We can all relate to the feeling of sitting cozy on our couch munching on our favourite snacks, binge-watching the same ol’ Christmas movies on Hallmark. For most of our childhood, Christmas was solely a holiday for the movies. Whether it was watching a Christmas Day blockbuster in theaters or simply enjoying the annual How the Grinch Stole Christmas on cable. Watching non-stop Christmas movies is essential to preparing for the most wonderful time of the year.
From Golden Age classics like It’s a Wonderful Life, to feel-good animations such ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’, ‘Dr Seuss’s The Grinch’ our expert has compiled the best festive films of all time – in chronological order – for you and your loved ones to enjoy.
A Christmas Carol (1951)
One of the best adaptations of Charles Dickens’s classic tale, this wonderful 1951 film follows the familiar Christmas Eve torment of bitter miser Ebenezer Scrooge (Alastair Sim), who is visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future.
White Christmas (1954)
This 1954 musical, which features a new version of the song from which the film takes its title, stars Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye as music-act partners who link up with two sisters (Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen) to assist their old military commander save his Vermont lodge.
Home Alone
Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) is abandoned by his family and forced to fight a couple of dimwitted criminals (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern) during Christmas in this memorable children’s adventure from director Chris Columbus and writer John Hughes.
The Holiday
Nancy Meyers is the Queen of Cozy, and this Christmas-themed romantic comedy might be her warm and fuzzy film yet. Two women, one in London (Kate Winslet) and the other in Los Angeles (Cameron Diaz), experience romantic setbacks at the same time, prompting them to swap residences during the holidays and, as a result, find new men to obsess over.
A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
This version of Charles Schulz’s Peanuts comic-strips, has been presented on television every year since its debut, establishing a gentle, sweet American touchstone in the process. The jazz-soundtracked cartoon classic depicts Charlie Brown becoming disconcerted by the increasing materialism of the season, while his duty as director of the school Christmas pageant goes horribly wrong. It is up to Linus to deliver some Christmas wisdom as the big day approaches.
The Polar Express (2004)
The Polar Express gets criticism for its dead eyes and plunges into the uncanny valley, but it does have some thrilling action scenes (especially in 3D on the big screen) and some moments of beauty aboard the magical train that transports children to the North Pole to meet Father Christmas.
How The Grinch Stole Christmas
Despite wearing three feet of latex, Jim Carrey comes over loud and clear in this version of Dr. Seuss’ poem. While it deviates from the tale slightly more than the 1966 animated version, the spectacular design and make-up more than compensate. It’s also rather entertaining to see Carrey improvise amidst all of the big-budget hijinks going on around him.
Edward Scissorhand
Johnny Depp’s pale, leather-suited, scissor-handed Edward stands out from Tim Burton’s bright suburban Christmastime backdrop in 1990, yet his story ultimately proves wonderfully in sync with the season’s spirit of open-hearted inclusivity.
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
This is a perennial 1990s hit, a musical rendition of Dickens’ story including Muppets as your favorite Christmas Carol characters. Michael Caine is an admirably grumpy Scrooge, performing the role entirely straight alongside his puppet co-stars, while Kermit makes an especially charming Bob Cratchit.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
This dark Christmas classic is breathtakingly animated and features a series of painfully catchy songs composed by Danny Elfman. Our hero is Jack Skellington, a toothy native of Halloween Town who mistakenly wanders into Christmas Town and is strangely captivated by the festive atmosphere.
Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
The famous Richard Attenborough plays a department store Santa who insists he is the real deal, which New York’s youngsters naturally accept – with the exception of an stubborn little girl played by Mara Wilson from Matilda. It becomes a little bogged down in legal jargon near the end, but it’s a pleasant Christmas diversion.
Love Actually
Richard Curtis’ star-studded ensemble romantic comedy is as popular as it is loathed. Even if you dislike it, you can’t deny that the multi-narrative picture has had an impact on holiday-themed comedies in the last decade.
Elf (2003)
2003 was a very successful year for modern Christmas classics. Jon Favreau’s Elf brings conventional fish-out-of-water cliches to the holiday season, as Will Ferrell’s human elf impostor Buddy discovers his true origins and travels to New York City to meet his original father.
It’s a wonderful life
Christmas requires schmaltz and snow, which Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life abundantly provides. James Stewart plays George Bailey, a businessman on the verge of suicide, until a fat, elderly angel named Clarence intervenes to show him how much of a difference he has made in the lives of his neighbours.
Black Christmas
Bob Clark’s 1974 masterpiece (starring Olivia Hussey, John Saxon, Margot Kidder, and Keir Dullea) is the pinnacle of modern slasher films, telling the horrible story of a group of sorority ladies who are preyed upon by a mysterious, deranged killer.
