A Christmas Story is widely considered one of the best Christmas movies of all time, but is it really that good? It's a question I would've thought ridiculous to even bring up, but someone recently did just that after watching the classic for the first time. The question was brought to the masses, and I was surprised by what the most popular answer was.

As I'm reminded that A Christmas Story Christmas, the sequel that's available with an HBO Max subscription, is on my watch list for this year, someone on Reddit recently watched the original for the first time and wanted to know why it had such a stranglehold on pop culture. The top response was simple, and makes more sense the longer I think about it:

TBS has been doing its "24 Hours of A Christmas Story" marathon since 1997, and I know throughout my life, it's been on television at various houses I've visited almost every day. That is, at least until NFL football was on, though in the days where streamers like Netflix is carrying it now, I've struggled to get my grandma a smart TV for the occasion.

As such, A Christmas Story is on for a bulk of the holiday in many households in the United States, mainly because it's always been there, and no one is really paying that close of attention to the television anyway. Of course, I'm talking about the modern day, whereas another commenter talked about how things were during the pre-streaming days:

It's also worth noting that having seen A Christmas Story so many times over the years may desensitize us to how bizarre a movie it is. I wrote a list a few years back about some of the weirder elements of the movie, and there are more than a few moments that, if you really zero in on it, are just flat-out weird.

I think it's also valid to echo what someone else said later in the thread about how it's a 40-year-old movie romanticizing Christmas traditions that are 70+ years old at this point. The movie is dated in a lot of ways, especially considering my daughter who is roughly Ralphie's age does not understand the concept of listening to a radio show and using a decoder ring.

All this being said, it's a movie that multiple generations of people grew up with, and whether it's the leg lamp, the bunny pajamas or the dogs destroying the turkey, there are plenty of people who still love it. The only movie that I think people would equally support airing 24/7 is the Home Alone movies or National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Will it happen? I guess we'd have to see how people react if TBS ever announced it won't be showing the movie nonstop on Christmas.

A Christmas Story is planned to air on TBS all day on Christmas Eve, as well as Christmas Day. Meanwhile, in other Christmas television news, HGTV fans are upset about Elf airing on the network, and Hallmark and Disney are collaborating for a Christmas movie. In short, you may have a lot more to watch besides the same film for a couple of days straight.

Movie stars are usually the biggest draw to movies for fans. They are usually who get the most credit for the popularity of a movie (as well as the blame when a movie bombs). On rare occasions, there are objects or props in movies that become just as iconic as anything else in a film. These are necessarily the best MacGuffins, sometimes they are just famous props or pieces of wardrobe. Let's get into it!

All The Dude wanted was his rug back. That simple rug, micturated upon by Woo, drives all the action in the movie, and while the audience doesn't see much of the rug that The Dude (Jeff Bridges) is trying to replace, we do see the one that he (briefly) gets from the millionaire Lebowski in the Big Lebowski.

The DeLorean Time Machine

Admit it, you wanted a DeLorean time machine. We ALL wanted one. Heck, most of us would settle for a regular DeLorean. Ever since we all went back in time with Marty and Doc in Back To The Future, we've longed for the same ability, in the same machine. Now those cars are as lost to time as Biff's Sports Almanac.

Wilson

When the only star who appears in most of a movie only has one friend and that friend is a volleyball, it's bound to be a famous prop. Wilson the Volleyball is the only companion Chuck (Tom Hanks) has in Cast Away, and just like Chuck, the audience gets pretty attached to that silly ball with a face made of Chuck's blood.

The Briefcase In Pulp Fiction

Another cool MacGuffin on this list is the briefcase from Pulp Fiction. We never actually see what's inside, just that it is glowing gold. Maybe that's why the prop has become so famous. If we knew it was just like a stolen Oscar statuette or something, we'd feel differently.

The Red And Blue Pills

While the Blue Pill and the Red Pill in The Matrix have since taken political connotations in recent years, they were famous way before that. One will wake Neo (Keanu Reeves) up, and one will put him back to sleep. Honestly, I don't care which is which, and any political connections are weird, so let's leave it at that.

One Ring To Rule Them All

Not only is The One Ring one of the most famous props in movie history, it's one of the most famous in literature these days. The Lord of the Rings trilogy is a masterpiece, and without this one ring to rule them all, it wouldn't exist.

Indy's Whip

You might say Indiana Jones' hat is the most famous prop in the Indiana Jones movies, but the whip that Harrison Ford's character is just as iconic and let's be honest, a little more interesting than a hat. So the whip gets the nod here.

The Giant Piano In Big

Any kid lucky enough to visit the FAO Schwartz in New York after Big was released, their first mission was to find the giant piano you could walk on and even play. It's one of the most iconic scenes in any movie from the era, and while I learned firsthand it was impossible for me to recreate the scene, I still dream about getting a big enough piano to make it work.

Thor's Hammer

There are a lot of famous props in the MCU, like ranking the MCU movies, we could almost do a list of props all its own. Things like the Infinity Gauntlet, or the stones that go into it, are iconic, but is there anything as iconic in the whole franchise as Thor's hammer? Heck, it's one of the famous objects in world mythology, much less Marvel's corner of it.

The Leg Lamp

After the dad in A Christmas Story wins a fragile, major award, it turns out to be a lamp in the shape of a woman's leg. He's so proud of it that he wants to display it in the window, much to the chagrin of his wife. It doesn't make it to the end of the movie, and there is another prop, the Red Ryder BB Gun, that is equally famous, but we just had to go with the leg. After all, it must be Italian.

Dorothy's Ruby Slippers

Of all the famous props and wardrobe pieces on this list, none, not a one, are as famous or as iconic as Dorothy's Ruby Slippers in The Wizard of Oz. It's a prop that is so famous that they are in the Smithsonian along with Fonzie's jacket and Archie Bunker's chair.

The Heart Of The Ocean

Sure, the boat in Titanic is probably the most famous non-character in the movie, but that would be a little on the nose. Instead, we went with the necklace that the crew led by Bill Paxton's character is searching for, The Heart of the Ocean. It ends up down with the boat, though.

The Batmobile

Pick your favorite Batmobile. Any Batmobile works here. You could go with the great one from the '60s TV show (my favorite), or the one from Tim Burton's Batman, and get even more tech with one of Christopher Nolan's versions. You can't go wrong.

Maverick's Jacket

Maverick (Tom Cruise) has one of the most iconic pieces of wardrobe ever. That bomber jacket, covered in patches, is legendary. It's such an important part of the character that when Top Gun: Maverick dropped its first teaser, it was simply a close-up of the jacket and Maverick putting it on.

Freddie's Glove

There are a lot of famous props in horror movies, many of them masks. Freddie's glove in the Nightmare on Elm Street is among the most famous, maybe the most famous. It's a terrifying weapon that has given fans nightmares for decades.

Lightsabers

Okay, so how much do we really need to say here? Of all the props in all the world, is there one more famous than the lightsabers in the Star Wars franchise? No matter what color, there is no weapon in any other franchise that has nearly the same cache as the elegant weapon of the Jedi knights.

Wonka's Golden Ticket

Without the Golden Ticket in Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, none of the kids (or their parents) would get the tour of Willie's wild factory. They wouldn't have gotten in any trouble, either.

The Red Swingline Stapler

Stephen Root's character, Milton, in Office Space is one of the weirdest characters in any comedy of the era. Not only is his mumbling disturbing, but his love for his red stapler is downright scary.... and hilarious. It became so famous that Swingline made a special red version of their stapler based on the prop.

Proton Packs

According to Ray (Dan Aykroyd), each Ghostbuster is "carrying an unlicensed nuclear accelerator on his back." Those proton packs have since become a key part of every kid who dressed like our heroes in Ghostbusters for Halloween for decades. Hopefully, the ones the kids wear are a little safer.

The Maltese Falcon

This is a prop so famous, they named the movie after it! Or maybe the prop is named after the movie? I don't know. It could be either way, I suppose. It's one of the most famous MacGuffins ever, the statue in The Maltese Falcon.

Vote For Pedro Tee Shirt

Long after the hype for Napoleon Dynamite faded, we were still seeing people with "Vote For Pedro" shirts walking the streets. The shirts were so popular, it almost eclipsed the movie. Now, they still might be more popular.

The 2001 Obelisk

Obelisks are so cool that people are still randomly building them in the desert (look up Las Vegas Obelisk). That all stems from the Stanley Kubrick classic 2001: A Space Odyssey. Even people who have never seen the legendary film know the scene(s) with the obelisk.

Ghostface's Mask

There are a few very famous masks in horror history, so of course, a movie like Scream, which is essentially a love letter to the classic '70s and '80s slasher films, would end up with one of the most famous. The masks, like the franchise, have been incredibly enduring and probably will be for the next 100 years.

The Sorting Hat

In the world of Harry Potter, there are a few famous props, like the flying car and the various wands. Still, every fan of the franchise secretly has dreams about being sorted by the Sorting Hat into their favorite house at Hogwarts.

Mary Poppins' Umbrella

Every kid dreams of a flying nanny like Mary Poppins, if not having Poppins herself as their nanny. The umbrella has become one of the most recognizable props in the movie over the years. The scene where we first see Julie Andrews as Mary gently guiding herself down is one of the most famous scenes in Hollywood history.

Rita Hayworth Poster

CinemaBlend has called The Shawshank Redemption the best movie of the '90s. The Stephen King story on which it is based is called, Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption. That's how important the poster is that Andy (Tim Robbins) hides his escape tunnel. The moment when the warden tears it down is one of the most fun moments in any movie, ever.

