CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY MOVIES

  • Love Actually (WARNING – not for watching with children or those you don’t know REALLY well; some swearing, adult situations and a little nudity involved, but an excellent Brit film for adults to watch)
  • The Family Stone – so much fun as an adult watch, with several adult situations that wouldn’t be good for kids
  • It’s a Wonderful Life – a classic, though can be over-played (sorry Jimmy and Donna!)
  • Charlie Brown Christmas – always fun to see the Peanuts gang, especially with the dancing and nice story about our favorite blockhead
  • Miracle on 34th Street – great story about believing and also about the Macy’s/Gimbel’s competition and collaboration (Maureen O’Hara and a young Natalie Wood are in this one)
  • White Christmas – Bing, Danny, Rosemary and Elaine do a great job with this musical
  • The Homecoming – the Christmas-based movie that spurred The Waltons series (Patricia Neal as Olivia and Cleavon Little as the pastor)
  • The Holiday – nice story and acting by Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law and Jack Black
  • Scrooged – Bill Murray is most convincing and the business vs. charity message “rings true” with Karen Allen playing his love interest and charity director
  • Then some silly ones
    • Christmas with the Kranks – with Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis
    • Jack Frost – Michael Keaton and Kelly Preston star in this one. Not highly regarded on IMDb, but we enjoy it
    • The Santa Clause – Tim Allen again, this time as the Jolly Old Elf (due to “the clause!”)
  • Others to consider
    • Jingle Jangle (2020) – solid musical-style show with good music and dancing (Steve thumbs up; Kim neutral); reminded Steve a little of Wicked in spots
    • Remember the Night (1940) – Fred McMurray, Barbara Stanwyck – really good one with Barbara playing a thief and Fred a lawyer (we got it from HC Library)
    • Christmas Vacation – funny and sad, all in the same show (some years it just doesn’t feel worth watching…)
    • The 538 article below says “Noel” with Susan Sarandan is a Love Actually wanna be (not bad, but not even close in our opinion – too slow, but a nice finish!)

USA Today article about the best ones – in case you want to try a new one!

  • The Bishop’s Wife
  • Joyeux Noel
  • Elf
  • The Apartment
  • The Shop Around the Corner

Guideposts article about some of the best Christmas movies you may never have heard of

  • The Bishop’s Wife (1947)
  • The Lemon Drop Kid (1951)
  • Meet Me in St. Louis (1947)
  • Remember the Night (1940) – Fred McMurray, Barbara Stanwyck – really good one with Barbara playing a thief and Fred a lawyer (we got it from HC Library)
  • Holiday Affair (1949) – Janet Leigh, Robert Mitchum
  • The Shop Around the Corner (1940)

An analytical examination of the most Christmas-y of the movies is done HERE by 538

Website designed, organized and shared by Long Memories, LLC