50 Classic Christmas Movies to Watch on Christmas Day

 Watching feel-good movies this holiday season would really wake up our Christmas spirit!

This year, I plan to spend Christmas binge-watching with my favourite movies from when I was err… younger.

Even better, I put them together in one list for your reference! Most of these movies are very close to my heart. I’ve watched them so many times back then – before motherhood interrupted!!!

Now I feel like watching them again just to feel a little bit nostalgic, and wanting my family to watch it with me too! For sure, it will bring some pretty lovely memories!

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#1 Elf (2003)

• Starring: Will Ferrell, Zoey Deschanel, James Caan
• Rating: PG
• IMDB Rating: 7.0/10

Arguably the best Christmas movie of all time! Buddy was raised at the North Pole as an oversized elf who finds out he is a human who accidentally crawled into Santa’s sack as a baby. Now Buddy is on a quest to find his biological family.

Fun Fact

Jim Carrey was originally planned to play Buddy the Elf.

Trivia

In the scene where Buddy the Elf eats candies and pastries with the spaghetti, the scene had to be shot twice because Will Ferrell vomited the first time.

Best Quote:

“Santa! Oh my God! Santa’s Coming! I know him! I know him!”

Via IMDB

#2 Holidate (2020)

• Starring: Emma Roberts, Luke Bracey, Kristin Chenoweth
• Rating: PG
• IMDB Rating: 6.1/10

Sloane meets Jackson by chance at a shop return counter. They come to an agreement that they will only meet as a pair over the holidays, as they are both wary of nightmarish dates (him) and interfering relatives (her) during the holidays. This will allow them to at the very least make life pleasant during the holidays.

Gradually, ever so slowly, despite making fun of the clichés of romance (and to their surprise), their love develops into something more meaningful.

Fun Fact

Sloane claims that Ryan Gosling would never go grocery shopping on his own, and that “he’s too cool” for such a thing. Then she sees a man who resembles Ryan Gosling standing immediately in front of her.

Trivia

At 2:00, Sloane appears to hold her vodka in her left hand. As the scene transitions to a new camera angle, she is shown sipping her vodka with her right hand.

Best Quote:

“I spent my holiday in an ugly Christmas sweater, sipping mocktails with a room full of people who I think were in a cult.”

– Jackson

#3 Fatman (2020)

• Starring: Mel Gibson, Walton Goggins, Marianne Jean-Baptiste
• Rating: Rated R
• IMDB Rating: 5.9/10

A raucous, unorthodox Santa Claus is battling to preserve his ailing business from extinction. Meanwhile, Billy, a neglected and precocious 12-year-old, recruits a hitman to assassinate Santa after finding a lump of coal in his stocking.

Fun Fact

When the hitman puts on his snow goggles after locking the trunk of his automobile, a camera team can be seen in the background.

Trivia

One of the hamsters that were used to represent Walton Goggins’ pet in the film also appears extensively in the COVID-19 drama Belated Days (2020).

Best Quote:

Schoolkids are lighting their uncles on fire, and throwing bowling balls off of bidges. Nothing too merry about that.

#4 Happiest Season (2020)

• Starring: Kristen Stewart, Mackenzie Davis, Mary Steenburgen
• Rating: PG-13
• IMDB Rating: 6.6/10

A holiday romance comedy that depicts the spectrum of feelings that come with wanting to be accepted by your family, being true to yourself, and trying not to spoil Christmas.

Fun Fact

Mackenzie Davis spent two months perfecting her ice skating skills before filming her sequences on the rink.

Trivia

The production wrap party was held in a haunted house at an amusement park.

Best Quote:

This holiday, come out and meet the family.

#5 Last Christmas (2019)

• Starring: Madison Ingoldsby, Emma Thompson, Emilia Clarke, Boris Isakovic
• Rating: PG-13
• IMDB Rating: 6.5/10

Kate is a young lady who has a history of making poor judgments. Serving as an elf at a year-round Christmas store is not a good fit for the aspiring singer. She does, however, run into Tom there— her life takes an unexpected turn. For Kate, the situation seems to be too perfect to be true.

Fun Fact

Tom supposedly lives in a one-room studio. When Kate visits later with the Realtor, a doorway is open, and a staircase can be seen leading up to the second floor.

Trivia

Wham! donated all of the royalties of the original song, Wham!: Last Christmas (1984), to Ethiopian famine relief.

Best Quote:

There’s no such thing as normal. It’s a stupid word. Does a lot of damage.

#6 Krampus (2015)

• Starring: Adam Scott, Toni Collette, David Koechner
• Rating: PG-13
• IMDB Rating: 6.2/10

A child who is having a miserable Christmas unwittingly summons a festive demon to his family’s house.

Goof Fact

If the grandmother encountered Krampus as a child, she should be in the giant snow globe with her family, not alive with the toy that Krampus left her.

Trivia

The final Krampus design was derived from a variety of old postcards and drawings of the mythical beast.

