Every holiday season I post this list and it evolves based on readers suggestions and new movies that come out. If you have favorites that didn’t make the list please add them in the comments section and maybe you’ll influence next years list.
10. Love Actually: (2003) This is the best Christmas movie there is about stodgy British people trying to get it on, but it’s a favorite with the ladies, so it made the list. Around the holidays the ladies get what the ladies want.
9. Scrooged: (1988) A modern re-telling of the Charles Dickens classic starring Bill Murray. I think that even Dickens would agree that this is way better than the original.
8. The Family Man (2000) Starring Nicholas Cage and Tea Leoni. Most people don’t think much of Nicholas Cage but in this movie he nails the role of an investment banker who through a Christmas miracle is shown the path not taken in his life. I like this one so much that it knocked Die Hard off this list. If you haven’t seen it, go watch it and come back here and tell me what you think.
7. The Santa Clause: This 2004 movie starring Tim Allen screamed instant classic the first time I saw it. Also, any movie that includes Judge Reinhold is a must watch.
6. The Nightmare Before Christmas: (1993) To be honest, which I always am of course, I’ve never seen this, but so many people talk about it, so I added it to the list. Is it good enough that I should make time to watch it this year?
5. The Polar Express: (2004) Tom Hanks is a better actor even as cartoon character.
4. Elf: (2003) Starring Will Farrell, this is the most quotable of all holiday movies. “I just like to smile. Smiling’s my favorite.” or “Buddy the Elf. What’s your favorite color?”
3. Miracle on 34th Street: (1947) I’ve never watched the crappy newer color version and I don’t plan to. I’ve loved this one since I was a kid, especially the brilliant court scene when Santa’s lawyer wins the case by having the postmen bring in the letters to Santa. Officially, that was the last time the post office delivered anything on time for the holidays.
2. A Christmas Story: (1983) It is right and just that TBS plays this movie for 24 hours straight every year.
1. It’s a Wonderful Life: (1946) Yes, I’m an old sentimental fool. I still love it everytime when Mary is hidden in the bush and has lost her robe and George says, “Now this is a very interesting situation.” Who doesn’t wonder where the movie might have gone had his friends not pulled up in the car at that moment. Bow bow chicka chicka… Also it’s pretty cool to me that the town of Bedford Falls is based on a small town in upstate New York that I drive through all the time.
Ok, that’s my list. What do you agree with or better yet, disagree with? What movies would you put on the list? Have a great Tuesday! ~Phil
Excellent list and so bloody pleased you haven’t put Die Hard in there. Also, “stodgy British people trying to get it on” is an excellent summary of Love, Actually 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I used to have Die Hard on the list but replaced it this year with The Family Man
Thanking you.
If it was Top 11, Die Hard would be there
It wouldn’t be Christmas without #1, 2, and 3. The others are fun additions. Great list!
I agree
I’m sure you have a good reason for leaving “Christmas Vacation” off of your list, right? And you’re right. Bringing all of those letters to Santa into the courtroom was nothing short of legal genius.
I don’t have a good reason. That oversight will be rectified next year. Good call!
I recently watched White Christmas with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye because I haven’t seen it in ages. I was surprised that my young grandchildren even enjoyed the singing and dancing.
That’s a great one too but when I limit myself to ten, some very good ones get left out
The Family Man is always on our list – just watched it a few nights ago. No Christmas Vacation?
You’re the second to say Christmas Vacation, so it will be on next years list.
But if I add it, which would you take off?
I’ll probably get shot down, but Love Actually.
Wow! That’s a popular one.
White Christmas, Holiday Inn, A Christmas Carol (I like this one best), The Bells of Saint Mary, The Holiday, How The Grinch Stole Christmas (Original). These are my Christmas movies. (And Love, Actually)
There’s so many that I could probably make it a top twenty. The Grinch was in last weeks top ten holiday specials list.
