It’s the most wonderful time of the year and just thinking about it make me happy. I have every weekend free until Christmas {not sure how the stars aligned and that happened, but I’ll take it} so The Girl and I plan on hanging out in our favorite footed pajamas for the next month, sipping hot tea and cocoa and watching our favorite Christmas movies on repeat. I can’t think of a better way to ring in the holiday season. Here’s our top 10 in no particular order:
It’s a Wonderful Life: Might be my favorite Christmas movie of all time. It’s THE classic Christmas movie and just sums up everything I love about the holiday spirit in one movie.
A Christmas Story: I can’t not watch this movie. Leg lamps, tongues stuck to poles and “you’ll shoot your eye out” warnings. What does this movie not have? If you ever need a good laugh because you’re stressed about the holidays, watch this movie! Plus, the dad totally reminds me of my husband. Cranky, foul mouthed. Yada Yada Yada. 😉
Miracle on 34th Street: For anyone out there doubting Santa’s existence, this movie is for you. Might be one of the only movies where everyone is rooting for the lawyer! Get your Kleenex out though because this one gets me every time.
Love Actually: This movie isn’t reserved just for Christmas viewing. It’s so good I watch it all year long. The way all of the character’s lives intertwine is sheer perfection, and the unrequited love word-card scene between Juliet and Mark is hands down one of the best scenes in any film ever.
The Grinch Who Stole Christmas: While I prefer the old school version, my daughter loves the Jim Carey remake. Regardless of which version you pick, your heart will certainly grow three sizes after watching it.
Elf: If this isn’t on your list, I think there might be something wrong with you. It’s Will Ferrel’s best work. It’s so absurd it’s awesome. Also, Buddy the Elf has given us some of the best quotes ever: “He’s an angry elf.” “You sit on a throne of lies.” “The best way to spread Christmas Cheer, is singing loud for all to hear.”
Arthur Christmas: We really thought this was going to turn out to be another silly {lame} animated Christmas movie, but we both loved it. And watched it again! It’s perfect for the whole family and especially great if you’re tired of the normal animated Christmas classics.
The Family Stone: This is right up there with Love Actually. It’s a rom-com that I can’t get enough of. It’s the story of a family that is so dysfunctional it makes them like every other family in America.
A Charlie Brown Christmas: It’s a classic and probably should be watched every Christmas by everyone.
The Original Christmas Classics Gift Set: This has all the Christmas movies you loved growing up on one DVD: Rudolph, Frosty, Santa and more.
Honorable Mentions:
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Scrooged, Scrooge or Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol
Did we leave out your favorite?
Sound off in the comments section & let us know what Christmas movies top your family’s list.
~Mavis
mike ryder says
Family Guy!!!! Nicholas Cage and Tea Leoni rock!
mike ryder says
I meant The Family Man
Mavis Butterfield says
That’s a good one too!
Paula says
Muppet Christmas Carol! Best version of the Dickens classic ever!
Mavis Butterfield says
I totally forgot about the Muppets!!
Paula says
Don’t feel bad. I once wrote a blog post on 10 Ass Kicking Girls from Movies and TV and left out Samantha Carter from Stargate SG-1. How could that even have happened? It’s my *favorite* show.
Veronica says
White christmas and the original christmas in conneticut! My favs. I cannot stand a christmas story though!
Mavis Butterfield says
I have not seen, Christmas in Connecticut. I’ll have look it up.
Ashley says
White Christmas and Elf are definitely my favorites. Gotta love Christmas Vacation, too. Nightmare Before Christmas is my all time favorite movie ever though, but I watch that one year round.
Paula says
Holiday Inn is good, too, if you like White Christmas. Stars Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye.
Jenn says
Absolutely love The Family Stone and Love Actually. Two of my all time favorite movies. And of course the holiday’s would not be complete if not for A Christmas Story!
Judy says
Bad Santa with Billy Bob Thornton.
