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A (Somewhat Controversial, Unconventional, Personal, and in No Way) Definitive Ranking of Christmas Movies
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30. IRON MAN 3 (2013)
I find this to be an underappreciated MCU movie. With Shane Black directing, you know Christmas will make an appearance.
Streaming: Disney+
I find this to be an underappreciated MCU movie. With Shane Black directing, you know Christmas will make an appearance.
Streaming: Disney+
29. CAROL (2015)
Todd Haynes’ sumptuous period melodrama is a showcase of quality acting, writing, and directing. Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara are excellent here.
Streaming: Netflix
Todd Haynes’ sumptuous period melodrama is a showcase of quality acting, writing, and directing. Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara are excellent here.
Streaming: Netflix
28. DEKALOG III (1989)
DEKALOG is a ten-part series of films made by the great Krzyszof Kieslowski that tackles the Ten Commandments in late-20th Century Poland. This particular entry is a bleak little feel-bad film set on Christmas about infidelity, family, and loneliness.
DEKALOG is a ten-part series of films made by the great Krzyszof Kieslowski that tackles the Ten Commandments in late-20th Century Poland. This particular entry is a bleak little feel-bad film set on Christmas about infidelity, family, and loneliness.
27. BATMAN RETURNS (1992)
The best of the four Batman movies of its era.
Fun fact: FilmRachel was so scared of Danny DeVito's Penguin that growing up she would intentionally wet the bed to sleep with her mom.
Streaming: HBO Max
The best of the four Batman movies of its era.
Fun fact: FilmRachel was so scared of Danny DeVito's Penguin that growing up she would intentionally wet the bed to sleep with her mom.
Streaming: HBO Max
26. BLACK CHRISTMAS (1974)
The original 70s slasher predates the OG slasher HALLOWWEN (1978) but was equally as influential as a genre-creator. Holiday horror fun that is vastly superior to its two subsequent remakes.
Streaming: Criterion Channel; Peacock; Kanopy; Shudder
The original 70s slasher predates the OG slasher HALLOWWEN (1978) but was equally as influential as a genre-creator. Holiday horror fun that is vastly superior to its two subsequent remakes.
Streaming: Criterion Channel; Peacock; Kanopy; Shudder
25. THE HUDSUCKER PROXY (1994)
The Coen Brothers' homage to Old Hollywood screwball comedies is probably one of their most overlooked and underappreciated. A good mix of curmudgeonly cynicism and hope for second chances, not unlike A Christmas Carol or IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE.
The Coen Brothers' homage to Old Hollywood screwball comedies is probably one of their most overlooked and underappreciated. A good mix of curmudgeonly cynicism and hope for second chances, not unlike A Christmas Carol or IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE.
24. ELF (2003)
It is the de-facto Christmas movie of the 2000s, there is no arguing that. Will Ferrell commits to the bit and it's quotable and charming, despite losing some steam as the film goes on.
Streaming: Starz; that DVD you probably still have from 2004
It is the de-facto Christmas movie of the 2000s, there is no arguing that. Will Ferrell commits to the bit and it's quotable and charming, despite losing some steam as the film goes on.
Streaming: Starz; that DVD you probably still have from 2004
23. L.A. CONFIDENTIAL (1997)
A modern gumshoe detective classic that's more than just the breakthrough of Russell Crowe. Really sharp dialogue and characters throughout.
Streaming: IMDb TV
A modern gumshoe detective classic that's more than just the breakthrough of Russell Crowe. Really sharp dialogue and characters throughout.
Streaming: IMDb TV
22. HOME ALONE (1990)
If you can get past the mental hoops to jump through in order to suspend disbelief at a ridiculous plot, it's a really fun time. I won't hold it against anyone if it's at the top of your Christmas movie list.
Streaming: Disney+
If you can get past the mental hoops to jump through in order to suspend disbelief at a ridiculous plot, it's a really fun time. I won't hold it against anyone if it's at the top of your Christmas movie list.
Streaming: Disney+
21. MOONSTRUCK (1987)
You people are not prepared for how attractive Cher and Nic Cage are as tumultuous Italian-American lovers who meet-cute during the holidays.
Streaming: Showtime
You people are not prepared for how attractive Cher and Nic Cage are as tumultuous Italian-American lovers who meet-cute during the holidays.
Streaming: Showtime
20. THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER (1940)
It's in the ranks of IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT and BRINGING UP BABY as a foundational romantic-comedy, which influenced the likes of YOU'VE GOT MAIL and THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL.
