From Home Alone to Die Hard: The 20 Best Christmas Movies
Thanksgiving is over, it's time to prepare for Christmas. Santa Claus is already on his way, and you still have a few weeks to enjoy themed films. The hot twenty best films about Christmas are offered by the publication USA Today.
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Among the classics, of course, are the hilarious tales of Macaulay Culkin confronting hapless burglars in the beloved Home Alone sequel, or Bill Murray's selfish TV producer learning the true meaning of Christmas in The Christmas Carol (a take on Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol).
Maybe you're more into modern films like the action thriller Red One with Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans, or the racy new Netflix release Hot on the Snowman, as well as The Merry Gentlemen.
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As the holiday season begins, here are our picks for the 20 best Christmas movies of all time:
Home Alone (1990)
Macaulay Culkin is charming, and watching an eight-year-old boy cleverly outwit two burglars is a joy to watch. But even the funniest childish antics are reminders of the importance of strong family relationships.
"Ice Harvest" (2005)
Set on Christmas Eve in Wichita, Kansas, this witty and gripping neo-noir follows a mob lawyer (John Cusack) who steals $2 million from his boss and tries to escape, only to have his plans thwarted by bad weather.
"Happiest Season" (2020)
This smart-humored romantic film follows a lesbian couple (Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis) whose relationship is tested by family secrets, conservative parents, and rival siblings.
"The Nightmare Before Christmas" (1993)
Is this a Halloween movie? Sure, but it's a Christmas movie too! Tim Burton boldly mixes genres and, in his signature crazy style, tells the story of how Jack Skellington, the ruler of Halloweentown, decides to take on the role of Santa.
"Lethal Weapon" (1987)
On its own, it's one of the best buddy cop action movies. The Christmas setting adds a little extra spice. Just think about the shootout at the Christmas tree market or the dinner when Mel Gibson's depressed character finds a new family!
"Merry Christmas" (2005)
This Oscar-nominated war film tells the true story of the 1914 armistice, when the battlefields of World War I were replaced by Christmas carols.
"White Christmas" (1954)
The song White Christmas was used in two musicals starring Bing Crosby. In it, he and Danny Kaye play World War II soldiers who try to save their former commander's hotel with the help of two sisters (Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen).
Gremlins (1984)
This movie is a great introduction to the horror genre for kids. A small town is plagued by creepy gremlins when teenagers don't follow simple instructions. And even Baby Yoda can't beat the cute Gizmo in a Christmas hat.
"The Shop Around the Corner" (1940)
The film that became the basis for the romantic comedy You've Got Mail starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. James Stewart and Margaret Sullavan play colleagues who bicker at work but fall in love through correspondence.
"A Christmas Carol" (1983)
This is a comedy about the difficult tasks of parents during the holidays. Just look at the tired Santa from the mall!
"A Christmas Carol" (1951)
Of the many adaptations of Charles Dickens' classic Christmas story — from The Muppet Christmas Carol to the brilliant TV movie starring George C. Scott — this version best captures the darker side of the original text. Scrooge (Alastair Sim) goes through a terrifying mystical experience to emerge a better man.
"The Apartment" (1960)
This romantic tragicomedy tells the story of a clerk (Jack Lemmon) who lends his apartment to his bosses for their love affairs. But everything changes when he falls in love with an elevator operator (Shirley MacLaine) whom his boss (Fred MacMurray) brings to that very apartment on Christmas Eve.
"The Leftovers" (2023)
Set in the 1970s, Alexander Payne's film is a witty, warm tale of the holiday spirit. Paul Giamatti plays a grumpy teacher forced to stay at school over winter break, where he bonds with a rebellious student (Dominic Sessa) and a cook going through a personal tragedy (Da'Vine Joy Randolph, who won an Oscar for her role).
Die Hard (1988)
Yes, it is a Christmas movie, in case anyone doubted it! And Santa has nothing to do with it – Bruce Willis as John McClane performs heroic feats to stop terrorists and save his wife.
"Christmas Vacation" (1989)
Anyone who's been overzealous about the holidays can relate to Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase). His ridiculous attempts to decorate the house, his struggles with his crazy relatives (everyone has a Cousin Eddie), and his desire to have the perfect Christmas often backfire on him.
"Miracle on 34th Street" (1947)
If you don't mind the over-the-top sentimentality, there's an intriguing courtroom drama in this film. Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) is doing a little too well as a drunken Santa at Macy's. But he's accused of mental instability because he insists he's the real Santa Claus.
"Love Actually" (2003)
The intertwining love stories, mostly with British characters, evoke the full spectrum of festive emotions, from joy to sadness. It’s impossible to watch without tears as a boy rushes through the airport to see his beloved, or to witness Andrew Lincoln’s silent declaration of love.
"Elf" (2003)
One of Will Ferrell's best roles is as a naive, overgrown elf who learns he's human. His father (James Caan) initially refuses to acknowledge his son, but the hero's adventures as he encounters human civilization are filled with warmth, humor, and childlike joy.
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"It's a Wonderful Life" (1946)
Jimmy Stewart plays George Bailey, whose journey with the angels reminds us of the importance of second chances. He learns what life would have been like for those around him if he had never been born. This film is filled with the Christmas spirit.
"New Year's Eve" (1988)
This is a perfect black comedy, where love, loss, life and death are involved. Bill Murray is excellent as Frank Cross, a modern version of Scrooge, and Carol Kane is inimitable as a cruel fairy. If the final song Put a Little Love in Your Heart does not make you emotional, wait for the Three Spirits of Christmas to visit.
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