The New Bluesmobile

The Bluesmobile in The Blues Brothers is not, actually, the original Bluesmobile, according to Jake (John Belushi). The original was a Cadillac, not the former Police Car that Elwood (Dan Aykroyd) shows up in to pick Jake up from prison. Elwood explains that he had to trade it for a microphone, which Jake understands. No matter what, the car is one of the most famous cars of the 1980s.

Reese's Pieces

Oh, what a mistake Mars Candy made when they reportedly didn't want Steven Spielberg to use M&M's in E.T. That opened up an opportunity for the folks over at Reese's Pieces, who did license their product, and now they are one of the most famous food items in any movie, ever.

Jason's Hockey Mask

Of all the famous masks in slasher films from the '70s and '80s, there is none more iconic than Jason's mask in the Friday the 13th franchise. We're not going to get into who was actually wearing it in the original movie, because it doesn't matter. It's the mask that matters.

The Burn Book

Ahhhh, the "Burn Book" in Mean Girls. It's the ultimate downfall of the titular click in the classic comedy written by and starring Tina Fey. It's filled with all the evidence anyone would ever need to take those terrible people down, and eventually, they are dramatically brought down.

The Box In Seven

"What's in the box?" is one of the most disturbing questions ever uttered in any movie, ever. Brad Pitt's performance in the moment is some of the best acting work of his career. We certainly don't want to go into detail with the answer to that question, but if you know, you know.

The Red Balloon In IT

Some people are scared of clowns. Some people are scared of balloons. IT finds a way to freak both groups out and in the process creates one of the most iconic props of all time. No words are needed to scare people, either. Like so many props on this list, one quick glance is all it takes to know exactly what movie it comes from.

As a dog lover, I typically prefer movies in which the dog does not die, and I especially love it when dogs save the day in movies and TV shows. However, for every lovable pop culture pet, some have forced me to question the inherent innocence of domesticated animals. The following is a look back on some bad pets from movies and TV shows, which range from simply unruly to just downright evil.

Lucifer (Cinderella)

Even the kindhearted and optimistic title hero of Disney's classic animated movie, 1950's Cinderella, struggled to name a single positive quality about the aptly named Lucifer. This cat was as nasty as his owner, Cinderella's wicked stepmother, Lady Tremaine.

Ben (Willard)

The lonely title character of 1971's Willard (played by Bruce Davison) is one of cinema's more sympathetic horror movie villains, but I would not say the same about the leader of his pack of killer rats, Ben. The rodent, who led his own self-titled 1972 sequel, is at first loyal to Willard, killing anyone he asks, until he begins to feel that his fellow rats have grown confused over who their true king is.

Mr. Tinkles (Cats & Dogs)

Cats & Dogs is a send-up of spy movies set in a world in which the rivalry between canines and felines is a more serious matter. The main antagonist is a fluffy, white Persian cat named Mr. Tinkles (voiced by Sean Hayes), whose master plan for world domination involves releasing a chemical that will make the human race allergic to all dogs. Good kitties don't try to take over the world.

Fluffy (Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone)

In the first Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, the titular young wizard (played by Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint), and Hermione (Emma Watson) fearfully come face-to-face with a giant, three-headed, dog-like creature named Fluffy. Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane) claims that his Cerberus means well, but it also takes its job of guarding the Sorcerer's Stone very seriously.

Mrs. Whiskerson (Friends)

In a classic episode of Friends from Season 5, Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) spends $1000 on Mrs. Whiskerson, a hairless feline that Joey (Matt LeBlanc) repeatedly insists is “NOT A CAT!” When her new pet proves not to be as sweet as she hoped, leaving her covered in scratches, and creeps her out with hisses that sound like her name, Rachel tries to give her up, and the only one who agrees to take her is Gunther (James Michael Tyler), who assumes the animal is a snake.

The Lions (Roar)

One of cinema's most infamously disastrous movie productions is that of Roar, which is set on an African wildlife preserve where big cats run amok... on and offscreen. As the trailer for the 1981 thriller starring Melanie Griffith reveals, the live animal attacks did not just stop at the script, as a whopping 70 cast and crew members were injured on set.

Sylvester (Looney Tunes)

Rivalry is a recurring theme in Warner Bros' iconic Looney Tunes cartoons, and one of the most iconic quarrels is between Sylvester and Tweety. The ruthless Tuxedo cat is constantly trying to come up with ways to eat that meek bird.

The Sled Dog (The Thing)

There are all kinds of reasons why John Carpenter's 1982 sci-fi thriller, The Thing, is considered one of the best horror movies of all time, including the astonishing performance by a canine actor named Jed. The film's heroes, a research crew stationed in the Arctic, take in a stray sled dog, inexplicably under attack by two Norwegians, unaware that it is really a shapeshifting alien in disguise.

Mike Tyson’s Tiger (The Hangover)

In the hilarious instant comedy classic, 2009's The Hangover, Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms), and Alan (Zach Galifianakis), wake up with no memory of their friend Doug's (Justin Bartha) disastrous Vegas bachelor party and find a few interesting items in their hotel room, including a tiger that they learn belongs to Mike Tyson. The big cat would have to be sedated in order for the Wolf Pack to safely transport him to the boxing legend's home.

Cujo (Cujo)

Despite the deadly circumstances that he is responsible for, I almost feel bad about including the titular dog from Lewis Teague's 1983 adaptation of Stephen King's Cujo. Mechanic Joe Camber's St. Bernard is a perfectly friendly pet until he suffers a bat bite and becomes stricken with rabies, leading him to murder his owner and force Donna (Dee Wallace) and Tad Trenton (Danny Pintauro) to barricade themselves in their car on Camber's property for days.

Ella (Monkey Shines)

In director George A. Romero's Monkey Shines, quadriplegic Allan (Jason Beghe) is given a furry assistant named Ella. The capuchin grows so fond of her human that she is willing to kill anyone he does not like or anyone who seems closer to him than she. Her grave tendencies even seem to awaken something sinister in Allan as well.

Bolton Ramsay's Dogs (Game Of Thrones)

Not all of the most fearsome foes in Westeros are human. For example, the vicious hounds belonging to Bolton Ramsay (Iwan Rheon) are responsible for many of the most gruesome deaths on Game of Thrones, including that of their despicable owner himself.

The Bumpus Hounds (A Christmas Story)

One thing standing in the way of Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley) and his family enjoying an ideal holiday celebration is the pack of innumerable, unruly dogs owned by their neighbors, the Bumpuses. Considering how the 1983 holiday movie favorite, A Christmas Story, is told largely from a juvenile point of view, I imagine there would not be nearly as many hounds as what appear on screen in real, but I have no doubt that at least two or three of them would be capable of ruining the family's delicious turkey dinner.

Farfel (Seinfeld)

In the Season 3 Seinfeld episode, "The Dog," Gavin Polone (Joseph Maher), a man seated next to Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld) on an airplane, falls ill and asks the comedian to look after his pet, Farfel. The pooch remains unseen throughout, but the episode makes it abundantly clear how horribly misbehaved he is, turning self-described animal lover Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) into the same person who agrees to kidnap and abandon her neighbor's irritating dog years later.

Mrs. Bickerman’s Crocodiles (Lake Placid)

The fun 1999 creature feature Lake Placid stars Bridget Fonda, Bill Pullman, and Oliver Platt as a trio tasked with keeping their community safe from an abnormally large crocodile. It is eventually revealed that Betty White's character, Mrs. Bickerman, has been obliging in the creature's appetites, as well as those of its offspring, in the years since it ate her husband.

The White Dog (White Dog)

In White Dog, which originally premiered in 1982 before receiving a home video release in the United States in 2008, a woman (Kristy McNichol) finds and decides to adopt a white German Shepherd. Soon after, she makes the horrifying discovery that the canine has been trained by its former owner, a white supremacist, to violently attack people of color without provocation.

Church (Pet Sematary)

In the 1989 adaptation of Stephen King's Pet Sematary, the Creeds' family cat, Winston "Church" Churchill, was a friendly pet until the day he was fatally run over by a car. By his neighbor's advice, Louis Creed (Dale Midkiff) buries the cat in a Native American burial ground, and the next day, he returns, but without his soul, making him into a putrid, murderous menace.

The Hellhounds (The Omen)

In 1976's The Omen, most animals that come in contact with Damien Thorne act out in fear of the child, except for a few black dogs who are the literal pets of Satan himself, who sends them to Earth to protect his spawn.

New Brian (Family Guy)

In the Season 7 Family Guy episode "The Man with Two Brians," the Griffins fear that Brian (Seth MacFarlane) may be getting too old and decide to adopt a second talking dog whom they name New Brian. Despite making the family's original pet feel outcast, the new dog seems to be a wonderful addition, until Stewie (MacFarlane) learns of his unspeakably dark true nature.

The Hunter Dogs (Bambi)

"Man" may be the main antagonist of Disney's 1942 adaptation of Bambi, but they also come with furry accomplices. One of the animated classic's most terrifying sequences sees the titular deer chased through the forest by hounds belonging to nearby forest hunters.

Ramon (Alligator)

We first meet the eponymous scaly beast from 1980's Alligator as a baby, who is named Ramon by the little girl who adopts him soon before her cruel father secretly flushes him down the toilet. He spends the next 12 years in the sewers, where, thanks to experimental growth hormones, the reptile emerges at a monstrous size and wreaks havoc on Chicago.

Zoltan (Dracula's Dog)

The world has been introduced to Dracula's bride, Dracula's daughter, and even Blacula, but what about his pet? That would be Zoltan, a vampiric Doberman Pinscher as seen in 1978's Dracula's Dog.

The Pitbull (Green Room)

In Jeremy Saulnier's terrifying 2016 thriller, Green Room, the members of The Ain't Rights find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time and must barricade themselves in the back of a bar against skinheads and their pitbull, who is trained to kill on command.