Best Quote:

I’m old enough to know when life is coming at me with its pants down.

#7 The Christmas Chronicles (2018)

• Starring: Kurt Russell, Darby Camp, Judah Lewis
• Rating: PG
• IMDB Rating: 7.0/10

A Christmas Eve plot by sister and brother Kate and Teddy Pierce to capture Santa Claus evolves into an unexpected voyage that most children could only dream of when they were young.

Goofy Fact

The Chicago parking stickers are placed on the wrong side of the vehicles. They should be located on the passenger side of the windshields.

Trivia

Several of Kurt Russell’s grandkids are on Santa’s nice-to-have list.

Best Quote:

Trading in eight reindeer for 400 horses!

#8 The Night Before (2015)

• Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Jillian Bell
• Rating: Rated R
• IMDB Rating: 6.4/10

Etha, Isaac, and Chris have been friends since childhood, and their annual Christmas Eve reunion has been a night of decadence and humour for the last ten years. Now that they’ve reached maturity, the tradition is coming to an end. To make it as spectacular as possible, they set out to discover the Nutcracka Ball, which is known as the “Holy Grail” of holiday gatherings.

Fun Fact

When Ethan goes to Chris’ mother’s home for supper, he calls a phone number on his iPhone, but he really puts it into the calculator app.

Trivia

The nude photos were provided by a body double.

Best Quote:

WE DID NOT KILL JESUS! WE DID NOT KILL JESUS!

#9 Happy Christmas (2014)

• Starring: Anna Kendrick, Melanie Lynskey, Mark Webber
• Rating: Rated R
• IMDB Rating: 5.4/10

Twenty-something Jenny moves in with her elder brother Jeff, a filmmaker, his writer wife Kelly and their two-year-old kid in Chicago. Jeff’s family is content with their new home. When Jenny arrives, she and her buddy Carson start a new chapter in Kelly’s life and profession, shaking up their peaceful existence. A tight connection develops between Jenny and the family’s babysitter/couch potato dealer.

Trivia

The film was shot in director Joe Swanberg’s house.

Best Quote:

I think you’re so pretty. It’s like you’re *a lot* prettier than you feel like you are.

#10 Get Santa (2014)

• Starring: Jim Broadbent, Rafe SpallKit Connor
• Rating: PG
• IMDB Rating: 6.3/10

Father and son band together to preserve Christmas after spotting Santa Claus sleeping in their garage after wrecking his sleigh and being on the run from police.

Trivia

Jim Broadbent and Warwick Davis were both cast members in the Harry Potter films. Griphook the goblin and Professor Flitwick were portrayed by Davis in all the movies, while Broadbent played Professor Slughorn in the last three films.

Best Quote:

[to Santa, who claims to be the Real Santa Claus] Are you on medication? Or worse: are you NOT on medication?

#11 The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017)

• Starring: Dan Stevens, Mark Schrier, Patrick Joseph Byrnes
• Rating: PG
• IMDB Rating: 7.0/10

The path that led Charles Dickens to write “A Christmas Carol,” a classic story that would forever change the way people celebrate the holiday.

Goofy Fact

Mrs Dickens is seen reading a copy of Roughing It in the Bush, which wasn’t published until 1852, nine years later.

Trivia

The idea of characters from a work of fiction in being written appearing as natural persons advising the author as he is writing the story was used in The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm (1962).

Best Quote:

No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of another.

#12 Better Watch Out (2016)

• Starring: Olivia DeJonge, Levi Miller, Ed Oxenbould
• Rating: R
• IMDB Rating: 6.5/10

A babysitter is called in to protect a twelve-year-old kid from burglars in a calm suburban neighbourhood, only to realize that this isn’t your typical home invasion.

Goofy Fact

It is revealed that Luke texted Ricky to come over from Ashley’s phone but her phone landed in the fish tank and was never retrieved from the fish tank.

Trivia

Originally titled “Safe Neighborhood”.

Best Quote:

What delusional infant thinks that staging a break-in is going to get you to second base?

#13 Jingle Jangle (2020)

• Starring: Forest Whitaker, Keegan-Michael Key, Hugh Bonneville
• Rating:
• IMDB Rating:

A festive story of an eccentric toymaker, his adventurous granddaughter, and a magical creation that has the ability to transform their lives forever.

Goofy Fact

When Journey signs her name in “invisible” ink, she starts to sign, then moves the pen away, before returning to the paper to finish. Yet her signature is a perfect single entity.

Trivia

All of the shops in Cobbleton are named after historical African American inventors.

Best Quote:

I know about losing things. But the magic isn’t just in what you’ve lost. It’s in what you still have.

– Ms. Johnston

#14 Klaus (2019)

• Starring: Jason Schwartzman(voice), J.K. Simmons(voice), Rashida Jones(voice)
• Rating: PG
• IMDB Rating: 8.2/10

Even in a cold, remote location, a little act of compassion may always inspire others to do the same. Long-standing animosity between toymaker Klaus and Smeerensburg’s new postman, Jesper, is reconciled when the two men exchange presents and become friends.

