The Best Holiday Movies to Watch Every Year

Trying to come up with a list of the best holiday movies to watch every year is a bit like trying to pick your favorite chocolate dessert.  They are all wonderful!  And, that is true with a lot of the holiday movies.  But, there are some that haven’t held up as well over time and so they have been left off this list.  (If you disagree with my choices, please leave me a message with your favorites in the comments below.)  This list combined with the Best Holiday TV Shows to Watch Every Year is the escape pod to end all escape pods to see you through the holiday season.

True Classics

The following three movies have to make the list of the best holiday movies to watch every year simply because without them, the holidays wouldn’t feel complete.  These movies have played for generations of people in the background of family get gatherings and have earned the classic title.

“It’s a Wonderful Life”

Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed star in a variation of “A Christmas Carol” described below.  Stewart’s character at a low point in his life decides the world would be better off without him.  An angel assigned to him intervenes and shows him what would have happened if he had never been born.  A powerful and moving story about the impact we all have on the people we love and how we may not even be aware of the fact.  An all-time favorite movie to watch for so many reasons, but ZuZu’s petals is one of them.  You won’t care that it is in black and white.

“White Christmas”

Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” song makes its debut in this movie.  The singing, dancing and sets along with the talents of  Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen will put you in the Christmas spirit.

Crowd Pleasers

These movies are the ones you will find playing in every living room on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, some of them even run on repeat all season long.  These are the modern day “classics”.

“A Christmas Story”

The story of Ralph and his desire for a BB gun is a snapshot of a period in time when everything seemed more innocent.  We have seen this one about a thousand times at our house as this is my husband’s favorite Christmas movie.

“The Polar Express”

This is another great movie.  The animation is incredible and Tom Hanks does a fantastic job.  “The Polar Express” has become a kind of franchise now where you can go on mini-trips in your own area.  We did this when our kids were little and they loved it.  The songs are catchy and the movie has a nice message.

“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”

This one is for the adults to watch at night while wrapping presents.  It is still as funny now as it always was.  Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo are hilarious in the many situations they find themselves in during the Griswold’s Family Christmas.

“Home Alone”

John Hughes’s film about the boy who was accidentally left home alone is a funny and sometimes poignant tale of our place in family and growing up.  Your kids will love this one.

Variations on “A Christmas Carol”

Charles Dickens would probably be surprised to know how many plays, movies and other books have been inspired by his original story first published in London in 1843.  The tale of Ebenezer Scrooge and his transformation after being visited by three Christmas spirits is one that seems to never get old.

“A Christmas Carol”

Jim Carrey’s “A Christmas Carol” was made by Disney in 2009.  However, even though it is a Disney show, it will frighten young children.  If they want to watch “A Christmas Carol”, have them try the Muppet version below.  This version is well done and made using the same animation style as the “Polar Express”.

The Muppet Christmas Carol

This version of “A Christmas Carol” is definitely not scary.  In typical Muppet fashion, it is even funny at times.  The kids or grand kids would get a kick out of this one.

Scrooged

Bill Murray’s version of “A Christmas Carol” is fun to watch, but for older kids and adults only.  There are many humorous parts in this version and it is interesting how they made the story more current.

If you would like to make sure and catch some of these movies, please see the Holiday Guide from TV Guide for this year.
What are your favorite holiday movies? I’d love to hear in the comments below.

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