Kicking it back and watching Christmas movies during the holiday season is a must in households celebrating the holiday throughout America. Gathering with family and friends to watch Christmas classics and drink hot chocolate is a great way to channel your holiday spirit. From heartwarming classics to hilarious modern-day movies, the tradition of Christmas films has been beloved for quite some time. These movies continue to captivate the hearts and minds of audiences every holiday season. Here are my five favorite Christmas movies ranked!
In fifth place, we have Robert Zemeckis’s “The Polar Express”. This Christmas movie is one of the first movies that comes to mind when you think about holiday movies. This 2004 classic was nominated for three Oscars and with five other smaller awards wins and 26 total nominations. It gets a 6.6/10 on IMDb (Internet Movie Database). This movie is rated G and is known for being family-friendly. In the movie, children embark on a journey on a magical train to the North Pole. Along the way, they discover the meaning of friendship and uncover the secrets behind Santa Claus and Christmas.
Despite being a classic and extremely popular among holiday fanatics, it is slightly overrated. I remember watching it when I was little, but now it could almost be described as a fever dream. The plot of the movie is just all over the place sometimes. It can be random and has many unnecessary scenes. The story seems rushed and unexplained. However, the whole movie is so playful, creating this sense of magic and holiday spirit in children, which I understand appeals to parents trying to entertain a younger audience. I do remember watching this movie over and over again as a child because I just loved the way it made the holiday seem so magical; I almost felt as if I could be whisked away on a magical train one day too. Yet, rewatching it as a teenager, it is too heavy on fantasy. While “The Polar Express” is an amazing movie, I feel it mainly appeals to a younger audience, not a high school age group. However, if you are looking for a magical adventure, this is a great Christmas movie.
In fourth place, we have Ron Howard’s “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”. The Grinch is almost as common as Santa Claus these days; he embodies the hate of the holiday season. While a more recent animated rendition of this movie came out in 2018, and the original cartoon in 1966, my favorite is the 2000 live-action movie. This movie won one oscar. It has had 18 other smaller award wins and 37 nominations total. It gets a 6.3/10 on IMDb. The film is about a grumpy green creature living just outside of a town known for their holiday spirit. In the name of revenge, he plans to steal Christmas.
The message behind the story ends up being that Christmas is not about the presents but rather the joy and time spent with family and friends in a community. This is a powerful message to send to children. When I watched it as a child, it taught me the true meaning of Christmas. It also presents the concept that revenge is never the answer and how forgiving people for their actions is important because they can change. Which, to me, is one of the true meanings of Christmas. The one thing I would change about this movie is the costumes and set. I understand the movie was made 23 years ago, but the wacky props and costumes were a little too plastic. The Grinch looks like something you would find in your shower drain, and to be honest, ‘Sweet’ Cindy-Lou-Who looks scarier than the supposed monster. The snow is not even close to realistic, and the trees look like cardboard. The movie makes up for the lack of visual appeal through its wacky and engaging plot, and overall, this movie is a staple in the Christmas world.
In third place, we have John Francis Daley’s “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”. In my opinion, this movie is extremely underrated, especially for mature family viewing. Unlike most Christmas movies, it is rated PG-13 and targets a pre-teen to adult audience. This movie gets a 7.5/10 on IMDb. Even more impressive is that this movie came out in 1989. The movie’s plot follows a family having a big Christmas celebration, but it turns into a disaster.
The bad luck of the Griswold family is amusing, no matter the age. Most of the mature references fly right over young heads and they still capture people’s attention regardless of age. Many moments made me laugh out loud, both as a kid and now. This movie is chock-full of madness and endless jokes. The acting is very good, with great performances all around. This movie is purely for Christmas laughs. While this can be a good thing, it can also mean that the plot is thin, simple, and all too predictable. Sometimes, the stupidity of certain moments throughout the film does become bothersome. There is no deep meaning behind the movie; it is just family fun. It keeps you entertained, and in the end, that is what really matters.
In second place, we have Dan Mazer’s “Home Alone”. This movie is amazing because while it is technically a Christmas movie, I consider it a holiday movie instead. Everyone, no matter what holiday they celebrate, can enjoy it. The movie came out in 1990 and has been nominated for two Oscars, with 11 other smaller wins and six total nominations. It gets a 7.7/10 on IMDb. The great thing about the movie is that it is rated PG, but it is not childish in any way. This movie is for everyone. This movie is about an eight-year-old boy who accidentally gets left home alone by his large family that went on Christmas vacation to France. The parents have no way to contact him, and trouble strikes when burglars come to steal from his home. The boy, Kevin McCallister, played masterfully by Macaulay Culkin, takes matters into his own hands and defends his house from the burglars
This movie is an absolute classic, and I adore it. Kevin is so fun to watch because of his wit and childish imagination. He devises the most entertaining plans and booby traps. If you are the kind of person who laughs when people fall in home videos, this movie is for you. Obviously, with such a humorous movie, the plot has some holes. Could Kevin have quickly gone to a police station in the time it takes him to set up his traps? Well, yes, but where is the fun in that? The movie stresses the importance of family during the holiday season. In the beginning, Kevin hates his family and never wants to see them again, but by the end, he wants nothing more than to have them back for the holidays. Overall, this movie is and should continue to be loved by many during the holiday season. This movie embodies the true holiday spirit, with love and family being more important than anything.
In first place, we have Jon Favreau’s “Elf”. “Elf” is not only my favorite Christmas movie but also my favorite movie in general. “Elf” came out in 2003, winning two awards and had seven total nominations. It gets a 7.7/10 on IMDb. The plot of the movie follows an oversized “elf” who lives in the North Pole and works for Santa, but when he learns he is not really an elf, he travels to New York City to meet his biological father, who does not know he exists. The elf, Buddy (played by Will Ferrell), travels all that way to New York City only to find out his father is on the naughty list. Even worse, he is a total jerk with a whole new family. The movie follows Buddy as he finds true love, his true family, and spreads the spirit of Christmas to save Santa.
When I tell you this is one of the stupidest movies you will ever see, I mean it, and that makes it even more of a cinematic masterpiece. Watching a full grown man go around in tights making a fool of himself is worth your time. It is not only childish humor, though. A handful of jokes targeted towards a mature audience fly right over young children’s heads. Elf is a family movie that I have watched so many times I can quote it directly. The spirit and joy of Buddy are contagious and put you in a good mood for the holiday season. I adore the mix of childish imagination and mature jokes put in this film, and I highly recommend watching it.
These movies will absolutely bring Christmas joy to your home, just as they have over the years to mine. There are other amazing holiday movies out there you might enjoy, but these are my personal favorites. Not only do they keep you entertained, but they also highlight deeper messages and good life lessons. No matter your age, these Christmas movies will have a special place in your heart.