Baroness Von Hellman's Dalmatians (Cruella)

After seeing 2021's Cruella, I suppose I can understand why the title character (played by Emma Stone) goes on to have no value for the life of a Dalmatian after seeing three of them, belonging to Baroness Von Hellman (Emma Thompson), push her mother off a cliff. I mean, it does not excuse her wretched plan to make a coat out of their spotted fur in 101 Dalmatians, but it clarifies her perspective a bit.

The Black Cat (Tales From The Darkside: The Movie)

In a wild segment from the horror anthology film, Tales from the Darkside: The Movie, not even skilled contract killer Halston (David Johansen) is a match for a fearsome black feline, whose owner, Drogan (William Hickey), is convinced is responsible for several deaths that have occurred in his home.

Scud (Toy Story)

In Pixar's 1995 favorite Toy Story, the lost Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz (Tim Allen) not only have to survive Sid, but also his bull terrier, Scud, who destroys children's playthings on a regular basis. You could argue he is just acting in his nature to chew on whatever toy is thrown at him, but in the sequel, we meet Buster, who treats Andy's toys with love and respect.

Blanche (Hausu)

In the classic Japanese horror movie, 1977's House (or Hausu), a group of teenage girls must contend with many terrifying obstacles in a haunted house, including a seemingly innocent kitty named Blanche. She eventually shows her true colors when she begins shooting lasers out of her eyes and transforms herself into a blood-puking wall painting.

The Black Mamba (Venom)

Not to be confused with a Tom Hardy-led Marvel movie or a 2005 slasher of the same name, director Piers Haggard's 1981 creature feature based on Alan Scholefield's novel Venom stars Klaus Kinski as a criminal whose plans to kidnap the grandson of wealthy hotel chain owner go awry when he and his girlfriend (played by Susan George) encoounter the child's pet, a vicious Black Mamba snake.

Roger (When Evil Lurks)

Responsible for the most brutal scene in 2023's Spanish-language thriller, When Evil Lurks, and one of the most brutal horror movie deaths in recent memory, is Roger, who fatally mauls his owners' young daughter, Vicky. However, it should be noted that the family pooch is also a victim of a viral epidemic of demonic possession, so it was never really him committing the traumatic act.

Tiberius (Drake & Josh)

In a funny bottle episode of Drake & Josh, the stepbrothers are asked to look after Mrs. Hayfer's Rottweiler, Tiberius, while she is away, but end up spending an entire night barricading themselves in her bathroom out of fear of his vicious attack.

Prince (The People Under The Stairs)

In Wes Craven's underrated 1991 flick, The People Under the Stairs, Brandon Quinton Adams' Fool finds himself trapped inside his landlords' house of horrors, which is guarded by their menacing Rottweiler, Prince.

Lucky (Devil Dog: The Hound Of Hell)

In the 1978 made-for-TV movie, Devil Dog: The Hound Of Hell, a family adopts a German Shepherd they name Lucky, unaware his previous owners were Satanists who unwillingly involved him in a ritual that did a real number on his behavior.

Some might argue that a scene from a film or TV series that turns out to have existed all in a character’s head is a cop out. Maybe that’s true in some respects, but when done right and without misleading intentions, dream sequences can be used as a great opportunity to let artists run wild with their imaginations, resulting in some of a title’s most memorable moments. Here are some of the most wonderfully surreal scenes from the big and small screen that may have had you questioning if you had entered dreamland.

Dawn Haunts Renton (Trainspotting)

Director Danny Boyle's 1996 adaptation of Irvine Welsh's novel Trainspotting follows a group of Scottish addicts trying to get clean, none of whom has a harder time with it than Mark Renton (Ewan McGregor). One signature scene sees him locked in his childhood bedroom by his parents and forced to wean off his habit cold turkey, during which he suffers an intense fever dream featuring hallucinations of his parents on a game show, his various friends, and the spirit of a deceased infant he once knew climbing on his ceiling.

Bruce Wayne's Alternate Life (Batman: The Animated Series)

One of the best episodes of Batman: The Animated Series, let alone one of the strangest, is "Perchance to Dream." As part of a scheme by Mad Hatter, Bruce Wayne finds himself living in a fantasy in which his parents were never murdered, he is engaged to Selina Kyle, and someone other than him is protecting the streets of Gotham as Batman.

Sarah's Apocalyptic Nightmare (Terminator 2: Judgment Day)

One thing that makes the classic sci-fi movie Terminator 2: Judgment Day one of the all-time greatest sequels is the way it depicts Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) and her growth as a character following the traumatic events of the first film, especially through one wild fantasy sequence. In the dream, she witnesses her happier past self and other bystanders at a park where they suffer a nuclear blast that ends up burning off her skin, leaving her remaining skeleton clinging to a chain-link fence.

All Of Season 9 (Dallas)

Dallas delivered one of the craziest retcons in TV history when it was revealed that the death of Bobby Ewing (Patrick Duffy) and the entire ninth season of the hit primetime soap opera all happened in the head of his wife, Pamela (Victoria Principal). The retcon was prompted after Duffy, who had previously left the show, agreed to return for Season 10, which opens with Pamela waking up to find Bobby in the shower.

Happy's Happy Place (Happy Gilmore)

The classic golf movie, 1996's Happy Gilmore, stars Adam Sandler in the title role of a guy with a talent for tee time, but the rage of a hockey player, which his trainer, Chubbs (Carl Weathers), tries to help him control by envisioning his own "happy place." He imagines his girlfriend, Virginia (Julie Bowen), carrying drink pitchers, his grandmother (Frances Bay) finding the money she needs from a slot machine, and a little cowboy riding an old-fashioned bicycle, for some reason. However, a later attempt to escape into this fantasy world is interrupted by the invasion of his nemesis, Shooter McGavin (Christopher McDonald).

The Solomons Suffer From Bizarre Dreams (3rd Rock From The Sun)

The two-part Season 2 finale of 3rd Rock from the Sun tried something unique by airing in 3D, but saving that format for some incredibly insane sequences. The surreal, avant garde scenes are dreams that Dick (John Lithgow) and the rest of his extra-terrestrial comrades are experiencing, but for the first time since taking human form, which leads them to assume they are ill.

Old Blue Saves The Day (A Christmas Story)

The classic holiday movie, 1983's A Christmas Story, follows young Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) and his devotion to making sure he finds an official Red Ryder, carbine action, two-hundred shot range model air rifle under the tree. He seems to believe that it will make his life better, based on a daydream in which he, dressed as a hero named Old Blue, uses the BB shooter to rescue his family from criminals.

The Opening Scene (8 1/2)

Federico Fellini's signature 1963 film opens with a bizarre dream in which the main character gets trapped in his smoke-filled car in full-stop, literal bumper-to-bumper traffic. After he finally escapes, it cuts to him flying through the clouds until he is pulled down by his ankle by a person on a beach, and descends into the water just as he awakens.

Gutterballs (The Big Lebowski)

There are two great dream sequences from Joel and Ethan Coen's hilarious, classic '90s movie, 1998's The Big Lebowski, the first of which sees The Dude (Jeff Bridges) flying over L.A. trying to reach his stolen rug after receiving a crack on the jaw. However, the more memorable scene sees him, after being sedated by Jackie Treehorn, imagining he is the star of a Busby Berkeley-inspired adult film about bowling.

The Entire Series (Newhart)

One of the most iconic, oft-parodied, and simply best TV series finales is that of Newhart, in which the actor and comedian wakes up in bed as Bob Hartley, his role from his first hit sitcom, The Bob Newhart Show. His co-star from said 1970s hit, Suzanne Pleshette, wakes up next to him as Hartley's wife, Emily, and he explains to her that his entire life as Vermont innkeeper Dick Loudon was a dream.

Rosemary Drifts On A Mattress (Rosemary's Baby)

Some of the best horror movies include a dream sequence that sneaks up on you with its more nightmarish qualities, such as in 1968's Rosemary's Baby. The first half of Rosemary's (Mia Farrow) dream is somewhat peaceful, showing her lying on a mattress floating on a bed of water, but in the second half of the dream, she is attacked by a demon. To make matters worse, that occurrence might not be part of the dream at all.

Buffy's Slaying Is A Delusion? (Buffy The Vampire Slayer)

Sarah Michelle Gellar's title hero from Buffy the Vampire Slayer has likely wished that her life could be free of encounters with bloodsuckers, demons, and all kinds of things that go bump in the night, but she probably never wanted to experience it the way she does in Season 6's "Normal Again." Buffy becomes exposed to a demonic, hallucinogenic venom that causes her to become trapped in a fantasy in which she is a mental patient, and her life of fighting paranormal activity has been all in her head.

Nazi Werewolves (An American Werewolf In London)

Writer and director John Landis' An American Werewolf in London boasts one of the most incredible moments of body horror in cinematic history, but one could argue a crazier moment in the classic werewolf movie happens earlier. While recovering from his animal attack, David (David Naughton) dreams he is back in the States with his family when a group of gun-toting, lycanthropic SS soldiers invade.

Tony Becomes A Salesman (The Sopranos)

Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) experienced multiple, eye-opening dream sequences throughout HBO's run of The Sopranos, including one that took place during most of an entire episode. In Season 6's "Join the Club," a comatose Tony dreams of an alternate life away from the DiMeo Family in which he is an ordinary salesman named Kevin Finnerty.

The Clown Hospital (Pee-wee's Big Adventure)

A movie scene that scared many '80s kids occurs in Pee-wee's Big Adventure when the titular man-child (played by Paul Reubens) has a nightmare about his missing bike. The prized, two-wheel vehicle is picked up in scraps by a group of horrifying harlequins who use unconventional and concerning methods to put it back together again.

