As the holiday season comes to a close, lights are shining, Christmas songs are playing on the radio, and families are snuggling up by the fire to watch a Christmas movie during their time off. If your family wants to have a successful holiday-movie-watching season, here are the top ten movies that are a must-see:
1. The Year Without a Santa Claus
This movie is, and always be my favorite Christmas movie. It was first aired on December 10, 1974 on ABC. This beloved Christmas movie is considered a stop-motion film due to it being made through a continuous stream of individual pictures in which the figures were moved only slightly in each frame. With loveable characters like Mrs. Claus and the Miser brothers, the film focuses on what happens to the world when Santa becomes ill and cannot deliver presents and Christmas cheer this year.
2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas
This is probably one of the oldest, yet most loved family Christmas movies. How the Grinch Stole Christmas first aired December 18, 1966 on ABC. Since then, it has been an essential piece in ABC’s 25 Days of Christmas holiday special. This movie focuses on the Grinch, who hates Christmas, and his plan to steal Christmas away from the whos, who live in the town of Whoville. After seeing the true spirit of Christmas come out of the town, even after all his attempts at ruining it, his heart “grew three sizes that day.”
3. Polar Express
Although much more modern than the two previous movies on this list, the Polar Express has been a huge hit since its first debut on November 10, 2004. This movie focuses on the true spirit of Christmas and how important it is for kids to believe in Santa for as long as they can. This movie has inspired multiple replica train rides across America during the holiday season.
4. Elf
Elf was first available in November of 2003, but continues to be one of the top Christmas movies in America for the past 13 years. As a human who was raised by elves, he goes on an adventure to find his real father and on his way, discovers syrup, spaghetti, and a Santa “imposter” at the mall.
5. The Santa Clause
The Santa Clause features Tim Allen in his hilarious adventure with being Santa for Christmas after he accidentally kills the real one. It was first in theaters in November of 1994, but two sequels have followed this original movie. This movie also handles the topic of telling kids that Santa is not real, and why it is important for them to believe while they are young.
6. A Charlie Brown Christmas
This goes without saying, but anything with Charlie Brown in it is a CLASSIC. But this specific movie is one of the most popular Charlie Brown films. One of the most known symbols from this movie is Charlie’s pitiful Christmas tree that is barely able to withstand a single ornament on its branch(es). This film was first aired on CBS on December 9, 1965 and shows the importance of the true meaning of Christmas, rather than just the presents and lights.
7. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
As with The Year Without a Santa Claus, this film is also a stop motion film but was recorded in Japan. Although it was recorded there, all of the sound effects and recordings were done in Toronto, Canada. This movie premiered on NBC in December of 1964. This movie was based on the book by the same name that was published in 1939 by Robert L. May.
8. Frosty the Snowman
This movie is actually based off of the song “Frosty the Snowman” by Walter “Jack” Rollins and Steve Nelson and was recorded by Gene Autry and the Cass County Boys in 1950. It was first aired on December 7, 1969 on CBS, and is still only shown on CBS today. The producers wanted the production to look similar to a Christmas card, so a greeting card artist was hired to animate the movie. TV Guide ranked this film as number four out of ten on the Best Family Holiday Specials list.
9. The Nightmare Before Christmas
This movie is probably the darkest of all Christmas movies, but is also a stop-motion film like The Year Without a Santa Claus and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Created by Tim Burton, this movie premiered in 1993 and gained $75 million during its initial run in theatres. This movie has also been reissued by Disney and was turned into a Disney Digital 3D picture, making it the first stop-motion film to be converted to 3D.
10. A Christmas Story
This is one of the most known and loved Christmas movies of all time. Since its premiere in 1983, it has become such a big hit that TNT plays a “24 Hours of A Christmas Story” where it shows 12 consecutive showings of A Christmas Story back to back. This movie revolves around Ralphie, a nine year old who wanted a Red Ryder BB gun, in which everyone tells him that he will undoubtedly shoot his eye out.
All of these movies show many different sides of Christmas and the different lessons that Christmas can teach. These movies show the importance of believing, giving, achieving, and Christmas spirit. This holiday season, remember these ideas as you spend time with friends and family. Happy holidays!
