In order
Honorary Mention: The Family Stone (2005) – Most depressing Christmas movie to come out in the last 20 years. But really good movie.
10. Elf (2003) – Proved to me that Will Ferrel can do more than gross-out humor. He was so endearing in this movie. It has its problems, but my favorite scene is when Ferrel jumps onto the Christmas Tree. 🙂
9. The Santa Claus (1994) – Okay, now I feel old. That movie is from 1994?! Oh my God. Anyway, I love this one. Good-natured fun and probably the best movie Tim Allen ever did.
8. Love Actually (2003) – Love story with a Christmas backdrop. Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Thomas Sangster who is the most adorable child actor ever, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman…do I really need to go on?
7. Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) – Contains my favorite Christmas song of all time: “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” Though the majority of the film does not take place at Christmas, that song and the brilliant, emotional performance of Judy Garland during the Christmas scenes make it that for me. About a family in St. Louis who think they will move in the new year. Amazing movie.
6. The Bells of St. Mary (1945) – Bing Crosby is a priest, Ingrid Bergman a nun and they work with kids. One of them gets sick by the end. Watch with tissues, but definitely watch it. A new favorite.
5. Home Alone (1990) – Because I’m from the generation that this movie was made for. Grew up watching Kevin survive in the house all by himself. He’s so mean to the bad guys though. Do not try this at home. 🙂
4. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) – Some would call this the quintessential Christmas film. James Stewart as a guy who almost kills himself then sees the world as it would have been if he’d never been born. Rugrats, the cartoon, did a take on this in one of my favorite episodes featuring Chucky. It is not Christmas without watching this movie.
3. Scrooged (1988) – I hate the “Christmas Carol” story, but I love, LOVE this movie. Bill Murray stars in a take-off of the classic “Christmas Carol” story. It is funny and sentimental all at the same time. And the mute kid gets me every time.
2. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) – Yes, I do pick this movie as my second favorite holiday movie. Been watching it since it came out and I just adore the movie. Chevy Chase is so funny in it. I love the part where he puts all the lights on the house and when he turns it on, it blinds the neighbors and is brighter than just about anything else. Star-studded cast too: Doris Roberts, Juliette Lewis, Jonathan Galecki (David from “Roseanne”), and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. The speeding sleds are funny too.
1. A Christmas Story (1983) – A movie from the year I was born. There is no doubt this is my favorite Christmas movie. I always watch the 24 hours of “A Christmas Story” on TNT each Christmas. I could probably recite the movie. Ralphie and his bebe gun, the Dad’s awful lamp, the tongue on the frozen post…it is all great. Most memorable line: “You’ll shoot your eye out.”
I dare you to disagree with the list. Have I left anything out? Oh, and BTW, The Sound of Music is not a Christmas film and the song “My Favorite Things” is not, and never will be, a Christmas song to me. Harry Potter movies aren’t Christmas movies either.
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