Although many traditions come with the holidays, none may be more widely celebrated than watching Christmas movies. Yes—that’s right, Christmas movies as a Christmas tradition; not something that everyone may consider a habit, but the fact that some TV networks run 24-hours of certain Christmas shows validates how viable and widespread this tradition is. Nearly every person has seen at least one Christmas movie in their lifetime, and most will see many each year. Most families will sit down together and watch Christmas movies, whether with a young child or with parents, significant others, or friends, Christmas movies are a staple of the American holiday.
But with such a wide audience, so comes a wide opinion as to what Christmas movies are the best. People have different tastes in Christmas movies and what is or is not a Christmas movie. Although some films have evolved to become Christmas classics year after year, the debate is open on some other common films.
Here at David Blackwell Law, we wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and offer some of our top picks for Christmas movies to watch with family and friends in 2021:
The Undisputed Group of Christmas Movies
These Christmas movies are your iconic ones that need to make nearly every list as they are some of the most irrefutable ones out there. This list includes:
- The Christmas Story – with an annual “24 hours of a Christmas story,” how can you debate this as being the true coming-of-age Christmas story that most families can relate to.
- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation – this one seems like a 24-hour marathon because it is on nearly every channel with regularity. This is a great Christmas movie because most families can relate to parts of the humorous escapades in this movie—some families may connect to almost all of it! Another great aspect of this movie is that there are layers and layers of jokes, meaning you may see or observe something new in it almost every time you watch it.
- A Charlie Brown Christmas – this one also needs no explanation, as the television showing of this movie is almost always a major network event. Coupled with the popularity of “Charlie Brown Christmas Trees” that you can now buy, this movie is an easy classic.
- Miracle on 34th Street – there can be no dispute of the cultural and film significance of this movie, and it is rightfully one of the top Christmas movies spanning decades and decades.
- It’s a Wonderful Life – again, irrefutable, and its longevity highlights its proper place as a classic movie, let alone a classic Christmas movie.
- The Legend of Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer – these two classic stories are often bundled together or played together but are technically two separate pieces. They contain some of the most iconic Christmas characters and present engaging stories that still—despite their age—earn gleaming smiles and roaring excitement from children while also sparking wistful nostalgia in most adults.
- The Grinch – whether it is the iconic cartoon or one of the newer versions, The Grinch is another undisputed Christmas movie and still one of the top Christmas books of all time. It brings both fun traditions, the significance of the holiday and stresses the true value of Christmas as a holiday together to celebrate the birth of our savior over the materialistic world around us—something we can all truly relate to and something that we all genuinely need more of in our lives. A must-watch movie—multiple times, in fact!
Fantastic Christmas Movies
These are great Christmas movies but might not immediately come to mind when asked about the best Christmas movies of all time. They are still must-watches and iconic Christmas films.
- Elf – one of the newest “classics” that was never intended to be one, it was a powerful success and continues to be a major Christmas movie entertaining generations young and old.
- Polar Express – this is another powerful Christmas movie that is undisputed. However, it does not grace the network TV channels as often as Elf, National Lampoons, or The Christmas Story, and it does not have the same powerful impact as A Charlie Brown Christmas or Miracle on 34th Street. But Polar Express is a brilliant new-age Christmas story that must be shared with all children each year and is an entertaining feat of CGI technology for adults to marvel over.
- The Santa Clause – as personal injury lawyers in South Carolina, we can appreciate a Christmas movie based on a legal clause! This is what makes Tim Allen’s The Santa Clause another great movie on our list, and it is a fantastic Christmas movie that has continued to gain in popularity as sequels are made and cherished.
- A Dog Named Christmas – this Hallmark movie is a fan favorite from 2009 that invokes some of life’s most challenging lessons to paint a truly inspirational and moving Christmas story that is unmatched in the depth of character and Christmas harm. A must-watch that might not be on your already watched list this year, but it is certainly played and honored on TV networks year after year for good reason.
- Home Alone – okay, this is an iconic Christmas movie too, and this might be unpopular not to have it listed as undisputed. However, the problem with Home Alone is that it is good any time of the year. This movie is enjoyable in the dead of summer and will be just as entertaining as during Christmas. It and the sequels are timeless and well-enjoyed by generations, prove being if you just yell “KEVIN!” in an airport and watch the laughs begin to rise.
- White Christmas – another fantastic Christmas story rich in history and success only is excluded by its age and less-popularity with younger generations which is enjoyed by other Christmas movies like Miracle on 34th Street (known by every kid, everywhere, despite being a decade older) or It’s a Wonderful Life (hailed as a forever-classic film).
- Four Christmases – a newer entry to the power Christmas movies, Four Christmases is a comedy about a couple (Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon) visiting each of their four parents in what is sure to be an annual comedy Christmas classic!
They are Christmas Movies, That Some Disagree
There are movies which some people may disagree with over their viability as being labeled a Christmas movie, yet they still should be enjoyed and watched. Here are some of our picks:
- Die Hard – yes, in a recent survey, it was found to be considered a Christmas movie for several reasons. This explains why it has been a staple around Christmas on most action networks, but it does take place at a Christmas party in December and includes gifts, Christmas songs, snow, and even the main character’s wife’s name is Holly. Debatable Christmas movie that can still put you in the American holiday cheer.
- The Nightmare Before Christmas – at first blush, this might appear to be a Christmas movie, then you look into it and believe it is a Halloween movie, but once you watch it, you may again think it is a mixed-genre and good Christmas movie. That is because it is! This horrifying story from Tim Burton reveals not just a Halloweenie atmosphere but brings about the true themes of Christmas in much the same ways as The Grinch does. With a strong cult following and high-value collectibles, The Nightmare Before Christmas is another iconic Christmas story you should watch this holiday season.
