Top 25 Christmas Movies

               With Christmas coming right up, I thought I’d give a relatively short list compared to how many Christmas movies there are out there, of the top twenty-five best in my opinion. Sure, some are classics you’ve been watching for years, but others you may have been missing out on. It was extremely difficult putting these in an order after the top three. I should also say that “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is in fact one of my favorite movies, but I consider it a Halloween movie, sorry not sorry. But here it goes, hopefully you discover something new.

25. The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause

I know this movie wasn’t as popular as its predecessors. But I do enjoy seeing Tim Allen put on the coat and become Santa once again. Martin Short is always great, regardless of the writing and story. I also like how we get to see what Scott Calvin’s life and the people around him would be like if he never became Santa.

24. Jingle All the Way

This may be one of those movies, you haven’t seen. It’s worth the time, because well it’s just some good fun. Seeing Arnold Schwarzenegger do a family holiday movie, over an action flick is quite comical in itself. I grew up watching this one, even though I realize as I get older how dumb and how much bad acting some of it is, I’ll still always pop it in.

23. Black X-Mas (1974)

I have yet to watch the remake yet of this, but I just recently saw this one, and it didn’t disappoint. It’s a great classic slasher film. The killer is also as scary as they come in my opinion. “IT’S JUST ME BILLY!”. All right around the Christmas season.

22.  White Christmas

This classic dates all the way back to 1954. I was first introduced to it by my grandparents when I was younger, who adore this film. Bing Crosby is pretty great, and there’s a lot of feel good songs in it. But it’s also only “Christmasy” in the beginning and end. Kind of like “It’s a Wonderful Life”. But to me this one has much slower parts, and sometimes makes me sleepy. Overall a good movie, and a sweet ending.

21. Miracle on 34^th Street (1994)

I know I can be chastised for this, but I’ve actually never seen the great original “Miracle on 34^th Street” from 1947. But I have seen this one quite a few times. It’s a good segue movie from Thanksgiving to the holiday season. I won’t lie it can be slow at times though, but it’s full of smiles.

20.  The Muppet’s Christmas Carol

Being the first of the two Christmas Carol movies on my list. The Muppets version has become a classic over the years. The musical numbers are actually pretty catchy, and the Muppets can always have some fun with their movies.

19. The Polar Express

This movie came out when I was a little older, so I could see if I grew up with it all my life, it being much higher on the list. The animation is amazing for its time. But honestly some of the character’s choices are just plain dumb, like when the main boy goes to give the girl back her ticket and he feels he needs to walk outside to the other part of the train to do it, rather than just wait for them to come back. Makes zero sense. Also, that kid Billy just makes me mad, I just find him incredibly annoying. But overall I like the ending, and how it’s main message is to believe.

18. A Christmas Story

If my blog were more popular, I’m sure this would be an outrage I have this so low on my list. But honestly, I only really started watching this movie yearly a few years ago. Maybe if I had grown up with it, it’d be different. But even though it has a few laughs, and it’s entertaining, there really isn’t much of a message it sends for a Christmas movie. I mean Ralphie is kind of a brat, who gets his way in the end, when you really think about it.

17. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

It’s silly, it’s almost pointless, but it’s always funny. There really isn’t a plot to this movie, other than a family getting along, but Chevy Chase is great in it, and I will always have it in my collection.

16. Disney’s A Christmas Carol

Some may not be a fan of Jim Carey, but I think he’s usually fantastic. I enjoyed him as Ebenezer Scrooge in this. It bothers me so many parents get mad this movie is “to scary” for little ones. When it’s literally the closest adaptation there has been yet, and it’s a film about ghosts! What did you expect? The animation is absolutely amazing as well. I also have to mention it was a tie between this version of the Christmas Carol and the Mickey one, because that one too I will always love.

15. The Santa Clause 2

Although this movie is very different from the first in my opinion, it’s still a good film in its own right. The first one has a much more serious tone at times, but this one has the Easter bunny and a Hitler man-toy Santa as the villain. So yeah, it’s a little different, but it’s funny, and seeing the original cast back is great.

14. Home Alone 2: Lost In New York

Well it isn’t near the top five on the list like the first one, but hey it still makes the list. Home Alone 2 is still a pretty great movie. Farfetched? Of course. But it’s always fun watching Kevin destroy the Wet Bandits.

13. Jack Frost

I just finished this one up again. I won’t lie, it is a sad one. It’s about the death of the father of the family, and how he returns as a snowman a year later. As silly as that sounds, it’s actually got a lot of heart to it.

12. Prancer

My girlfriend would not agree with this movie on the list at all, but hey it’s a damn good film. It’s such a simple little movie, with strong emotions. The main character of Jessica Riggs, has such a unique persona, she’ll keep you entertained the entire time. Although it’s about the reindeer Prancer being lost, there’s also a much deeper plot, with the bond between father and daughter. Check this one out if you haven’t seen it. The last scene always gets me.  

11. Frosty the Snowman

It may just be a short little movie, but it's a classic through and through! You could realistically watch all the classics in one sitting if you wanted. But they will live on forever right?  

10. Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas (cartoon)

Although it’s only 20 minutes long, everyone needs this little tale around the holidays. It will never get old, I’ve seen it twice this year already.

9. The Year Without a Santa Claus

Yet another classic little movie, this one would probably be in the top five if you were my mom. I love the Miser brothers and their songs, that’s always the best part.

8. Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town

Another classic most will know about. Although it’s kind of an odd spin they made up, if you really think about it. It still will always be timeless. One of my favorite endings of a Christmas movie, is this one, when the mail guy talks about if everyone could give a piece of themselves, maybe there could be world peace. Check out the video.

7. Elf

This is a movie most either love or hate. I know some can’t stand Will Ferrell, and I agree he has some stupid movies. But this one is completely innocent, and man is it funny. Also one that will always make me laugh.



6. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Well clearly this is a holiday classic that I think everyone knows, young and old. But out of all the classics, I rated it the highest on my list, because it’s actually a good little movie about bullies.


5.  Krampus

You might hate that I put this movie this far up the list, but what can I say? I love this movie! That warm fuzzy feeling you get from other holiday movies, I get it with this one. After each member is taken, there’s just something rewarding about watching people who want to be ungrateful get punished, especially those girls.

4. The Santa Clause

If I had to choose my favorite Tim Allen movies, this might just be number one. Another film that goes back with me as far as I can remember. Also, a very new spin on the Santa Claus story.


3. Home Alone

This is one of those films I have been watching every Christmas since I can remember. I could
probably recite every line at this point. The two robbers are hilarious every year I watch it. I wish we got more films like this now-a-days.

2. Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Jim Carey)

When it comes to funny holiday movies, there isn’t another movie I can watch as many times as this one and still laugh just as hard every time. Nobody could’ve pulled off the Grinch role like Jim Carey did. I've seen some other lists of top holiday movies and some don't even have this on their list!? I don't see how you can hate the originality Ron Howard added to this movie, and the hilarious personality Jim Carey added to the Grinch character.

1. It’s a Wonderful Life

What will always be one of my all-time favorite movies ever, every year I save this one for Christmas eve. My entire family and so many others would probably agree with me putting this number one. If this weren’t just a holiday list, it’d still be in the top ten for sure. No movie has sent a more powerful message in its day, and so many have been influenced by it.