Rate These Christmas Movies And Get The Perfect Holiday Hubby
- by Michelle_Sanders
- – on
- in Movies and TV
Ha ha! At last! At long, long last, the thing that we have all been waiting for for the past eleven months is here. That's right, people, it's December. That means Christmas. It's time to climb into the attic or saunter down to the basement and locate those boxes full of fragile ornaments and worn out stockings. Time to break out the tinsel and the green and red decorations and start decking those halls.
Oh, we can't wait 'til the local Christmas tree farm opens up so we can pick out a tree to carry into our living room. We're so excited to be stapling colorful lights to our house's roof line and to set up the plastic candy canes, we can hardly stand it. And the baking! Don't even get us started on the food! Gingerbread, eggnog and spiced everything. Delicious!
Yes, Christmastime is the most wonderful time of the year for so many reasons, from the food to the festive decorations. Another thing we love about Christmastime though is the holiday-themed movies. There are so many to pick from that in order to ensure that we see them all, we're going to have to start binge-watching them all RIGHT NOW. Rate these Christmas movies and we'll pair everybody up with a holiday hubby to watch them with!
Elf
Will Ferrell stars in this Christmastime classic about a toddler named Buddy who's accidentally taken to the North Pole, where he's raised by Santa's elves. As an adult, Buddy feels that he doesn't fit in, so he travels to New York City to try to find his own way. Hilarity and good, old fashioned holiday fun ensue.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Pumpkin King of Halloweentown, Jack Skellington seemingly has it all. A pinstripe suit. Super long skeleton legs. Musical numbers. What more could he possibly want? And yet, more is exactly what he wants. After wandering into the forest, Jack stumbles through the door to Christmastown, where he decides to replace Santa, fill in that jolly old elf's role himself and, well, it doesn't quite go as planned.
A Christmas Story
Ralphie is a little boy who is having SO many problems. Why? Because! None of the adults in his life, from his parents to his teachers to the big Christmas man himself, Santa Claus, will take his pleas for a Red Ryder seriously! Fortunately, things work out in Ralphie's favor, if not in the way he planned. Lots of laughs to be had with this beloved Christmas classic.
The Polar Express
Based on the classic kid's book of the same name by Chris Van Allsburg, The Polar Express follows the story of a skeptical little boy as he hops aboard the title train and makes his way to the North Pole. He makes some new friends and discovers the value of believing in the seemingly non-believable along the way.
Love Actually
If you love stories, then you are going to love Love Actually, because it has nine of them. That's right, nine stories, all unexpectedly tied together, all examining that most complex, yet most sought after human emotion: love. With stars like Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Hugh Grant, Kiera Knightley, Laura Linney and so many more, you've got to see Love Actually at least once.
Christmas With the Kranks
Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis star as Luther and Nora Krank, a couple who plans to bail on a traditional Christmas this year in favor of taking a cruise to the Caribbean. But, because the neighbors think it's their business how the Kranks decide to spend their holiday, and also because they want to win the award for best decorated street, they're determined to throw a wrench in the Kranks plans.
Home Alone
Kevin McAllister's being a snot-nosed twerp the night before he's set to leave with his family for Christmas vacation, so his mom makes him sleep in the attic. When he wakes up the next morning, his family has already left for the airport and he's *puts both hands on face, opens mouth* HOME ALONE! He's stoked at first, but then a couple of thieves show up, and Kevin makes it his mission to get rid of them. Permanently.
A Christmas Carol
Charles Dickens's classic story, A Christmas Carol, comes to animated life with Jim Carrey at the helm, starring as Ebenezer Scrooge, a grumpy, stingy old guy who can't stand Christmas or how it seems to make everybody so...happy. Yuck! Anyway, Scrooge is visited by the various Christmas ghosts, past, present and future, and his heart grows three sizes. No, wait, that's the Grinch. Well, anyway.
Miracle On 34th Street
Oh, come on! This movie is a classic! A guy by the name of Kris Kringle fills in for the Santa at Macy's, where he becomes so popular, people become convinced that he's the real, honest to goodness Santa Claus. Naturally, this lands him in court (wait...what?), where people are determined to figure out the truth.
