With so many options, how do you choose your favorite Christmas movies? There are classics with a high nostalgia factor, like A Christmas Story or It’s a Wonderful Life. Or debatable Christmas movies like Die Hard or Gremlins. And I’m not opposed to watching a cheesy Christmas rom-com (though I can’t remember a single title!). My favorite Christmas movies may not be the “best” by anyone else’s standards. They’re simply the ones that I want to watch year after year.
Must-Watch Movies
My must-watch list is always evolving, and there are four movies that made the cut this year. Surprisingly, three out of four came out in 2019. I guess that was a good year for Christmas movies!
Klaus (2019)
For so many reasons Klaus has jumped to the top of my list. I love every moment of this animated movie. Jasper’s first dark tour of Smeerensburg delights me–especially the little girl who holds eye contact while stabbing her carrot into the snowman. The town’s epic feud, the introduction of Klaus, Jasper’s slow growth, just… all of it. Perfection! From artistic design and voice acting to story and messaging, Klaus deserves to become an instant classic.
Noelle (2019)
If memory serves, we only discovered Noelle last year. Yet it was so much fun that it’s the first Christmas movie we watched this year, during our trip to New York. Noelle is light and funny, and Anna Kendrick shines. Aside from questioning gender traditions, the story also hints at moms who create Christmas magic while Santa gets all the credit. Yet it isn’t heavy-handed and, by the end, we see that there are lots of ways to be part of Christmas.
Last Christmas (2019)
Is Last Christmas a rom-com? Not quite. A comedy? A drama? I’d say it’s a good blend of both with heavy dashes of George Michael throughout. Don’t read up on this one before watching it. Though its value goes far beyond any plot twist. There’s a quirky charm that holds up with all the side characters, including the police duo, the homeless crew, and Santa with her beau. The family dynamics are realistic yet endearing, while Kate and Tom are a heartfelt match.
Elf (2003)
After 20 years, Elf still gets an annual watch. Some years, we’ve also gone to special holiday Elf viewings at our local theater. It’s our comfort Christmas movie, the kind where we can repeat every line and it doesn’t get old. If we don’t fit Elf into a prime evening movie night, it will still be on at some point. Though if I put it on during tasks, like wrapping presents, I’ll inevitably end up curled on a couch during the good parts (all of it!) while the presents wait.
Honorable Mentions
While I may not watch these movies every Christmas, they stand out in one way or another. They also may be movies that aren’t as widely watched, making them worth a recommendation.
The Happiest Season (2020)
A lot of Christmas movies focus on family gatherings and bringing home a new partner. The Happiest Season falls squarely in that camp, with the added complication of the visiting girlfriend realizing that her longtime girlfriend hasn’t come out to her family. It’s a messy story that explores how adults can revert to their “family roles” during visits, instead of being true to themselves and getting the acceptance they really need.
The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017)
While there have been a zillion versions of Dicken’s A Christmas Carol, The Man Who Invented Christmas focuses on the story of Charles Dickens writing his famous holiday tale. It’s a strange and charming movie. A story that inspired me to reread the original A Christmas Carol and think about all the many, many, many versions of this tale have been made for both movie and TV. (Mickey’s Christmas Carol from 1983 has a special place in my holiday heart!)
Scrooged (1988)
Speaking of A Christmas Carol, Scrooged is a wacky take that is very ’80s and high on my nostalgia rating. For me, Carol Kane steals the show as the Ghost of Christmas Present. Though Bill Murray is fully believable as a cynical, selfish, sarcastic TV exec everyone hates. If only viewers in the ’80s (or at any point since 1843, when A Christmas Carol was written) had learned a lesson along with this (or any) version of the miserable, miserly Scrooge.
Violent Night (2022)
One of these things is not like the others… Violent Night is violent, as advertised. Gruesomely violent. Which doesn’t fit with the Christmas theme… except that it does. I watched a good portion of this one peeking between my fingers. Yet, the story was better than I’d expected. Enough Santa origin to be intriguing, enough violence to distract from a thin plot. Overall, Santa’s burnout and breaking point were cathartic in the midst of a lot of forced holiday joy.
What Are You Watching?
What are your favorite Christmas movies? Do you go for the rom-com, Hallmark-style holiday stories? Are you into classics or less traditional Christmas films? Let me know in the comments! There are so many to wade through, I’m always looking for recommendations!
Happy watching and Merry Christmas!