My Top 10: White Christmas (my favorite. I cry at the end every time I watch it), It’s a Wonderful Life (my hubby’s favorite), Love Actually, Miracle on 34th Street (original), The Bishop’s Wife, Muppet’s Christmas Carol, Scrooged, The Santa Clause, Die Hard, Gremlins. Bonus: How the Grinch Stole Christmas (original-my kiddos’ favorite)
Hmmm… Gremlins! I forgot that was a Christmas movie
We watch it every year.
AWESOME list! You’ve got all my favorites– Love, Actually (just shared a post about this last week), Elf, and The Santa Clause are my top 3. And, *ahem* the 90’s version of Miracle on 34th Street is not crappy– I’m IN it! Well… a photo of me is in it. 😉
Nailed it, Phil. If there was a number eleven it would be Home Alone.
Thank you for Love Actually, I do like it, stodge and all. And, Bill Nighy.
A selection of great movies, Phil.
Scrooged. Love this, I feel like it is an underappreciated classic.
I think so too!
Haven’t seen any till now. will do. thanks for providing the list, Phil!
How could anyone put love actually higher than Elf? Sorry but I am now somewhat traumatised and where is Grinch? *sniff, wipes eyes* well you can’t please everyone… though you usually are quite on the spot. Merry tearsmas… whoops Christmas.
My favourite from this list is Love Actually – yes I’m a lady who loves the story lines throughout. Great list of movies Phil. Merry Christmas to you from the sunny land down under.
I am in total agreement with your top 2 movies, Phil. I love them both and one of my favorite scenes in “It’s a Wonderful Life” is when George and Mary are talking on the phone to Sam Wainright and end up in an embrace. Hottest movie scene ever and they were fully clothed! I must watch the Family Man – have not seen it and am now intrigued. The other one I would add is National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation – just watched it last night for the thousandth time and laughed in all the same places.
That’s a good list. And I’ve never seen the Nicholas cage one!!! Shall report back.
It’s very surprisingly good. Brings a tear to my eye
Well, rain is forecast for Christmas Day, out goes the picnic outdoors and an inside picnic with watching movies thanks for the tip, Phil. Chocolate, cheese and crackers still taste the same inside or outside 🙂 Have a Merry Christmas 🙂
I read one of these lists earlier in the week and ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ wasn’t even on it. I have now forgotten that I ever knew that person.
I’d put ‘Die Hard’ back. I’d also add ‘White Christmas’, because it can still make me cry.
It’s tough to limit the list to ten. There’s several good ones I had to leave out
Glad to see my two favorites made the list, Polar Express and Elf!
Great list, especially The Santa Clause. I’m going to have to put a couple of these on this week!
Whilst I agree totally with your number one, I feel that Muppets Christmas Carol is an obvious omission from this list… 😉
Scrooged is great! Glad to see it here.
I haven’t seen Love Actually, which I think is a criminal offence for a British lady. So don’t tell the cops.
Merry Christmas Phil, have an ace time 🙂 x
Thanks Em! Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Such a great list! I love to watch The Holiday every year during Christmas😊
Xoxo Annaleid
Great list. Thanks. You’ve got most of my favourites there. I love A Christmas Carol – almost any of the film versions will do. Have a good one Jill
Elf is my absolute favorite! Anything Will Ferrell does is genius! I promised blogger- Married Cat Lady on her blog I’d see Love Actually and I still haven’t seen it! Ugh!! Also, I just can’t get into the older movies. I love Scrooged. I’m introducing that to my sons this year. Merry Christmas!!!
Love Actually is good if you like Christmas and romance with happy endings
Yeah, I’m thinking my husband won’t want to see it with me as it sounds like a chic flick.
I’m a guy and it’s ok. Just don’t ooh and aah over Hugh Grant too much
Yeah, that would be me.
My favorites include Love Actually and The Holiday. I also liked Polar Express, Chevy Chase in “The National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation! 😎” and recently, John Goodman, Diane Keaton in “Love the Cooper’s.”