What to Watch? Name Your Favorite Holiday Movies!

December 24, 2008
by Alex Billington

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house… Inspired by SlashFilm's Question of the Week, I've decided to start a similar discussion on Christmas Eve today with all of our readers, with an extra suggestion to include movies set during any holiday (including Hanukkah). I always love this time of year, catching up with loved ones, enjoying some rest and relaxation, and of course, spending plenty of time revising all the best Christmas classics and holiday favorites. So name your own favorite holiday movies and give me (and anyone reading this) the best suggestions for a movie to watch on this wonderful night.

Without question, the three ultimate Christmas classics I've got to start with are: A Christmas Story, Home Alone, and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. These have been a part of my own Christmas heritage since before I even remember watching movies. And next I've got to also mention the first Santa Clause, which is still a favorite of mine, and Bad Santa, another Christmas guilty pleasure. And to top it all off, I can't forget Die Hard, Gremlins, Love Actually, Elf and TV's Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer movie. And as a final tip, I'll throw in The Hebrew Hammer as well.

So bring on the holiday joy and give me your own best unexpected Christmas movie suggestion. Who knows, I might just end up watching it tonight if you name one that I really can't pass up.

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Reader Feedback - 77 Comments »

It's A Wonderful Life
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Die Hard
and for the kid in me… Mickey's Christmas Carol.

Can't go wrong with those, a little something for everyone. Enjoy and Happy Holidays everyone!

K on Dec 24, 2008

It's A Wonderful Life

Kill the Batman on Dec 24, 2008

I'll also add…

White Christmas and Scrooged. So many great movies, hard to make a list.

K on Dec 24, 2008

You can't go wrong with the classics:

Holiday Inn
Miracle on 34th Street
It's A Wonderful Life

A Christmas Carol, and some of the other versions:
A Christmas Carol (with Patrick Stewart)
Scrooged
A Muppet Christmas Carol

Happy Holidays!

Jedi on Dec 24, 2008

Love Actually! Best Christmas romantic comedy ever… My wife and I watch it every Christmas.

xerafoo on Dec 24, 2008

See Alex, this is why I love this site and your taste in film…it's like you lived the same childhood as me. All the films you named are the holiday classics I live by…I'd add Nightmare Before Christmas in there too though (not sure if that's classified as a Halloween movie or a Christmas movie, but I'll leave that up to this forum).

Peloquin on Dec 24, 2008

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

Vole on Dec 24, 2008

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Scrooged
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Rudolph the RedNosed Reindeer
Frosty the Snowman

Classics…’nuff said.

thebirdman on Dec 24, 2008

wooow no mention of THE SNOWMAN!! that is a must to get you in the xmas spirit!!

craig on Dec 24, 2008

Hands down…Home Alone. That's our generation's Christmas movie.

Matt Suhu on Dec 24, 2008

Man… for my family and I it was always Scrooged and National Lampoons Christmas Vacation. I can remember sitting in a lodge in Garmisch Germany on a xmas family ski trip watching each of these. Of course we brought them! Skis… check! Snow gear… check! Lampoons and Scrooge VHS… CHECK!

Great times…

"Put a little love in your heart!"

Have a great Christmas everyone!

C-Young on Dec 24, 2008

It A Wonderful Life
Home Alone
Die Hard
Gremlins
Family Man
Batman Returns

Chuck

entertainmenttodayandbeyond.com on Dec 24, 2008

Let's see…

These are in no particular order, as I find it is impossible to say one of these Christmas movies is better than another. I love them all in different ways.

A Charlie Brown Christmas — a perfect commentary; and a lot of fun.

The Polar Express — Yes, I know the animation style throws some people off; but I love it anyway.

N.L.'s Christmas Vacation — the saucer sled scene is still a classic; and so is, "Merry Christmas!
Shitter was full!"

A Christmas Carol — The Alistair Sim version, the Patrick Stewart version and 'Scrooge' with Albert Finney are all excellent… not a big fan of the George C. Scott version though.

Elf — This is a lot of fun. Jon Favreau did a nice job evoking the old Arthur Rankin/Jules Bass specials that we all grew up watching. This is Will Ferrell at his most endearing.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer — This was a must watch every year when I was growing up. It is by far the best of the Rankin/Bass specials. Some prefer The Year Without A Santa Claus; but the only truly memorable part of that one was the Coldmiser/Heatmiser song. After that, it gets pretty thin on quality.

Home Alone — …the first one. I have to admit though I haven't watched this in a couple of years; but I always want to fit it in during the Christmas season… "Keep the change, ya filthy animal."

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- –Honorable Mentions–

Die Hard — …and the second Die Hard. While they are both set on Christmas Eve, I still remember them as the summer movies they were when they originally came out (as was Gremlins); but really that's just nitpicking. I only hesitate to include them on a Christmas movie list because I'll watch them any time of the year.

Merry Christmas, everybody!

Dave Lister, JMC on Dec 24, 2008

Die Hard
Scrooged
Muppet Christmas Carol (from 1992, not anything after that)
A Christmas Story
It's a Wonderful Life
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
The Ref (just about the funniest Christmas movie ever)

And of course, you gotta show some love to the Bass/Rankin offerings, plus A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Enjoy the holidays!

Derek on Dec 24, 2008

Gah! No "It's a Wonderful Life," "Miracle on 34th Street" or Bing Crosby movies?

Alex, you're KILLING me, bro!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU my movie news site brutha!

Vic

ScreenRant.com on Dec 24, 2008

Black Christmas

Silent Night, Dead Night

Lucas Moreira on Dec 24, 2008

Whoa!!! I (criminally) forgot to mention A Christmas Story… how could I do that? …unpardonable, just a terribly glaring omission…

Dave Lister, JMC on Dec 24, 2008

Muppet Christmas Carol the way to go!

FlaWiio on Dec 24, 2008

Die Hard
Scrooged

All I can really say is, "Now I have a machine gun, Ho-Ho-Ho."

Ariel on Dec 24, 2008

A Christmas Carol (1938, Reginald Owen in my opinion, was an outstanding Scrooge)
It's a Wonderful Life
A Christmas Story
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Will Vinton's Claymation Christmas
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Home Alone 1 and 2
Christmas in Connecticut and Miracle on 34st Street (the originals)

William on Dec 24, 2008

No one has mentioned The Grinch yet!

Not the Jim Carrey piece of crap, the Boris Karloff narrated animated version.

"You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch. You really are a heel….."

Jedi on Dec 24, 2008

What the Hells wrong with you guys, your forgetting A Christmas Story.

Must sees: Its a Wonderful Life
Scrooge (the musical with Albert Finney)
National Lampoon
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (the cartoon of course)
Rudolph, Frosty, Drummer Boy (claymations)
Just Friends (I kinda saw this only a few years ago recently and I love it now)
Nativity Story (new one for us every year)

Like to see: The Santa Clause
Scrooged
Die Hard 1 & 2
Gremlins
Home Alone

Richard on Dec 24, 2008

To get in the Christmas Spirit I go ahead and put in my favorite dvd, The Passion of the Christ.

MrSammich on Dec 24, 2008

The Proposition although a little harrowing for Christmas

Smiley on Dec 24, 2008

The Polar Express, no two ways about it.

Itri on Dec 24, 2008

Wouldn't The Passion of The Christ be more of an Easter film?

…just asking; to each their own.

Dave Lister, JMC on Dec 24, 2008

Die Hard 1 & 2
Gremlins 2
Home Alone 1 & 2
Back to the Future 1, 2 and 3
Nightmare Before Christmas

and to any family that has kids now… there's no Christmas without Harry Potter

Pedro Lopes on Dec 24, 2008

Forgot to include my full list:

10. Scrooged (haven’t seen this one in ages but I remember liking it a lot)

9. Home Alone (I balk every time my wife wants to watch it but I always end up liking it)

8. White Christmas (Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye, c’mon!)

7. Die Hard (“It’s Christmas Leo - a time of miracles.”)

6. A Christmas Carol (the George C. Scott version)

5. The Santa Clause (so sue me - I think it’s funny and touching)

4. Elf (the only movie in which I’ve really enjoyed Will Ferrell)

3. A Christmas Story (big time nostalgia for me)

2. Miracle on 34th Street (the original, of course)

1. It’s a Wonderful Life (Best. Christmas. Movie. EVER. We save this one for Christmas day.)

Vic

ScreenRant.com on Dec 24, 2008

JINGLE ALL THE WAY!!!!!

cmedina on Dec 24, 2008

1.polar express
2. it's a wonderful life
3 national lampoons xmas vacation
4. deck the halls
5. family stone
6 twas the night before christmas (animated; 30 minutes)
7.christmas carol (george c. scott or patrick stewart version)
8 christmas story

dan on Dec 24, 2008

planes, trains & automobiles is one I love to watch, even though it takes place at thanksgiving

Tim C on Dec 24, 2008

Elf
Its A Wonderful LIfe
Gremlins (does it really count?)
A Christmas Story
The Muppets Christmas Carol
Nation Lampoons Christmas Vacation
Nightmare Before Christmas

Al on Dec 24, 2008

Oh I forgot for some reason I'm drawn to watch Lord of the Rings movies during Christmas, must be because they all came out in Dec and then the DVDs came out in Dec too.