Adam's Repeated Death Row Sentence (The Twilight Zone)

All of the best episodes of The Twilight Zone feel like a dream (or a nightmare), but Season 2's "Shadow Play" actually takes place entirely in one. Dennis Weaver stars as a convicted criminal trying to convince the other characters that his condemnation is merely part of a recurring nightmare.

Sue Visits Carrie's Grave (Carrie)

Director Brian de Palma's 1976 adaptation of Stephen King's Carrie ends with one of the most iconic and influential jump scares, which actually inspired the ending of 1980's Friday the 13th. A grieving Sue Snell (Amy Irving) dreams that she is visiting the resting place of her titular telekinetic classmate (Sissy Spacek) where her bloodied arm emerges from the ground and grasps onto her. Sue does not wake up from the nightmare, but is unable to stop screaming in her sleep.

Cooper's First Visit To The Red Room (Twin Peaks)

Most of David Lynch's movies and TV projects feel like long dream sequences, but when depicting Special Agent Dale Cooper's (Kyle MacLachlan) nightmare about the Red Room in an early episode of Twin Peaks, the master of surrealism really goes for it, resulting in a dream sequence more authentic than most. The inexplicably aged-up Coop meets a dancing little person who tells him, in backwards speak, "That gum you like is going to come back in style." He then meets a blonde woman resembling Laura Palmer (played by Sheryl Lee) and asks if she is the murdered teen, to which she responds, also in backwards speak, "I feel like I know her, but sometimes my arms bend back."

Lloyd And Mary's Romance (Dumb And Dumber)

In the 1994 Jim Carrey movie favorite, Dumb and Dumber, while traveling to Aspen, Lloyd Christmas (Carrey) fantasizes that his crush, Mary Swanson (Lauren Holly), will fall for him immediately after he returns her missing briefcase. The daydream continues to show highlights of their imaginary relationship, from a party where Lloyd entertains guests with uproarious tricks (like lighting his flatus on fire), to a romantic dinner where he engages in a cinematic-style kung fu fight.

Elliott '90s Sitcom Fantasy (Mr. Robot)

A top-rated Season 2 of Mr. Robot called "eps2.4_m4ster-s1ave.aes" is depicted predominantly in the style of '90s sitcom and even features a cameo by ALF. However, it is later revealed that this laugh-track-filled fantasy is Elliott's (Rami Malek) dream, and that he has been asleep in a hospital after being violently beaten by Ray Heyworth's (Craig Robinson) goons.

Beauty School Dropout (Grease)

In the 1978 movie musical Grease, Frenchie (Didi Conn) is encouraged to put her cosmetology career on hold and go back to high school by an unexpected person, Frankie Avalon, with a dreamy number called "Beauty School Dropout.'

Kevin Becomes An Assassin (The Leftovers)

In Season 2 of The Leftovers, Kevin (Justin Theroux) is told by Virgil (Steven Williams) that the only way to cure his persistent visions of cult leader Patti Levin (Ann Dowd) is to take his own life. This sends him into a bewildering reality in which he is a contract killer assigned to kill Patti, who is a presidential candidate.

Ronnie Births A Maggot (The Fly)

At one point in the tragic romantic thriller that is David Cronenberg's 1986 remake of The Fly, Ronnie (Geena Davis) discovers she is pregnant with the child of Dr. Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum), who has been transforming into a half-man, half-insect at this time. Her fear of what could be growing inside of her is personified in a nightmare in which, instead of a human baby, she gives birth to a giant larva.

Jeff Lives A G.I. Joe Fantasy (Community)

The best episodes of Community experiment with different genres, such as the time the series put the cast in the world of the '80s-era beloved animated series, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero. The action-packed, cartoon setting of "G.I. Jeff" is revealed to be a fantasy Jeff Winger (Joel McHale) has created to cope with turning 40.

Henry Loses His Head (Eraserhead)

In Eraserhead, Henry (Jack Nantz) has a nightmare in which his head falls off his neck, where a new head resembling his mutant child pops out to replace it. Of course, this dream sequence is no more bizarre than anything else that happens in David Lynch's perplexing 1977 debut feature.

Rob Suspects There Is An Alien Invasion (The Dick Van Dyke Show)

In a classic episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show called “It May Look Like a Walnut,” Rob Petrie (Van Dyke) watches an alien invasion movie involving extraterrestrial walnuts and otherworldly visitors without thumbs. The next day, his life begins to resemble the film's plot, until he wakes up that night to discover it was all a dream.

Wayne Meets Jim Morrison (Wayne's World 2)

The plot of the hit 1993 SNL movie Wayne's World 2, in which Wayne Campbell (Mike Myers) and Garth Algar (Dana Carvey) put on their own concert, is set in motion when Wayne dreams he is in a desert where he meets the spirit of The Doors frontman, Jim Morrison (Michael Nickles).

Frasier Is Visited By Sigmund Freud (Frasier)

In the Season 4 Frasier episode "The Impossible Dream," the eponymous therapist and radio host (played by Kelsey Grammer) has a suggestive dream about his effeminate colleague, Gil Chesterson (Edward Hibbert). He eventually determines the dream is no more than a task his subconscious gave himself to satisfy his currently unchallenging career, but the episode ends with an even more confusing nighttime encounter with his idol, Sigmund Freud, who joins him in his bed and implies a request for intimacy.

Ray Gets Cooked (The 'Burbs)

In 1989's The 'Burbs, family man Ray (Tom Hanks) initially refuses to believe that his neighbors could actually be the murderous cult that other locals suspect they are. However, he does reach a breaking point when he dreams that they tear through his house with a chainsaw and sacrifice him on a giant barbecue pit.

Cliff's Muppet-Filled Nightmare (The Cosby Show)

One of the weirdest episodes of The Cosby Show involves Cliff Huxtable (Bill Cosby) dreaming that the Muppets have taken over his life.

Alex Gives Birth To His Doppelganger (Junior)

Arnold Schwarzenegger playing a man who becomes pregnant is a pretty intriguing concept on its own. However, things get especially bizarre in 1994's Junior when the actor's character dreams that he has given birth to the spitting image of himself.

D.J.'s SAT Disaster (Full House)

In a Season 6 episode of Full House, D.J. Tanner's (Candace Cameron Bure) stress over the upcoming SATs culminates in a nightmare in which Wheel of Fortune's Vanna White appears to inform her that she has failed the test and will go to Clown University.

One of the coolest Easter Eggs you can find in a movie based on a book is a cameo by the person who wrote the source material. However, sometimes it is even more fun when a renowned author makes an appearance in a movie that they had no creative involvement with. Take a look at our favorite examples of both kinds.

S.E. Hinton (The Outsiders)

S.E. Hinton (born Susan Eloise) made a striking debut as a writer in 1967, and at only 18 years old, with her groundbreaking coming-of-age novel, The Outsiders. She went on to appear in the 1987 adaptation (one of the best Francis Ford Coppola movies) as a nurse.

Cheryl Strayed (Wild)

Podcaster Cheryl Strayed chronicled her life-changing woodland hike in 1995 in her 2012 memoir, Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, which was adapted into a movie starring Reese Witherspoon two years later. Not only does the author appear at the beginning of the film as wa oman who drops the onscreen Strayed off at a motel but her real-life daughter, Bobbi Strayed Lindstrom, also plays her younger self.

Lee Child (Jack Reacher)

In the first screen adaptation of Lee Child's Jack Reacher novels from 2012, the author plays a cop who gives the titular heroic drifter (played by Tom Cruise) a skeptical look. The English writer would later appear in 2016's Jack Reacher: Never Look Back as a TSA agent and was seen in Amazon Prime's Reacher Season 1 finale walking past Alan Ritchson as he walks into a diner.

Hunter S. Thompson (Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas)

Johnny Depp starred in two adaptations of Hunter S. Thompson's memoirs: 1998's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and The Rum Diary from 2011. While his death in 2005 prevented him from appearing in the latter, the influential gonzo journalist does have a brief cameo in the former as an expressionless patron at a rowdy party.

Kathryn Stockett (The Help)

Kathryn Stockett's 2009 debut novel The Help is a bestseller that was made into an Academy Award-winning film told from the perspective of Black maids working for middle-class white families in 1960s Mississippi. In addition to cast members Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, and Emma Stone, the author herself would make a brief appearance as a housewife attending a meeting.

Ken Kesey (Even Cowgirls Get The Blues)

Tom Robbins had a pivotal role in Gus Van Sant's Uma Thurman-led adaptation of his novel, Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, as its narrator. The most surprising appearance by a writer in the 1993 road dramedy was countercultural novelist and essayist Ken Kesey as the central character's father.

Greg Behrendt (He’s Just Not That Into You)

Comedian Greg Behrendt was working as a script doctor for HBO's Sex and the City when he came up with the idea for He's Just Not That Into You, which he co-authored with Liz Tuccillo. The bestselling self-help book was adapted into a dramatized ensemble rom-com in which Behrendt appears as the minister at a wedding.

Amy Tan (The Joy Luck Club)

Amy Tan's influential 1989 novel, The Joy Luck Club, consists of various vignettes each from the perspective of a different woman in a Chinese family. The author can be spotted during the party scene at the beginning of the 1993 adaptation, which is also one of Ming-Na Wen's best movies.

Mar­shall McLuhan (Annie Hall)

In one memorable scene from Best Picture Oscar winner Annie Hall, Alvy Singer (Woody Allen) has an argument with a movie theater patron about his expertise in the work of media theorist Marshall McLuhan. To get him to pipe down, Alvy asks the real McLuhan to step in and bring the stranger down a size, at which point Alvy address the camera and says, "Boy, if life were only like this."

