Top 30 Christmas Films of All Time
Nothing says Christmas quite like a roaring fire, some warm clothes and a great Christmas film. There have been many over the years, some good, some Four Christmases. There is an intangible quality to the schmaltzy, overly cheesy stories and heart-warming, or vomit-inducing sweetness of a Christmas film. More than any other genre of film, Christmas films don’t necessarily have to be better quality to occupy a higher place in their hearts, so with that in mind, here’s the list. Merry Christmas, to one and all.
30. Millions (2004)
By 2004, Danny Boyle was a director with a hit-and-miss record. From the adrenaline-filled Trainspotting at the highest end, to the confusing mess of The Beach at the other. Following on from 28 Days Later… he released a film that is almost the antithesis of his edgy, grimy post-zombie apocalypse horror. Millions is his take on a sentimental, sweet children’s Christmas film. Read the full review here…
29. Jingle All the Way (1996)
If you remove this heavy-handed sub-metaphor then Jingle All the Way is actually good fun. Scharzenegger is on fine form and his neurotic performance shows that when his unique charisma is used properly, he can be a thoroughly entertaining comic performer. The various ‘action’ scenes stop the over-sentimental scenes from making Jingle All the Way truly awful and there will be plenty in there that parents recognise from their own experiences around the busy Christmas shopping period. Read the full review…
28. Black Christmas (1974)
Superman‘s Margot Kidder in a film that plays with the conventions of Christmas: carols, giving and human compassion and flips them on their heads. Similar in style and tone to Halloween and Friday the 13th, Black Christmas is a chilling vision of the worst Christmas imaginable and a classic urban myth twist. not one for the kids.
27. Nativity (2009)
Paul Maddens (Martin Freeman) is a “frustrated, under-achieving primary school teacher” who once had ambitions of being successful as an actor, producer or director. Every year St. Bernadette’s school, where he teaches, competes with a local private school (Oakmoor) to see who can produce the best nativity play. Maddens hates Christmas because his ex-girlfriend Jennifer Lore (Ashley Jensen), who attended drama school with him, left him on Christmas before he could propose to her.
26. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
Carrey’s role as The Grinch is perfect, his unique sense of humour that’s evident in nearly every character he takes on, whether its comedic or not, gives the film that twist it needed. It goes from being an average Christmas film to a hilarious and quirky production. With his over dramatic facial expressions and energy that goes into performing, it is hard not to enjoy. Read the full review here…
25. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
Fans of the original expected the sequel to not live up to the first’s quality and originality. This proved correct. Home Alone 2, still being vaguely funny, was not in the same league. The storyline had been recycled and based in New York City instead of Chicago; with the idea of using the same bandits and stunts to fend them off. It just doesn’t work as well because of the plausibility factor. Read the full review here…
24. The Santa Clause (2007)
Tim Allen stars as a man who signs a contract to become Santa and finds his body changing shape to accommodate his decision. Light and fluffy entertaniment, with a Christmas heart of gold. Probably wasn’t good enough to warrant two sequels. But in Hollywood, as ever, money talks.
23. Rise of the Guardians (2012)
Perfectly positioned before the Christmas period and after the staggering success of The Avengers, Rise of the Guardians, based on a series of books called The Guardians of Childhood, unites a series of mythical creatures into an an Avengers-like team of children’s defenders. Created by Dreamworks Animation it follows on from box office successes like Kung Fu Panda 2 and How to Train Your Dragon and is directed by Peter Ramsey. Read the full review here…
22. Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
The drama is convoluted and the reasoning somewhat insane, but in reality, if a trial about the truth of Santa Claus really did take place, who wouldn’t get whipped up in support of the kindly man ‘ho ho hoing’ his way into a courtroom? It is Miracle on 34th Street‘s greatest strength, that it makes you believe. Not necessarily in Santa Claus, but in the strength of human compassion and caring and not many films can pull this off without becoming too overwhelming. Read the full review here…
21. Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)
A film that is still on every TV Christmas schedule seventy years later is a film that has its heart in the right place. Having said that, if you don’t like films which are described as ‘having its heart in the right place’ and frequently burst into music-hall song, then this probably isn’t the movie for you. Read the full review here…
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