Goofy Fact

When Jesper finds himself trapped inside Klaus’s barn, he’s wearing a cape and scarf. After he lights an oil lamp, the cape and scarf disappear.

Trivia

A real-life town in Norway, Smeerenburg, was used as a model for the fictitious town of Smeerensburg. During the 17th Century, it was a thriving whaling station.

Best Quote:

A true selfless act always sparks another.

#15 The Polar Express (2004)

• Starring: Tom Hanks, Chris Coppola(voice), Michael Jeter(voice)
• Rating: G
• IMDB Rating: 6.6/10

On Christmas Eve, a little boy boards the Polar Express for a spectacular journey to the North Pole— where he learns about friendship, courage, and the true meaning of Christmas.

Goofy Fact

When the train runs into the caribou, the noise they are making is actually that of elk.

Trivia

The film is listed in the 2006 Guinness Book of World Records as the “first all-digital capture” film, where all acted parts were done in digital capture.

Best Quote:

No, thank YOU. The thing about trains… it doesn’t matter where they’re going. What matters is deciding to get on.

– The Conductor

#16 Fred Claus (2007)

• Starring: Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti, Elizabeth Banks
• Rating: PG
• IMDB Rating: 5.6/10

For the sake of money, Fred Claus, Santa’s resentful elder brother, is coerced into moving to the North Pole in order to help Santa and the elves in their preparations for Christmas.

Fun Fact

In this movie, Vince Vaughn portrays Paul Giamatti’s older brother. In reality, Vince Vaughn is three years younger than Paul Giamatti.

Trivia

The head mission control elf wears a white vest, similar to Gene Kranz, N.A.S.A. Flight Director during the Gemini and Apollo programs, portrayed by Ed Harris in Apollo 13 (1995).

Best Quote:

 [about Fred’s slade driving] Are you sure you’ve never done this before? Because you drive like an absolute pro… who makes a lot of mistakes.

– Willie

#17 A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas (2011)

• Starring: Kal Penn, John Cho, Neil Patrick Harris
• Rating: R
• IMDB Rating: 6.3/10

Six years after their Guantanamo Bay escapade, stoner buddies Harold Lee and Kumar Patel ignite a festive uproar when they accidentally burn down Harold’s father-in-beautiful law’s Christmas tree.

Goofy Fact

Minutes after Harold & Kumar are doused in gasoline, Wafflebot sets fire to their ropes, but the gasoline does not ignite.

Trivia

It was Todd Strauss-Schulson suggested casting Danny Trejo after making a Photoshop picture of him wearing a Christmas sweater.

Best Quote:

Fuck a baby into me!

-Maria

#18 Bad Santa (2003)

• Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Bernie Mac, Lauren Graham
• Rating: R
• IMDB Rating: 7.0/10

On Christmas Eve, a sad conman and his companion act as Santa and his Little Helper in order to loot department shops around the country. But they encounter issues when the conman befriends a disturbed youngster!

Goofy Fact

When Santa is playing pinball with the girl he claims is 18, he is heard talking, but his lips are not moving

Trivia

This was John Ritter‘s final acting appearance in a movie and it is dedicated to his memory.

Best Quote:

You’re an emotional fucking cripple. Your soul is dog shit. Every single fucking thing about you is ugly.

– Marcus

#19 Arthur Christmas (2011)

• Starring: James McAvoy(voice), Jim Broadbent(voice), Bill Nighy(voice)
• Rating: PG
• IMDB Rating: 7.1/10

Arthur, Santa’s bumbling son, sets off with Grandsanta on a quest to deliver a gift they’ve lost to a little girl in less than two hours.

Goofy Fact

There is no city or town named Trelew in Mexico. But there’s one in Argentina.

Trivia

This is the first Sony Pictures Animation’s non-sequel/prequel movie since Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009).

Best Quote:

The Santas always come through Canada. Nobody lives here. It’s nice and quiet.

#20 Deck the Halls (2006)

• Starring: Matthew Broderick, Danny DeVito, Kristin Chenoweth
• Rating:
• IMDB Rating: 5.0/10

Two neighbours clash when one of them decorates his home so brilliantly for the holidays that it can be seen from space!

Goofy Fact

When Steve and Kelly are getting into bed, they stack all the pillows at the foot of the bed. When a shot is shown from the foot of the bed after they get in, the pillows are stacked differently.

Trivia

Matthew Broderick, who stars as “Christmas Guy” Steve Finch, is actually Jewish in real life.

I want my house to be seen from space!

– Buddy Hall

#21 Four Christmases (2008)

• Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Vince Vaughn, Mary Steenburgen
• Rating: PG-13
• IMDB Rating: 5.7/10

Brad and Kate have been dating for three years and are in love, having fun, and exploring their relationship without plans for marriage or children. They’re leaving for Fiji on Christmas morning, having told their divorced parents they’re going to conduct charity work.

