10. “Elf” (2003)
Director: Jon Favreau
“Elf” does little to shake up the Christmas movie formula, but it’s likely to be the only true perennial holiday classic to come out of this decade. (When your competition is “Christmas With the Kranks,” “The Santa Clause 3” and the craptacular “Fred Claus,” your chances look pretty good.)
The inspired performance of Will Ferrell as Buddy the Elf, the lovely sounds of Zooey Deschanel singing carols and the throwback elements to older Christmas films make “Elf” a charming family favorite.
9. “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” (1966)
Director: Chuck Jones
While the 2000 live action remake with Jim Carrey isn’t as horrible as some like to declare, the original animated classic stands head and shoulders above it — and most other Christmas animations.
The Dr. Seuss story is perhaps the most effective condemnation of Christmas commercialism ever, skipping the schmaltz and heading straight to heartwarming, and Boris Karloff’s gravelly narration and voicework as the Grinch is perfect.
It’s hard to imagine just how small your heart would have to be to dislike this holiday favorite.
8. “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians” (1964)
Director: Nicholas Webster
Yes, “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians” would be more at home on a worst Christmas movie list, but that doesn’t mean it’s not essential holiday viewing.
I recommend watching it with the “Mystery Science Theater 3000” treatment, but even on its own, it’s bad enough to inspire plenty of Christmas cheer.
After all, who hasn’t wanted to see Santa get kidnapped to make gifts for Martian children and end up at the center of a political conspiracy? Cinematic gold, I’m telling you. Cinematic gold.
7. “Joyeux Noël” (2005)
Director: Christian Carion
Though it dips a little too far into sentimentality at times, “Joyeux Noël” is unquestionably a moving film. Set during World War I, the Germans, French and Scottish troops agree to a temporary ceasefire to bury their dead and celebrate Christmas together.
“Joyeux Noël” is more about the power of understanding than the power of Christmas, making it an ideal choice for that staunchly anti-Christmas family member in the ranks.
6. “Brazil” (1985)
Director: Terry Gilliam
It’s a bit of a stretch, but Gilliam’s dystopian masterpiece “Brazil” does take place during the Christmas season, with enough references to the holiday and Santa Claus to make the cut onto this list.
This black comedy, where the future is run by merciless bureaucrats, is visually wonderful and quite funny. It might not be the best selection to spring on your family who’s expecting “White Christmas,” but if you’re sick of the holiday glut and looking for a razor-sharp indictment of the government, look no further.
5. “A Christmas Story” (1983)
Director: Bob Clark
The TV marathons of “A Christmas Story” every single year have left me a little sick of Ralphie Parker and his unquenchable thirst for a Red Ryder BB Gun, but it’s such a perfect snapshot of American kitsch, it’s hard not to love it.
The film is packed with memorable scenes and one-liners – who could forget the injustice of that C+, the horror of “Oh fudge!” or the electric sex gleaming in the window?
“A Christmas Story” will never go out of style, just like the leg lamp.
4. “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (1965)
Director: Bill Melendez
Christmas animation simply doesn’t get any better than “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” “Peanuts” creator Charles Schulz was able to coax a tremendous amount of pathos out of the doleful Charlie Brown in his cartoon, and the TV specials were no less touching.
“A Charlie Brown Christmas” is a poignant reminder of the true meaning of Christmas, and with the Vince Guaraldi soundtrack, a source of some of the best Christmas music ever.
3. “The Muppet Christmas Carol” (1992)
Director: Brian Henson
There have been a number of excellent adaptations of Charles Dickens’s classic “A Christmas Carol,” but I grew up with the Muppet version, and it remains my favorite to this day.
Nearly everything involving the Muppets, from the ‘70s variety show “The Muppet Show” to their various films, is consistently hilarious, but “The Muppet Christmas Carol” is one of their best. An excellent performance by Michael Caine as Scrooge rounds out this delightful movie.
2. “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946)
Director: Frank Capra
Everyone knows it’s a coal-worthy offense to leave “It’s a Wonderful Life” off a best Christmas movie list, but it truly deserves its ranking, with a performance from Jimmy Stewart that’s about as perfect as can be.
“It’s a Wonderful Life” gets knocked for it’s ooey-gooey Christmas feelings, but it’s an honest film with honest performances, and it’s one of the few Christmas movies to transcend its genre and become a film that warrants viewing outside of December.
1. “Nat’l Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (1989)
Director: Jeremiah Chechik
I don’t care what you say. “Christmas Vacation” is the Christmas movie above all others. Chevy Chase is in top form as Clark Griswold, the family man whose desire for the perfect family Christmas knows no bounds in a film that lets the absurdity pile up like no other.
“Christmas Vacation” must be watched every year to appreciate the wealth of comic material – the greased-up sled, the cat in the box, the kidnapped boss and the jelly of the month club.
This holiday season, spend a couple hours with the Griswold clan. That’s what Christmas is all about.
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tbgalileo 3 years, 5 months ago
Not a bad list. But to include Brazil and not Mircale on 34th... wierd. I also think that the modern Grinch with Jim Carey is worthy to be on the list.
JWade 3 years, 5 months ago
Where is Die Hard?