As the holiday season approaches, there's nothing quite like settling down with a warm blanket, a cup of hot cocoa, and a classic Christmas movie. From heartwarming tales to hilarious family escapades and even a few action-packed adventures, these films capture the essence of the festive spirit. Whether you're looking for a nostalgic trip down memory lane or seeking to create new memories, this list of the top 25 Christmas movies is perfect for watching this year or any year. While we haven't reviewed them all yet, the ones we have are linked here. Each film, with its unique charm and story, promises to bring the season's magic to life. So, gather your loved ones, pick your favorite from this list, and let the holiday movie marathon begin!
1. A Christmas Story (1983): - A young boy named Ralphie attempts to convince his parents, his teacher, and Santa that a Red Ryder BB gun is the perfect Christmas gift.
2. It's a Wonderful Life (1946): - An angel shows a compassionate but despairingly frustrated businessman what life would have been like if he never existed. (Read our Review)
3. Home Alone (1990): - A young boy defends his home from burglars after he is accidentally left behind by his family during Christmas vacation.
4. Elf (2003): - Buddy, a human raised as an elf at the North Pole, travels to New York City to find his biological father.
5. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989): - The Griswold family's plans for a big family Christmas predictably turn into a big disaster. (Read our Review)
6. Miracle on 34th Street (1947): - A lawyer and a little girl must prove that a man claiming to be Santa Claus is the real thing.
7. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993): - Jack Skellington, the king of Halloween Town, discovers Christmas Town and attempts to bring Christmas to his home, causing confusion.
8. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965): Charlie Brown seeks to discover the true meaning of Christmas. (Read our Review)
9. Die Hard (1988): - An NYPD officer tries to save his wife and several others taken hostage by German terrorists during a Christmas party at the Nakatomi Plaza in Los Angeles. (Read our Review)
10. The Polar Express (2004): - A young boy embarks on a magical adventure to the North Pole on the Polar Express, learning about friendship, bravery, and the spirit of Christmas.
11. The Santa Clause (1994): - A man inadvertently kills Santa on Christmas Eve and finds himself magically recruited to take his place.
12. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992): - The Muppets perform the classic Charles Dickens holiday tale, with Kermit the Frog playing Bob Cratchit and Michael Caine as Ebenezer Scrooge. (Read our Review)
13. Scrooged (1988): - A selfish, cynical television executive is haunted by three spirits bearing lessons on Christmas Eve.
14. White Christmas (1954): - A successful song-and-dance team becomes romantically involved with a sister act and team up to save the failing Vermont inn of their former commanding general.
15. Jingle All the Way (1996): - A father vows to get his son a Turbo Man action figure for Christmas but finds it's nearly impossible to find during the holiday rush.
16. Krampus (2015): - A boy who has a bad Christmas ends up accidentally summoning a festive demon to his family home.
17. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966): - The Grinch, a grumpy, solitary creature, attempts to put an end to Christmas by stealing Christmas-themed items from the homes of the nearby town Whoville on Christmas Eve.
18. Gremlins (1984): - A young man receives a strange creature called a mogwai as a pet, which spawns other creatures who transform into small, destructive, evil monsters.
19. Bad Santa (2003): - A miserable conman and his partner pose as Santa and his Little Helper to rob department stores on Christmas Eve.
20. Noelle (2019): - Santa's daughter finds herself having to take over the family business.
21. Violent Night (2022): - A team of mercenaries break into a wealthy family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone inside hostage, but they aren't prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus. (Read our Review)
22. Lethal Weapon (1987): - A pair of completely opposite Los Angeles detectives must put aside their differences to catch a gang of drug smugglers.
23. Jack Frost (1998): - A father who can't keep his promises dies in a car accident, only to come back to life as a snowman.
24. Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984): - After his parents are murdered, a tormented teenager goes on a murderous rampage dressed as Santa.
25. The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018): - A young girl is transported into a magical world of gingerbread soldiers and an army of mice.
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