My Five Favorite Christmas Movies of All Time
I was going to write a “Top 10 Best Christmas Movies Ever” post today, but I figured eh, screw it, they’re all just going to be whatever movies I like the best anyways, or else it’s just going to have to be A Christmas Story, Miracle on 34th Street and It’s a Wonderful Life as the top three.
So here we go, these are MY favorite Christmas movies of all time, and I happen to think they’re all pretty great. See if you agree:
1. Love Actually
Love Actually is not just one of my favorite Christmas movies, it’s one of my favorite movies period, it just happens to be set during Christmas. The holiday does play an important role in the film as it’s the catalyst for children’s plays and radio #1 single competitions, but it’s secondary to the eighty million love stories found in the film.
Best Scene: The Prime Minister’s Dance
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05nXkNxKkW4
2. Elf
It’s pretty hard to make a “new” Christmas classic nowadays, but Jon Favreau and Will Ferrell delivered just that. Buddy the Elf is probably Ferrell’s best man-child role, because it’s in a movie that actually calls for that type of character. Buddy’s journey into the “real world” and finding out it’s not as magical as he hoped, it touching and hilarious all at the same time.
Best Scene: Buddy Discovers New York
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6yYd6Pq7Ic
3. Home Alone 2
I actually like Home Alone 2 better than the first because I believe it’s the more Christmas-y of the pair (no, I don’t count the other six sequels they made). Christmas in New York is a pretty awesome thing to behold, and in between bandits getting hit with bricks that should in all likelihood kill them, we get to see a hell of a lot of holiday spirit.
Best Scene: There are a lot, but I’m going to have to go with this one because of Tim Curry
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWxDmBocGrM
4. Jingle All the Way
Everyone seems to think this movie is shit, but I personally love it. It’s absurdly over the top, but Arnold is superb in it, as he’s one of the few action stars who I believe does comedy well. Plus you have Sinbad and Anakin Skywalker, how can you beat that? The search for an elusive toy culminates in probably the best ending of any movie here, as Arnold takes on the mantle of Turboman himself, and his kid thinking his dad’s a superhero is probably one of the greatest gifts you could ever give.
Best Scene: The multi-Santa fight scene, but sadly no one has uploaded it to YouTube. Can anyone help me out?
5. A Muppet Christmas Carol
There are many Muppet movies and there are many Christmas Carol movies (trust me, do NOT see the new one), but when the two met it was probably the greatest Christmas movie ever made. Michael Caine might have been a bit too kindhearted for Ebenezer Scrooge, but the Muppet cast filling out the film was priceless, and things even got a little terrifying once the ghost of Christmas future showed up.
Best Scene: Marley and Marley’s Duet
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsiKOJOXMJU
I own Love Actually on DVD so…um, yeah.
And Elf is hilarious.
Did Home Alone 2 bring back John Candy? I can never remember. In any case I liked the first one better because of his character, and the old man also got to me (as George Costanza would say).
I would also submit Die Hard, Lethal Weapon, The Nightmare Before Christmas and The Santa Clause.
@ Ethan
I never thought of Die Hard as a Christmas movie…but I guess it could be considered one. If so, it’s by far my #1.
I’m right there with ya. Love Actually and Elf
I’ve made it a tradition to watch both of those every xmas. And the ladies love it!
Where is the first picture from? It looks awesome!
Guess i haven’t seen Love Actually yet. Found the video of “Christmas is all around” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_JRyhJiXQ8 , best christmas video ever! Thought it was a crappy hugh grant movie.
Love Actually FTW! i usually watch Hocus Pocus and Pumpkinhead around christmas, too for some reason.
I always associate Christmas movies with The Goonies. When I was a kid, it was ALWAYS on constantly on TBS/SUperstation/Peachtree around Christmas time, before they showed A Christmas Story for Weeks on end.
However, my top Christmas movies; Nightmare Before Christmas, Prancer and, for the most part, Polar Express.
‘Elf’ is half of a good movie. It’s pretty funny stuff but then kicks into the standard we-have-to-help-Santa-save-Christmas-by-believing-in-him dead horse of a plot. This movie goes from hilarious to unwatchable. Had it stayed focused on Buddy the Elf and his real father (still a pretty conventional storyline in its own right), it could have been a classic.
While all of them I think are definitely great…the muppets being my favorite of the list…My favorite still will always be Mickeys Christmas Carol…i know its not feature length its only like 45 minutes but it still hits me pretty hard for some reason…maybe because im a sucker for mickey mouse who knows. Speaking of Mickey Mouse and all those goons he used to run around with (plut, goofy, donald duck etc.) why havent we seen a big budget micky mouse disney movie in theaters in years…I think Disney needs yo get their heads out of their asses and introduce kids of hits generation to the true O.G. of Disney And that would be the mouse man himself….i say we start a petition now…with all the great minds at disney and pixar at this time you dont think they could come up with an amazing and epic Mickey Mouse movie???
My favorite Christmas movie is The Ref. Totally makes me feel better about my family’s dinner.
I always liked “Mixed Nuts” and “Gremlins”, but every year my family and I decorate the Christmas tree and watch “Love Actually” and “Bridget Jones’ Diary”.
I watch Die Hard every year on Christmas eve with my family. Easily my number 1. However, I totally agree that Jingle all the Way does not get the credit it deserves.
I TOTALLY agree with the Muppet’s Christmas Carol… I watch it every year on XMas eve.. I would add the original The Grinch Who Stole Christmas and Bad(er) Santa.