John Le Carre (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy)

Some of the best spy movies (and TV shows) in recent memory have been inspired by the work of John Le Carre, such as his 1974 novel, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. The suspense master makes a brief appearance in the 2011 film adaptation as a party guest.

Stephen King (Pet Semetary)

There have been numerous memorable Stephen King appearances in movies and TV shows based on his storied bibliography. One of the most famous comes from the 1989 adaptation of Pet Sematary, in which he goes pretty far against type to play a priest presiding over the funeral for Missy Dandridge (Susan Blommaert).

Irvine Welsh (Trainspotting)

In one of the best movies of the 1990s, director Danny Boyle's 1996 dramedy Trainspotting, Renton (Ewan McGregor) seeks "one more hit" before going clean from a dealer named Mikey Forrester, who has nothing to offer him but a couple of suppositories. The grinning Forrester is actually played by Irvine Welsh, the Scottish author who wrote the original novel.

Sapphire (Precious: Based On The Novel "Push" By Sapphire)

To avoid confusion with another 2009 movie called Push, the adaptation of Sapphire's 1996 novel Push was named after its central character but also acknowledges the source material with the full title, Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire. The author (née Ramona Lofton) can also be spotted in the heavy, Academy Award-winning drama about an abused teen (played by Gabourey Sidibe) playing a daycare center employee near the end of the film.

Kurt Vonnegut (Back To School)

Some of Rodney Dangerfield's best one-liners can be found in his 1986 comedy Back to School, which is also known for its brief but hilarious cameo by Kurt Vonnegut. The satirical novelist shows up to see the wealthy Thornton Melon (Dangerfield) right after his son, Jason (Keith Gordon), confronts him about how he is going to write a midterm paper about the author, which Melon still ends up failing.

Gore Vidal (Gattaca)

In addition to his influential and thought-provoking exploits as a writer, Gore Vidal also worked as an actor from time to time. One of his most memorable roles comes from one of the best '90s sci-fi movies, 1997's Gattaca, in which he plays Director Josef.

Stephenie Meyer (Twilight)

It could be safe to assume that Stephanie Meyer is portraying herself in the 2008 premiere installment of the Twilight movies, in which she can be seen briefly as a writer sitting at the bar in the Carver Cafe typing away at her laptop. The author would also appear in the vampire movies' penultimate entry, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 as a guest at the wedding of Bella (Kristen Stewart) and Edward (Robert Pattinson).

Salman Rushdie (Bridget Jones’s Diary)

In the classic rom-com, 2001's Bridget Jones's Diary, the title character (Renée Zellweger) is at a book launch party where she spots novelist Salman Rushdie speaking with a group of other authors. She tries to subtly implement herself into the conversation when the writer courteously asks for her opinion, to which she awkwardly asks where the restroom is.

Charles Bukowski (Barfly)

Director Barbet Schroeder's 1987 dramedy Barfly follows the L.A. exploits of a heavy drinker named Henry Chinaski, played by Mickey Rourke. The screenplay was written by Charles Bukowski, who based the story on his own life experiences and the author also makes an appearance in the film as, indeed, a barfly.

Colleen Hoover (It Ends With Us)

One of the most talked about 2024 movies adapted from a novel was the romantic drama It Ends With Us, starring Blake Lively. The source material comes from author Colleen Hoover who revealed in an interview with E! that she makes a brief cameo in the film as a party guest but was sure to add that she found the 12-hour shoot to be quite taxing.

Stan Lee (Mallrats)

Highly influential, beloved comic book writer Stan Lee was, just about, the king of cameos, having appeared in countless Marvel movies until his passing in 2018. However, before starring in brief roles in films based on his work, he appeared as himself in a movie that celebrates superhero culture through satirical conversation, Kevin Smith's 1995 comedy Mallrats, in which he offers Brodie (Jason Lee) some much-needed romantic advice.

Maya Angelou (Poetic Justice)

How fitting that a movie called Poetic Justice features a cameo appearance by one of the most influential poets of the 20th Century. Maya Angelou – known for writing "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," among many other famous works – plays Aunt June in director John Singleton's 1993 romantic drama starring Janet Jackson and Tupac Shakur.

Jean Shepherd (A Christmas Story)

One of the all-time greatest Christmas movies, 1983's A Christmas Story, was inspired by Jean Shepherd's semi-autobiographical novel In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash. Not only did the humorist and radio personality also narrate director Bob Clark's timeless comedy but he even makes a brief cameo during the scene at the mall as a man waiting in line with his child to see Santa Claus.

John Irving (The World According To Garp)

Starring Robin Williams, 1982's The World According to Garp is a dramedy about a writer grappling with his wife's infidelity and the fame of his feminist activist mother. The Academy Award-nominated film is based on the novel by John Irving, who also makes a cameo in the film as a referee for a scene taking place at a wrestling match.

Peter Benchley (Jaws)

One can only imagine what it must have felt like to be the author of the book that inspired the highest-grossing movie in history (at the time), which was also later deemed the first Hollywood blockbuster. Of course, not only did Peter Benchley write the source material for director Steven Spielberg's 1975 horror movie classic, Jaws, but he is also in it, appearing as a TV field reporter visiting the Amity Island beach early on.

Veronica Roth (Divergent)

Veronica Roth, author of the coming-of-age dystopian young adult novel series that inspired the Divergent movies, makes an appearance in the first installment from 2014 that is a bit cooler than most movie cameos that authors can claim. She can be spotted during the zipline scene as an unnamed member of the Dauntless faction.

Michael Crichton (The Andromeda Strain)

The first adaptation of a Michael Crichton novel would also mark the first and last time he appeared in an onscreen acting role. The Jurassic Park author and ER creator has an uncredited cameo in 1971's sci-fi pandemic drama The Andromeda Strain as "Bearded Surgeon."

Emily Giffin (Something Borrowed)

The 2011 rom-com Something Borrowed is inspired by the 2004 novel of the same name by Emily Giffin, who appears as a woman eavesdropping on a conversation between Rachel (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Marcus (Steve Howey) on park benches. In a TikTok video, the author revealed that the book her character is reading is the 2005 sequel to Something Borrowed, Something Blue, and that her cameo had to be shortened in a post because she addressed the camera in every take.

James Dickey (Deliverance)

The best-known work of author James Dickey is Deliverance, which was adapted into an acclaimed film two years later. The author would appear at the end of the harrowing thriller about four men terrorized by savage locals on a canoe trip as Sherriff Bullard, who warns Jon Voight's character to leave and never come back.

Fannie Flagg (Fried Green Tomatoes)

Fannie Flagg received an Academy Award nomination for co-writing the screenplay for the 1991 adaptation of her 1987 novel Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, which was shortened to just Fried Green Tomatoes. The author, comedian, and frequent Match Game panelist also appears in the acclaimed dramedy as a self-help guru helping women "get that spark back" into their marriages.

William Peter Blatty (The Exorcist)

One of the most iconic examples of a horror movie based on a true story is 1973's The Exorcist, which used William Peter Blatty's novel inspired by an alleged possession as its basis. The author (who later directed 1990's underrated sequel, The Exorcist III) also briefly appears in the classic thriller as a man speaking Burke Dennings (Jack MacGowran) on the set of Chris MacNeil's (Ellen Burstyn) movie.

Truman Capote (Murder By Death)

The 1976 comedic whodunnit Murder By Death boasts one of the best ensemble casts in a movie, which even includes Truman Capote. The author of such iconic works as In Cold Blood and Breakfast at Tiffany's plays eccentric aristocrat Lionel Twain, who gathers a group of detectives and their guests for a party at his luxurious estate, which goes terribly.

Graham Greene (Day For Night)

In the 1973 French romantic dramedy Day for Night, writer Graham Greene makes a brief appearance as an insurance agent. According to a DVD special feature, director and star, François Truffaut was not told until after the fact that the role was played by the author, which disappointed him because he was a great admirer of his work.

Last-minute Christmas gifts may not always seem like the best way to prove one’s love for someone else, but that really just depends on how refined one’s last-minute shopping skills are. From streaming deals to VPN subs to Disney Plus gift cards galore, there’s always something quality to opt for in a pinch, and we’ve got a slew of Blu-ray and DVD deals listed below that should help fill any still-empty stockings hanging around the tree.

Granted, it’s possible not everything noted here will actually fit inside everyone’s stocking, but I think that’s probably just a sign that you need an upgrade. So while waiting for the 2025 TV premieres and for all the big movies hitting theaters in 2025, check out some of the biggest Blu-ray and DVD deals that would make perfect last-minute gifts for comedy connoisseurs, action addicts, and horror hounds.

First up, let's put a spotlight (that may or may not be bat-themed) on movie and TV deals perfect for people who want to see things get punched and blown up, starting with the second biggest movie of 2024, Deadpool & Wolverine.

Blu-Ray And DVD Deals For Action Fans

• Deadpool/Deadpool 2 [4K UHD]: $40.99 (Was $65.99)
• Police Story/Police Story 2 - The Criterion Collection [Blu-ray]: $24.99 (Was $49.95)
• Jurassic World Ultimate 6-Movie Collection [Blu-ray + DVD + Digital]: $29.99 (Was $46.19)
• The Bourne Complete Collection [Blu-ray + Digital]: $17.99 (Was $39.99)
• Dragon Ball Super: The Complete Series [Limited Edition Steelbook Blu-ray Gift Set]: $120.99 (Was $199.98)
• Top Gun + TG: Maverick [2-Movie 4K Ultra HD]: $22.49 (Was $33.99)
• Fast & Furious 10-Movie Collection [4K Ultra HD + Digital]: $63.99 (Was 134.99)
• Batman Complete Series [Blu-ray]: $49.99 (Was $89.99)
• The Dark Knight Trilogy [Blu-ray]: $43.90 (Was $53.99)
• The James Bond Collection [Blu-ray]: $69.96 (Was $114.99)
• Lord Of The Rings / The Hobbit [Middle-Earth Theatrical Collection Blu-ray]: $24.99 (Was $62.99)

For those who need a lot of laughs going into the new year, the following batch of discounted comedy favorites are just waiting to sit snugly inside somebody's stocking, especially those that are perfectly suited for the holiday season. First up is the highest-def holiday chaos yet from Chevy Chase's Clark Griswold.