Richard on Dec 24, 2008

@ 12…

Batman Returns?…Really?

peloquin on Dec 24, 2008

Bad Santa

Mauricio Ageno on Dec 24, 2008

As I wrote in the top-10 countdown of my favorite Christmas movies in my (Greek) blog, my top 3 is:

3. The Polar Express
2. The Nightmare Before Christmas
1. Love Actually

ZlatkoGR on Dec 24, 2008

Me and my brother used to face off and see how many times consecutively we could watch A Christmas Story in one sitting on the TBS marathon. He eventually beat me with 11 viewings to my 8. The only thing you could get up for was food, drinks, or bathroom. We made everyone else miserable during that one day, but I'll never forget them.

A Christmas Story all the way!

L on Dec 24, 2008

Haven't seen A Christmas Story, but I have to be in agreement about Home Alone and Christmas Vacation.

Scrooged is another of my favourites. Gremlins and Die Hard top my list of "Anti-Christmas" movies.

I also have a soft spot for The Muppets Christmas Carol, which I've enjoyed watching ever since it came out when I was 10.

Sean Kelly on Dec 24, 2008

Hands down, It's a Wonderful Life. Man, if you haven't seen it, that's what you're watching tonight. Done and done.

Steven on Dec 24, 2008

Jingle All the Way. Great Christmas movie or greatest Christmas movie?

Taylor on Dec 24, 2008

jingle all the way
home alone
its a wonderful life

ken on Dec 24, 2008

Die Hard
Die Hard 2
The Muppet's Christmas Carol
Lethal Weapon

Yogi on Dec 24, 2008

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation for sure.

I know a lot of people love A Christmas Story, but I hate it. I'd rather watch 24 straight hours of one of those Yule Log DVDs than A Christmas Story.

CardinalPride on Dec 24, 2008

What? No one picked Reindeer Games for their list? Nothing says "Merry Christmas" like a bloody shootout, Charlize Theron's breasts, and the atrocious acting of Ben Ass-lick. LOL

But seriously …

Die Hard
A Christmas Story
The Santa Clause
Santa Claus: The Movie
Love, Actually
Jingle All The Way (Sinbad saying "Ta ta, Turtle Man" slays me)

Plus, there's some classic TV episodes that I always watch. Most every Simpsons Christmas ep and the episode of Married … with Children with Sam Kinison as Al's guardian angel in the 'It's a Wonderful Life' spoof. Classic.

Sean on Dec 24, 2008

24 hours of A Christmas Story ftw!!

Dave on Dec 24, 2008

The Snowman 1982

Bob on Dec 24, 2008

Loved your post!

Here's an 8 minute holiday treat..

One of my NEW favorite Christmas movies, “The Gift Wrapper”, I saw in a film festival this year and it was just posted on youtube for the holidays and thought you all might like to check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZWdjrTmSCs

Classics for me are:
It's a wonderful life
meet john doe
Serendipity
A Christmas Story
Holiday Inn
Miracle on 34th Street

and now The Gift Wrapper…

Ty on Dec 24, 2008

i would have to say a

1. a Christmas Story
2. Lethal Weapon
3. Scrooged

cody on Dec 24, 2008

Thank #21. The original grinch is a classic

Rick on Dec 24, 2008

I just watched Fred Claus. It wasn't as bad as everybody makes out.

zubzwank on Dec 24, 2008

Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer

The Nightmare Before Christmas

Dan W on Dec 24, 2008

Charlie Brown Christmas (love that dancing scene recently recreated on Psych)
Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (the original cartoon)
In the Good Ole Summertime (most of the story takes place during the Christmas season)
Arsenic and Old Lace (I know the story takes place during Halloween but…)
Die Hard
A Christmas Carol (with Patrick Stewart and the kid from "I Am David")
NBA and NFL games (sorry..I'm a chick who LOVES sports too!)

That's about it.

Bry from Chi on Dec 24, 2008

This is awesome…I thought I was the only one who considered "Die Hard" the best Xmas film. "Death Race" made my list this year as well

kevin on Dec 24, 2008

Its a toss up between Showgirls and Cool As Ice.

FRANK on Dec 24, 2008

i know it was released in july, but tim burton's charlie and the chocolate factory just has the perfect christmas feel, what with the snow and all.

there was also a short movie i used to watch when i was a kid about a mother ppolar bear who gets separated by her kid, but i forgot the name

i guess my top 3 would be the obvious 3:

3. a christmas story
2. it's a wonderful life
1. home- KEEP THE CHANGE YOU FILTHY ANIMAL!

