Now that the holiday season in full swing, let’s shift focus for a week to our top 10 holiday movies. Those movies that make the holiday season feel complete. The ones you watch without fail, every single year.
When trying to compile my list, I stayed away from any Die Hard and Die Hard related controversies and tried to only include holiday movies that can lift my mood no matter what. So, when you look at my list and don’t see titles like It’s A Wonderful Life or A Christmas Story, it’s not that I don’t necessarily like them. They just don’t have the same “holiday season” appeal to me as others. Without wasting anymore time, let’s get to it. Here are my Top 10 Holiday Movies.
#10
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
Yes, the 1966 version is a certified classic. And yes, I know this probably won’t be a popular choice to make the list. But the Ron Howard version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas with Jim Carrey as the Grinch comes in 10th on my list. The script is funny, and Carrey is over the top in the best ways as the Grinch. Yeah, it’s not without issues and at times is also an absolute mess of a movie. But you know what? It’s also fun and that’s all I’m looking for in a Jim Carrey holiday movie.
#9
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
Holiday sequels? No, they usually aren’t very good. However, there is always an exception to the rule. And here, that exception is Home Alone 2: Lost in New York which finds itself in the 9th spot on my list of Top 10 Holiday Movies. But isn’t this just a repeat of the first film in a different location? Well, yes, which is why it shouldn’t work as well as it does. Macaulay’s charm, new traps for the Wet Bandits, and a hotel staff with the likes of Tim Curry makes the McCallister’s a family I don’t mind spending the holidays with twice.
#8
Bad Santa (2003)
In what is definitely not your average run of the mill holiday movie, and what might be one of my favorite Billy Bob Thornton performances, Bad Santa comes in at number 8. I am very well aware that this one won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. But if it is, you’re going to have a wild ride with it. Not only is Thornton hilarious, but so too are Bernie Mac, John Ritter, Lauren Graham, and Tony Cox. Rude, crass, but with just the right amount of heart sprinkled in, Bad Santa never fails to entertain.
#7
The Night Before (2015)
Coming in at number 7 is The Night Before. Rogen, Mackie, and JGL together in a holiday movie? You have my attention. While you know exactly what you are going to get from a Seth Rogen movie, the schtick arguably works better here because of Rogen’s partners in crime. The chemistry between the three leads is great, Rogen and Jillian Bell are a riot together, and Michael Shannon gives a memorable performance as one Mr. Green. It is impossible for me to put this on and not wind up laughing.
#6
Jingle All the Way (1996)
Rounding out the bottom half of my Top 10 Holiday Movies list is Jingle All the Way. Say what you will about it, Jingle All the Way never fails to make me laugh. While the overall message is simple and heart-warming, it’s the performances that make it top 10 worthy for me. Phil Hartman never disappointed, Sinbad shows you he’s a comedic force when acting as well, and slapstick Schwarzenegger is arguably my favorite version of Arnie.
#5
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
Number 5 on the list is Christmas Vacation. The life of the Griswold family is as chaotic as ever during the holidays. We all can relate with Clark on some level when it comes to dealing with work and/or family during the holidays. It is almost impossible to go an entire holiday season and not quote, or hear someone else quote, a line and/or entire scene. While it is easy to experience burnout with this movie, I’ve found that only watching it once a year makes it that much more special.
#4
Home Alone (1990)
As was alluded to earlier, the original Home Alone was bound to make my Top 10 Holiday Movies list. And here it is, checking in at number 4. It’s quotable, full of memorable scenes and cameos, and has been a holiday favorite of mine for as long as I can remember. There’s just something about eating a greasy cheese pizza while watching Kevin McCallister outsmart Harry and Marv that makes the holiday season seem complete.
#3
Love Actually (2003)
I bet you were thinking this would be a list full of nothing but comedic holiday movies. Well, you’re not entirely wrong, as here we are at number 3 with Love Actually. Not only is it my third favorite holiday movie, but it is also arguably my favorite romantic comedy overall. There isn’t a character in this movie that you don’t wind up feeling emotionally invested in for one reason or another. Part of that credit goes to the writing while the other goes to incredible performance after incredible performance. Everyone from Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Martin Freeman, Laura Linney, Bill Nighy, Martine McCutcheon, Liam Neeson, Keira Knightley, they all play their respective roles to perfection.
#2
A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
Coming in as the runner-up in the number 2 spot is A Charlie Brown Christmas. Yes, it is more of a television episode than a movie with a run time of only 25 minutes. However, it is one of the best holiday-themed 25 minutes one will ever see. A heavy dose of nostalgia mixed with a memorable score and just the right amounts of (still relevant) social commentary and heartwarming feelings. The holiday season has not begun until a viewing of A Charlie Brown Christmas has occurred.
This brings us to my number 1 selection on my Top 10 Holiday Movies list. While there are some on this list that could be interchangeable, there was always a clear favorite when making this list…
#1
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
Whether it is the first time or the ninety-first time I am watching it, The Muppet Christmas Carol will always put a smile on my face. The Muppet adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic is incredibly dark, for a Muppet movie, but is also my favorite adaptation. Michael Caine as Scrooge is phenomenal in part because he never once acts like he is in a Muppet movie. Treating Kermit with the same cold cruelty you’d show a human makes it that much more impactful.
An added bonus to this year’s viewing of The Muppet Christmas Carol will be that as of December 9th the extended version will be available on Disney+. Why is this a big deal? Because we will finally get the “lost” song “When Love Is Gone” back. While heartbreaking, the song does a fair share of heavy lifting in terms of understanding why Scrooge became the person that he did.
So, there you have it. My Top 10 Holiday Movies. How many on my list appear on yours?
Let me know your holiday top 10 in the comments below or by reaching out on social media!