Streaming: HBO Max
It's in the ranks of IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT and BRINGING UP BABY as a foundational romantic-comedy, which influenced the likes of YOU'VE GOT MAIL and THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL.
Streaming: HBO Max
19. MY NIGHT AT MAUD'S (1969)
A French New Wave film that takes place during Christmas, it follows four people (two Catholics and two atheists) who discuss philosophy, religion, etc. That may not sound super engaging, but it is.
Streaming: Criterion Channel; HBO Max
A French New Wave film that takes place during Christmas, it follows four people (two Catholics and two atheists) who discuss philosophy, religion, etc. That may not sound super engaging, but it is.
Streaming: Criterion Channel; HBO Max
18. THE APARTMENT (1960)
Billy Wilder's Best Picture winner that feels like Mad Men during the yuletide, which is one of the highest compliments I can give.
Billy Wilder's Best Picture winner that feels like Mad Men during the yuletide, which is one of the highest compliments I can give.
17. THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (1993)
A really impressive stop-motion musical. Few movies can be both Halloween movies AND Christmas movies. One of Tim Burton's best.
Streaming: Disney+
A really impressive stop-motion musical. Few movies can be both Halloween movies AND Christmas movies. One of Tim Burton's best.
Streaming: Disney+
16. BRAZIL (1985)
Want feel-good holiday cheer? Look elsewhere. Terry Gilliam's weird dystopian exercise is better experienced than explained. Here's a good article on it being an anti-Christmas film. https://filmschoolrejects.com/10-reasons-brazil-great-christmas-movie-rest-us/
Want feel-good holiday cheer? Look elsewhere. Terry Gilliam's weird dystopian exercise is better experienced than explained. Here's a good article on it being an anti-Christmas film. https://filmschoolrejects.com/10-reasons-brazil-great-christmas-movie-rest-us/
15. THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL (1992)
The muppets rule, and Michael Caine plays a great Scrooge. You have a heart of coal if you’re unmoved by the ending.
Streaming: Disney+
The muppets rule, and Michael Caine plays a great Scrooge. You have a heart of coal if you’re unmoved by the ending.
Streaming: Disney+
14. CATCH ME IF YOU CAN (2002)
Spielberg, Hanks, and DiCaprio all putting in good work in a true-crime biographical film that features several key scenes on Christmas - enough to make this list.
Streaming: Pluto TV
Spielberg, Hanks, and DiCaprio all putting in good work in a true-crime biographical film that features several key scenes on Christmas - enough to make this list.
Streaming: Pluto TV
13. GREMLINS (1984)
What a wild little 80s family horror Christmas movie that has no business being as good as it is.
What a wild little 80s family horror Christmas movie that has no business being as good as it is.
12. NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION (1989)
So many good one-liners and scenes for a Christmas movie that (with one notable forthcoming exception) makes me laugh the most.
So many good one-liners and scenes for a Christmas movie that (with one notable forthcoming exception) makes me laugh the most.
11. EDWARD SCISSORHANDS (1990)
To quote critic Josh Larsen, "The gentlest middle-finger in the history of FU, outsider cinema." Merry Christmas to the Enneagram 4s!
Streaming: Starz
To quote critic Josh Larsen, "The gentlest middle-finger in the history of FU, outsider cinema." Merry Christmas to the Enneagram 4s!
Streaming: Starz
10. FANNY AND ALEXANDER (1982)
Surely Mitch won't put some Swedish existential Ingmar Bergman film on this Christmas thread, right? Wrong.
Streaming: Criterion Channel; HBO Max
Surely Mitch won't put some Swedish existential Ingmar Bergman film on this Christmas thread, right? Wrong.
Streaming: Criterion Channel; HBO Max
9. MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS (1944)
Judy Garland's solo introduced "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" to the world. Extra poignant in 2020.
"Someday soon, we all will be together
If the fates allow.
Until then, we'll have to muddle through somehow."
Streaming: HBO Max
Judy Garland's solo introduced "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" to the world. Extra poignant in 2020.
"Someday soon, we all will be together
If the fates allow.
Until then, we'll have to muddle through somehow."
Streaming: HBO Max
Written ('43) and released ('44) in the midst of the worst war in human history, thousands of families did not know if they would ever see some of their loved ones for Christmas again. I have never been able to make it through Garland's performance with a dry eye.
