Top 10 Movies to Watch this Holiday Season
WFHB surveyed listeners to discover what the 10 best holiday movies are to watch this season. We awarded movies rated ‘first’ 10 points, movies rated ‘second’ 8 points, and ‘third’ five points. We’ve curated a list of the top ten holiday movies based on points.
You can listen to the audio version of this story at the link above.
A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
Courtesy of IMDb
A part of the larger Charlie Brown franchise, A Charlie Brown Christmas focuses on the commercialism of the holiday season. Charlie Brown is saddened by the mass commercialism that marks holidays like Christmas, so he attempts to find a greater, deeper meaning during the holiday season – one that goes beyond the gifts.
Survey respondent Chase Eckhart said a good holiday movie should make you “…feel warm and be appreciative of what/who is in your life.” Charlie Brown definitely agrees with this.
This movie received a total of 23 points.
Where to watch A Charlie Brown Christmas:
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
Courtesy of IMDb
Starring former SNL actor Chevy Chase, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation chronicles one family’s chaotic holiday season. Clark Griswold (Chase) wants to make sure the holidays are perfect for him and his family, but a series of misfortunes make this wish near impossible. From squirrels in Christmas trees to a flying plastic Santa Clause and kitty litter in jello, this movie is sure to make you laugh.
According to respondent Jeris Shomper, a holiday movie has certain aspects. “You typically think of something related to the season, with snow, Christmas lights, family aspects, magical moments, etc,” she said. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation checks all those boxes.
This movie received a total of 28 points from our respondents.
Where to watch National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation:
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Courtesy of IMDb
Jack Skellington (Danny Elfman), Halloweentown’s pumpkin king, stumbles onto Christmastown and becomes enchanted with the holiday spirit. Bored and tired of his annual routine of scaring people in the ‘real world,’ he decides to take over Christmas and give it a ‘Halloweentown spin.’ By kidnapping Santa Claus and filling in for him, Jack spreads the Halloween spirit on Christmas, gifting sick and twisted Christmas gifts to children.
For respondent Char Jones, a holiday movie “…takes place during the holidays and makes the holiday a motif throughout the film.” Jake Skellington literally becomes Santa Claus, so we think it’s safe to assume this movie passes the test.
Our respondents gave this movie a total of 30 points.
Where to watch The Nightmare Before Christmas:
Die Hard (1988)
Courtesy of IMDb
John McClane (Bruce Willis), an NYPD detective, makes an effort to spend the holidays with his wife and kids in Los Angeles to try and reconnect with them. On Christmas Eve, he joins his wife, Holly (Bonnie Bedelia), at a holiday party held by the company she works for. However, the building is taken hostage by terrorists, and it’s up to McClane to save his family and everyone else.
However, there’s some controversy when it comes to considering Die Hard a Christmas movie.
As far as respondent Savannah Hoover is concerned, all a movie needs to be considered a ‘holiday movie’ is to take place during Christmas. “Yes, Die Hard is a Christmas movie […] just because it takes place during Christmas,” she said.
However, other respondents like Andrew Miller do not agree with Hoover. “I don’t tolerate [people] who say Die Hard is a Christmas movie,” Miller said. “There’s no reason it should be! Christmas is not the focal point. The holidays have so much potential to work with already. Hostage situations don’t relate.”
In any case, respondents gave Die Hard a total of 35 points granting it 7th place on our list, and thus, making it a holiday movie.
A Christmas Story (1983)
Courtesy of IMDb
Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley) is trying desperately to make it until Christmas day, but there’s a few things getting in his way. He has to avoid Scut Farkus (Zack Ward), a bully who’s out to get him, while also trying to convince everyone – Santa Claus included – that the Red Ryder Range 200 Shot BB gun is the perfect gift for Christmas. As the adults around him constantly say, “You’ll shoot your eye out.”
As respondent Maggie Holman says, “If a movie makes me want to put on fuzzy socks, drink hot chocolate, and wistfully stare out the window as snow falls — it’s a holiday movie.” I think A Christmas Story makes the cut.
This movie scored a total of 36 points.
Where to watch A Christmas Story:
The Polar Express (2004)
Courtesy of Warner Bros
After becoming increasingly more skeptical of Christmas, a young boy is surprised by a train waiting for him outside his house. The destination? The North Pole. In this wild ride, the boy learns about friendship, courage, and the holiday spirit.
Fun fact: Tom Hanks voices seven of the characters in this movie. Can you spot them all?
Survey respondent Konner Sommers said that a holiday movie must have “…personal conflict that is solved by ‘the spirit of Christmas.’” This movie is the right choice for that.
The Polar Express tallied 44 points from our respondents.
Where to watch The Polar Express:
White Christmas (1954)
Courtesy of The New York Times
General Waverly (Dean Jagger) is a WWII veteran who runs a small inn in rural Vermont. After singers Bob Wallace (Bing Crosby) and Phil Davis (Danny Kaye) join forces with Betty (Rosemary Clooney) and Judy Haynes (Vera-Ellen) to perform in Vermont’s countryside, the boys reunite with Waverly (their commander during the war). Seeing that Waverly and his inn are in financial trouble, the four performers put on a grandiose spectacle to try and save Waverly’s inn.
Braydyn Lents, one of our respondents, said that a holiday movie is, “One that has a great presence of life, love, and joy. [As well as] one or two references to love and helping others.” White Christmas is the epitome of that.
Respondents gave this movie 51 points.
Where to watch White Christmas:
Elf (2003)
Courtesy of IMDb
Opening the top 3, Elf portrays the life of Buddy (Will Farrell), an oversized elf who was raised in the North Pole. With the unshakable feeling that he’s not like other elves, Buddy travels to New York City to find his real father. Once he finds out that serious businessman Walter Hobbs (James Caan) is his father, Buddy tries to create a relationship with him, which yields chaotic results.
For respondent Mackie Dullen, holiday movies have to have “… this theme of unrequited love/reconnecting to love during an important holiday such as Christmas.” How about trying to rebuild a platonic relationship with a parent?
Elf received 56 points from our respondents.
The Grinch (2000)
Courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter
Annoyed with the Christmas spirit and celebrations in the nearby town of Whoville, the Grinch (Jim Carrey), decides to take action. He leaves his mountain-top home with his dog, Max, to ruin the holidays for the citizens of Whoville. However, little Cindy Lou Who (Taylor Momsen) gets in his way and shows him the true meaning of Christmas.
Respondent Claire Tips says that a good holiday movie “… has to have a theme of togetherness/family and holiday spirit.” Not to worry, Cindy Lou is here for that.
The Grinch racked up 104 points from our respondents.
Where to watch The Grinch:
Home Alone (1990)
Courtesy of IMDb
The MacCallisters have a trip to Paris scheduled for Christmas Eve. However, the night before the flight, 8-year-old Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) acts out and is ordered to sleep in the attic by his mother (Catherine O’Hara). At night, Kevin wishes his family away. In the morning, he wakes up to an empty house. As it turns out, his parents left for Paris and forgot him at home. Alone at home, Kevin’s excitement is short-lived because two burglars are trying to break into his house. Now, it’s up to Kevin to protect his house while his parents are away.
For respondent Zebadiah Demorest, a good holiday movie must have some magic to it. Demorest said, “This doesn’t need to be actual magic, just some element that separates it slightly from reality,” he said. “I love the Home Alone movies […] because they have equal parts magic and reality.”
As the top movie on our list, respondents gave Home Alone 164 points.
Where to watch Home Alone:
