If you are anything like me at the moment, you have a holiday movie on in the background, or front and centre. They are the top recommendations on Netflix, they are everywhere on TV (hello, Hallmark Christmas movies), and there are those beloved classics you still have on DVD. I thought that I would veer into the present this week and share my favourite Christmas movies that I always watch. A fair warning: there are a wide variety of films here from quite a few different periods and genres. However, I hope that they still give you the holiday feels!
Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
I am starting with a real classic choice- the original Miracle on 34th Street has long been one of my favourite holiday films. While I also love and enjoy the 1994 remake, the original has that extra special magic. A little girl who would like a department store Santa to prove that the fabled gift-giver is real? A department store setting? And Maureen O’Hara? Sign. Me. Up.
The Grinch (2018)
I recognise that this is a controversial choice, but this is a must-watch for me, usually three or four times over the holiday season. In my humble holiday opinion, the original Grinch cartoon is a little too short for my liking and the live-action Grinch with Jim Carrey is far too dark for a holiday film. (Carrey’s Grinch was not redeemable, I do not care what anyone says.) Benedict Cumberbatch’s Grinch is mean and scheming but believable as a reformed humbug, and the music and supporting cast knock it out of the park!
Noelle (2019)
Noelle has quickly become another one of my holiday favourites. Anna Kendrick stars in this perfectly adorable holiday film about the sister of the new Santa Claus who ends up taking on her brother’s duties after he panics in the new big role. This was one of the first big Disney+ releases that I remember, and it is definitely worth getting the subscription for a month to watch this! (And you can catch several other beloved holiday films at the same time…)
The Christmas Train (2017)
The Christmas Train is indeed a Hallmark movie but it is not the stereotypical Hallmark fare that you could interchange with 48 different movies. We follow a train full of people traveling across the US for the holidays, and several have their own secrets and histories to deal with. It has a lot of fun moments- that quite frankly make me want to ride a train for Christmas one year- but also is quite heartfelt and touching. This is a common movie on Christmas here in Canada, and I assume in the US, as well (possibly elsewhere).
The Santa Clause (1994)
I am going to guess that I have a soft-spot for this movie because it came out in my childhood, but I still think it is one of the most clever holiday films that does stand up well over the years! (Yikes, it has been almost 30 years since it was released…) Tim Allen plays a businessman who is forced to put on the red suit because of the Santa Clause… While I could take or leave the two sequels (and have not watched the new show yet), the original Santa Clause is another must-watch for me.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
Is it a Christmas movie list if you do not have the 1964 Claymation classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer on it? Not only is this storyline a true holiday classic for three (or more) generations now, many of the songs from this movie are now beloved traditions of their own. (“Holly Jolly Christmas”, anyone?) This movie has inspired countless collections of toys, clothing, and even make-up. (Yes, I do own the Rudolph palette from ColourPop…) It is not the Christmas season for me with Rudolph, Sam, Clarice, and Hermey.
Now that I’ve shared my favourite Christmas movies, I want to know what holiday movies are on your list!
Cheers,
The Historian
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