Greatest Christmas Movies of All Time

Hello, Everybody! Since that Christmas is a few days away, I made a list of all of the great Holiday films! Most of these movies are some of my favorites and I will sadly not include any Christmas Horror movies like Black Christmas because that'll be a list for another day.

Alright, fellas, here's the list.

20. The Night Before

Directed by Jonathan Levine, who later directed Long Shot, one of the best comedies of 2019, The Night Before is a Christmas comedy starring Seth Rogen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Anthony Mackie. This trio of lifelong buddies have gathered on Christmas Eve to celebrate the holidays with a bang. As Isaac prepares to become a father, they realize that their annual tradition is coming to an end. To make it as memorable as possible, they plan a night of debauchery and hilarity by searching for the Nutcracka Ball, the Holy Grail of Christmas Parties. It's everything that you would want in a raunchy Christmas comedy film and it had one memorable scene of Isaac being high at church. 

19. Christmas in Connecticut

The first classic Christmas rom com on this list, Christmas in Connecticut stars Hollywood Legend Barbara Stanwyck and Dennis Morgan. Recovering war hero, Jefferson Jones grows familiar with the "Diary of a Housewife" column written by Elizabeth Lane. His nurse arranges with Elizabeth's publisher for Jeff to spend the holiday at Elizabeth's farm in Connecticut with her husband and child. But the column is actually a sham, so the publisher arranges a publicity stunt by setting up Elizabeth on a country farm. It's a cheerful and very sweet and silly romcom to sink you teeth into if you're in the mood for old school Christmas cheer.

18. White Christmas

Filmed on VistaVision and starring Bing Crosby and directed by Michael Curtiz, who directed CasaBlanca, White Christmas is one of the most defining Christmas movies of Hollywood's Golden Age. Crosby and Danny Kaye play two singers, Bob Wallace and Phil Davis who join sister act Betty and Judy Haynes to perform a Christmas show in rural Vermont. There, they run into General Waverly, their commander in WWII, who, they learn, is having financial diffculties; his country inn is failing. So, the foursome plans a yultetide extravaganza that's sure to save Waverly's business. It's a Holiday favorite that's very hard to resist.

17. Love Actually

Ok, I regret putting Love Actually on this list, but it did however did something right. It told 5+ stories in one movie that took place during the Holiday Season and the all-star cast truly is iconic. Liam Neeson, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant, Maria Bello, Rodrigo Santoro, Bill Nighy, Andrew Lincoln, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Keira Knightley, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Colin Firth and Martin Freeman. Is it hated? Yes. Is it also a bit of a sweet movie? Sure. But for many, it had since become a tradition to watch this Christmas rom-com every year.

16. The Family Stone

Another Christmas rom-com with an all-star cast, but this time it's a hilarious family drama. An uptight conservative businesswoman accompanies her boyfriend to his eccentric and outgoing family's annual Christmas celebration and that she's a fish out of water in their free-spirited way of life. The movie stars Sarah Jessica Parker, Dermot Mulroney, Claire Danes, Diane Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Craig T. Nelson and Luke Wilson. It has a very sharp comic edge to its dramatic subject and it reminds that the Holiday Season can bring out the worst in people, particularly families. It's tonal shifts are inconsistent, but it's still great Christmas movie to watch.

15. The Muppet Christmas Carol

What better way to tell Charles Dickens' classic Christmas story than with The Muppets. Michael Caine played the iconic role of Ebenzer Scrooge while Kermit played Bob Cratchit. He and The Muppets gang show him the errors of his ways, but the old man is past his hope of redemption and happiness. It's a great introduction to A Christmas Carol for younger viewers and great nostalgia viewing for adults.

14. Jingle All the Way

Despite the low score on Rotten Tomatoes, Jingle All the Way is still a great Christmas movie. Arnold Schwarzenegger plays Howard Langston, a workaholic who wants to make things up to this son by buying him a Turbo-Man action figure -- even though it's Christmas Eve and that they're all sold out. As Howard hunts down the gift, he runs into Myron, who is a mailman, another father on the same quest. As time runs out, Howard's morality is tested as he starts to learn the true meaning of Christmas. It's one of the few holiday movies that dealt with the commercialization of Christmas and how the Holidays can bring out the worst in people. While the movie isn't really good, it's pure family entertainment for everybody.

13. The Holiday

This Holiday rom-com is about two women who both live in different countries and swap homes for a much-need break from each other's relationships during the Holidays. While the plot is predictable, the cast consisting of Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law and Jack Black are great and the aesthetic production design is impressive.

12. Bad Santa

This Christmas movie is very unconventional. Billy Bob Thornton plays an alcoholic Mall Santa and robs department stores with his dwarf partner, Marcus dressed as an elf during the holidays while befriending a young boy. As he sees the good in himself, he starts to appreciate the holidays. It's a tale of redemption, even the slightest good deed that Willie does is part of what Christmas is all about.

11. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

You don't really have to watch 1983's Vacation to appreciate this Holiday gem, it really doesn't matter. You can still enjoy the laugh riot that is Christmas Vacation. Clark Griswold wants to have the perfect Christmas, so he pesters his wife and children, as he tries to make sure that the tree is up and that the house decorations are up. However, his cousin and family arrive on his property unannounced and Clark's employers renege on the holiday bonus he needs. Not everybody's Holidays are going according to plan, and Christmas Vacation reminds us to spend Christmas with the people that you love. 

10. Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas

This version of the Dr. Seuss tale is more beloved from adults than kids. Jim Carrey's over-the-top performance is unmatched and its production design, make -up effects and script is truly something to behold. Which is why I put this at number 10. It's soo funny and the jokes have certainly went over many kids' heads. It also expands on the tale to very wacky and unexpected directions.

9. The Santa Clause

Who doesn't love The Santa Clause?! Scott Calvin is a divorced man taking care of his son on Christmas Eve. After he accidentally kills Santa, they're magically transported to the North Pole, where an elf explains that he must take Santa's place before the next Christmas arrive and soon enough, he becomes the permanent Santa Claus. Watching this movie is an annual tradition and if it doesn't make you laugh or put on a smile on your face then you're not even human.

8. The Polar Express

Ok, yes, it's very awkward to look at now, but you gotta appreciate the mo-cap visuals and the magic that it brought to the holidays and Tom Hanks as The Conductor is iconic. It's the crown jewel of ImageMovers' Digital and one of Robert Zemeckis' best films. If you still do love Christmas watch The Polar Express.

7. Elf

Elf is soo great! Who doesn't love Elf?! The fact that Will Ferrell looked very imposing with his elf outfit on just makes it soo funny! Is it silly? Yes. But that's make Elf such a great Christmas movie! So many iconic scenes in this movie and I can't even pick a favorite. I just love Elf.

6. The Nightmare Before Christmas

Halloweentown. The home of Jack Skellington. Tim Burton and Henry Selick's magnum opus has become cult favorite for over 3 decades. As Jack says in his famous song, he's grown tired of frightening people every year and wants something different and so, he ends up in Christmastown and plots to seize the town by kidnapping Santa Claus and he ends up ruining Christmas. Whether you watch it on Halloween, Christmas or both(I watch it on Christmas, it's literally in the title), it's animation and creepy aesthetic still hold up and it's a great and unique way to get into Christmas.

5. A Christmas Story

When you were a kid, did you feel alienated and alone on Christmas when you were a kid? Even feeling left out in your family? Ralphie tries to make it through Christmas by hoping to get a Red Ryder air rifle and his parents give him and basically everyone tell him the same answer; "You'll shoot your eye out". It's charming and hilarious and reminds you what the true meaning of Christmas is and it's got the greatest beat down of a bully ever! It's a perennial Christmas classic!

4. Miracle on 34th Street

In this Christmas classic, an old man named Kris Kringle fills in for and intoxicated Santa during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. Kringle proves to be such a hit that he is soon appearing regularly at the  chain's main store in midtown. When Kringle surprises customers and employees that he's the real Santa Claus, it leads to a court case to determine if he's telling the truth. This holiday classic stands the test of time and it'll make you believe that anything is possible during Christmas time.

3. Die Hard

YES. I do think Die Hard is a Christmas movie! And nobody will tell me otherwise! Bruce Willis plays the iconic role of John McClain, a NYPD cop who goes to Los Angeles to save their wife's marriage on Christmas Eve. Every Christmas movie is all about seeking redemption during the holidays and John saving his marriage during the Holidays is an example of that and then terrorists storm Nakatomi Plaza and ruin Christmas. Hans Gruber is basically The Grinch! So John's gotta take matters into his own hands and stop them. Not only is it The Greatest Action Movie of All Time, it's one of the best and most unconventional Christmas movies ever made.

2. It's a Wonderful Life

I can truly respect that It's a Wonderful Life is peak Christmas cinema, but beginning in the midpoint is when I got invested. Jimmy Stewart plays the role of George Bailey and he faces financial problems and wants to end his life, he ends up rescuing a guardian angel named Clarence who shows George what it would like if George didn't exist. It reminds all of us that during the time of the Holidays YOU matter, YOU are what make Christmas great, yes I don't care who I'm looking at. I'm looking at YOU. It wouldn't be Christmas without It's a Wonderful Life.

Honorable Mentions:

- Scrooged

- A Charlie Brown Christmas

- Frosty the Snowman

- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

- The Shop Around the Corner

- Arthur Christmas

- A Christmas Tale

- The Bishop's Wife

- Lethal Weapon

- Happiest Season

1. Home Alone

Home Alone is my favorite Christmas movie! I've been watching this every year since I was a kid! Screw the Rotten Tomatoes score! It's a Christmas classic. It's an annual tradition to watch an 8-year-old kid take out a couple of bandits in his home while his family's in Paris. As Kevin is by himself during Christmas time he learns to grow as a better child and appreciate the family members that he has and that Christmas is all about spending time with the people that you love.

Thanks you reading, Guys! Don't forget to comment below what your favorite Christmas movie is! And have a have a Merry Christmas!