Must watch Christmas Movies
In no particular order, these are the shows we watch every year. Some for nostalgia, some for the laughs but all because they are just plain awesome for the season.
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- DirectorBrian HensonStarsMichael CaineDave GoelzSteve WhitmireThe Muppets present their own touching rendition of Charles Dickens' classic tale.This is a classic. From Rizzo as Charles Dickens to the horrible song from Belle that only sometimes appears.
- DirectorJeremiah S. ChechikStarsChevy ChaseBeverly D'AngeloJuliette LewisThe Griswold family's plans for a big family Christmas predictably turn into a big disaster.Arguably the greatest Christmas movie of all time. Bet you can quote your way through it!
- DirectorRobert ZemeckisStarsJim CarreyGary OldmanColin FirthAn animated retelling of Charles Dickens' classic novel about a Victorian-era miser taken on a journey of self-redemption, courtesy of several mysterious Christmas apparitions.From the opening scene with the realistic snow (watched in 3D at the theater) and the faithful telling directly from the book, this one had me...plus, Colin Firth and Cary Elwes...Hello!
- DirectorBob ClarkStarsPeter BillingsleyMelinda DillonDarren McGavinIn the 1940s, a young boy named Ralphie Parker attempts to convince his parents, teacher, and Santa Claus that a Red Ryder Range 200 Shot BB gun really is the perfect Christmas gift.What's Christmas without the Bumpus's hounds, Frageeelay, a major Award and shooting your eye out?
- DirectorChris ColumbusStarsMacaulay CulkinJoe PesciDaniel SternAn eight-year-old troublemaker, mistakenly left home alone, must defend his home against a pair of burglars on Christmas Eve.Not my favorite, but must include if only for the great soundtrack during the final battle
- DirectorTed DemmeStarsDenis LearyJudy DavisKevin SpaceyA cat burglar is forced to take a bickering, dysfunctional family hostage on Christmas Eve.No words to describe the awesomeness. "You know what I'm getting you for Christmas next year, Ma? A big wooden cross so the next time you feel unappreciated for all your sacrifices, you can climb on up and nail yourself to it!"
- DirectorJon FavreauStarsWill FerrellJames CaanBob NewhartRaised as an oversized elf, Buddy travels from the North Pole to New York City to meet his biological father, Walter Hobbs, who doesn't know he exists and is in desperate need of some Christmas spirit.This one is just plain fun! Great cast as well.
- DirectorNora EphronStarsSteve MartinMadeline KahnRobert KleinThe events focus around a crisis hotline business on one crazy night during the Christmas holidays.I don't care what other people think, this is still one of my all time favorites. It's funny, dark , Jon Stewart on roller blades, Madeline Khan dressing down a pervert, and Liev Schreiber as a transvestite. What more could you want?
- DirectorChuck JonesBen WashamStarsBoris KarloffJune ForayDal McKennonA grumpy hermit hatches a plan to steal Christmas from the Whos of Whoville.None of this namby pamby live action for me. I want the classic. Roast beast and Max the way God intended.
- DirectorLarry RoemerStarsBillie Mae RichardsBurl IvesLarry D. MannA young reindeer Rudolph lives at the North Pole. His father is one of Santa's reindeer and it is expected that Rudolph will eventually be one too. However, he has a feature which is a setback and causes him to be ostracized: his red nose.Another classic. Let's face it, without Rankin and Bass on one of the 3 channels we got, it wouldn't have been Christmas. Hermie the elf is still a rebel and I love it!
- DirectorBill MelendezStarsAnn AltieriChris DoranSally DryerDepressed at the commercialism he sees around him, Charlie Brown tries to find a deeper meaning to Christmas.Religious overtones aside, this one still warms the old cockles. Face it, we've all tried the Peanut's dance at one point or another.
- DirectorJules BassArthur Rankin Jr.StarsJoel GreyTammy GrimesJohn McGiverWhen a town learns that Santa Claus has struck it off his delivery schedule due to an insulting letter, a way must be found to change his mind.My husband's favorite. This is one of those hot cocoa by the fire kind of movies hoping Santa will stop being butt hurt and visit the town.
