First published: 25 December 2021 @ 12:38 pm
One of the best parts of the holiday season is undoubtedly throwing a few blankets on the couch, making some hot chocolate and throwing out your favorite Christmas movies.
Christmas movies are a popular genre of film. There are a lot of great Christmas movies to watch with the family.
This article will provide a list of classic Christmas movies to watch with the family and also provide information about each movie and its importance in the holiday film genre.
The following is a list of 10 classic Christmas movies that you can enjoy together as a family. These films have been selected because they are classics, timeless, and still hold up well today. They all feature memorable characters and stories that are sure to entertain your entire family.
1. It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)
Directed by Frank Capra
Based on the short story “The Greatest Gift” by Philip Van Doren Stern
This is the best Christmas movie. It features Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey, who lives his life day-by-day until he learns what it means to be truly happy.
He then decides to change his life for the better and ends up saving many people from their own self-destructive habits.
2. Miracle On 34th Street
Directed by George Stevens.
Starring: Maureen O’Hara, Natalie Wood, Edmund Gwenn, Barry Sullivan
This is another classic Christmas movie. In this film, a young lawyer goes to court to argue whether Santa Claus exists. While there, he meets Kris Kringle himself.
3. Home Alone (1990)
Directed by John Hughes
Starring: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern
Home Alone is one of the most famous Christmas movies ever made.
This movie is a classic Christmas Movie, This movie is about The McCallister clan, is more than ready to leave the Burbs behind for Christmas in Paris.
But things go slightly awry (to say the least) when they realize one very important item has been left at home: their son Kevin.
The youngster has no problem having the digs all to himself – especially since he’s watching mature gangster flicks, munching on ice cream for dinner and causing chaos.
But a pair of burglars set their sights on the gorgeous home, and soon Kevin is left to fend for himself with Harry and Marv, both of whom need a little help in the crime department. As the saying goes, ‘Merry Christmas, ya filthy animal!’ Rated PG.
4. White Christmas
Directed by Irving Berlin
Starring: Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney
In this musical comedy, Bing Crosby plays an American soldier stationed in England during World War II.
His wife and daughter visit him while he is away. When he returns home, he finds out that his wife has run off with her lover. He then travels back to the US to find them.
5. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
Directed by Larry Roamer
Starring: Billie Mae Richards(voice), Burl Ives (voice), Larry D. Mann(voice)
Rudolph is usually depicted as the ninth and youngest of Santa Claus’ reindeer, using his luminous red nose to lead the reindeer team and guide Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Ever
Though he initially receives ridicule for his nose as a fawn, the brightness of his nose is so powerful that it illuminates the team’s path through harsh winter weather.
Ronald D. Lank ford, Jr., described Rudolph’s story as “the fantasy story made to order for American children: each child has the need to express and receive approval for his or her individuality and/or special qualities.
Rudolph’s story embodies the American Dream for the child, written large because of the cultural significance of Christmas.
6. Elf (2003)
Directed by Jon Favreau
Starring: Will Ferrel, James Caan, Bob Newhart
Funnyman Will Ferrell delights in a Christmas flick that has joined the ranks of holiday classics. He plays the overly enthusiastic Buddy the Elf, who realizes he’s not quite like his peers in the North Pole – he’s actually human!
With this new information in mind, he goes on a quest to celebrate the holidays in NYC with his family.
Although many people would jump at the chance to spend Christmas in NYC (who could blame them, right?) Buddy isn’t quite getting the hang of things in Gotham.
7.The Grinch (2018)
Directed by Yarrow Cheney, Scott Mosier
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Rashida Jones, Kenan Thompson, Cameron Seely, Angela Lansbury
Dr. Seuss’ beloved holiday killjoy returns for another round of curmudgeonly Christmas misery in this animated take from the studio behind Despicable Me.
While the town of Whoville anxiously awaits December 25, the grouchy, green fella – voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch – uncovers a way to ruin it for everyone.
He attempts to pose as Saint Nick, steals Christmas from the Whovillians and finally puts an end to the most wonderful time of the year. Looks like someone’s tinsel is in a twist! Rated PG.
8. Frozen (2013)
Directed by Chris Buck & Jeniffer Lee
Starring: Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad
Frozen has very little to do with Christmas, but its wintertime setting and story of family bonds make it all but essential when the mercury starts to drop – and frankly, we’d rather hear ‘Let it Go’ than 90% of Christmas carols at this point anyway.
Holiday-movie purists will do will to pair the feature with the short film Olaf’s Frozen Adventure, in which the beloved snowman goes on a quest to learn about people’s holiday traditions in order to make Christmas extra special for the long-sheltered Anna and Elsa. Rated PG.
9. The Polar Express (2004)
Directed by Robert Zemeckis
Starring: Tom Hanks, Daryl Sabara, Eddie Deezen
Chris Van Allsburg’s enchanting children’s book made its way to the big screen as an animated flick in 2004, drawing a new generation in for even more family fun. As the story goes, on Christmas Eve, a young boy finds a train parked outside his house.
The Polar Express, which is headed to the North Pole! He finds out he’s been picked to receive the first gift of Christmas, and he asks for only one thing: a silver bell from Santa’s sleigh. But what happens when he tries to take the bell home with him? Rated G.
10.Disney’s A Christmas Carol (2009)
Directed by Robert Zemeckis
Starring: Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Cary Elwes
Jim Carrey has a knack for landing the role of curmudgeonly holiday killjoy (hello, Grinch!). In this animated recreation of Charles Dickens’ famed tale, Scrooge (voiced by the funnyman) gets a wake-up call from three Christmas spirits. Rated PG.
Merry Christmas and hope you have a wonderful time with your family by watching these 10 Christmas movies.
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