Well International Friends, it is upon this most festive of holidays that we are flooded with Christmas Movies. In the regular fashion of the Movie Blog, I thought I would compile a list of my personal Best 10 Christmas Movies off the top of my head.
10. Christmas Vacation The Griswalds just never catch a break, and yet they seem to come out on top in the end anyways. This being the third of the National Lampoon’s Vacation series, and finally we get to see some Christmas action. I just love watching this guy fail. Chevy Chase can embody that moment of utter defeat in just one blank stare set specifically at 3.5 seconds in length that just makes you wonder if your life is in danger for witnessing it.
9. White Christmas This movie just makes me wish I lived in the mid 50s so I could be as cool and smooth as Bing Crosby. That guy just gets all the ladies hearts a thumping and looks cool as ice doing it. Guys were Guys, and the Girls were Dolls. This has more musical numbers than most modern musicals and it is the first classic black and white on my list, but it wont be the last.
8. Nightmare Before Christmas There are not enough true Halloween movies. Horrors are popular at that time of year, but very few of them are actually about Halloween itself. Jack knows it and decides to take over Christmas as they have the better time slot. Clever music, creative stop motion animation and a twist we didn’t see coming makes this Burton film the top listed animated feature about Christmas on my list.
7. Miracle On 34th Street As far as the classics go, this one is likely the most heart tugging and amusing at the same time. Santa himself has to go on trial to prove he is who he says he is. Its a real Christmas miracle when some whackjob who claims to be the real Santa turns out to actually BE Santa. A diligent lawyer who decides to take on his case to defend him in court isn’t the only person to learn a handy lesson here. Watch this with your kids so you can explain why they couldn’t just look up his MySpace page for proof.
6. A Christmas Story This irreverent little take on Christmas showed us for once that it was OK that your life wasn’t like the perfect candy coated Christmas families of the Leave it to Beaver generation. Randy didn’t have a BBGun to take anyone’s eye out but he had a pink bunny pajamas. Your tongue WILL stick to the flagpole if its freezing. And Dad showed us that a fishnet clad lady’s leg does make a fine art deco lamp base. I am sure we learned other stuff in there too, but mostly just not to swear in front of your father.
5. Its a Wonderful Life Just when you think your life can’t be any shittier, remember that Clarence the angel taught us that your existence makes it less shitty for everyone else. He also teaches us how looking slightly tipsy actually makes you more adorable and cherub like. A brilliant tale of perspective illustrated with the charm and innocence of the classic black and white movies of the late 40s. You can watch this with your parents.
4. Die Hard Although this movie doesn’t revolve around the Christmas theme, it takes place at Christmas and puts a cop with marital problems at the wrong place at the right time. We cringe in unison as the barefooted hero dashes across a sea of broken glass but hell, when a tough guy is in love there is nothing that will stand in his way. Forevermore will we associate the true bliss of relationship sacrifice with the bold smarmy YippeeKiYay Muthafukker!
3. GremlinsAh the spirit of giving that keeps on giving with just the addition of water. Gremlins starts with a truly original gift idea that soon spirals out of control. Sure the muppets are a little dated and the comedy was really only considered funny in the 80s but this is one Spielberg film not to miss. These little troublesome goblins not only gave me nightmares, but Gizmo’s cute little song made even the toughest man exert a gentle “awwwww…”
2. The Santa Clause Tim Allen movies are always full of good moral lessons for the whole family. And the very premise of this movie is ripped from a pun on old St Nick’s name itself. How can you go wrong with that? I truly enjoy this franchise and I had no problem when they brought out a sequel adding another Clause to the deal, and a third giving him an Escape Clause. Pure feelgood genius. Best watched with warm chocolate chip cookies and milk.
And the Number One movie on my list of All Time Christmas Movies is…
1. Scrooged This list would not be complete if it were not for at least one variation of the classic Christmas Carol. Of course the most entertaining and downright enjoyable versions would be Bill Murray’s Scrooged. This film is Christmas Perfection. You get to see yourself in at least ONE of the characters and every other character is just someone else you know. Every scene makes me laugh. Every moment makes me feel the true joy of Christmas.
I am sure there are some I missed. What would you put on your top 10 Christmas movies?
Talking about old movies and Laural and Hardy, I just realized what was left off the list…
March of the Wooden Soldiers.
lol, i guess so.
but the santa clause?
i guess everyone is entitled to their opinion and such.
miles, the hulk has lacked credibility for years and he’s done fine.
