Favorite Christmas Movies

There’s nothing like lighting a fire, turning on the Christmas tree lights and cuddling up on the couch to watch a fun Christmas movie.  Over the years there have been many great movies that became instant classics.  Pick your favorite and grab a big bowl of popcorn because it’s movie time!

Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1947) starring James Stewart is a story hope and worthiness.  When George Bailey hits a lifetime low on Christmas Eve, an angel looking to earn his wings comes to his rescue and shows George what life would be like without him for those he loves.  Through the angel’s intervention George learns that his life has meaning and in the end an angel gets his wings.

“Miracle on 34th Street” (1947) stars a young Natalie Wood who sets out to find out if there really is a Santa Claus.  When Kris Kringle, the Macy’s “Santa,” claims to be the real deal, he is accused of being insane and must go to court to prove his claim.

“Scrooge” (aka “A Christmas Carol,” 1951), adapted from the Charles Dickens classic novel, tells of bitter, old Ebenezer Scrooge, a miser who overworks and underpays his employee, Bob Cratchit, and who has no regard for family.  On Christmas Eve, Scrooge is haunted by the ghosts of Christmas Present, Christmas Past, and Christmas Yet to Come.  Will the spirits help Scrooge see the error of his ways?

In 1988, Bill Murray starred in “Scrooged,” and updated version of “A Christmas Carol.”  Murray plays Frank Cross, a smug television executive planning a production of the Dickens’ classic novel.  When the three spirits visit Frank on Christmas Eve he goes on a wild, ethereal journey.

In “A Christmas Story,” (1983) “You’ll shoot your eye out,” is all little Ralphie Parker hears when he asks for an official Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-Shot Range Model Air Rifle “with a compass in the stock.”  Set in 1940, the movie follows Ralphie and his dealings with teachers, friends, bullies, his wacky family, and even Santa Claus on his quest for the perfect Christmas gift in this hilarious holiday favorite.

Celebrate Christmas with Chevy Chase and the Griswold family in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (1989).  The Griswolds never seem to have any luck and the bad luck continues in this madcap holiday adventure.  Can Clark Griswold and his family survive?

John Hughes’ “Home Alone” (1990) made Macaulay Culkin a child star.  When the McAllister family accidentally leave their eight-year-old son, Kevin, home alone while they vacation in France, he must defend his family’s home from a couple of bumbling robbers played by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern.  If one “Home Alone” is not enough there were two sequels, “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York,” and “Home Alone 3.”

The Dr. Seuss classic holiday tale “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” was first made into an animated movie in 1966.  Ron Howard directed a live action version starring Jim Carrey in 2000.  It’s the story of a nasty, green creature named The Grinch who is determined to destroy Christmas for the gentle Whos living in Whoville.  He has a change of heart when he encounters a little girl who teaches him the true meaning of Christmas.

Other animated movies were made for television and are favorites for children and adults alike.  “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (1965) stars all of the Charles M. Schulz “Peanuts” characters and follows Charlie Brown as he tries to find the true meaning of Christmas.  In the 1960s, Arthur Rankin, Jr. and Jules Bass began to create a library of holiday movies using stop motion animation, a process using figurines, as well as more traditional animation.  Some of their Christmas favorites include “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (1964), “The Little Drummer Boy” (1968), “Frosty the Snowman” (1969), “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” (1970) and “Jack Frost” (1979).

Related posts: