A Christmas Story. My family and I saw it in its original theatrical run where it bombed, and I had to spend the next ten years trying to convince the other kids at school that this movie a) existed, and b) was really good. Thankfully I was saved once Ted Turner started running A Christmas Story on TNT. Because I've seen it so many times, I wait for specific line readings like little presents, particularly the way Miss Shields says, "I want you to write...A THEEEEME," with a cutting side-eye. Or Jean's Shepherd's voiceover on "Flick? Flick who?"
A Charlie Brown Christmas. I'm an atheist and it's my favorite because it has the guts to be specifically about the birth of Jesus, in a sea of specials that elide it in the name of controversy avoidance. It maintains the spirit of Peanuts (Charlie Brown is clinically depressed! The world is absurd!) while also bringing a lot of joy into the mix.
White Christmas. I love the New England-by-way-of-Hollywood set design of the 1940s and 1950s (see also: Lucy and Ricky Ricardo's Connecticut house). I love every single thing Rosemary Clooney wears. I love Mary Wickes. And the harmony on "Snow."
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. This is really more of my parents' favorite than mine, but we saw its theatrical run at a very old Madison movie theater while on a college visit and a bat flew around in front of Chevy Chase's face during the early scene where Clark and Ellen are talking and he's trying to read a magazine with sap-sticky fingers from the Tree Adventure. So we watch it every year, but luckily no bats (or squirrels) have gotten into the house.
I was just looking for “Olive, the Other Reindeer” the other day and couldn’t find it on any of the streaming services. Boo….
My other 90s era favorite (and also unavailable on streaming but I own the dvd) is “Opus and Bill in a Wish for Wings that Work”. Great cameos by Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman and extremely specific references to the Gulf War that half the population wouldn’t get now….
I saw A Christmas Story at the Fashion Island theater (Foster City, CA) and immediately returned the next night to see it again.
I have a sleeper.... 'Office Christmas Party'
Otherwise, Christmas isn't official until I catch White Christmas and then watch my in laws go absolutely berserk over National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. They laugh at the big laugh moments annually like they are seeing it for the first time, even after 30+ years.
To each his/her own, but I'm with you on "It's a Wonderful Life." I'd somehow missed that movie until I was in my last years of college, and it pretty much blew my mind. The following year, some pals of mine who'd formed a film club invited Frank Capra and Jean Arthur to campus for a dinner, talk, and screening of IAWL. Granted, Jean Arthur wasn't in it, but since this all happened in Santa Cruz, and she lived in Carmel at the time, it all worked out. Hey, she was in some of Capra's best movies, so no harm, no foul. That was a fun night.
I'm not among those who consider "Die Hard" a Christmas movie, but that's probably because I'm in the wrong target demo for that one. Also, I saw it 20 years after it was released, so it felt anything but fresh -- a fun movie to watch, though.
On a completely different subject, you really ought to check out this guy's sub stack:
He's very smart and an excellent writer -- as you know too well, that means a lot to me -- and he's got a lot to say about Hollywood and the TV/film industry from an insider's POV. Fun to read, too. Check it out.
On that note, Merry Christmas to you, yours, and all the readers here.
I will never, EVER, argue with Charlie Brown being on any top ten list. Am I the only person left on earth over, let’s say, age 10, who has NOT seen It’s a Wonderful Life? I don’t know why we never watched as kids. No real interest now as a Scrooge. I like your list a lot. To me, anything that makes people remember the Christmases of their childhood, or their kids’ childhood, is A-ok. I might add Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. I miss John Candy.
Anything Rankin Bass should just take one slot because of course! My kids were also scared of Polar Express! Even as mid to late teenagers they won't watch it. I have been watching all of the sappy Christmas movies on Netflix. It's just that sort of year. Even my husband has been enjoying them! But one I usually watch every year is White Christmas!
I am so happy you’re also a Rudolph fan! I feel like that episode has been dissed lately. To me it feels like Christmas. My kids (who are now young adults) love it, too. I had the same experience as you with Polar Express!! Except it was in an IMAX. Gulp. We lasted even less than 15 minutes.
My second recommendation is Bad Santa starring Billy Bob Thornton. It’s definitely a black comedy but it’s for when you’re feeling a bit less sentimental about Christmas. It’s very funny! But it goes dark and violent. Still funny then, if I am being honest. It’s streaming on Paramount+ this year.
Dec 19, 2023·edited Dec 19, 2023Liked by Tim Goodman
We've had this discussion before. ...
In a shameless act of self-promotion I am linking to my top 10, because what is the internet for if not that?
That said, one that isn't on my list but I became a fan of at 2 a.m. one Christmas Eve (I guess it's Christmas morning at that point) is "The Bishop's Wife." David Niven, the bishop of the title, isn't paying enough attention to Loretta Young as he tries to build a cathedral. Cary Grant, an angel, shows up and does pay attention to her. And she DEFINITELY pays attention to him. Great movie, especially after you've watch the TBS "A Christmas Story" marathon for the last four hours.
In no particular order:
A Christmas Story. My family and I saw it in its original theatrical run where it bombed, and I had to spend the next ten years trying to convince the other kids at school that this movie a) existed, and b) was really good. Thankfully I was saved once Ted Turner started running A Christmas Story on TNT. Because I've seen it so many times, I wait for specific line readings like little presents, particularly the way Miss Shields says, "I want you to write...A THEEEEME," with a cutting side-eye. Or Jean's Shepherd's voiceover on "Flick? Flick who?"
A Charlie Brown Christmas. I'm an atheist and it's my favorite because it has the guts to be specifically about the birth of Jesus, in a sea of specials that elide it in the name of controversy avoidance. It maintains the spirit of Peanuts (Charlie Brown is clinically depressed! The world is absurd!) while also bringing a lot of joy into the mix.
White Christmas. I love the New England-by-way-of-Hollywood set design of the 1940s and 1950s (see also: Lucy and Ricky Ricardo's Connecticut house). I love every single thing Rosemary Clooney wears. I love Mary Wickes. And the harmony on "Snow."
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. This is really more of my parents' favorite than mine, but we saw its theatrical run at a very old Madison movie theater while on a college visit and a bat flew around in front of Chevy Chase's face during the early scene where Clark and Ellen are talking and he's trying to read a magazine with sap-sticky fingers from the Tree Adventure. So we watch it every year, but luckily no bats (or squirrels) have gotten into the house.
Pulling out old Black & White chestnuts, Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Marjorie Reynolds & Virginia Dale in Holiday Inn! https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034862/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_holiday%2520i
Another on I love to come back to is the 1955 Humphrey Bogart & Peter Ustinov classic We're No Angels https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048801/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_we%27re%2520no
While Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer is packed with wonderfulness and mean, I still have to step up and fight for A Year Without Santa Clause.
Shane Black's Kiss Kiss Bang Bang with Robert Downey, Jr, Michelle Monaghan and a spectacular Val Kilmer is a true piece of Christmas joy!
...and Die Hard IS a Christmas movie.
I was just looking for “Olive, the Other Reindeer” the other day and couldn’t find it on any of the streaming services. Boo….
My other 90s era favorite (and also unavailable on streaming but I own the dvd) is “Opus and Bill in a Wish for Wings that Work”. Great cameos by Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman and extremely specific references to the Gulf War that half the population wouldn’t get now….
I saw A Christmas Story at the Fashion Island theater (Foster City, CA) and immediately returned the next night to see it again.
I have a sleeper.... 'Office Christmas Party'
Otherwise, Christmas isn't official until I catch White Christmas and then watch my in laws go absolutely berserk over National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. They laugh at the big laugh moments annually like they are seeing it for the first time, even after 30+ years.
1. White Christmas (East Coast)
2. A Christmas Story (Midwest)
3. Die Hard (L.A.)
4. The Grinch Who Stole Christmas (Nostalgic and fantastic animation & music)
To each his/her own, but I'm with you on "It's a Wonderful Life." I'd somehow missed that movie until I was in my last years of college, and it pretty much blew my mind. The following year, some pals of mine who'd formed a film club invited Frank Capra and Jean Arthur to campus for a dinner, talk, and screening of IAWL. Granted, Jean Arthur wasn't in it, but since this all happened in Santa Cruz, and she lived in Carmel at the time, it all worked out. Hey, she was in some of Capra's best movies, so no harm, no foul. That was a fun night.
I'm not among those who consider "Die Hard" a Christmas movie, but that's probably because I'm in the wrong target demo for that one. Also, I saw it 20 years after it was released, so it felt anything but fresh -- a fun movie to watch, though.
On a completely different subject, you really ought to check out this guy's sub stack:
https://substack.com/@agentontheloose
He's very smart and an excellent writer -- as you know too well, that means a lot to me -- and he's got a lot to say about Hollywood and the TV/film industry from an insider's POV. Fun to read, too. Check it out.
On that note, Merry Christmas to you, yours, and all the readers here.
It's a good group.
All the best!
I will never, EVER, argue with Charlie Brown being on any top ten list. Am I the only person left on earth over, let’s say, age 10, who has NOT seen It’s a Wonderful Life? I don’t know why we never watched as kids. No real interest now as a Scrooge. I like your list a lot. To me, anything that makes people remember the Christmases of their childhood, or their kids’ childhood, is A-ok. I might add Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. I miss John Candy.
I watch National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, every year. Batman Returns is also on my list.
Anything Rankin Bass should just take one slot because of course! My kids were also scared of Polar Express! Even as mid to late teenagers they won't watch it. I have been watching all of the sappy Christmas movies on Netflix. It's just that sort of year. Even my husband has been enjoying them! But one I usually watch every year is White Christmas!
I am so happy you’re also a Rudolph fan! I feel like that episode has been dissed lately. To me it feels like Christmas. My kids (who are now young adults) love it, too. I had the same experience as you with Polar Express!! Except it was in an IMAX. Gulp. We lasted even less than 15 minutes.
Okay here are 2 movies for consideration:
“Scrooge” 1951. Starring Alastair Sim. I like this version because it’s kind of scary. It’s black and white and is excellently dour and morose. There’s spooky music. It can be rented on Amazon: https://watch.amazon.com/detail?gti=amzn1.dv.gti.b0b3780a-8a19-faaf-da48-714d196cf9c6&territory=US&ref_=share_ios_movie&r=web
Or it looks like it’s streaming on Plex. https://watch.plex.tv/movie/a-christmas-carol-1951 Possibly ad free after an initial ad? I own the DVD.
My second recommendation is Bad Santa starring Billy Bob Thornton. It’s definitely a black comedy but it’s for when you’re feeling a bit less sentimental about Christmas. It’s very funny! But it goes dark and violent. Still funny then, if I am being honest. It’s streaming on Paramount+ this year.
We've had this discussion before. ...
In a shameless act of self-promotion I am linking to my top 10, because what is the internet for if not that?
That said, one that isn't on my list but I became a fan of at 2 a.m. one Christmas Eve (I guess it's Christmas morning at that point) is "The Bishop's Wife." David Niven, the bishop of the title, isn't paying enough attention to Loretta Young as he tries to build a cathedral. Cary Grant, an angel, shows up and does pay attention to her. And she DEFINITELY pays attention to him. Great movie, especially after you've watch the TBS "A Christmas Story" marathon for the last four hours.
Anyway, as promised, or threatened:
https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/movies/billgoodykoontz/2022/12/08/best-christmas-movies-tv-shows-ever/69709097007/
Red Rider disagrees with your order but otherwise great list.