In a freak accident, they are forced to see all four of their eccentric parents at the same time. As the day goes on, Brad and Kate recollect growing up, each learns more about the other, and Kate realizes her life may not be as nice as it may be.

Goofy Fact

When “Ken” and “Daphne” have sex in the bathroom, she rips off his shirt and the buttons visibly fly off, but when they emerge, the shirt is nicely buttoned.

Trivia

Vince Vaughn didn’t go out to promote the film after it was rumoured in gossip columns that he and Reese Witherspoon did not get along throughout filming.

Best Quote:

Your grandmother’s boyfriend is a first-class ass-sniffer! And you can tell him that I said so.

– Howard

#22 The Holiday (2006)

• Starring: Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jude Law
• Rating: PG-13
• IMDB Rating: 6.9/10

Two women who are struggling with male relationships switch houses in each other’s countries, where they each meet and fall in love with a local guy.

Goofy Fact

When Amanda pours herself a glass of white wine, the “glugging” sound effect begins well before the air starts entering the bottle.

Trivia

A few months after the movie came out the popularity of “house-swapping” was on the rise. So much so in fact that police in England had to issue a warning against swapping homes with strangers due to identity fraud and murders.

Best Quote:

 Say a man and a woman both need something to sleep in and both go to the same men’s pajama department. The man says to the salesman, “I just need bottoms,” and the woman says, “I just need a top.” They look at each other and that’s the ‘meet cute.’

– Arthur Abbott

#23 Just Friends (2005)

• Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Amy Smart, Anna Faris
• Rating: PG-13
• IMDB Rating: 6.2/10

During a Christmas visit to his hometown, a guy meets face to face with his old high school love, with whom he used to be best friends — a lady whose rejection of him transformed him into a nasty womanizer.

Goofy Fact

In the beginning, when Chris is writing in Jamie’s yearbook, he is moving the pen as if he was actually writing the message. However, the words are already written down.

Trivia

In every scene that we see actors inside a car, the car window is rolled down. This is most likely because the window caused glare and the audience would then be able to see the camera.

Best Quote:

[singing on her guitar] Forgiveness, is more than saying sorry. To forgive is divine. So let’s have a glass of wine. And have make-up sex until the end of time, time, time, time, timmmmmmeee! Time.

– Samantha James

#24 Shrek the Halls (2007)

• Starring: Mike Myers(voice), Eddie Murphy(voice), Cameron Diaz(voice)
• Rating: PG
• IMDB Rating: 6.4/10

While it is made obvious to Donkey that “Ogres don’t celebrate Christmas” in the film Shrek the Halls, Shrek eventually caves in and chooses to spend Christmas the “ogre” way. He manages to get everything ready for Christmas with the aid of Fiona and their children, but the plot takes an unexpected turn before the end.

Trivia

When Gingy is telling his night before Christmas Tale, the sound Santa makes is similar to that of the sound the people make in The Thing.

Best Quote:

My mama used to always say, ‘Christmas ain’t Christmas till somebody cries!’ Usually that someone’s me.

– Donkey

#25 This Christmas (2007)

• Starring: Regina King, Columbus Short, Delroy Lindo
• Rating: PG-13
• IMDB Rating: 6.3/10

A Christmastime drama centring on the Whitfield family’s first holiday together in four years and set over the holiday season. You better watch out!

Goofy Fact

In one of the first kitchen scenes, Baby’s camera keeps appearing and disappearing from around his neck.

Trivia

While this movie stars Delroy Lindo and Mekhi Phifer, it also serves as the executive producer debut for both actors. Lindo and Phifer appeared in Spike Lee’s Clockers (1995).

Best Quote:

Shirley Ann ‘MaDere’ Whitfield: [Noticing Sandi] Who is this?
Lisa Moore: That’s your daughter-in-law.
Kelli Whitfield: Um, this is not funny.
Lisa Moore: No, it’s not, but I’m going to keep drinking until it is.

#26 Office Christmas Party (2016)

• Starring: Jason Bateman. Olivia Munn, T.J. Miller
• Rating: R
• IMDB Rating: 5.9/10

When the CEO (Jennifer Aniston) attempts to shut down her hard-partying brother’s branch, he (T.J. Miller) and his Chief Technical Officer (Jason Bateman) must unite their coworkers and throw an enormous workplace Christmas party in order to impress a prospective customer and complete a transaction that would save their jobs.

Goofy Fact

There is no blood on Clay’s face after he crashes the car, but there is blood on his face as he is wheeled into the ER.

Trivia

Former Chicago Bulls All-Star Jimmy Butler was cast in the movie due to his close relationship with actor Mark Wahlberg, who thought Butler would be a nice choice given that the setting of the film in Chicago.

Best Quote:

I gotta tell you, I was always like, “Tracey, this doesn’t make any sense,” and she was like, “Words, words, words and some numbers.” But she did it.

