1. It's a Wonderful Life
This is the Granddaddy of all Christmas movies. Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed, an angel named Clarence and the age-old question. “What would have happened if you’d never been born?”
Growing up, this movie was on TV all the time in December. Then NBC bought the rights and decided it should only air once. Talk about being a Scrooge! Everybody say it with me. “Every time a bell rings…”
2. Love, Actually (2003)
The movie stars just about every famous British actor working today, including Kiera Knightly in one of her first roles. Sadly the fabulous Alan Rickman passed away a few years ago. The weaving together of about a dozen different stories playing out in the weeks before Christmas is sheer perfection.
It's hard to pick just one storyline that's my favorite, but it's probably thriller writer Jaimie (Colin Firth) as he falls in love with a Portuguese maid, without being able to fully communicate.
3. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964).
The stop motion animation is pretty rudimentary, but the tale of the little reindeer with the glowing red nose is one I have to stop and watch every time.
6. Elf (2003)
Will Ferrell as a man who thinks he’s an elf. Could there be a better premise? Talk about the perfect actor for a role. Buddy is an orphan who was raised by elves so he thinks he is one. And when he learns the truth, he sets out for New York City to find his father (played by the fabulously gruff James Caan). Buddy’s wide-eyed innocence could have been cloying, but Ferrell’s sincerity (something he rarely ever plays in movies) carries the day. There are so many hilarious moments: His reaction to the “store Santa” and subsequent destruction of the “North Pole”. His love of revolving doors. His habit of dumping sugar (or syrup) on everything he eats. The epic snowball fight with a couple of bullies. Note: Don’t ever get into a snowball fight with an elf. Plus, you gotta love Ed Asner as a rather cranky Santa, not to mention the bumbling Bob Newhart as Buddy’s adoptive elf father.7.
7. While You Were Sleeping (1995)
This movie made Sandra Bullock a movie star and established her as the go-to actress for romantic comedies. It may also be one of my favorite movies of hers. There is such sweetness to her character. She’s just heartbreaking and lovable and so relatable. A lonely token collector is in love with a guy (Peter Gallagher) she’s only seen getting on the train. When she rescues him from the tracks, she gets mistaken for his fiancé. And while he’s…well…sleeping...she falls in love with his brother (Bill Pullman) and his family.
Do you have a favorite Christmas movie? Please share your pick!
Kristin Wallace is the USA Today Best Selling Author of inspirational and sweet contemporary romance filled with “Love, Laughter and a Leap of Faith”. She is the author of three best-selling series, Covington Falls Chronicles, Shellwater Key Tales, and Palm Cove Tales.
2. Love, Actually (2003)
The movie stars just about every famous British actor working today, including Kiera Knightly in one of her first roles. Sadly the fabulous Alan Rickman passed away a few years ago. The weaving together of about a dozen different stories playing out in the weeks before Christmas is sheer perfection.
It's hard to pick just one storyline that's my favorite, but it's probably thriller writer Jaimie (Colin Firth) as he falls in love with a Portuguese maid, without being able to fully communicate.
3. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964).
The stop motion animation is pretty rudimentary, but the tale of the little reindeer with the glowing red nose is one I have to stop and watch every time.
4. Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
This story begins on Christmas so for me it counts. Plus, I love it. It’s got Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan and how can you not love them? Sam (Hanks) is a widower living in Seattle who ends up on a radio talk show after his son calls in and says his dad needs a new wife. Eventually, Sam starts talking about how much he misses his wife. Meanwhile, Annie (Ryan) is listening to the show in Baltimore on the other side of the country and falling in love. I honestly can’t listen to Sam’s radio confession without tearing up so it’s no wonder thousands of women start sending letters offering to be Sam’s new wife. The movie borrows heavily from the classic film An Affair to Remember as Sam and Annie (with the help of Sam’s son) arrange to meet at the top of the Empire State Building on Valentine’s Day. And the ending is perfection…
5. A Christmas Story (1983)
This story begins on Christmas so for me it counts. Plus, I love it. It’s got Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan and how can you not love them? Sam (Hanks) is a widower living in Seattle who ends up on a radio talk show after his son calls in and says his dad needs a new wife. Eventually, Sam starts talking about how much he misses his wife. Meanwhile, Annie (Ryan) is listening to the show in Baltimore on the other side of the country and falling in love. I honestly can’t listen to Sam’s radio confession without tearing up so it’s no wonder thousands of women start sending letters offering to be Sam’s new wife. The movie borrows heavily from the classic film An Affair to Remember as Sam and Annie (with the help of Sam’s son) arrange to meet at the top of the Empire State Building on Valentine’s Day. And the ending is perfection…5. A Christmas Story (1983)
There is not one moment of this movie that isn’t absolute perfection and LOL funny. The deadpan perfection of narrator Jean Shepherd (the story is based on his work); the little brother in the snowsuit; the neighborhood bully; the
6. Elf (2003)
Will Ferrell as a man who thinks he’s an elf. Could there be a better premise? Talk about the perfect actor for a role. Buddy is an orphan who was raised by elves so he thinks he is one. And when he learns the truth, he sets out for New York City to find his father (played by the fabulously gruff James Caan). Buddy’s wide-eyed innocence could have been cloying, but Ferrell’s sincerity (something he rarely ever plays in movies) carries the day. There are so many hilarious moments: His reaction to the “store Santa” and subsequent destruction of the “North Pole”. His love of revolving doors. His habit of dumping sugar (or syrup) on everything he eats. The epic snowball fight with a couple of bullies. Note: Don’t ever get into a snowball fight with an elf. Plus, you gotta love Ed Asner as a rather cranky Santa, not to mention the bumbling Bob Newhart as Buddy’s adoptive elf father.7.
7. While You Were Sleeping (1995)This movie made Sandra Bullock a movie star and established her as the go-to actress for romantic comedies. It may also be one of my favorite movies of hers. There is such sweetness to her character. She’s just heartbreaking and lovable and so relatable. A lonely token collector is in love with a guy (Peter Gallagher) she’s only seen getting on the train. When she rescues him from the tracks, she gets mistaken for his fiancé. And while he’s…well…sleeping...she falls in love with his brother (Bill Pullman) and his family.
Do you have a favorite Christmas movie? Please share your pick!
Kristin Wallace is the USA Today Best Selling Author of inspirational and sweet contemporary romance filled with “Love, Laughter and a Leap of Faith”. She is the author of three best-selling series, Covington Falls Chronicles, Shellwater Key Tales, and Palm Cove Tales.
Pick up her latest release, a "Christmas in Shellwater Key" box set, now available through Kindle Unlimited.
Christmas in Shellwater Key…
- A woman who thought life & love had passed her by…
- A single mom-to-be without a room at the inn…
- A heartbroken widow who learns she can find a second chance at love…
5 comments:
I love Miracle on 34th Street - the older version, although I own both versions. And I do love Sleepless and While you Were Sleeping too. Actually the whole list is great!
Great blog post! I've seen all the movies on your list, and some of them two or three times. Thanks for posting. Happy Holidays!
What a list, Kristin! I'm not a big movie person any more but I do remember going to the movies as a kid (maybe into my 20's?). "White Christmas" comes to mind with Bing Crosby singing the classic. As for television, I still watch "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and "Frosty the Snowman" along with "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer" even though I no longer have kids in the house.
Great list, including a few of my favourites. I have yet to see Elf but maybe I can rectify that this year.
I do love It's a Wonderful Life. My #1 Christmas movie of all time. I also enjoy the animated Rudolf from 1964. Though I haven't seen it in quite some time. The rest you listed, some I like but wouldn't go out of my way to watch. Others I don't really think of as Christmas movies.
As Judith said, once the kids are gone it is a different feeling and some of the things I would have watched with them I just don't get around to watching anymore. But It's a Wonderful Life, you betcha. Hubby and I will watch that one together every year.
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