Top Ten Christmas Movies

Graham Craycraft
Christmas is here. Whether you want it to be or not, but let’s be honest, we all know you do. The Christmas season is the best there is for the birth of God as man, family, music, sharing gifts, the eggnog (spiked or not), but also movies. Christmas movies are their own category of film and a booming one at that. In this list I will be omitting what people love to pretend are Christmas movies like Die Hard (sorry, New Jersey relatives) and The Godfather (sorry, Dad). I do not want to try to definitively rank some movies over the others so the list will be, for the most part, in no particular order. Let’s get into it.


10. The Nightmare Before Christmas
The Nightmare before Christmas is Tim Burton’s bridge between Halloween and Christmas with the king of Halloweentown, Jack Skellington, getting tired of the same old boring scares. He finds the portals to the other holidays and stumbles into Christmastown to be utterly amazed at his results. Things of course spin out of control when worlds collide, but Jack is not disheartened. He does what he must. This movie is an excellent first watch of the season filled with some laughs, some pretty creepy moments (Oogie Boogie), and a nice twist on a typical Christmas plot.


9. The Santa Clause
The Santa Clause, starring Tim Allen, is the story of how a grinchy toy maker accidentally kills Santa Claus and then by putting on his suit, becomes the new fat man. His son throughout the movie is trying to get his dad to believe that he (Tim Allen) is Santa and has an obligation to fulfill the Christmas promises that have existed for generations. A story of a nonbeliever morphing into, not just a believer, but Santa himself(!) is a fun filled silly one that most young kids and anyone who grew up with the film will enjoy.


8. Christmas with the Kranks
Another movie starring Tim Allen, but this time no magically killing santa and becoming the fat man. No fat man at all really. Poor fat man. This movie is a step away from the super kid friendly into the slightly more adultish ridiculousness. Tim Allen’s character wants to save his money and cancel celebrating Christmas to take a warm sunny cruise. This ends up with his neighbors hating him and the war breaks out. Insanity ensues and eventually Christmas is back on. This is another movie filled with a few good laughs and some enjoyable montage sequences.


7. The Polar Express
Another animated movie on the list. This one is a newer make (2004) about the belief in Santa Claus, but with a more spiritual and wondrous energy. It battles with the idea of faith versus the saying ‘seeing is believing.’ The Christmas spirit is filled to the brim in this movie and Tom Hanks role as multiple characters helps carry the movie (especially the music) and also that spiritual wonder steered from children’s point of view.


6. How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Animated movies make some of the best Christmas movies and here is another example. Please, please, please do not watch the Jim Carrey Grinch. I implore you to watch the animated marvel of the Grinch written by Dr. Seuss and animated by Chuck Jones (Looney Tunes, Bugs Bunny). This is a tale that everybody knows. Some of the best music in Christmas movies and with a hilarious cast of characters this is a movie that is a must for your holiday season.


5. Elf
Elf stands as a thread in my family as our most (or second most) quoted Christmas movie. Will Ferrell plays a human raised by elves and eventually makes his way to find his real dad in NYC. Another story of belief versus disbelief. Starting to see a trend? A funny movie and a nice variation from how the belief/disbelief stories usually are.


4. White Christmas
White Christmas is the second oldest movie on this list and stars famous singers Bing Crosby, Vera Ellen, Rosemary Clooney, and Danny Kaye. They play singers and performers who rescue a down-on-its-luck ski lodge by performing there together. More wonderful music and a story of human fellowship banning together for something worthwhile.
3. A Christmas Carol
I am talking about the 2009 animated film starring Jim Carrey. A well done and fanciful adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic. A Scrooge (literally) is haunted by three ghosts, past, present, and future, to learn from his mistakes and fix his ways of greed and arrogance. This adaptation uses capture motion like in Polar Express to bring about a more realistic animated vibe.


2. Charlie Brown Christmas
The peanuts, created by Charles Schulz, take on Christmas in one of the most iconic Christmas movies. The last animated one on the list is also the best one. Charlie Brown struggles with acceptance and the true meaning of Christmas. This story removes the usual money spending secularization of Christmas and brings it back to the true meaning of why we even celebrate it in the first place. I could explain that reason here, but let Linus do it himself.  
1. It’s a Wonderful Life
My absolute favorite Christmas movie and falling into my top 20 movies all time is the oldest film on this list. Jimmy Stewart stars as good town boy George Bailey. He must stand up for what is right in the face of money and tyranny. Big hopes are left behind to take care of his family, family business, and ultimately his town. George’s biggest struggle, however, is to take care of himself. Through the help of others and the realization he is needed in his town he triumphs and the will of man and community is proved. My family watches this movie every year on Christmas Eve. It is part of our tradition. Consider making it, or any of these, a part of yours too.

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