- DirectorRoss MacGibbonStarsDamaas ThijsElizabeth RosGil RomanThis is easily the worst rendition of the Nutcracker ever made in the history of ever. Roller skating bearded ladies, boy scouts in their underwear, weirdly timed accordian solos and a real sick mother/son relationship. It has it all. Warning, this one is best late at night after consuming too much egg nog.
- DirectorJules BassArthur Rankin Jr.StarsJackie VernonBilly De WolfeJimmy DuranteA living snowman and a little girl struggle to elude a greedy magician who is after the snowman's magic hat.This one was always fun as a little kid growing up in the tropics because greenhouses were so totally foreign that I never could understand why it was warm in there...especially at night.
- DirectorJules BassArthur Rankin Jr.StarsFred AstaireMickey RooneyKeenan WynnA mailman reveals the origin of Santa Claus.This one was so much fun as a kid. Watching it as an adult and listening to Santa tell little kids to keep his secret and give him a kiss while they sit on his lap or they won't get any toys is pretty disturbing
- DirectorMichael CurtizStarsBing CrosbyDanny KayeRosemary ClooneyA successful song-and-dance team become romantically involved with a sister act and team up to save the failing Vermont inn of their former commanding general.Lovely post war Christmas story set at an inn in Vermont. wonderful cast!
- DirectorRichard CurtisStarsHugh GrantMartine McCutcheonLiam NeesonFollows the lives of eight very different couples in dealing with their love lives in various loosely interrelated tales all set during a frantic month before Christmas in London, England.People either really love it, or really hate it. I am firmly in the former category. Fantastic cast and fun stories all around.
- DirectorRobert ZemeckisStarsTom HanksChris CoppolaMichael JeterOn Christmas Eve, a young boy embarks on a magical adventure to the North Pole on the Polar Express, while learning about friendship, bravery, and the spirit of Christmas.What an original story (from a book) with early motion capture. If the hot chocolate scene doesn't make you crave some, you aren't human.
- DirectorRichard DonnerStarsBill MurrayKaren AllenJohn ForsytheA selfish, cynical television executive is haunted by three spirits bearing lessons on Christmas Eve.By far the best modern take on a classic of the bunch. This one is a classic unto itself. I still remember watching in the theater and singing at the end as directed....come to think of it, I still sing it in my living room.
- DirectorNancy MeyersStarsKate WinsletCameron DiazJude LawTwo women troubled with guy-problems swap homes in each other's countries, where they each meet a local guy and fall in love.This movie is much shorter and a lot better if you just skip right over the whole Jude Law/Cameron Diaz scenes. Makes it a much better movie, too! Jack Black was pretty amazing in it!
- DirectorBurny MattinsonStarsAlan YoungWayne AllwineHal SmithThe classic Disney animated characters play the roles in this animated retelling of the Charles Dickens masterpiece.Another classic I can watch over and over again....with pistansi..with pisnasa...with pishnat...with yogurt.
- DirectorJack HannahStarsRuth CliffordPinto ColvigDessie FlynnThe tree that Mickey and Pluto chop down to bring home for Christmas is the tree that Chip 'n Dale live in.If i was ranking these, this would be number one. Chip and Dale are my all time favorite Disney Characters and this short is just wonderful. My brother and i used to lay our heads on the tree skirt and look up from the bottom...the whole thing feels like that.
- DirectorJim HensonStarsJerry NelsonFrank OzMarilyn SokolA poor otter family risks everything for the chance to win the cash prize of a talent contest for Christmas.Gift of the Magi with Smoky Mountain Muppets. Epic.
- DirectorErnst LubitschStarsMargaret SullavanJames StewartFrank MorganTwo employees at a gift shop can barely stand each other, without realizing that they are falling in love through the post as each other's anonymous pen pal.Precursor to 'You've Got Mail' set in Budapest in 1940.
- DirectorGeorge CukorStarsKatharine HepburnCary GrantDoris NolanA young man in love with a girl from a rich family finds his unorthodox plan to go on holiday for the early years of his life met with skepticism by everyone except for his fiancée's eccentric sister and long-suffering brother.Because Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn are magic together on screen.