Last year I was rattling my brain trying to create a list of my favourite Christmas movies of all time, but at the last minute I changed tactic and decided to create a list of the movies I hadn’t seen before. I spent hours upon hours watching films that I’d never even heard of, in search of that hidden gem that may have passed me by. Films like Deck the Halls, One Magic Christmas, All I Want for Christmas, A Christmas Story, Christmas in Connecticut and so on, but never really found anything that blew me away.
Therefore this year I wanted to revert back to my original plan, in an effort to guarantee some good viewing and a good holiday. My eyes just couldn’t take another battering from something like The Santa Clause 3.
It’s been tough to whittle them down as I used to class films like Flight of the Navigator, The Explorers and When Harry Met Sally (kind of is) as Christmas movies, just because they were always shown on the tele at that time of year, so this list is based (hopefully) on pure Christmas.
For me personally, this is hands down the greatest Christmas movie of all time. I’d probably go as far as to say that it’s the best NL movie too. I’ve seen this film so many times and probably watch it almost every night of December in the lead up to the big day. My VHS of it is almost worn out and the label is barely clinging on to the tape.
Some people's Christmas starts when they put up the tree, or see that Coca-Cola advert on TV. Mine starts when I hear Mavis Staples.Did I mention John Hughes wrote this too? Say no more. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
I’m a huge VHS freak as you all know by now but even I purchased the Blu-ray as soon as it was released. While I can appreciate the beauty of the full restoration and also the colourized option, I’ll still be viewing it every year in the traditional black-and-white as that’s the version I remember best.
Copyright issues aside, it’s a timeless classic that genuinely improves with every watch.
I even added it to my top 100 movies of all time list because it means that much to me.The Shop Around the Corner (1940)
James Stewart is on top form and complimented perfectly by the gorgeous Margaret Sullivan. Although this film inspired 'You've Got Mail', there really is no comparison in terms of THE classic Christmas rom-com.Scrooged (1988)
Richard Donner pulls off an amazing twist on a classic Dickens tale here, and although the majority of the film is quite depressing, it’s not without its hilarious scenes either.
My Mom worked for a record company when I was little, for some reason they had a small films section and she used to bring films back with her each weekend. The first two tapes that she ever brought back with her were The Monster Squad and Scrooged, and I used to ask her for the same two films every weekend after. Imagine watching Scrooged when you were about 5!
My Dad would argue that this is the number one Christmas movie of all time. I don’t agree, but its right up there with the best.“That's exactly what Attila the Hun said. But when he saw his mother... Niagara Falls!”Home Alone (1990) and Home Alone 2 (1992)
I don’t really need to say a lot about these films as they are both absolute classics in their own right.
They were directed by Chris Columbus, who had previously directed another of my childhood favo
urites; Adventures in Babysitting. And they were also both written by John Hughes who was knocking out scripts for fun by the time these films came around.
If you’re looking to spend over 3 hours on harmless but hilarious Christmas movies, you could do a lot worse than sit down and watch these two back-to-back.Jingle all the Way (1996)Before I get judged, can I just say that I fully understand anyone who would include this among their worst Christmas movies of all time, it’s just one that has stayed with me since the first time I saw it in the cinema (aged 11).
Yes, it stars Sinbad and Arnie searching for a plastic Turbo Man toy doll. And yes, it’s totally unoriginal, but there’s just something about this film that brings out the Christmas spirit in me.The Santa Clause (1994)
Another guilty pleasure of mine and another film that has stayed with me since the cinema (this time aged 9). Even the performance of Judge Reinhold, which almost rivals his jumpers in terms of dreadfulness couldn’t turn me off this film. It’s sweet, charming and as innocent as the age group it targets. The film would of course be nothing without Tim Allen (whom i’m not a huge fan of), but when he’s on form he’s on fire."1-800-SPANK-ME? I know that number."
Scrooge (1970), Die Hard (1988), Miracle on 34th Street (1947), Santa Claus: The Movie (1985), The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992), Sleepless in Seattle (1993) and Elf (2003).
And the worst Cristmas film?
I’ve seen some bad festive films over the years with the likes of Fred Claus, Surviving Christmas and so on, but the worst Christmas movie that I have ever seen (and this may shock the majority of you) would have to be White Christmas. I thought it was cheesy, overlong, and in truth it bored the living shit out of me. This is from the same guy that blew my mind with Casablanca, one of my top 5 films of all time.
How that Crosby and Kaye vehicle can be called a classic, i’ll never know.
There must be a song every minute in it. A real observational singing style too, like Randy Newman on Crystal Meth. “Oh look, it’s snowing.” *Tune starts up* “It’s snowing, it’s snowwwww-ing.” << Not actually in the film but you get the picture.
I can honestly say that I will never revisit this film.
So basically what i’ve learned is, if you cast James Stewart in a Christmas movie or allow John Hughes to write the script, i’ll be all over it like a tramp on chips.