– Clay Vanstone

#27 Holiday Rush

• Starring: Romany Malco, Sonequa Martin-Green, Darlene Love
• Rating: TV-PG
• IMDB Rating: 4.9/10

Rashon “Rush” Williams (Romany Malco) is a single father and radio DJ who loses his job just as his four entitled kids reveal their extravagant Christmas wish lists. To keep Rush on the air in Pittsburgh, his producer and aunt intend to help him acquire a new station if the Williams family is able to downsize quickly and accept a simpler lifestyle.

In this wonderful video, a loving father finds a way to reconnect with his children by teaching them that genuine happiness is found in the people you share your life with, not the things you own.

Goofy Fact

On Netflix after Rush breaks the news to his kids, there is a shot of the street and the subtitle reads, “‘O Come, O Come, Emmanuel’ instrumentals.” The carol that plays is ‘God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen’.

Trivia

Andrea-Marie Alphonse and Selena-Marie Alphonse are real Sisters.

#28 A Very Murray Christmas

• Starring: Bill Murray, Paul Shaffer, Michael Cera
• Rating: TV-MA
• IMDB Rating: 5.5/10

Because of the severe snowfall that has hit New York City, Bill Murray is concerned that no one will show up to his television program. Curious about what he did? This movie is definitely worth it!

Trivia

Bill calls himself The King of Christmas which his brother John Murray’s character calls him at the end of “Scrooged”.

Best Quote:

Elliott the Groom: Will you marry me?
The Bride: Yes.
Bill Murray: By the power invested in me by the Writers Guild of America, the Screen Actors Guild and the Directors Guild… I’m also on the wait list to the Teamsters Union… I now pronounce you two officially reengaged.

#29 The Family Stone

• Starring: Dermot Mulroney, Sarah Jessica Parker, Claire Danes
• Rating: PG-13
• IMDB Rating: 6.3/10

During her boyfriend’s annual Christmas party, an uptight, conservative businesswoman discovers that she is a fish out of water in their free-spirited way of life, and decides to accompany him to his quirky and boisterous family’s home.

Goofy Fact

The Family Stone’s “New England town” was shot at the Borough of Madison, New Jersey, for some of the sequences. In an overhead view of the town square, you can plainly see a New Jersey Transit train leaving the station, however, these trains do not go into New England.

Trivia

Spectators usually conclude that Susanna’s daughter Elizabeth has fallen asleep on Susanna’s lap at the beginning of the Christmas Eve montage due to weak lighting and an imprecise camera perspective. Kelly’s reaction to Amy’s lack of usual edge while she calmly slumbers is, “She’s sweet like this, isn’t she?” in fact refers to Amy.

Best Quote:

Isn’t there anybody that loves me?

– Meredith Morton

#30 Die Hard

• Starring: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia
• Rating: R
• IMDB Rating: 8.2/10

John McClane, a New York City police officer, takes a Christmas vacation to see his wife Holly, who works for the Nakatomi Corporation in Los Angeles. A squad of thieves headed by Hans Gruber storm the Nakatomi headquarters and take everyone prisoner, save for John, as they prepare a multi-million dollar robbery in the building. Because he can’t get away and the cops aren’t coming, John is left with little choice except to use force.

Goofy Fact

During the ‘shoot the glass’ scene, the muzzle flashes frequently do not match up with the sounds of gunfire.

Trivia

The numerous screenplay changes throughout shooting prompted most of the writing to be improvised.

Best Quote:

[Reading what McClane wrote on the dead terrorist’s shirt] “Now I have a machine gun. Ho ho ho.”

Hans Grube

#31 While You Were Sleeping

• Starring: Sandra Bullock, Bill Pullman, Peter Gallagher
• Rating: PG
• IMDB Rating: 6.7/10

A token collector for the Chicago Transit Authority is mistaken for the fiancée of a coma patient, who is in a coma due to a broken heart.

Goofy Fact

The camera pans by the stocking the Callaghans make for Lucy and in one shot her name is written in WHITE puffy paint, but in the next shot, it is written in BLACK puffy paint.

Trivia

The Callaghans’ house is located in LaGrange, a suburb of Chicago.

Best Quote:

If you fit into my pants I will kill myself.

– Lucy

#32 Gremlins

• Starring: Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Hoyt Axton
• Rating:
• IMDB Rating: 7.3/10

Upon unwittingly breaking three essential rules about his new pet, a young man unleashes an army of malevolently mischievous creatures on a sleepy rural village.

Goofy Fact

Stripe’s holes in Billy’s jumper at school are different from the ones he makes at the department shop at the film’s conclusion.

Trivia

The film was released on the same day as Ghostbusters (1984).

Best Quote:

Goddamn foreign cars.

