Top 10 Best Classic Christmas Movies

“Home Improvement” star Tim Allen is a less lovable dad as divorced workaholic Scott Calvin. But after Santa Claus falls off of his roof, he learns how to embrace cheer and work with his son while transforming into the new Father Christmas. The awkward gags throughout this magical process really showcase Allen’s snarky comedic chops. And the imaginative rendition of the North Pole's business model made for a dazzling, heartwarming adventure. “The Santa Clause” had everything to be a Disney holiday classic, never mind a box office smash. There's a lot more division on the worth of its two sequels and a Disney+ series. Still, the success of the franchise and many other holiday blockbusters is owed to this ‘90s family favorite.

The Irving Berlin musical “Holiday Inn” made Bing Crosby a movie star for all seasons. The classic anthem introduced in its Christmas climax in turn inspired the film “White Christmas”. Crosby and Danny Kaye play a Broadway duet who learn that their old commanding officer’s business is in trouble. As they mount a Christmas show to revitalize the inn, they find love in a pair of sisters and strife in brothers in arms. The movie is obviously full of lush production values, romantic farce, and unforgettable songs from Berlin. At the same time, it exemplifies holiday humanitarianism by recognizing the sacrifices of World War II. It's a heady sentiment, but with musical spectacle alongside a noble message, “White Christmas” is a dream.

If you have a disastrous family vacation story, Clark Griswold likely has you beat. The earnest suburbanite may not stand a chance of salvaging Christmas between the insufferable extended family, decoration mishaps, and suspiciously delayed bonus check. At least the hysterical Chevy Chase is a more capable host than poor Sparky. Many rank the third installment in the “National Lampoon's Vacation” first in terms of riotous slapstick chaos. The satire of pressure and consumerism during the holidays nonetheless leaves room for wholesome payoffs. “National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation” is itself a tricky balance between cynical adult humor and festive charm, but pulls it all off as fun for the whole dysfunctional family.

From producer Tim Burton and legendary stop-motion director Henry Selick came the ideal transition in holiday viewing. “The Nightmare Before Christmas” follows Jack Skellington’s journey from Halloweentown to give Christmas a morbid makeover. Critics weren't wrong about the surreal, macabre imagery being a little much for a kid's movie. And yet, the imaginative design, unexpected heart, and amazing Danny Elfman soundtrack are as whimsical as any animated classic. “The Nightmare Before Christmas” has been a year-round pop culture staple since 1993. It just particularly resonates with those who want a break from sappier seasonal fare, but not the sincere message of joy to all. Who says the best family holiday fare has to be holly and jolly?

Eight-year-old Kevin McAllister is so overlooked by his oversized family that they accidentally leave him behind during a Christmas trip. He's finally the man of the house, then the hero of the hour when a pair of bumbling burglars break in. At least they stole the audience’s heart. Sure, “Home Alone” has always been controversial for its unsettling premise and violent slapstick. But the hilarity and heart made for an instant classic. It also made a superstar of Macaulay Culkin, who returned for the equally successful “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York”. The standalone sequels unfortunately didn't fare as well with critics and audiences. Granted, the original “Home Alone” raised a high bar for a comedy to bring the family together.

A famous food columnist is forced by her editor to host an injured war hero for the holidays. Turns out, though, she’s been exaggerating her cooking skills. “Christmas in Connecticut” is a rom-com rife with deception and misunderstanding. While this irked some moralistic critics in 1945, contemporary audiences embraced the hopeful depiction of World War II veterans. The film would enchant future generations with its creative farce and debatable gender politics. If nothing else, it’s a delightful romance enriched by Dennis Morgan and Barbara Stanwyck’s chemistry. Never mind the snowy New England backdrop. “Christmas in Connecticut” may very well have introduced the recipe for Hallmark holiday heartwarmers, but its high-end entertainment still hits the spot.

The construction of the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition is observed by an affluent family with impeccable decorative taste. “Meet Me in St. Louis” is surely a marvelous production, romanticizing a year's worth of holidays at the turn of the 20th century. By the time Christmas rolls around, the genuine nostalgia feels as full as the character arcs. The film wound up being the biggest MGM musical of the ‘40s, notably introducing classic songs like “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”. “Meet Me in St. Louis” was a critical hit, scoring four Oscar nominations and continued praise for its lush art direction and storytelling. Though most prefer to revisit “Meet Me in St. Louis” for year-end festivities, it's always worth celebrating.

If a movie can revive your faith in Yuletide magic, the verdict is in for “Miracle on 34th Street”. Edmund Gwenn plays a suspiciously sweet department store Santa who claims to be the real deal. When this leads to competency hearings, the very nature of Christmas faith is cross-examined. It's both a delightful fantasy and a disarming critique of cynical holiday commercialism. No less importantly, it's sincerely driven by its characters and uplifting message for the child in everyone. It notably launched a young Natalie Wood, but the lovable Gwenn claimed one of the film’s three Oscars. The 1994 remake inspired a much bigger rift between critics and audiences. Nonetheless, the original “Miracle on 34th Street” is a unanimous crowd-pleaser.

Based on Jean Shepherd’s satirical “Parker Family Saga”, “A Christmas Story” isn't exactly naïve holiday nostalgia. That's exactly what makes it holiday nostalgia at its finest. Shepherd himself lovingly narrates a quintessential suburban Christmas Break for nine-year-old Ralphie Parker. The slice-of-life period piece hilariously spoofs the pressures of what was already a commercialized and ritualistic holiday by 1940. At the same time, the whimsical aesthetic, quirky characters and prevailing heart remind us why we love the season anyway. Audiences certainly fell in love with little Peter Billingsley, who returned as Ralphie nearly 40 years later for “A Christmas Story Christmas”. This affirmed the witty and wondrous original as a nostalgic staple, regardless of viewers’ own Christmas stories.


Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

The Groundbreaking Actioner is Embraced as a Tradition for Its Yuletide Backdrop

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Comedy Vehicle is an Underappreciated Satire of Holiday Consumerism

Rival Gift Shop Employees Don't Realize That They're Each Other's Beloved Pen Pal

Eddie Murphy & Dan Aykroyd Take on Class Conflict at What Should Be the Season of Giving

Reginald Owen Leads a Loose but Especially Uplifting Interpretation of Charles Dickens

True to its name, Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life” is more than just a holiday heartwarmer. It’s a humanistic study of the life and times of banker George Bailey, who recognizes the lives he’s touched when a guardian angel visits one tragic Christmas Eve. Such depth of character and thematic development represents the seasonal values of charity as timeless obligations. That kind of philosophical escapism didn’t quite suit the social and critical climate of post-World War II America. From box office disappointment, however, “It’s a Wonderful Life” was nominated for five Academy Awards and championed as a feel-good masterpiece. In fact, subsequent generations continue to celebrate it as possibly the masterpiece of Old Hollywood’s Christmas classics.


What are your favorite movie viewing traditions for the holidays? Gather around the comments.