Top 25 Best Christmas Movies of All Time (well Top 20)

I tried to compile a list of the 25 Best Christmas Movies of All Time, but could only come up with 20. Like baseball movies, Christmas movies didn't really start to become good until the 1980s. Before that there was a good one about once a decade. Thanks to NetFlix, I've been able to catch up on many that I somehow missed over the years. The Bishop's Wife and its remake The Preacher's Wife, Meet Me in St. Louis and White Christmas, but none of these made my list.

St. Louis has too much of Judy Garland who is just too manly to watch. She can't act, her voice is hard to take and she's not very pleasant to look at. What her appeal is, I'll never know. The movie is bizarre in many ways and praises an era in America that I'm thankful doesn't exist anymore.

But here are my Top 20 and I would love to know if you agree or disagree with my findings. The order is not so much in terms of filmmaking prowess, but how many times I've rewatched the movie and thus how much I continue to enjoy it.---The Freditor


Miracle on 34th Street---I've seen this movie more times than any other film in history. Rough figures: 40 Plus times and I'll continue to watch it every year from now until I pass. Everyone is so good in it, right down to Jack Albertson from Chico and the Man as a mail clerk who wants to send all the Santa letters to the Federal Courthouse. The writing and direction, the music, the New York tone, even Santa getting bubblegum caught in his beard. Not one flaw in the whole thing. One of my Five Favorite Movies of All Time.

Christmas Carol (originally called Scrooge)--The one with Alistair Sims. Scared the bejesus out of me as a kid. So dark and gloomy, and the perfect use of Black and White photography. Sims might be the ugliest leading actor in history, but no one played a better Scrooge.

Elf---The funniest Christmas movie ever and perfect for both kids and adults. The Christmas specials of the '60s and '70s are filled with spirit and wonder and this was one movie that recaptured both. I was on the fence about Will Ferrell before this movie, but after it I became a huge fan. There are many classic scenes, but his introduction to his father's workplace, might be the funniest. "Fran-cis-co that's fun to say. Ooooh your dress is very purply."

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation---Second funniest Christmas movie. Every Christmas since I first heard Randy Quaid's Eddie say this (in 1989), I've said this to myself when I'm feeling down and it's made my spirits high again: "Merry Christmas, the Shitter is full!!"

We're No Angels---I love three or four Humphrey Bogart movies, but this is my favorite. Three French escaped convicts from Devil's Island take refuge in a general store on a neighboring island waiting for the first ship to sail them to freedom. They befriend the family that rents the store, and subtly fight the evil cousins who own the store. Hilarity ensues.

Home Alone---Kevin asks, "Have you had enough or are you thirsty for more?" And I'd have to say, more. One of those films that if I walk into a room with it on, I will stay with it for at least a half hour before I move on to more pressing matters. Stood in front of my friend Harry's TV for 45 minutes a few weeks ago watching it again. Hysterical and sweet. John Hughes is a master at writing Christmas movies (see Christmas Vacation.)

Holiday Inn---Not a Chrismas movie per se, but begins and ends at Christmas and introduced the world to the song White Christmas. Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire work so well together, too bad they never paired for another movie. One weird thing about its time. Bing is depressed at Thanksgiving and sits down to a huge turkey dinner by himself, but is too weary to eat. He's going to waste this turkey's life and he was friends with the turkey, even named him Tom. How do you kill an animal you befriended and not even eat it?

Joyeux Noel---Only non-American movie on the list. Tells the true story of the Christmas night in 1914 when the Germans, French and Scots stopped fighting to celebrate together. Wonderful story, beautifully told. A German opera singer sings Silent Night while holding a small Christmas tree with lit candles and accompanied by a Scotsman on bagpipes. Now you tell me how it could be better than that.

Muppet Christmas Carol---Great performance from Michael Caine as Scrooge. Fun, while staying true to the tone of the story. Great music and the best Fozzywig party scene of any CC movie. The late Jim Hensen would have been proud.

Bad Santa--Perfect movie for Dec. 26. Like a shot of tequila to wash away all the sugar in your teeth. A drunken degenarate plays department store santas all across America to steal the stores blind on Christmas Eve, but this year he movies in with a local 10 year old kid who helps him find his conscience. Bernie Mac is giddy evil as the store's private dick.

Polar Express---Technically a landmark achievement in computer animation and beautifully told. In fact, the only animated movie on my list. But still kind of a cold, clinical tale of Christmas. Howvere, its achievements far outweigh its deficiencies.

March of the Wooden Soldiers---Never actually seen the whole movie in one sitting, but know enough that I love what I see. The final fight scene is worth the price of admission.

Going My Way---I guess not technically a Christmas movie, but when you add it together: New York City, an Irish priest, a Catholic Church, singing kids, it almost becomes a Christmas movie by default.

The Nativity Story---One of the few Christmas movies and the only one on my list that's about the Birth of Christ. Like Passover movies that rarely mention Moses. In fact, this is the only movie ever made strictly about the Birth of Christ. Is it perfect, no. But it is solemn and gives a great history lesson of the times that Jesus was born into. Like Mary was a lucky daughter who was allowed to live past birth. Girl babies were often allowed to die back then. And even though Jesus was born in the springtime, the sand storms that Joseph and Mary push through are filmed like blinding snowstorms.

Home Alone 2---Not as good as the first movie, but might even be funnier. Tim Curry as the snotty Plaza Hotel concierge was a nice addition. And Brenda Fricke as the homeless, bird lady was sweet.

Gremlins---Written by young Chris Columbus, who went on to direct the Home Alones. This movie has been ripped off so many times since, but in 1984 was such an original blend of comedy and light horror. Phoebe Cates talking about how her father got killed pretending to be Santa is great dark comedy. A Fred-fave, country singer Hoyt Axton as the father is like warm milk and honey. And Gizmo was so cute.

Christmas in Connecticut---Silly movie with plot holes you could drive a Mack Truck through, but a nice, gentle comedy. Barbara Stanwyck was very sexy for her time.

Love Actually---Doesn't become a Christmas movie until the end, but one of my favorite romantic comedies. When you "meet cute" in a movie it's very much like a Gift of the Magi-type deal. A boy has a record player but needs a needle and the girl has a needle but needs a record player, their mutual needs help them connect. This movie has about 6 different couples who meet cute and while some stories are better than others, my favorite is the writer with the Portuguese maid.

Santa Clause 2--Way better than the original Santa Clause. Tim Allen is perfect for this role and this movie is way more relaxed and fun. A Christmas Story---I wasn't a fan of this movie originally. Never liked little Peter Billingsly, maybe because he kind of reminded me of myself at that age. But through repeated viewings on TNT every year, it has grown on me. Plus, Darren McGavin is priceless as a cranky, but loving father. Loved when he urged his son to remove the pink bunny pajamas. It's great when a father prevents a mother from embarrassing his son. But oh man, the leg lamp---"Look Honey it says, Fra-Gee-Lee, it must be Italian."