Murray Futterman

#33 The Nightmare Before Christmas

• Starring: Danny Elfman(voice), Chris Sarandon(voice), Catherine O’Hara(voice)
• Rating:
• IMDB Rating: 8.0/10

Jack Skellington, the ruler of Halloween Town, uncovers Christmas Town, but his efforts to bring Christmas to his home are met with a great deal of misunderstanding.

Goofy Fact

Santa Claus prepares the presents and his sleigh first, but only then checks which children were good and naughty. It would make more sense the other way around unless he wanted to hand out presents randomly.

Trivia

At the street band scenes, notably in the town hall, there is a little figure within the bass that is modelled on Danny Elfman.

Best Quote:

J-J-J-Jack! But they said you were dead. You must be – double dead!

Oogie Boogie Man

#34 The Muppet Christmas Carol

• Starring: Michael Caine, Dave Goelz(voice), Steve Whitmire(voice)
• Rating: G
• IMDB Rating: 7.7/10

An adaptation of the famous Dickens story of Ebenezer Scrooge, miser extraordinaire, written by Charles Dickens. During nighttime visits from the Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present, and Future, he is held responsible for his nefarious deeds and brought to justice.

Goofy Fact

An adaptation of the famous Dickens story of Ebenezer Scrooge, miser extraordinaire, written by Charles Dickens. During nighttime visits from the Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present, and Future, he is held responsible for his nefarious deeds and brought to justice.

Trivia

First Muppet movie where Kermit the Frog isn’t the lead role.

Best Quote:

It’s all right, children. Life is made up of meetings and partings. That is the way of it. I am sure that we shall never forget Tiny Tim, or this first parting that there was among us.

Kermit the Frog

#35 Miracle on 34th Street

• Starring: Richard Attenborough, Elizabeth Perkins, Dylan McDermott
• Rating: PG
• IMDB Rating: 6.6/10

Susan Walker, a six-year-old girl, learns that, with enough faith, dreams may come true. She has questions about one of the most lasting miracles of childhood: Santa Claus. The “secret” about him was shared by her mother, Dorey, a long time ago, so she doesn’t anticipate getting the most significant items on her Christmas wish list. As a result, she receives one of the most important gifts of all, the ability to believe in something greater than herself.

Goofy Fact

While in Kris’ room at the psychiatric hospital, a reflection of a crew member can be seen in the side of the shiny porcelain sink.

Trivia

Actress Elizabeth Perkins and cinematographer Julio Macat met on the set and later got married in 2000.

Best Quote:

 Mr. Collins, I hope you’ve taken down that old TV antenna. I ripped my pants on it last year.

Kris Kringle

#36 Scrooge

• Starring: Albert Finney, Alec Guinness, Edith Evans
• Rating: G
• IMDB Rating: 7.5/10

Charles Dickens’ famous work, A Christmas Carol, is transformed into a musical about an elderly bitter miser who undergoes self-redemption after being visited by many ghostly visions over the holiday season.

Goofy Fact

Tiny Tim and his sister are seen peering through a toy shop window when we first meet them. The shadow of the camera on a dolly can be seen in the lower right corner of the screen when the camera zooms in on Tim.

Trivia

It took more than three hours each day to apply the old-age Scrooge make-up to Albert Finney, who was only thirty-three years old at the time.

Best Quote:

How shall I ever understand this world? There is nothing on which it is so hard as poverty, and yet, there is nothing it condemns with such severity as the pursuit of wealth.

Ebenezer Scrooge

#37 Home Alone

• Starring: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern
• Rating: PG
• IMDB Rating: 7.6/10

When his family unintentionally leaves him home alone over Christmas break, an eight-year-old mischief maker must defend his home from a couple of thieves who have come to steal it.

Goofy Fact

In the scene when Kevin exits the church after speaking with Old Man Marley, he is dressed in green pants. When he gets home, he’s sporting a pair of blue jeans. Then, when he’s putting the traps in place, he’s dressed in green pants once again.

Trivia

Marv’s lines “Why the hell are you dressed like a chicken?” and “Maybe he committed suicide” were improvised by Daniel Stern.

Best Quote:

Megan McCallister: You’re not at all worried that something might happen to Kevin?
Buzz McCallister: No, for three reasons: A, I’m not that lucky. Two, we use smoke detectors and D, we live on the most boring street in the whole United States of America, where nothing even remotely dangerous will ever happen. Period.

#38 A Christmas Story

• Starring: Peter Billingsley, Melinda Dillon, Darren McGavin
• Rating: PG
• IMDB Rating: 7.9/10

On Christmas Eve in the 1940s, a little kid called Ralphie makes an unsuccessful effort to persuade his parents, teacher, and Santa that a Red Ryder BB rifle truly is the ideal Christmas present.

Goofy Fact

While this film takes place in 1939, the Lone Ranger’s nephew’s horse, known as Victor, was not introduced until 1943.

Trivia

The family eats meatloaf, red cabbage, and mashed potatoes for dinner every night.

