This Christmas, I don’t want to reinvent the wheel. I’m bringing several of my favorite Christmas videos for this list, but I’m also adding some new ones.
I love all kinds of Christmas movies and have a very liberal view of what matters. There’s a lot of unnecessary debate about whether or not Die Hard qualifies. What I’m saying is that if it’s a movie you like to watch at Christmas, it’s a Christmas movie. Sometimes it may be just a glimpse of Christmas, but it makes you feel like it’s Christmas. Who am I to rain on your show?It’s Christmas, instead I’m going to snow on your parade!
The sad truth is that there aren’t enough smart Christmas videos. There are plenty of Christmas videos available, but many of them are weirdly bad. Still, smart people are very smart.
So, more preamble, let’s get into the holiday spirit, shall we?
What are your favorite Christmas movies? Let me know on Twitter or Facebook and have a very Merry Christmas, happy holidays and a glorious New Year!
Check out my list of Thanksgiving movies to watch here.
I’ve never had a literally conscious idea of Terry Gilliam’s dystopian time travel movie Twelve Monkeys as a Christmas movie before, but I still need to see it this time of year. I watched it with my son, who hadn’t realized it until the past. week and I was struck by the fact that it’s really kind of a Christmas movie. John Cole (Bruce Willis) even visits a retail store, in two timelines, that has just opened its doors for the holiday shopping season. The final scenes of the entire movie take place just before Christmas. It matters, and it’s also one of the most productive films ever made. Bruce Willis is fantastic and Brad Pitt gives a crazy performance that makes me laugh. Madeline Stowe is also amazing.
The most recent film on this list, The Holdovers, just hit theaters a few months ago. I went there recently instead of some of the big blockbusters and I don’t regret anything. It’s an instant Christmas harvest and one of the top-rated Christmas movies. of all time. The story takes place at Christmas in a private boys’ school in 1970. Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti) is a grumpy hitale teacher at school who is tasked with chasing down kids who can’t get home for Christmas (the leftover headlines) and ends up teaming up with Angus (Dominic Sessa). It’s funny, it’s heartwarming, it’s well-written, and it feels like a movie made in the ’70s, not just a movie set in that era. I can’t say resend it enough.
It’s an especially fitting Christmas movie for this year, as I just finished watching the 2010 miniseries The Pillars of the Earth, which is set just before the reign of King Henry II (the ebook and series end at other times, with the latter skipping the big moment). jump). Regardless, The Lion in Winter is about the royal succession and the political intrigues and maneuvers that take place at Christmas 1183. Katherine Hepburn is at her best as Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, as is Peter O’Toole as King Henry. II. Es funny, brilliantly acted, and a must-have Christmas movie for anyone who loves wonderful cinema. Newcomers Anthony Hopkins and Timothy Dalton also made their film debuts (although Hopkins directed a short film in the past).
Jimmy Stewart will always have a special place in my heart thanks to It’s A Wonderful Life and Harvey, though of course he’s famous for dozens of other great movies. Still, there’s something special about this movie and its reminder of hope and how we all have a small part to play that ends up having enormous repercussions to the people whose lives we touch. One of my favorite movies of all time.
Is there a funnier Christmas movie than Home Alone?I’m not sure. Macaulay Culkin is about my age, so when I saw this, I surely identified with Kevin and his excitement about having all the space to himself, and then his dismay. But it’s the Wet Bandits (Joe Pesci as Harry and Daniel Stern as Marv) who make this movie so funny. It’s pretty violent (and Kevin is a real psychopath in the sequel!) and one of the most productive fashion slapstick comedies ever made.
Chevy Chase almost plays these ridiculous, unhappy, slightly sexist characters, but he does it so well that you can’t help but love him. The Christmas holidays are the classic movie “Everything Goes Wrong,” because Clark Griswold and his family just can’t get it right and one misfortune leads to another. Like Home Alone, this can work as a wonderful background movie that you can watch while you make eggnog and hang out.
I watched Hook this year for the first time in many years and this time I liked it even more. I identify more than ever with Peter as a father, and I love everything about this movie, adding the obvious scenarios. I miss the days when movies had recognizable sets and didn’t seem so realistic!
The whole thing takes place at Christmas and while it’s not explicitly about the holiday, I think it counts. Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman are both brilliant in this Steven Spielberg feel-good film.
Stream it on Amazon Prime Video.
Probably the most debated question: “Is it or rarely is it a Christmas movie?Movies of all time, but the answer is simple: you decide. If you feel like it’s a Christmas movie, great!If not, great! Get into the spirit of the season and let others have their say. It’s a timeless Christmas classic. Yippee Kayak Other Buckets!
Don’t settle for any substitutes. The original animated Grinch is still the best. This is the biggest book-to-screen adaptation of all time, faithfully replicating Dr. Seuss’ old Christmas tale with the added advantages of Boris Karloff’s narration, the old song written by Seuss and Albert. The Hague and directed by the wonderfully named Thurl Ravenscroft.
Of course, Christmas is rarely what comes to mind when you think of Edward Scissorhands, however, much of the film is set around Christmas and a big Christmas party. And along the way, they all come with Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas on the charts. I tried coming up with some of his other Christmas movies (one more below).
Klaus, one of the wonder hits of 2019 and an instant animated Christmas classic. I surely love the taste and art of animation in this film. It’s also a wonderful story about healing old wounds and ending old rivalries. I definitely appreciate it!
I must admit that my favorite Will Ferrell movie that has elves is the Eurovision Song Contest, but Elf is a clever Christmas movie and one of Ferrell’s most adorable roles. Entertainment for the whole family.
This movie is about the same age as me (two years younger, actually, which makes me feel old). It’s one of those timeless Christmas classics that shows what the American suburban family can be like, even in the 1940s.
It’s not your typical Christmas movie, but it counts in my book. Batman Returns is one of the most productive Batman movies ever made and is set during Christmas in Gotham, which gives it a wonderful and cool touch, especially productive for Danny DeVito. The Pale Penguin, Michael Keaton’s Batman and especially Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman (meow!). Just a wonderful movie in every way. Although I’m a little tired of Tim Burton’s trick, I still love his older movies.
As much as I love the Mickey Mouse Christmas Carol (which we just watched the other day) the Muppets still do it best. A big part of that is Michael Caine’s performance as Scrooge. What a wonderful combination. Michael Caine and Kermit the Frog. One of my favorite Muppets outings as well. Light the lamp, not the rat!
A humble little crop made for TV and one of the shortest possible options on this list, I still find it comforting to watch as an adult. I love the music of the piano, the small ambitions of the short film, the little tree that just wants a little love. Very healthy and comforting.
This one is a little less healthy and a little less comforting, but it’s still a wonderful Christmas movie. Or at least a movie that goes back to scenes from Christmas, parties, etc. I searched for a gangster movie on this list and Goodfellas fits. the bill. One of my favorite Martin Scorsese movies and a fashion classic.
James Gunn is now the big boss at DC Films, but he’s not done with the charming Guardians of the Galaxy just yet. He’s more of a Charlie Brown Christmas special than a full-fledged movie, but it’s a great little Christmas escapade and a fun throwback. to some of the MCU’s most captivating characters as we wait for Guardians 3.
Obviously, it may not come with everything here and many wonderful movies were omitted from this list, so it may come with a clever variety. Let me know what your favorite Christmas videos are on Twitter or Facebook.
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