The Holiday
Iris (Kate Winslet) of England and Amanda (Cameron Diaz) of California have both had relationship problems recently, so for a change of pace, they agree to swap apartments. This move proves to be just the ticket, as they both soon find romance in the forms of Graham (Jude Law) and Miles (Jack Black).
Arthur Christmas
So, just how exactly does Santa manage to deliver gifts to every child on earth? Well, it's super complicated, and Santa's youngest son, Arthur, is about to find out how complicated it truly is firsthand. After Santa somehow goofs up and misses one kid, it's up to Arthur to clean up his dad's mess—uh, we mean, to save the day.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
You already know the synopsis for this story, don't you? The 2000 version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas stars Jim Carrey as the title role, and it follows the story of the Grinch, who wants to "stop Christmas from coming", but then wants to make sure Christmas happens. Other stuff happens in between, but if you don't know what that stuff is, don't expect us to spill the beans.
Santa Clause
A Christmas flick so well-received it earned two sequels, the first film in the trilogy introduces us to Scott, a recently divorced dad who's forced to become Santa Claus after accidentally offing a guy who looked like Santa, but, as the elves in the North Pole explain to him, was ACTUALLY Santa. Uh, so, yeah. Nothing says "Merry Christmas!" like not meaning to end Kris Kringle, then becoming him...right?
Four Christmases
Brad and Kate (Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon) find themselves visiting their families for Christmas after their vacation plans unravel. Brad's eager to break free from his weirdo relatives (Pfft! Aren't we all?), but after spending some time with her family, Kate begins to wonder if her family is really as absurd as she originally thought.
Jingle All The Way
You know, we admire this movie, because it takes real dedication to jingle ALL the way. We usually jingle about halfway, then get bored and stop, but not so for this film. Remember when Arnold Schwarzeneggar made Christmas films, not action flicks? Yeah, neither do we, but Jingle All The Way tells the story of how one overworked dad tries to mend his relationship with his family by hunting down a popular toy for his son just in time for Christmas.
The Muppet Christmas Carol
Essentially the exact same thing as the A Christmas Carol we already talked about, the one featuring Jim Carrey as an animated Ebenezer Scrooge, this particular version is different because it features the Muppets. So, it felt puppets who are borderline unsettling celebrating the best holiday of the year sounds like fun to you, we bet you love this film.
Frosty the Snowman
A snowman (who may or may not be named for a Wendy's dessert) comes to life and parades around town with the local kids having all sorts of whimsical fun. Then, the mercury in the thermometer starts to rise *dun dUN DUNNN!* So the kids try to get Frosty to the North Pole, where he can live forever in snowman paradise.
It's a Wonderful Life
George Bailey has a lot on his plate at the moment and, frankly, he just can't see a way forward. After George stops a man—who happens to be his guardian angel, Clarence—from jumping off a bridge, Clarence shows George the impact he's had on the lives of others, giving George renewed hope and an appreciation for his truly wonderful life.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer has been relentlessly teased by the normal-nosed reindeer for years. But the tables are about to turn. Rudolph saves the day—Christmas day, no less! One foggy night, Santa (who, for whatever reason, has never intervened on Rudolph's behalf with the other reindeer before. What the heck, Santa?!) asks Rudolph to use his bright nose to guide his sleigh so he can successfully deliver the presents to all the little children.
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Charlie Brown is ambivalent about Christmas. He finds himself disappointed by the commercialism of Christmas time—the gift-giving, the cards, the marketing. It's too much for him to stomach. So, what's a little animated boy to do but go out and find the true meaning of Christmas? A classic holiday movie since it came out in 1965, no Christmas is complete without this special!
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
In an attempt to make everything perfect this Christmas, Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) decides to make sure everybody is NOT having a good time by annoying them, all in an attempt to make sure they're following Christmas tradition. Things get even sourer when Clark's hillbilly cousin and his family set up camp on his property and make nuisances of themselves. Yikes.
Krampus
Know what Christmas needs? A spooky movie! Krampus is the only Christmas movie that we can think of that had the guts to make things unsettling. In this 2015 flick, a Krampus (look, just Google it) sets its sights on an unassuming family and if this doesn't send you hiding behind the Christmas tree, we don't know what will.
Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town
Fred Astaire narrates and Mickey Rooney voice stars in this classic animated kid's Christmas film from 1970. This special is a major hit with not just children, but everyone, and it has remained so over the years because it explores the various Christmas traditions and how they came to be. Hope ya like whimsy, because this film is chock full of it.
Deck the Halls
Steve, who looks a lot like Matthew Broderick, loves Christmas, and he always goes all out for it, decorating his house inside and out to the max. But a rival by the name of Danny (Danny DeVito) moves in next door with plans to deck his house with so many lights, it can be seen from space! This idea doesn't bode well with Steve, and each neighbor tries to outdo the other.
All is Bright
Paul Rudd and Paul Giamatti? Huh. Well, we never would've thought to put those two in a holiday-themed low-key buddy flick, but alrighty then! All is Bright follows the story of two not quite aboveboard guys trying to make some serious money by running a Christmas tree business in New York City.
Home Alone 2
After they left him behind in the first film, you'd think Kevin McAllister's family would be a little more careful when it comes to keeping track of him, but you'd be wrong. Once again, Kevin finds himself guardian-less. This time, he's lost in New York City, and, wouldn't you know it? The same two bandits from movie one are on the loose! wHaT a CoInKydInK!
Eight Crazy Nights
Ever wanted to see an Adam Sandler movie in which he's an animated cartoon character and the plot has something to do with a holiday (and don't you dare say no, because that's not the right answer)? Then you're going to love Eight Crazy Nights, a film about a guy doing community service to pay for his delinquency.
The Snowman
Kind of like Frosty the Snowman, but also kind of not, The Snowman was released in 1982 and is based on the book of the same name. After building a snowman on Christmas Eve, through the power of plot-convenient magic, the snowman comes to life and flies the boy who created him to the North Pole to meet Santa Claus.
Olive, the Other Reindeer
Also based on a book of the same name, Olive, the Other Reindeer is a dog who, when Santa announces his annual flight is canceled due to the fact that one of his reindeer has been hurt, confuses the words "all of" with "Olive"—which just so happens to be her name. Convinced that she's the only one who can save Christmas, Olive makes the journey to the North Pole and saves the day.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
Yes, you read that right. We did it. We put How the Grinch Stole Christmas in this lineup twice. But the 2000 version of the story with Jim Carrey is vastly different than the 1966 version, and not just because the 1966 version has an exclamation point at the end of the title, but also because it's animated.
Jack Frost
Jack Frost never spent enough time with his family in life. A year after his untimely passing in a car accident, his son plays a sad tune on his dad's harmonica during Christmastime, and his dad comes to life again—this time as a snowman (you can't make this up, people), and the two bond in a way only a mourning son and a snowman dad can.
I'll Be Home For Christmas
Jonathan Taylor Thomas (that's right, the voice of Simba) plays Jake, a university student who's not on good terms with his dad—so, basically, your average college kid. Jake's convinced he's getting a Porsche for Christmas, so he decides to head home, but the school football team dumps him in the desert in a Santa suit as a joke, and he's forced to find his way without any money or ID to help him.
Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas
Oh, you had to know Disney was going to get its finger in the Christmas pie. Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas is one movie, but it's split up into three separate stories. First is Donald Duck Stuck On Christmas, second is A Very Goofy Christmas and last is Mickey and Minnie's The Gift of the Magi. A trilogy of riveting tales that'll warm your heart and make you all Christmastime tingly inside.
Gremlins
A dad buys a strange creature for his son for Christmas, but the salesman warns him that the creature should never be be allowed near bright light or water, and that it should never be fed after midnight. Even though technically it's ALWAYS after midnight, the guy buys the creature, gives it to his son who almost immediately disobeys the very specific set of instructions, causing the creature to turn into one of the title Gremlins. The gremlin promptly goes on a rampage of the town on Christmas Eve.
The Family Stone
Everett Stone decides to bring his girlfriend, Meredith, home to meet his parents on Christmas. Nervous, Meredith invites her sister to go along, which proves to be a poor decision as her sister, Julie, soon highlights her sister's high-strung personality, which in turn causes Everett to begin to second guess his intentions.