Best Quote:

Ralphie as an Adult: [narrating] The old man stood there, quivering with fury, stammering as he tried to come up with a real crusher. All he got out was…
The Old Man: Naddafinga!

#39 National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

• Starring: Chevy Chase. Beverly D’Angelo. Juliette Lewis
• Rating:
• IMDB Rating: 7.6/10

It’s Christmastime, and the Griswolds are preparing for a holiday gathering with their extended family. However, things never go as planned for Clark, his wife Ellen, and their two children. Even though Clark’s unending poor luck is exacerbated by his annoying family visitors, he manages to keep going despite the fact that his Christmas bonus is coming shortly.

Goofy Fact

When Clark first turns on the Christmas lights, the shot from the power company has the word “Auxiliary” spelled incorrectly.

Trivia

Only two Christmas-themed movies came out in 1989: Prancer (1989) and this film. Johnny Galecki (Rusty) was in both of them.

Best Quote:

Ellen: Clark, I think it’d be best if everyone went home… before things get worse.
Clark: WORSE? How could things get any worse? Take a look around here, Ellen. We’re at the threshold of hell.

#40 Love Actually

• Starring: Hugh Grant, Martine McCutcheon, Liam Neeson
• Rating:
• IMDB Rating: 7.6/10

The story follows the lives of eight very different couples as they struggle with their love lives in a series of loosely interconnected tales occurring during the frenzied month before Christmas in London, England.

Goofy Fact

When Jamie first meets Aurelia and is attempting to speak Portuguese, he says “Molto Bueno,” which Eleonore informs him is Spanish. In fact, “molto” is Italian.

Trivia

Lcia Moniz (Aurelia) landed the role as a consequence of a prank played by a friend of hers, who also happens to be a casting director, who forwarded her images to the casting director for this film. Lcia attended the casting and was eventually selected.

Best Quote:

Hiya kids. Here is an important message from your Uncle Bill. Don’t buy drugs. Become a pop star, and they give you them for free!

– Billy Mack

#41 How the Gringe Stole Christmas

• Starring: Jim Carrey, Taylor Momsen, Kelley
• Rating: PG
• IMDB Rating: 6.2/10

One of Whoville’s most notorious residents, the Grinch, resides on the outskirts of town, plotting to ruin Christmas for all of the town’s citizens.

Goofy Fact

Towards the end of this Christmas movie, when the Grinch is admitting to stealing Christmas, the sheriff’s nightcap goes from in front of his shoulder to behind it in different shots.

Trivia

When the Grinch pulls the sheet off of the table, all of the silverware was scripted to fall off with the sheet. Jim pulled the sheet off so well that when nothing came off he went back and ruined the table.

Best Quote:

[a taxicab passes him by]
The Grinch: It’s because I’m green isn’t it?

#42 It’s a Wonderful Life

• Starring: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore
• Rating:
• IMDB Rating: 8.6/10

An angel from Heaven is sent to assist a desperate businessman by showing him what life would have been like if he had never lived.

Goofy Fact

At one point George (James Stewart) calls Violet (Gloria Grahame), Gloria.

Trivia

Director Frank Capra often said that this was his favourite of all his films.

Best Quote:

Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives. When he isn’t around he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?

– Clarence

#43 Noelle

• Starring: Anna Kendrick, Shirley MacLaine, Bill Hader
• Rating:
• IMDB Rating: 6.3/10

As a result of her father’s retirement, Santa’s daughter is forced to take over the family company when her brother, who was meant to succeed him as Santa, gets a cold shoulder.

Goofy Fact

When Noelle leaves the North Pole heading South to Phoenix in the sleigh, the sunrise is on her right – this would only happen if she was travelling North.

Trivia

Was one of the first films available on the Disney+ streaming service upon its launch on November 12, 2019.

Best Quote:

Elf Polly: Turn this thing around.
Noelle Kringle: No. Not going back without my brother. And it’s your job to help me.

#44 Love Hard

• Starring: Nina Dobrev, Jimmy O. Yang, Darren Barnet
• Rating: TV-MA
• IMDB Rating: 6.3/10

An unlucky in love Los Angeles lady meets an East Coast man on a dating app and plans to surprise him for the holidays, only to realize that she has been catfished and that she has been duped. This breezy romantic comedy follows her as she tries to lure in a guy.

Trivia

Jimmy O. Yang and Harry Shum Jr. both starred in the romantic comedy “Crazy Rich Asians”.

Best Quote:

You might not always get the ending you want, but you’ll get the ending you need.

– Kerry

#45 The Christmas House

• Starring: Robert Buckley, Ana Ayora, Treat Williams
• Rating: TV-G
• IMDB Rating: 6.1/10

A mother and father are working through some tough issues when they decide to bring their two grown sons home for the holidays.

Trivia

The first Hallmark Christmas movie to feature a male gay couple.

Best Quote:

That garland’s not going to fluff itself.

