memories. This is a movie I not only watch every year (I always watch it on Thanksgiving night to kick off the season), but watch it multiple times. I honestly can't remember the last time in which I did not see this more than once in a year. Every scene is hilarious and every character makes me laugh in their own unique way. Clark Griswold is the main character who just wants to put on the best family Christmas. His parents and in laws come to town, as does my favorite character, his idiotic cousin Eddie. In true Vacation style, shit keeps hitting the fan, scene after scene. Each joke is comedic genius and each situation is more bizarre than the last. This movie never grows stale and will have you in stitches throughout the whole experience and beyond. This is one of those movies I can recite nearly every line from memory. It was one of the few things I did together with my family every year so it also holds nostalgic memories for me. As soon as I hear the opening theme set to the animated short at the beginning, my eyes grow wide with anticipation. This is something I look forward to every year and I hope anybody reading this will give it a shot. You won't be disappointed and "YULE CRACK UP!" Comedic perfection.