Blu-Ray And DVD Deals For Comedy Fans

• A Charlie Brown Christmas [Blu-ray]: $8.99 (Was $19.98) On Amazon
• A Christmas Story [4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray]: $19.99 (Was $33.99)
• Home Alone + Home Alone 2 [Blu-ray] $17.49 (Was $25.99)
• The Muppets Take Manhattan [4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital]: $19.59 (Was $40.99)
• Austin Powers Triple Feature [Blu-ray]: $13.70 (Was $19.98) On Amazon
• Miss Congeniality & Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous - [Blu-ray]: $16.04 (Was $24.98)
• Brooklyn Nine-Nine: The Complete Series [DVD]: $29.99 Was $59.98
• How to Train Your Dragon: 3-Movie Collection [Blu-ray + Digital]: $10.99 (Was $29.98)
• The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air: The Complete Series [DVD]: $29.99 (Was $69.99)
• Billy Madison + Happy Gilmore [Double Feature Blu-ray]: $10.99 (Was $19.98)
• Family Matters: The Complete Series [DVD]: $39.89 (Was $114.99)

For those who enjoy chills up the spine alongside the chills in the air, walk a cautious path through the following movies and TV show Blu-ray discounts that are dying to give you and yours a blood-red Christmas. With both Robert Eggers' Nosferatu and Leigh Whannell's The Wolf Man among many upcoming horror movies, let's celebrate the original monster masters.

Blu-Ray And DVD Deals For Horror And Sci-Fi Fans

• Krampus: The Naughty Cut Collector's Edition [4K UHD]: $25.99 (Was $39.98)
• Insidious Steelbook [4K UHD]: $23.99 (Was $45.99)
• Dune: 2-Film Collection [Blu-Ray + Digital]: $21.99 (Was $44.98)
• Hammer Horror 8-Film Collection [Blu-ray]: $16.99 (Was $35.98)
• The Visit [Blu-ray]: $29.99 (Was $39.95)
• Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon [Blu-ray]: $24.53 (Was $34.93)
• Hellraiser [Midnight Madness Series Blu-ray]: $10.79 (Was $17.97)
• Babylon 5: The Complete Series [Blu-ray]: $69.99 (Was $134.99)
• The Last of Us: The Complete First Season [Blu-ray]: $15.99 (Was $23.99)
• Scream 6 [Blu-ray + Digital]: $13.99 (Was $17.99)
• Don’t Look Now: The Criterion Collection [Blu-ray]: $21.53 (Was $39.95)
• Severance: The Complete First Season [Blu-ray]: $26.79 (Was $42.98)

Hopefully some of the choices above take the pressure off of making some decisions going into Christmas — and if you need to decide on a streaming bundle, we went through that as well. Have a merry, and money-saving holiday!

The term "MacGuffin" was coined by Angus MacPhail, an English screenwriter who often worked with Alfred Hitchcock. Hitchcock himself is often associated with the term, as he used the term often and, indeed, employed MacGuffins often in his movies. The term refers to an object (usually) that is central to the motivation of the characters in a film and is used to move the plot along.

There is debate amongst film fans as to whether a MacGuffin can be a person, or if it has to be something that is otherwise pointless to the plot, but for this list's sake, we're not making any kind of distinction. It can be a person or a character. It can be crucial to the plot, or irrelevant. It is just something that carries the plot forward.

Pee-Wee's Bicycle In Pee-Wee's Big Adventure

One of the classic '80s MacGuffins is, of course, Pee-Wee Herman's bicycle in Pee-Wee's Big Adventure. After it is stolen, Pee-Wee embarks on a cross-country trip to the Alamo's basement to find it. Without the stolen bicycle, there is no movie, so it is, indeed, a true MacGuffin.

The Briefcase In Pulp Fiction

One of the coolest uses of a MacGuffin is by Quentin Tarantino in Pulp Fiction. We never even see what the MacGuffin really is, just the briefcase it's housed in. We know it radiates golden light and leaves everyone who sees it a little speechless, so it must be something either incredibly beautiful, incredibly valuable, or both.

Doug In The Hangover

Sometimes, the MacGuffin is a person. You can argue all you want about whether or not that counts, but we're not listening. The best example we can think of to prove it can be a character is Doug in The Hangover. The movie doesn't happen without the search for Doug, and the groom-to-be isn't really much of a character otherwise, with only a few scenes at the beginning and at the end. Without him though, there isn't even a bachelor party to create the hangovers in the movie.

Big Worm's Money In Friday

In Friday Craig (Ice Cube) gets sucked into Smokey's bad day after Smokey (Chris Tucker) gets himself into trouble with the local neighborhood dealer and must come up with the money he owes him or else. It doesn't motivate Smokey all the much, but hey, it finally does by the end.

The Death Star Plans In Star Wars

There is a lot of debate over what the MacGuffin is in the original Star Wars. Some say it's the plans for the Death Star that R2-D2 is tasked by Princess Leia to deliver, others say it's the droid itself. Let's quit splitting hairs here because they are both kind of the same thing, and they are both critical to the whole adventure.

The Letters Of Transit In Casablanca

In the very beginning of Casablanca, it's explained that everyone in Casablanca during World War II is trying to get out and on to their next place of safety, usually the U.S. via Portugal. That's what makes letters of transit so important, especially when you are wanted by the Germans for being a spy, as Victor Lazlo (Paul Henreid) is. His hunt for them, and Rick (Humphrey Bogart) hiding them is what drives the plot (along with Rick and Elsa's love story).

The Dude's Rug In The Big Lebowski

The Coen Brothers love to use MacGuffins in their movies, and for The Big Lebowski, they created the perfect one - The Dude's rug. It's a completely meaningless object in the grand scheme of things, but without The Dude's ire at the destruction of it and the hunt to replace it (because it really tied the room together), there would be no adventure at all.

The Ring In The Lord Of The Rings

One of the greatest MacGuffins in film and literature is the one ring to rule them all in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. There is no question it's a true MacGuffin, as literally everyone and everything in the franchise is motivated by it.

The Ark In Raiders Of The Lost Ark

All of the Indiana Jones movies have used MacGuffins to send our hero, played by Harrison Ford, on his adventures. In the first of the five movies, it is, of course, the Lost Ark of the Covenant. It's being chased by both Indy and the Germans, and whoever gets it first could change the fate of World War II and, indeed, the whole world.

The Fabergé Egg In Octopussy

A lot of James Bond movies employ MacGuffins to motivate the super spy into action. One of the most fun has to be the Fabergé Egg in Octopussy. Not only is it a really cool-looking MacGuffin, but it's not something you'd ever think a spy like Bond would need to be worried about, yet it also works perfectly within the story.

Rosebud In Citizen Kane

At the very beginning of Citizen Kane, we hear Kane say "Rosebud." For the rest of the movie, we are left wondering what that means. It turns out, as we discover in the final scene that Rosebud was Kane's childhood sled and that his entire motivation in life and through the movie was to find that lost bit of his youth. Without the sled, there is no Charles Foster Kane, tycoon.

The Plans For The Silent Plane In The 39 Steps

Of course, you have to include Hitchcock on this list, as he was the master of the MacGuffin. The most common one people point to comes from one of his earliest movies, The 39 Steps. You can argue over whether it's the secret plans for the plan themselves, or Mr. Memory, who has memorized those plans as the MacGuffin, but either way, the movie's plot relies on those plans to motivate all the characters in the film.

Ruby Slippers In The Wizard Of Oz

Two of the most famous props in history are Dorothy's ruby slippers in The Wizard Of Oz. The twist here is that it's not our hero Dorothy looking for the MacGuffin, it's the Wicked Witch of the West desperately seeking them out and trying to steal them. "Home" motivates Dorothy, while the shoes motivate her enemy.

The Grail In Monty Python And The Holy Grail

The Cup of Christ, or The Holy Grail, is a common MacGuffin in pop culture. Indiana Jones and his father search for it, and so does Robert Langdon in The Da Vinci Code. The most ridiculous (and hilarious) search for the mythical cup has to be Monty Python's quest for The Grail. Like so many others, they come close to grasping the holy relic, only to be thwarted by the police in the end. It's really a silly story.

Private Ryan In Saving Private Ryan

One great example of a person or a character being a solid MacGuffin is Private Ryan (Matt Damon) in Saving Private Ryan. Ryan is really only there to motivate Miller (Tom Hanks) and his chosen team to save him. He's otherwise irrelevant to the story. Sure, we care if Ryan's been a good man since getting saved, but mostly, we care about the other characters in their hunt for him.

The Maltese Falcon In The Maltese Falcon

The Maltese Falcon in The Maltese Falcon is a wonderful example of a MacGuffin being basically just a random object. The object could be anything, it just happens to be the little statue that is motivating everyone in the movie. It's maybe the most basic example of a successful MacGuffin in film history.