LeeMan on Dec 24, 2008

DIE HARD easily the best my family watch it every christmas eve

but I would like to give a nod to a couple of underappriciated holiday films

a muppet christmas caroll the definitive telling

the Ref I'm sure someone had to have mentioned it but I didn't see it
this is a must watch

kiran halcyon on Dec 24, 2008

My wife and I have a series of movies that we watch every Christmas season:

In no particular order -

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas
Elf
Mickey's Christmas Carol (must be watched on X-Mas Eve…tradition since I was little)
Love Actually
A Christmas Story
The Holiday
The Ref (criminally under-rated)
It's a Wonderful Life (also X-Mas Eve)
Just Friends
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
A Christmas Carol (starring Alastair Sim, George C. Scott or Patrick Stewart)
Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmans (animated)

Hope everyone has a great Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Ian D. Holmes on Dec 24, 2008

The Muppet Christmas Carol. I watch it every year on Christmas Eve.

Zach on Dec 24, 2008

The Long Kiss Goodnight

Colin on Dec 25, 2008

Eyes wide shut.

Biff Tannon on Dec 25, 2008

A Diva's Christmas Carol - I couldn't think of any and its on TV right now.

Ryan on Dec 25, 2008

my best movie is SCROOGE whith bill murray

lam4x4 on Dec 25, 2008

1. It's A Wonderful Life. 2. Meet John Doe. 3. White Christmas, 4. Holiday Inn. 5. A Christmas Carol -1951 version with Alister Cook. 6. A Christmas in Connecticut.7. Miracle on 34th Street. 8. A Christmas Story. 9. Scrooged 10. A National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. 11. The Cartoon Version of Dr Seuss" How The Gringe Who Stole Christmas". 12.Rudolf The Red Nose Reindeer 13. Mickey's Christmas Carol. 14. A Charlie Brown Christmas. 15. Die Hard. 16. Love Actually. 17. Twas The Night Before Christmas- Cartoon. 18. The Ref.19. The Holiday 20. Frosty The Snow Man. 21. The Little Drummer boy.

Ivan Arcaya on Dec 25, 2008

Die Hard, Bad Santa and Scrooge (most versions).

DJ Sid on Dec 25, 2008

Die hard and Better Off Dead (I don't think anyone mentioned that one yet). It wasn't all Christmas, but had some in it.

paul on Dec 26, 2008

65 comments and like only 3 people mention The Ref? WHAT THE FUCK PEOPLE?!?!??!??!!!???!!

Kent on Dec 26, 2008

Scrooge with Albert Finney is the Best
Muppet Christmas Carol Oscar worth Scrooge performance
The Ref
Love Actually
White Christmas
Wonderful Life
Scrooged

Tim "Cloverfield" on Dec 28, 2008

Santa's Slay and Gremlins

Skovacs13 on Dec 28, 2008

Gremlins, Bad Santa, Friday After Next

The Delighful Deviant on Dec 28, 2008

gremlins
die hard 1 & 2
the ref
NL Xmas Vacation
predator 1
jingle all the way
elf
scrooged
plains trains and automobiles

werdnafaz on Dec 29, 2008

ohh yeah home alone 1 & 2

werdnafaz on Dec 29, 2008

Personally, I like the old classics -
The Bishop's Wife (the original with Cary Grant and David Niven)
The Lemon Drop Kid
It's a Wonderful Life (although the Times Pointed out it's not always so wonderful - )
A Christmas Carol with Alister Sims
Holiday Inn

Some fun ones are
Elf
A Christmas Story
White Christmas
The Grinch

I can't believe so many people mentioned Love Actually. What an awful film - bad editing, shoddy writing and loose ends all over the place at the end. But what do you expect from a guy who writes sit-coms.

CatieLee on Dec 29, 2008

Dang - forgot the Times article: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/19/movies/19wond.html?scp=2&sq=it%27s%20a%20wonderful%20life&st=cse

CatieLee on Dec 29, 2008

I meant " Holiday Affair " with Robert Mitchim for # 19. Instead; I typed " The Holiday".

Ivan Arcaya on Dec 29, 2008

#70 I recognize most of the films and have seen at least four fifths of them. However; I don't understand Predator 1. I would understand Aliens VS Predators. Predator 1 is in the very hot jungles of South America. Aliens VS Predators was in a very windy , icy cold snow storm. Please explain how Predator 1 remotely reminds you of Christmas. All the others mentioned either had to do with Christmas directly or were during winter and it was cold or snow was falling and/or on the ground. lol and may you have a happy New Year.

Ivan Arcaya on Dec 30, 2008

Our Christmas movie, since it's release in 2003, is Love Actually. Must see.

Don't care about the rest anymore. LOL.

Hilander on Dec 31, 2008

For me and my family we always watch…

Polar Express
White Christmas
A Christmas Story

Kris on Aug 10, 2009

What to Watch? Name Your Favorite Holiday Movies!

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