Wow, finally a list I can completely agree with. Scrooged is the *only* movie I have watched every Christmas it was available. I saw it with my family in theaters on Christmas Eve oh-so-many years ago and have watched it every year since.
And including Die Hard and Gremlins makes this list even more “win” than before.
Awesome.
the santa clause?
i would say that is the final nail in the coffin containing your credibility.
Totally agree on Die Hard (1 or 2). They always seem to play it on TV during Christmas !
home alone?
Rodney, hahahahahaha, I know! I know! But I watch it every Christmas time. Weird me. :)
@ nbakid2000
Again I know this is all a matter of personal taste, and I respect your opinion.
But when I hear someone put Abbott and Costello above The Marx Brothers it makes my head explode, although I do agree that Laural and Hardy were Brilliant.
As for slpapstick. I go for slapstick… Buster Keaton.
Badder Santa and Black Christmas (the original version) are missing from the list. Badder Santa is funnier the almost all of the comedies on the list.
Life of Brian was OK, I have nothing against it.
@ Herby
My favorite genre is comedy, so I’m well aware of what I speak. I happen to be a huge fan of slap-stick and for me, Home Alone 2 is the ultimate in slapstick movies (as far as Looney Tunes style action goes) though I’m sure others would disagree.
I happen to be a huge Laurel and Hardy fan, as well as Abbott and Costello too. The old Blondie series (with Penny Singleton) is really funny too, from what I remember as a kid.
I never got into the Marx Brothers.
The Holy Grail is funny but not even near my top-list. I have seen The Producers with Gene Wilder and loved it.
My current NEWEST favorite comedies would be Jackass 2.5 and The Heartbreak Kid…both of which exceeded my expectations by great measure.
@Mike Mai
I LOVE Love Actually, but I think of that movie as more of a flick that just so happens to take place at Xmastime, not as an actual Xmas movie. It is a great flick, though. The random airport people at the end get me evey time, especially the two little blond kids running to hug their daddy.
It’s a nice list, with two of my all time favorite movies, White Christmas and It’s a Wonderful Life. These are the absolute best christmasmovies imho, but there are a lot of cadidates to complete the list.
I would put TV-movie ‘The Christmas List’ with Mimi Rogers on third place. This movies is somewhat more original, without using clichee characters as Santa Claus and more… Also, it’s a great movie to watch on a couch with your girlfriend (or wife).
Other movies (not on the list above) are Santa Claus: The Movie (with Dudley Moore as Patch), One Magic Christmas (with Mary Steenburgen). They’re the ones I’d stay home for…
Happy New Year ;)
Love Actually tops my list.
Crap left off Horse Feathers on the Marx Brothers list. Shame on me
to nbakid2000 @ post 15
I do not usually comment about other peoples tastes in films since list such as these are a matter of personal tastes.
However, if Home Alone 2 is one of your favorite comidies, it is time you got out to see more comidies.
A few sugestions:
Monty Python and the Holy Grail and/or Monty Python’s Life of Brian
The Producers (the original with Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder)
Any Marx Brothers Film that includes Zeppo (The Coconuts, Animal Crackers, Duck Soup, Monkey Business)
What’s Up Doc (funniest car chase ever in the movies)
It seems we tend to include films that take place around Christmastime and not films about Christmas themselves. Why, I could put “Lethal Weapon” in there if I wanted to. Or one of my all time favrite films, Barry Levinson’s “Diner”, if I was so inclined.
OOPS ROD!!!!
You made a little boo-boo with film # 9 stating that White Christmas was a black and white film. This 1954 classic with Bing and Danny Kaye was filmed in glorious technicolor.
The B & W film you may be thinking of is Holiday Inn (1942) with Bing and Fred Astaire.
OOPS ROD!!!!
You made a little boo-boo with film # 9 stating that White Christmas was a black and white film. This 1954 classic with Bing and Danny Kaye was filmed in glorious technicolor.
The B & W film you may be thinking of is Holiday Inn (1942) with Bing and Fred Astaire.T
I agree with others that Muppet Christmas Carol should be on this list.
I would put “A Christmas Story” at #1
I would also add the original Grinch (not the Jim Carry version) and “Love Actually”
Batman Returns sucked. However I happen to think the soundtrack is incredible.
I can’t argue with Scrooged being at the top of the list, but it’s the film within the film that makes it great. I would pay big bucks to see Lee Majors starring in “The Night the Reindeer Died”.
Agent Doodles: 1984’s Silent Night, Deadly Night…
*****
I’ve always liked “Prancer”…
…”A Midnight Clear”
and, quite recently, “The Nativity Story”….