The Chimera Virus In Mission: Impossible 2

Every Mission: Impossible movie has a MacGuffin. Some are cooler than others and even though Mission: Impossible 2 is generally ranked as the worst in the franchise, the MacGuffin is kinda the coolest. A virus that could wipe out life on Earth. Now that we've all gone through a traumatizing pandemic, it feels even more motivating.

The Infinity Stones In The MCU

There is no more ubiquitous MacGuffin in movie history than the Infinity Stones in the MCU. They appear in one form or another in more than a dozen movies, culminating with the destruction of Thanos and his minions at the end of Avengers: Endgame when Iron Man (Robert Downey, Jr) sacrifices himself to save the world and prove he has a heart.

Colonel Kurtz In Apocalypse Now

Marlon Brando's wild performance as Colonel Kurtz in Apocalypse Now is part of what makes it such an incredible movie. Without it, it would unquestionably be less of a film. BUT, Willard (Martin Sheen) could have been searching for anything important to motivate him and the boat's crew up the river. It just happened to be a rogue psychopath.

The Necklace in Ocean's 8

Obviously all the best heist movies usually have a pretty motivating MacGuffin. In Ocean's 8 it is a pretty traditional one. It's simply a very valuable necklace around the neck of an actress played by Anne Hathaway. How Ocean's crew goes about stealing it is what makes the movie great, but it's still just a thing at the end of the day that could have been anything else.

The Declaration Of Independence In National Treasure

There is no bigger piece of American history than the actual Declaration Of Independence. As a MacGuffin in National Treasure, it makes for the perfect object worth stealing. For Benjamin (Nicholas Cage), the motivation is pathological, as he'll stop at nothing to acquire it.

The President In Escape From New York

There are arguments that the briefcase handcuffed to the President (Donald Pleasance) is the real MacGuffin in Escape From New York, but let's give those going after it a little credit and hope that they at least partly wanted to save the man himself.

The Heart Of The Ocean Necklace In Titanic

James Cameron needed to find a good reason for us to get invested in the love story in Titanic because, without it, it's just a disaster movie that would have been over too quickly. The way he brings us all into the hunt for the ship and the stories on it before it sinks is the fictional "Heart Of The Ocean" necklace owned by Rose and had been in her possession all that time.

Red Ryder BB Gun In A Christmas Story

Ralphie gets berated by Santa, dismissed by his mother, pens a wonderful composition for his teacher, and eventually shoots his eye out all in his desire to own a "Red Ryder BB gun with a compass in the stock, and this thing which tells time." It's the ultimate MacGuffin.

The Briefcase Full Of Money - No Country For Old Men

There is no bigger motivator in the world than money. For better or for worse, that's how it goes. Even someone like Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) in No Country For Old Men, who seems only slightly motivated by money goes through a terrible ordeal to keep the briefcase full of money he found and everyone else is after.

The Buried Money/The Big W In It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, World

A MacGuffin doesn't get any plainer than cash at the end of an epic race like in It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, World. The price, $350,000 buried under "a big W" in a California state park motivates one of the greatest comedic casts ever assembled to race each other to find the buried money.

Genesis Device In Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan

Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan is often thought of as the best of all the Star Trek movies, and certainly the best that features the cast of the original series. In it, both the crew of the Enterprise and their arch-enemy, Khan, are in desperate search of The Genesis Device.

The Buried Treasure In O Brother Where Art Thou?

Yet another movie where the MacGuffin is buried treasure, but we couldn't leave the Coen Brothers' classic O Brother Where Art Thou? off the list. Though it's based on The Oddessy, where the motivation was to get home, this one is a little simpler. Three idiot prisoners trying to get rich quickly. In the end, it's more about the friends we met along the way.

The Diamonds In Diamonds Are Forever

James Bond often has some interesting MacGuffins and as the years have worn on, they've gotten increasingly complicated. It makes us yearn for the days when it was just a simple bag of diamonds, as it is in the aptly titled Diamonds Are Forever.

Turboman Doll In the Jingle All The Way

Every Christmas there is a hot toy that people occasionally come to blows over, like Frank in Seinfeld, for example. In Jingle All The Way, it's a Turbo Man doll and one father is willing to go to extreme lengths to get one for his son!

The Pink Panther Diamond In The Pink Panther

Peter Sellers' portrayal of Inspector Clouseau in The Pink Panther is one of the all-time great comedic performances. In it, he is searching for the stolen Pink Panther diamond. It's a classic MacGuffin, but worth mentioning because the hunter is such a goof.

Green Destiny Sword In Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Occasionally, a MacGuffin is a supernatural object or even a supernatural weapon like the Green Destiny Sword in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The movie, though highly stylized and more of a visual work of art than a true quest, still has a fairly simple motivating device, just like all the best MacGuffins.

Film fans often flock to see the locations where their favorite movies were made, like the ones on this list. Whether it's a place crucial to the plot of a movie, like the prison in The Shawshank Redemption, or a seemingly minor spot like the burger place in Dazed & Confused, these 32 locations have become iconic for their use on film. 

Hook & Ladder Company 8 - Ghostbusters

The coolest thing about Hook & Ladder Company 8, located on North Moore Street in the Tribeca neighborhood of New York City is that the firehouse, which is still an active station, has incorporated the Ghostbuster's logo into its crest. The building is not run down at all, as seen in the movie, and at almost any time of day, you'll see fans of the movie taking selfies. 

Quick Stop Groceries - Clerks

Kevin Smith famously made Clerks on a minuscule budget. One way he cut costs was to film overnight in his actual place of employment, the Quick Stop Groceries convenience store in Leonardo, NJ. The store is still in business, all these years later and you can be sure they play up the fact that the movie was filmed there. 

King's Cross Station - The Harry Potter Series

King's Cross Station is one of a few train stations in London, and while it's always been a well-known station, its fame leaped to another level with the Harry Potter series. You see, it's there, on platform 9 3/4, that Harry and the rest of the Hogwarts students catch their train to school. Of course, there isn't really a platform 9 3/4, but there is a photo op for fans at the real station now.  

West 167th Street Stairs - Joker

In the Highbridge neighborhood of The Bronx is an unassuming staircase connecting Shakespeare Ave. and Anderson Ave. There are similar stairs in New York City, but none are as famous as the West 167th Street Stairs, where Joaquin Phoenix famously danced as the titular character in Joker. 

Haystack Rock - The Goonies

The Haystack Rock formation off the coast of Cannon Beach in Oregon has been a famous geological spot for decades. For movie fans, it's immediately recognizable from The Goonies as the beach where the kids emerge after finding One-Eyed Willie's pirate ship. It's been used in other movies as well, like Twilight and Point Break. 

Top Notch Burgers - Dazed & Confused

Dazed & Confused does such an incredible job putting the audience right in the middle of the '70s, it's become one of the most beloved cult classics of all time. One major reason it just oozes 1970s teen car culture is the Top Notch Burgers that the characters cruise through. It's a real restaurant in Austin, Texas, where the movie was set and filmed. 

Fox Plaza - Die Hard

2121 Avenue of the Stars, which is most well known by its former name, Fox Plaza, is most famous for being the building where Hans Gruber and his band of merry men commit their robbery in Die Hard. The building, in Los Angeles, was brand new when it was used for the movie in 1988. Eagle-eyed viewers might also recognize it as one of the collapsing buildings at the end of Fight Club. 

South Seas Apartment Complex - The Karate Kid

The South Seas Apartment Complex in The Karate Kid is a pretty typical apartment building in the LA area. It is a real place, with that name, just like in the movie. It's located in Reseda, but it's actually pretty nice, nothing like it looks in the classic '80s movie.

The Philadelphia Museum Of Art - Rocky

There are a lot of really famous sites to see in Philadelphia. Constitution Hall, The Liberty Bell, Pat's and Geno's cheesesteak stands, and, of course, the steps that lead up to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. They were made most famous by Sylvester Stallone in Rocky when the titular character runs up them and celebrates at the top as "Gonna Fly Now" plays triumphantly. 

Georgetown Stairs - The Exorcist

The Exorcist is one of the scariest movies ever made and one of the eeriest things about it are the steep steps just outside the MacNeil household. They are used a few times in the movie, and it's good when they appear. The real stairs are located in the same neighborhood of Washington DC, Georgetown, where the movie is set, at Prospect St and 36th St NW. 

Seaside, FL - The Truman Show

The fictional town where The Truman Show takes place is both fictional for the movie, and fictional in the movie, as it's really just a soundstage where the TV show is filmed, unbeknownst to Truman (Jim Carrey). It was filmed in a real town, however. Seaside, FL looks pretty much exactly as it does in the movie and the house where Truman lives in the movie is where Congressman Matt Gaetz grew up. How's that for an odd coincidence? 

Katz's Deli - When Harry Met Sally

Katz's Deli, on Houston St. in Manhattan, has long been one of the most famous delis in New York City, but it reached new heights of fame after the legendary scene in When Harry Met Sally after Sally (Meg Ryan) does her famous performance of her faking it in bed. 

Chippewa Square Bus Stop - Forrest Gump

The Baby Boomer fever-dream hit movie Forrest Gump takes place over decades, but it's all told by Forrest (Tom Hanks) from one location, a bench at the Chippewa Square bus stop in Savannah, Georgia. It's where the character sits chatting with different people as he tells them his life story, which for some reason is like a box of chocolates. 

Fox Theatre, St. Louis - Escape From New York

If you ever wondered what city could stand in for a dystopian New York City that has been turned into an island prison, it was late '70s St. Louis, MO. The movie was filmed all over the city, including the Fox Theater, located on Grand Ave. The theater at the time was in disrepair and in desperate need of a renovation. Thankfully it got one and today is in much better shape than it was in the movie. 