Mary says
Olive, The Other Reindeer. Quirky, but sweet.
Mavis Butterfield says
I love that one!!!
Kim C says
Little Women 🙂
Mavis Butterfield says
That’s a good one!!
Chris says
The Bishop’s Wife (Carey Grant, David Niven & Lorretta Young) – THE BEST! I have to watch it at least once a season.
jen L A says
Polar express!!!!!
Heather D says
I LOVE The Nutcracker Prince. It came out in the ’80s I think and had Keifer Sutherland as the Nutcracker. I had forgotten about it until I was working in a video shop and it showed up in the bargain bin.
Madam Chow says
I love A Christmas Story and Scrooged.
Mavis Butterfield says
Bill Murray is the best!
Madam Chow says
Oh, I just remembered Home Alone!
Linda says
There’s some here I haven’t seen…. I hope I get to them soon… Thanks!!!
Pam says
The Santa Clause with Tim Allen. Funny and sweet at the same time.
Julie says
Christmas in Conneticut – glad to see I’m not the only one!
Cindi Myers says
While You Were Sleeping — I watch that every year. And I second Christmas in Connecticut and Holiday Inn. Though Love, Actually is my all-time favorite.
Mavis Butterfield says
I LOVE While you were sleeping!
Andrea In SLC says
The old (yes, dating myself here) claymation “Little Drummer Boy.” LOVE IT. My dd,who is 10 now, liked it so much when she was little she would watch it in July! LOL. Think we’re going to have to dig out that video. Nope, we don’t even have it on DVD!
Scott Henley says
No Way!!! Christmas Vacation is only an “Honorable Mention…… Top 10 without a doubt, and Christmas in Connecticut is for sure top 10. Barbara Stanwyck, she is awesome in this movie. Classy actress, back when there were classy women in Hollywood, and they still made classy and memorable movies…
Lisa Scott says
I am with you on the Christmas Vacation! No way it only makes Honorable mention! So not fair! This movie has it all. Happy moments, sad moments, poignant moments, Tear jerker moments, and moments that coke will fly right out of your nose if you happen to be drinking!! It is one of those movies that can be watched and watched from Thanksgiving night right up until New Years! Sometimes, I even watch it in July, just for the laughter.
Another one left off the list is Holiday Inn with Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire. About two fella’s that are entertainers but Bing wants to retire to Connecticut and have an Inn that people can come to on Holidays and celebrate. Another great classic movie that is fun and endearing. Bing Crosby wrote “White Christmas” for this movie. Well worth your time to see if you have not.
Well, that’s just my two cents!
Lisa Scott says
Sorry, Bing did not write White Christmas, Irving Berlin wrote it but it was for this movie.
My goof
Ellen in Clackamas says
Emmett Otter’s Jugband Christmas. This came out on HBO around 1977. It was from Jim Henson and the story is based on O’Henry’s “Gift of the Magi”. Some wonderful music and songs like you would expect from the Muppets creator. Sweet little movie
Erin M says
I love this movie. I found it a couple years ago on DVD. I had been using an old VHS tape with it taped on it.
Brenda says
Gosh, I totally forgot about Emmett Otter!
Loved watching it as a kid. Hmmm…gotta do some digging around to find it now!
Ln says
Absolutely LOVE The Polar Express!!! And A Wish For Wings That Work (for all the Opus fans out there).
Ursula says
One Magic Christmas was an instant FAV! First time I watched it & bought it from our local video store when they went out if business. The Holiday , Family Man, Love Actually, Die Hard(1 and 2), Miracle on 34th Street(1947), A Christmad carol(1951),
Citizen Kane, It’s a Wonderful Life, Sound of Music, Trading Places . Not necessarily in that order
Erin M says
Do you know what your fave movies Elf and Christmas Story have in common…..give up?? Ralphie and the head Elf on Elf are the same person!! Look at the blue eyes…dead giveaway.
mary says
The polar express,