Top 10 Christmas Movies to Watch this Winter
Christmas time brings the holiday spirit into the homes of many families. Most families have special Christmas traditions that mark the beginning of the holiday season, some starting as early as November. Whether it is filling the home with the delicious aroma of seasonal specials while cooking with the kids, or decking out the house in holiday decorations, all families have their own favorite ways of getting into the festive spirit. Universally, watching Christmas movies is one of the most popular ways of soaking in the Christmas warmth. Check out our top 10 Christmas movies that are on the ‘must-see’ list for this holiday season.
- Elf (2003) - This comedy stars Will Ferrell as a curious elf roaming the streets of New York. At Santa’s Workshop in the North Pole, the elves work tirelessly to prepare for Christmas, busy with all the tasks that must be finished in time for the biggest day of the year. One elf in particular, Buddy, realizes he is not like the other elves – not just physically but in all ‘elf-aspects’. He comes to find that he was adopted and is actually from New York. In this trip of self-discovery, Buddy searches for his father and experiences all of the new and unfamiliar treasures that New York has to offer.
- Home Alone (1990) - Christmas movie time would be incomplete without the ever-popular Home Alone. One of the most well-known Christmas films, Home Alone is still bringing out sequels to the original Home Alone film (the most recent, Home Alone 5, to premiere on ABC Family this December). This comedy brings you the story of a young boy named Kevin, who is forgotten at home while his family heads out for their annual Christmas vacation. When Kevin accidentally learns that the local burglars that are preparing for their largest theft yet, Kevin takes on the challenge of thwarting their plans and uses his smarts to outwit the sneaky robbers.
- A Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) - This certainly is one cute movie that the kids will love! The adventurous Muppets are at it again in ‘A Muppet Christmas Carol’. The movie portrays the timeless story of a snobby old grump who has a bad attitude towards everything he encounters. The dynamic duo of Gonzo the Great (narrator) and Rizzo the Rat make for some good laughs.
- The Santa Clause (1994) - Tim Allen stars in this hilarious classic about an average father transforming into the ‘big jolly guy’. Although his skepticism and disbelief create some roadblocks, he quickly comes to find that the most improbable situations bring about the greatest opportunities.
- Dr. Suess’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) - Based on the timeless classic, this film displays the heart-warming theme that Christmas is a time for giving and caring, regardless of whom that may include. This comedy focuses on a little girl who is concerned for the town ‘monster’ and is never included in any of the festivities. While the town sees him as a danger, she feels sympathy for him and tries to have the village see the Grinch’s heart as she does.
- Arthur Christmas (2011) - In this Christmas comedy, the youngest son of Santa Claus, Arthur, sets out on a quest to help save Christmas. When he comes to find that a present for a young girl was left behind, he knows he is the only man for the job.
- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) - This is a classic film you can never tire of! When the Griswold family decides to take it easy and stay at home for the holidays, the extended family drops in to join the festivities and stir up some craziness. Clark is known for his clumsy humor, which is prevalent throughout this whole film.
- The Polar Express (2004) - This visually impressive movie is one that shows the true spirit of Christmas. A young boy has serious doubts about Santa Claus and carries around an angry attitude. In the middle of the night, a mysterious train appears in front of his house filled with other children. The boy is taken on the ride of a lifetime, to the North Pole, and slowly is brought into a magical world where ‘seeing is believing’.
- Rise of the Guardians (2012) - This movie has recently hit theaters and tells a tale that brings all of the holiday characters together to defend the children of the world from a new threat. Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Sandman, and the Tooth Fairy team up and recruit a young boy, Jack Frost, to help them win the battle against fear itself.
- A Christmas Carol (2009) - This more recent Christmas Carol is still one for the books. Jim Carrey plays the voice of the infamous selfish Scrooge, and is taken on journeys from the ghosts of Christmases past, present, and future to learn from his hurtful ways. From the gleaming calmness of the snowfall, to the golden sparks of flying through time, the visual aspect of this movie is one that will take your breath away.
Others that you should make sure to check out are some special short films put together by DreamWorks under the title ‘DreamWorks Holiday Classics’. If you are fan of some of the top DreamWorks films such as Madagascar, Shrek, and How to Train Your Dragon, then these short films are right up your alley. These Christmas-themed films bring back the beloved DreamWorks characters in holiday-themed tales such as Merry Madagascar, Shrek the Halls, and Dragons: Gift of the Night Fury.
