Every December our staff, friends and a few of our unstable aunts offer their favorite Christmas movies for the holiday season. Here are our favs ranked from 10th to our top pick …
10. Scrooged: 1988 PG-13
This comedic take on Charles Dickens’ classic stars Bill Murray and has stood the test of time since it premiered in the late ’80s. Bill Murray is one of the greats and this underrated flick is one of his finest.
9. Miracle on 34th Street: 1947 PG
There is just something magical about this original classic, which always reminds us that believing in Santa is a belief in something greater than ourselves.
8. Die Hard: 1988 R
If you don’t think this is a Christmas movie, we have one thing to say. “Yippie Ki Yay Motherf#%ker.” Die Hard is a Christmas classic, no matter what your parents say.
7. Tim Burton’s the Nightmare Before Christmas: 1993 PG
Tim Burton changed the animation game, not just for holiday films, but for all movies with this alternative twist on the season.
6. Elf: 2003 PG
Will Ferrell’s performance as Buddy the elf is timeless and endearing, alongside an underrated cast that includes the brilliance of Bob Newhart and Zooey Deschanel.
5. A Christmas Story: 1983 PG
We had you at leg lamp.
4. How the Grinch Stole Christmas 2000 PG
“Hate, hate, hate. Double hate. Loathe entirely.” Hard to believe this movie is old enough to drink. Jim Carrey is surrounded by a brilliant cast — Christine Baranski, Clint Howard and Molly Shannon for starters — in director Ron Howard’s live-action version of the Dr. Seuss classic.
3. It’s a Wonderful Life 1946 PG
You knew the icon would be near the tops of our list. At some point this season it will be on at your house.
2. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
If you can’t quote it, you don’t love Christmas.
1. Home Alone: 1990 PG
Home Alone is another film that has stood the test of time, while embodying the spirit of the holidays through the coming of age classic that ranks atop our list. Sure, some classics ranked just below this could easily be argued as more iconic, but Home Alone still levitates between the nostalgia of classic and modern friendly for newer/ younger viewers.