– Phylis

#46 The Princess Switch

• Starring: Vanessa Hudgens, Remy Hii, Sam Palladio
• Rating: TV-PG
• IMDB Rating: 5.5/10

An important artifact is stolen, and Queen Margaret and Princess Stacy ask the assistance of Margaret’s cousin Fiona— who joins up with a man from her past to recover it, sparking romance along the way and ending in a shocking turn of events.

Trivia

In the movie Fiona says “try my birthday, December 14th” It’s actually Vanessa Hudgens’ real birthday

Best Quote:

Prince Edward: [exhales] We could certainly use some good news right about now.
Fiona Pembroke: No worries, royal six-pack. Good news has arrived.
Mindy: Special delivery.
Reggie: Handle with care.
Fiona Pembroke: Hm.

#47 Operational Christmas Drop

• Starring: Kat Graham, Alexander Ludwig, Trezzo Mahoro
• Rating: TV-G
• IMDB Rating: 5.8/10

Erica (Graham), a congressional assistant, forgoes her family’s Christmas celebrations to travel on her boss’s behalf. At an Air Force post on the coast, she runs across Capt. Andrew Jantz (Ludwig), who is well aware that she has been tasked with finding reasons to defund the facility.

Goofy Fact

The patch on Andrew Jantz’s airman uniform changes from Andrew Jantz to Claws Jantz at different points throughout the film.

Trivia

Some of the F-15 fighter aircraft on the flight line belong to the Air National Guard’s 144th Fighter Wing out of Fresno, CA. These aircraft are from the same unit that supported Captain Marvel and share the same “tail flash” as Carol Danvers’ own F-15.

#48 A Christmas Prince

• Starring: Rose McIver, Ben Lamb, Alice Krige
• Rating:
• IMDB Rating: 5.8/10

While working secretly as a tutor to get inside data on a playboy prince, a writer becomes entangled in royal intrigue and falls in love – but will she be able to maintain her deception?

Goofy Fact

At the end of the film, when the people in the diner count down the final seconds to New Year’s, the clock on the wall shows 11:54.

Trivia

The outfit that the Queen of the Netherlands is wearing for the Christmas gala is a replica of the one that she wore during her coronation in 2013.

Best Quote:

Where there’s a Tiara, there’s dirt. Trust me.

Andy

#49 The Knight Before Christmas

• Starring: Vanessa Hudgens, Josh Whitehouse, Emmanuelle Chriqui
• Rating: TV-PG
• IMDB Rating: 5.6/10

A medieval English knight is mysteriously transported to present-day America, where he falls in love with a high school science teacher who has become disillusioned with the idea of love.

Goofy Fact

The grocery shopping scene takes place in a Giant Tiger store. This franchise only exists within Canada and would not be seen in Ohio where the movie is set.

Trivia

Ontario, Canada was the setting for certain sequences. As a setting, the town’s name was retained. On Main Street, Brooke smashed into Sir Cole while filming the emergency room scene at the local hospital.

Best Quote:

Brooke, might I ask you a personal question regarding your dalliance with the douche?

Sir Cole

#50 Single All the Way (2021)

• Starring: Jennifer Coolidge, Luke Macfarlane, Kathy Najimy
• Rating: TV-PG

Peter is desperate to escape his family’s disapproval of his continuous single state, so he persuades his closest buddy Nick to accompany him to the holidays and pretend that they are now in a relationship, which he finds SOOOOO hilarious!

Trivia

Filmed in Pointe-Claire, Quebec in the same neighbourhood as the Home Alone reboot.

#51 A Castle for Christmas

• Starring: Brooke Shields, Cary Elwes, Lee Ross
• Rating: G
• IMDB Rating: 5.6/10

As part of her attempt to avoid a scandal, a best-selling novelist travels to Scotland, where she falls in love with a castle – and finds herself at odds with the cranky duke who lives in a house.

Goofy Fact

The black lady asks, “When was the last time you drove a stick shift on the left side of the road?” at the end of the video, however in Scotland, as seen earlier in the film, people drive on the right side of the road.

Trivia

Despite the fact that Dun Dunbar Castle was a fictitious castle made for the film, there was a Dunbar Castle in Scotland that was once in use, but it is no longer in operation.

#52 Holiday in the Wild

• Starring: Rob Lowe, Kristin Davis, Fezile Mpela
• Rating: TV-PG
• IMDB Rating: 6.2/10

A lady who has been dumped by her husband on the eve of going on an African safari goes to the continent alone, where she meets an elephant conservationist who becomes her guide.

Goofy Fact

When Kate wakes up at 2:30 am in her New York apartment, the next shot shows Derek looking at the night sky through a telescope. It would have been 8:30 am where he is.

Trivia

Kristin Davis appeared in the film sex and the city, which had a storyline in which the main character goes on a honeymoon by herself and has to deal with the awkwardness of the situation.

Best Quote:

I like your boy. I don’t usually say that about humans.

Derek

Soooo, there you go! What’s your fave Christmas movie?