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.
Rent the DVD | Buy the DVD
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.
Rent the DVD | Buy the DVD
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.
Buy the DVD
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.
Rent the DVD | Buy the DVD
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!
Rent the DVD | Buy the DVD
Reader Comments (4)
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.
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.
Dan at 4:22PM on Nov 27th 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.