So what if Christmas movies can be a bit sappy? They warm our hearts, restore our faith in humanity and generally bring joy to the world. We've unwrapped the top 25 big-screen Christmas flicks of all time (sorry 'Charlie Brown' lovers, no TV specials here), all the way down to No. 1. Behold the 25 best Christmas movies ever.
25. 'The Polar Express' (2004)Sure, the performance-capture technology may have rendered the children a touch frightening to look at (at least it improved dramatically with 'Beowulf'), but there's still plenty of joy to be had in this fast-moving adaptation of the beloved children's book starring an ensemble of Tom Hankses.
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24. 'We're No Angels' (1955)This Christmas caper reteaming Humphrey Bogart with his 'Casablanca' director was the icon's rare comedy, and Bogie, Peter Ustinov and Aldo Ray had a ball playing escaped convicts with hearts of gold (are there any other kind?). But the 1989 remake, starring Robert De Niro and Sean Penn, was just criminal.
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23. 'The Muppet Christmas Carol' (1992)Michael Caine is miserly Ebenezer Scrooge and Kermit the Frog is kindly Bob Cratchit in the most sensational, inspirational, celebrational take on the Dickens tale ever to star 99 percent Muppets.
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22. 'Joyeux Noel' (2006)This moving Oscar-nominated drama tells the true story of German, French and Scottish troops in WWI who called a ceasefire for Christmas Eve. If they can find peace on earth for this most special of nights, surely you can grin and bear the in-laws.
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21. 'Gremlins' (1984)If you think this flick about vicious green monsters tearing up a small town during the holidays isn't very Christmasy, thank your lucky stars they nixed plans for scenes in which Gremlins behead Billy's mom, eat his dog and chow down on McDonald's patrons (but strangely not the burgers). Merry Christmas!
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Reader Comments (46)
tonytease at 8:12AM on Nov 24th 2009
best film for me is lenny henry in bernard and the genie fun for all the family
mare at 12:37PM on Nov 27th 2009
Finally something good and fun to read online..
this lifts the mood greatly..so thanks! ~ to whomever put this one together, for all of us.
Donna at 5:31PM on Dec 5th 2009
well, said!
Johan at 1:01PM on Nov 27th 2009
What about "an american christmas carol"? I'm not sure what year it came out but it stared Henry Winkler.
Nick Petrozziello at 4:11PM on Dec 5th 2009
This is one of my favorite movies . Henry is fantastic playing the American version of Scrooge. Every time I see this movie I cry at the end when he see's his grave..
Dan at 1:56PM on Dec 6th 2009
Who makes these lists anyway? What about "The Lemondrop Kid" with the song Silver Bells or "Babes In Toyland". The Dead or Gremlins, are you kidding me? Not exactly what I think of when thinking of Christmas.
corkthatyap at 1:02PM on Dec 6th 2009
Thanks for commenting without reading! Good show. Babes in Toyland is on the list. The dead is a classic and beautiful Christmas story. But you have little chance of reading that if you couldn't even make it through this list of 25 items. As for Gremlins I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY and Die Hard while you may enjoy it IS NOT a Christmas Movie.
Deby at 5:39PM on Nov 27th 2009
So glad Die Hard made it --I love to watch this every Christmas.
Ty at 12:52AM on Nov 30th 2009
Loved your article!
One of my NEW favorite Christmas movies, “The Gift Wrapper”, I saw in a film festival this year.
It's only 8 minutes long and it was just posted on youtube for only the holiday season and thought you all might like to check it out before they put it back in the vault till next year.
Happy Holidays!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZWdjrTmSCs
Ty at 12:30PM on Dec 10th 2009
I've had some questions about the wonderful lead actress, Wendy Allyn, in "The Gift Wrapper".
I found information about her here:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0021686/
Happy Holidays!
Ty at 12:36PM on Dec 10th 2009
I've had some questions about the wonderful lead actress, Wendy
Allyn, in "The Gift Wrapper".
I found information about her here:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0021686/
Happy Holidays!
May T Reed at 2:18PM on Dec 5th 2009
You have GOT to be kidding me! I agree with the top 3, although I would have put It's A Wonderful Life as #1, Miracle on 34th St as #2, and A Christmas Story at #3. Where was Jingle All The Way with Arnold S, and Christmas With The Kranks with Tim Allen.... and the next 2 Santa Clause movies.... some of the ones picked were terrible...Bad Santa! That one was scary and Die Hard.... geez.....just because it took place on Christmas Eve! Please revise this list for next year, this was terrible... Home Alone 3 was good, too! A lot better than some you mentioned!
carol at 2:38PM on Dec 5th 2009
WHERE IS THE GRINCH?!?!
Jessica at 8:20PM on Dec 5th 2009
I completely agree. I can't believe the Grinch was left off of the list.
Tc at 4:12PM on Dec 5th 2009
All I can say is bah=humbug to this list. Elf your kidding me!!
JJ at 2:56PM on Dec 5th 2009
Christmas Comes To Willow Creek and A Christmas Story are my 2 all times favorite.
JABA at 3:10PM on Dec 5th 2009
ALL of these movies SUCK!
Phyllis Kunz at 3:14PM on Dec 5th 2009
On Thanksgiving night I saw Museum with
Ben Stiller and Robin Willism and thought
it was a terrific Holiday movie and it was
personal for me because the Indian woman
Sacajawea was featured in it. Anyway,
I once referred to an Indian blogger affectionately as Sacajawea and was taken
to task for name calling, that it was
unacceptable and my future emails would b
more closely monitored which astonished me.
Maybe you have to be racist to get it. WELL,
I LOVED THE MOVIE and felt vindicated.
Phyllis Kunz
fu
Phyllis Kunz at 3:40PM on Dec 5th 2009
Let's keep it friendly, pal
Phyllis Kunz
mimi9393 at 7:44AM on Dec 6th 2009
Don't forget "Prancer!"