So what if some of our Christmas favorites are sappy. Christmas isn't just about awesome presents and love and forgiveness, it’s also a chance to get away with showing your sappy side and enjoying those hidden guilty movie pleasures.
Christmas movies can warm our hearts and fill us with joy and remind us all of what’s good in the world when we’ve resigned ourselves that we just not feeling it this year. This year we’ve unwrapped what we consider ten of the best Christmas movies of all time. Some of them are pure Christmas classics and others show just a hint of the Christmas spirit, but all of them are magical in some form or another.
01. White Christmas
Released in 1954 and starring Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye, White Christmas is the story of two GIs who come home, fall in love with two dancing girls and help the retired general they served under in World War II save his struggling inn. While the plot isn’t the best, the chemistry between Crosby, Kaye and Rosemary Clooney (Yes, George’s Aunt) is great and if you throw in the music of Irving Berlin, you’ve got a sentimental classic that always leaves you with a smile.
02. Die Hard
I know what you’re thinking. What the hell is a Bruce Willis film doing in a top ten list but this movie is a classic. Released in 1988, it was the franchise that would make Willis a star and the perfect anecdote for all those sugary Christmas films. Let’s face it, who doesn’t want to send the wife-beater clad Willis take out a bunch of German terrorists on Christmas Eve, effectively saving Christmas. With his classic one liners and action packed goodness, this film is always someone’s Christmas favorite, even if it is just dad.
03. Scrooged
I know some people are going to say that Scrooged holds nothing over A Christmas Carol and that maybe so, but it is still a classic Christmas staple and Billy Murray is perfect as Francis Xavier Cross. Based on Charles Dickens’, a Christmas Carol it sees the nasty Francis Cross visited by the ghost of Christmas past, Christmas future and Christmas present, with a warning to mend his ways.
While there are many references to Murray’s hit ‘Ghost-busters’- including a taxi-driving ghost, it is Murray hilarious performance that seals the movie’s fate in our top ten.
04. The Nightmare Before Christmas
What is a Christmas list without the likes of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. Known for his bizarre adaptations of classics, Burton this time has created a nightmarish wonderland with the likes of Jack Skellington opening a portal into Christmas Town. Hilarious chaos is ensured when Santa is kidnapped by the Oogie Boogie and it is up to Jack to rescue him. With music by Danny Elfman – who, along with Chris Sarandon, voice Jack and the talents of Burton, it is a wickedly delightful Christmas film.
05. Home Alone
Ok, so it’s been 20 years since Home Alone came out and Macauley Culkin is definitely not that cute little boy anymore, but this film is still a family favorite. Released in 1990, nobody thought that it would spawn a franchise or be the overnight success that it was. Home Alone is about a family who go on Christmas vacation only to find they’ve left one of their youngest kids, Kevin alone. Now imagine an 8 year old- who went to bed angry with his whole family, waking up to find himself home alone. Throw in some bungling burglars determined to rob the house and you’ve got hilarious scene after scene. While it is bursting at the scene with humor, the morale of the story is the importance of family.
06. Love Actually
One of the more delightful aspects of Love Actually is that there is more than one story within the one film. Created by the talent that brought you Four Wedding and a Funeral, Love Actually has a smorgasbord of stories and stars to satisfy everyone- from Hugh Grant, Alan Rickman and Colin Firth to Emma Thompson to Keira Knightly.
Love Actually is a film that will make you smile, make you laugh and might possibly make you cry. It’s a favorite anytime of the year but none more so than at Christmas time.
07. Meet Me In St Louis
A classic but a goody, this 1944 film spans a year in the life of the Smith Family in St Louis. Directed by Vincente Minnelli and starring Judy Garland, it tells the tale of Esther, the girl who secretly loves the boy next door. Nothing is sweeter than Garland singing, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “The Trolley Song”, both which would become hits after the movie. The film is a well-loved classic and a with lush scenery, beautiful costumes and a talented cast in the form of Garland, Margaret O’Brian, Mary Astor and Tom Drake, it is one worth watching.
08. It’s A Wonderful Life
If there was ever going to be a perfect Christmas film than It’s a Wonderful Life is it. The story tells of George Bailey, played by Jimmy Stewart, going through some hard times. Dejected, he wishes that he was never born. His wish is granted briefly by an angel, who shows him what life would be like without his existing. The message of the movie is hope and that no matter how down we feel or how insignificant we feel in the world, all of us have something to offer in some form or another.
The ultimate classic, this is a movie that never fails to make people laugh, cry and reflect. Christmas perfection at it’s best.
09. How The Grinch Stole Christmas
Jim Carrey was made to play the Grinch and the Grinch was made for Jim Carrey. Based on the Dr Seuss novels, this tells the tale of one little girl, Cindy Lou Who, believing in the power of Christmas. She invites the Grinch to a Christmas party, which end well. A series of catastrophes occur one after another – before the Grinch finally begins to understand the meaning of Christmas and seeks redemption.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a delightful film by Ron Howard, that will appeal to children of all ages and sizes.
10. Bad Santa
Ok, this is not your average Christmas movie. In fact, everything about it screams anti-Christmas but it is hilarious. Billy Bob Thornton is just absolutely feral as the alcoholic conman, who plays a Department Store Father Christmas to case and rob them after dark.
A black comedy, it is hilarious in its vulgarity.
While not everyone is going to be satisfied with our top ten, we have tried to set the net as wide as possible. If you have a favorite that you think should be in our top ten, please comment and let us know.
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