Note: I love ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ too, but I’m not going to argue it being any higher. In truth, only 30% of the film takes place on Christmas.
****
Hey!…what about a couple of scary ones…BLACK CHRISTMAS…and…SANTA’S SLAY…or what about…the skin flick…SANTA’S CUMMIN’ TA TOWN.
fa-ra-ra-ra-raa-ra-ra-ra-ra.
i still bust up every time he wacks that duck.
Great list but not a year goes by that i dont watch Albert Finney’s “Scrooge” (1970’s). I really enjoy it, it has it all…
Home Alone. Duh
And a Muppet Christmas Carol
I’m sorry, but number 4 should have been Die Hard 2.
It had everything. Terrorists being killed, Christmas theme and a love story(I am stretching the last one a little).
CHINGLE ALL DA VAY!
Seriously though, much love to you Rodney for saluting ‘Scrooged’. I would definately put it at number 2 (“I WANT TO SEE HER NIPPLES”). Number 1 for me would be ‘Planes, Trains, and Automobiles’ and yes, i know it’s a Thanksgiving movie, technically, but we don’t have that in the UK so, on a technicality, i’m sure you’ll let me have it.
And props to Marla Singer for mentioning Batman Returns for i believe it to be a Christmas comedy classic.
I like this list. Scrooged deserves the #1 spot; its a great movie. I’d add Terry Gilliam’s Brazil, just on the same reason Die Hard is on the list; it takes place during Christmas.
Just off the top of my head:
Home Alone 2 (one of my all-time fav. comedies)
Home Alone 1
It’s a Wonderful Life
Muppet Christmas Carol
Mrs. Santa Claus is pretty good as well (Angela Lansbury)
I just saw Scrooged for the first time a while back and thought they did a great job with it.
Albi? How exactly do you qualify Groundhog Day as a Christmas movie?
I agree it is a hell of a film, but the entire movie doesnt go beyond Groundhog Day.
And yes, the Muppet’s Christmas Carol is deserving of this list. I don’t know how I missed it too. I have the little song Kermit and Robin sing on my Christmas MP3 list. As well as One More Sleep til Christmas.
The other day at work my colleagues asked me what my favorite christmas movie was. Without hesitation I said Die Hard. They thought that was stupid and it wasn’t a real christmas movie. Glad to see it on the list. I will be printing a copy and placing it on the desks of all my work friends.
arnies ‘jingle all the way’ is a modern day fairy tale. it is the things dreams are mare of.
It’s a Wonderful Life should be #1 on that list hands down! I saw that movie again and that movie reminds you what the holiday is all about!
Elf, Bad Santa, Home Alone.
My new favorite X-Mas movie barely edging National Lampoons is Surviving X-Mas with Affleck.
Merry Christmas everyone! Great list. Love all those movies.
One thing Rodney: “Randy didn’t have a BBGun to take anyone’s eye out but he had a pink bunny pajamas.” It was actually Ralphie!! Randy was the young brother who was dressed up for the snow like a deep sea diver!
I would’ve put Groundhog Day and Elf myself, but this list pretty much rocks! Merry Christmas Movie Blog!
“the comedy was really only considered funny in the 80s but this is one Spielberg film not to miss”
Rodney, this sentence is just a mess. Joe Dante’s Gremlins is classic comedy in the Looney Tunes tradition.
Also Die Hard totally revolves around Christmas. Think about it; Christmas is the catalyst.
Merry Christmas Doug, John, Rodney and everybody at themovieblog.
Thanks for what you guys do.
I’m sure you guys already know this by now..
but what the hell, right?!
You mentioned Die Hard as one of the best Christmas movies.
As a die hard fan of all die hard movies, I agree 110%
The band GuyzNite had a song last year, it serves a tribute to Die Hard and everything John McLane.
They compiled clips from the movies accompanied with their original song.
The song kicks ass!
Here’s the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5in09EwYV0
cant believe muppets isnt on the list, that is just unthinkable to leave it out……….
Gremlins. (it totally counts!)
Home Alone and Batman Returns
BAD SANTA
BAD SANTA
BAD SANTA
Nightmare Before Xmas is my #1 with a bullet, but Bad Santa is my kind of Xmas movie, with anal sex, drunken Santas, and fat kids.
The Muppet Christmas Carol – Arguably the best version of A Christmas Carol yet created, and a phenomenal entry in the Muppet film series. It’s one that I’ve watched practically every year since it was released. I’ve only missed this one on those especially busy days.