My Favorite Christmas Movies

There is no shortage of Christmas films. Lifetime, Hallmark Channel, and Netflix have gone all in on producing these heartwarming tales for the holiday season. They’re fun, they’re silly, and they’re all about positivity and joy.

My own take on a holiday film is different. Remember, I think God Told Me To is the greatest Easter film of all time. I do a double feature of Krisha and Pieces of April for Thanksgiving. The Nightmare Before Christmas is appropriate viewing year-round as it features all the holidays on the trees in the forest that connects the holiday worlds (happy Arbor Day, now let’s sing “Sally’s Song,” as is tradition.)

I’m not even going to pretend these are the best Christmas films. My definition of Christmas movie is “takes place at Christmas.” There are some weird films on this list and I like it that way.

The only qualifications are a feature length (so apologies to How the Grinch Stole Christmas, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and Franz Kafka’s It’s a Wonderful Life) and visual or aural sign of Christmas (a calendar or acknowledgement of date counts). I have not seen Greta Gerwig’s Little Women yet, though everyone I know who has strongly believes I will fall head over heels for it. Just assume it’s on this list since the Christmas scene has to be in it at some point, right?

The Nightmare Before Christmas

This is the best Christmas film. I know I said these aren’t the best Christmas films, but this one is the best of all time. I will not be entertaining questions at this time.

Gremlins

Yes, we all love the Mogwai and the Gremlins. Yes, Gizmo is the GOAT. Yes, this film will give you nightmares and mess you up for days if you’re not ready for it. But most of all, it is a Christmas film. The impetus of the plot is a dad buying a Christmas gift for his kid, and what a gift it is.

Carol

Another, to me, obvious Christmas film. One of the greatest romances ever told starts with Carol going to a department store to buy her daughter a gift for Christmas, putting her face to face with the love of her life, Therese.

The Muppet Christmas Carol

Is it the greatest film adaptation of A Christmas Carol? Yes, I believe so. It has everything. It has songs, it has Muppets, and it has Michael Caine. What more do you need?

Christmas Evil

Of all the (alleged) killer Santa films, Christmas Evil is the best. A man who witnesses Santa Claus with his mother on Christmas Eve grows up obsessed with Santa, working in a toy factory, keeping a naughty and nice list, and finally making the move to become Santa Claus. The results are emotional, thought provoking, and ultimately heart-warming.

Edward Scissorhands

When I think of Christmas iconography, I think of the final snowy sequence of Edward Scissorhands. This is a dark fantasy story that partially takes place during the holidays, about a lonely inventor creating a child who is able to bring joy to the people around him despite his grotesque appearance.

Batman Returns

The Bat, the Cat, and the Penguin. It’s a Christmas movie and probably my favorite live action Batman film not involving shark repellent spray.

Anna and the Apocalypse

It’s a dark, brooding musical about the holiday season. What would you do if the zombie apocalypse hits during the holiday season? Survive. Use those decorations and defend yourself with a song in your heart.

Krampus

I always forget that Krampus came out, and remembering it makes me so happy. It is such a good horror film. It’s wild and disturbing and brutal to the very end. Some people deserve to be on the naughty list.

Tangerine

Believe it or not, the West Hollywood-set Tangerine does take place over Christmas. The opening scene features the iconic “Merry Christmas, b” line as Sin-dee and Alexandra meet up for a donut before the plot jumps into motion.

The Lion in the Winter

Another fine drama set at Christmas. Though not quite historically accurate, The Lion in the Winter captures the kind of family drama that you would expect from a story about rightful heirs to the throne of Britain and a king named Henry. No, not Henry VIII; Henry II, another king with too many mistresses and illegitimate children to keep track of. What’s Christmas without family drama?

Meet Me In St. Louis

Judy Garland sings “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” which is enough for me to call this a Christmas film. Sure, I watch for “The Trolley Song,” peak Judy Garland, and stunning costumes and production design.

The Dead

My favorite Christmas story is James Joyce’s “The Dead.” It’s the longest story in his collection “The Dubliners” and is literally the story of a Christmas party. This is director John Huston’s last film, in which he directed his daughter Angelica while connected to oxygen tubes and other medical equipment. It’s not the most faithful adaptation of the story, though it is a fine film that deserves more attention. ‘Tis the season, after all.

Grease 2

This is on the level of Nightmare Before Christmas for me. Why? One, it’s fabulous. It’s better than the original Grease in every way. I am not entertaining questions at this time.

Two, more importantly, it features the Calendar Girls singing “A Girl for All Seasons” during the school talent show, where Stephanie (Michelle Pfeiffer) disassociates during a holiday song and dance while dressed as a Christmas tree (complete with light up tree topper headpiece) to imagine her dream boyfriend (the Cool Rider of the song “Cool Rider”) is still around after tragically dying in a motorcycle accident. Like any good Christmas movie, there’s a miracle and a happily ever after.