My Top 7 Christmas Movies
Not just movies set at Christmas.
Our Managing Editor Sally Shideler tasked David Swindle 🟦 and Mike Kilgore with writing up some Christmas movie lists, and David graciously invited me to join in!
I thought I would add my own short list of Christmas movies I usually watch every year that are actual Christmas movies, not merely set at Christmas. However, I could not come up with exactly 10 movies.
The list is also not inclusive—there are others that I might add in time, such as The Bishop’s Wife. While I enjoyed it, I’ve only seen it one time all the way through, so it’s not quite stood the test of time, at least for me personally.
In my family, we have many favorite Christmas movies competing for screen time. Of our favorites—we own them on DVD—not trusting that streaming services will have them available. We gave up cable television years ago, and I have to admit that this is the time of year when I miss cable the most. They always did such a good job of playing every version of every Christmas movie—often in marathons. (It’s also great at Halloween too.)
My son, J, loves Christmas movies the most in our family. He has been known to watch them at any time of the year. His personal favorites are Home Alone 2, Home Alone, Elf, The Polar Express and The Grinch Who Stole Christmas (Jim Carey)—in that order. Me, not so much a big fan of these, but I’m happy to join in a viewing party for the sake of the season.
My daughter, L, and my wife love the Hallmark movies—they’ve bought many of these on DVD over the years, often in four-packs. Again, not a huge fan, but I’ll certainly watch along if I’m asked to join. (Better than sulking in my room alone, I guess.)
So, in short order, below are my top 7 Christmas movies.
1. Jesus of Nazareth (1977)
I have to start my list with the “reason for the season;” Jesus Christ himself!
I’ve loved this mini-series since I first saw it on television in the 1970s. I usually watch this around Easter, but I love the first part with its portrayals of the Annunciation, the Visitation, and the Nativity. I’ve now got my own DVD copy.
(Jesus may not have had blue eyes, but Robert Powell does an outstanding job as Jesus.)
2. A Christmas Carol (1999)
Captain Picard plays Scrooge. It’s my first choice as the best version of this classic story. This is a prized DVD in my collection.
3. A Christmas Carol (1951)
Alistair Sim’s version is a close-close second as the best version of this classic story. I don’t own this one, but would buy it if I saw it.
4. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
Never miss it. My wife likes the colorized version, which is the version we own on DVD. I prefer the original black and white, but I’ll take it any way.
Already a Hollywood star, this was Jimmy Stewart’s first movie after returning home from WWII air combat, flying B-24s on bombing missions over Germany.
5. Christmas Vacation (1989)
Never seems to get old. I can watch it every year. This one we have on both Blu-ray and DVD, just in case. I love all the side characters too—the in-laws, the yuppy neighbors, the boss, the boss’s wife. Everyone.
The only parts I don’t like are with the model lady, especially the pool scene—so unnecessary. I’m forced to skip past it when we watch it as a family.
6. A Christmas Story (1983)
You can almost ruin a movie by watching it too many times. I have to admit that I’ve watched this movie about a hundred too many times. (It was those TNT/TBS marathons they did every year!) I first saw it on cable in the summer time of 1984. It’s Darren McGavin’s second best acting role; his best being, “Kolchak: The Night Stalker.”
I own it on DVD and it usually ends up being played every Christmas, but I don’t relish it as I once did. It’s still a classic though.
7. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
This is another classic that, unfortunately, I’ve seen one too many times. I enjoy it when we watch it on DVD, but I won’t go out of my way to watch again.
One somewhat interesting personal note. In the early part of the movie, there’s an apartment kitchen scene that includes a stove. In 1992, our apartment (the second one we had as a married couple) featured just the same stove. It was not as nice, new, and clean as the one in the movie—but it was the same one! I check for it every time I watch.
This is a great list!