Timberline Lodge - The Shining

It may be one of the most famous locations on this list - Timberline Lodge, which is the hotel that stands in for The Overlook Hotel in The Shining. The lodge, Mt. Hood, WA, is still open today and draws not only skiers and outdoor enthusiasts, but fans of the horror classic. 

Hôtel Sidi Driss - Star Wars

The Hôtel Sidi Driss in Matmata, Tunisia is one of the most unique hotels in the world, and so it's fitting it would serve as a home on a planet way out of this world. Movie audiences will immediately recognize it as the home of Luke Skywalker and his aunt and uncle at the beginning of the first Star Wars movie. If you're a fan, and you're in the neighborhood, the hotel is still open and taking reservations. 

7B Horseshoe Bar- The Godfather Part II

It goes by many different names. 7B and Horseshoe Bar are the two most people call it. It's still open, right at the corner of 7th Street and Ave. B in Manhattan. It's been there for years and has been used in a few film productions, but none more famous than in The Godfather Part II. It's where the botched assassination of Frank Pentangeli took place. 

Ohio State Reformatory - The Shawshank Redemption

One of the best movies of the '90s has to be The Shawshank Redemption. While the film is set in Maine, the home state of the book's author Stephen King, it was filmed in the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio. It had closed as a prison just a few years before they filmed it, so that certainly helps bring some authenticity to the movie. 

Bosse Field - A League Of Their Own

With some of the best moments in a baseball movie ever, A League Of Their Own has endured for years. So has the minor league baseball field where it was filmed, Bosse Field in Evansville, IN. Though it's a minor league park, it's still the third oldest baseball stadium in the country, behind Wrigley Field and Fenway Park and it retains all the charm it has in the movie. 

Mountain Lake Lodge - Dirty Dancing

In the 1960s, when Dirty Dancing was set, inclusive vacation spots like the Mountain Lake Lodge in Virginia dotted the American countryside. Most have long closed, but the Mountain Lake Lodge has survived and you can still visit and stay there, just like Baby and her family did in the movie. The actual cabin where the Housemans stayed is even available for rent. 

1 Wall Street Court - John Wick

Most of New York City - Manhattan at least - is a grid. But there are a few spots where the grid breaks down and creates odd-shaped blocks, leading to oddly shaped buildings. 1 Wall Street Court is one of those buildings, which makes it the perfect exterior for the mysterious Continental Hotel in the John Wick series where hitmen and criminals can enjoy a drink and a good night's sleep without one eye open looking for enemies. 

The Best Little Chapel - The Hangover

Las Vegas is famous for a lot of reasons, including all the tiny wedding chapels all over town. One famous chapel isn't actually a chapel, though. There are a lot of famous locations in The Hangover, most notably Caesar's Palace (Caesar didn't actually live there). One place you'll have a hard time finding unless you know where to look is The Best Wedding Chapel, as it's really just a youth hostel on Las Vegas Blvd. that was dressed up to look like a wedding chapel. Still, you can see the parking lot and all the hilarious signs behind the location as you quote all your favorite lines from The Hangover.

Matamata, New Zealand - Lord Of The Rings

This is a unique entry on this list as it's now famous for what the Lord of the Rings series did for the town. It's where The Shire was built and much of the set remains today as a tourist attraction for the millions of fans of the movies. It really does feel like you're stepping into the movies. 

Christmas Story House - A Christmas Story

"Ah, there it is. My house, and good old Cleveland Street," is how A Christmas Story begins. The house is almost a character all itself, with the sketchy furnace and the leg lamp, etc... The real house is in the City of Cleveland, but it's at 3159 W 11th St, not on Cleveland St. It's also worth noting that while most of it was filmed in Cleveland, it's set in the fictional town of Hohman, Indiana.

The Dakota Building - Rosemary's Baby

The Dakota, at 72nd and Central Park West in New York, is one of the most famous apartment buildings in the world, and one reason for that is that it's the setting for the terrifying Roman Polanski film, Rosemary's Baby. It's the perfect building to set the film, with his is dark neo-gothic architecture and large, lavish apartments. The Dakota is also infamous for being where John Lennon was shot and killed in 1980, while he lived there. 

Forks, WA - Twilight

For fans of the Twilight series, the town of Forks, Washington is the homeland. Both the books and the movies are set in a small town in a remote part of the state west of Seattle. It's now a tourist hot spot, though most of the movie was filmed in locations other than Forks. 

El Coyote - Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

El Coyote is a legendary Mexican restaurant in LA that dates back to the 1930s. It's also where Sharon Tate and her friends ate their final meal on August 9th, 1969 before they were murdered by the Manson Family. For his movie Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, Quentin Tarantino filmed the scene of the friends eating not only in the same restaurant but in the very same booth where they sat all those decades ago. 

Lighthouse Café - La La Land

The Lighthouse Café is a great jazz spot that sits in Hermosa Beach, California near LA. It was the location for one of the most famous scenes that movie critics often call a "love letter to Los Angeles," La La Land. 

Drayton House - Saltburn

The English countryside is filled with amazing, ornate homes that are often used for filming, sometimes they are the location for TV shows, like Downton Abbey, and other times it's for movies like Saltburn. For the latter, the makers of the film used the stately Drayton House in Lowick, Northamptonshire.

Kualoa Ranch - Jurassic Park

Kualoa Ranch in Hawaii has to be one of the most beautiful places in the world. It makes sense it would be the setting for quite a few TV shows and movies, including Lost,  Magnum P.I., Pearl Harbor, and maybe the most famous movie filmed there, 1993's Jurassic Park. 

The Tasty - Good Will Hunting

Sadly, this is a location you can no longer visit, as it closed a few years ago. For decades, however, The Tasty Diner in Harvard Square was a late-night favorite for drunk college students from all over Boston. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck made sure it found its way into their movie about Boston, Good Will Hunting. 

Görlitz Department Store - Grand Budapest Hotel

The exterior of the titular Grand Budapest Hotel might have been a model, but the interior and lobby were actually a beautiful - and vacant - department store in Görlitz, Germany. Sadly, while the building is still standing, it is still unused. 

For those who know me, you understand I love to eat and cook. For those who don't, you just learned a new fun fact about me – cooking (and eating) is honestly a passion of mine. Granted, I pair that with a decent amount of working out so that way I can eat whatever I want, but it's worth it when I'm able to enjoy that slice of pizza guilt-free or sip on a milkshake without worries. 

Another passion of mine is movies and TV, as you can expect, and those go well together with food, especially with cooking scenes, moments featured around cooking, or anything else. Today, we'll be going over my top favorite cooking scenes in film and television – or just dishes that look absolutely divine. 

The Cuban Sandwiches (Chef)

Chef is an underrated movie for many reasons, but it was especially underrated for how good its food looks. The Cuban Sandwiches that Carl begins to make towards the middle of the movie are really the most delicious thing I have ever seen—and I would know because I made them as well, and yes, they are so good. 

The Beef Wellington In Any Hell's Kitchen Season (Hell's Kitchen)

As someone who loves any Gordon Ramsay cooking show, I think Hell's Kitchen is the one that's been around the longest. And what have you seen them cook time and time again, over and over? That Beef Wellington, wrapped in puff pastry, surrounded by all kinds of goodness, and that red meat – gosh, I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. 

The Last Of Us Made Me Want To Try Rabbit (The Last Of Us)

I love The Last of Us. Not only is it my favorite video game of all time, but it's also one of my favorite video game adaptations. That third episode with Bill and Frank broke me into a million pieces, but you want to know what it also did? Bill somehow made rabbit look appetizing to me when he cooked it—and now, I'm really curious to try it. 

Literally Any Scene With Chocolate (Wonka)

I'm going to miss getting into details with this one. While I picked Wonka specifically, any of the Willy Wonka adaptations would work. I gain ten pounds just watching this chocolatier make the treat, let alone eat it. 

Any Food Scene In Any Studio Ghibli Movie

As someone who loves anime, my favorite part is the fantastic Studio Ghibli movies. In any of them, there is always—and I mean always—a cooking scene. But in every Ghibli film, he always finds a way to make food look so ridiculously good that I'm jealous I'm not in the movie. The food is so appetizing that there's a cookbook based on it. 

Flanders Hot Cocoa That Looks Absolutely Divine (The Simpsons Movie)

As someone who just spent a decent amount of time rewatching the first ten seasons of The Simpsons, I recently saw The Simpsons Movie again. And man, that hot cocoa that Flanders leaves out for Bart lives in my head rent-free. He creates it without skipping a beat and topping it off with chocolate shavings. My friend, please do that for me. 

When Remy Makes The Ratatouille (Ratatouille) 

I love Ratatouille so much and believe it's underrated in terms of Pixar film status. I have to point out the titular dish that the rat, Remy, makes. Whether it's because of Ego's reaction to the food or the careful way in which Remy and the others assemble the cooked pieces of vegetables, it's a beautiful cooking scene. 

That Mushroom Pasta That's Served At The Family Dinner (The Super Mario Bros. Movie)

While we don't physically see Mario's family cook the mushroom pasta, we do see it served, and yes, this is another example of something I had to recreate. It's a relatively simple meal: sauteed mushrooms with pasta, but if you add a little bit of spice, cheese, wine, and love—boom, you get this masterpiece. 

The Last Meal – A Cheeseburger (The Menu)

I'm a massive fan of the best horror movies out there, but The Menu has snuck up and become an underdog favorite of mine—mainly because I've occasionally enjoyed a night of fine dining. But the last meal, that cheeseburger with crinkle-cut fries that Chef Slowik served to Margot, made me want a cheeseburger so badly. Look at it; just look at it. 

Marcus' Chocolate Cake (The Bear)

The Bear cast features an extensive number of characters that I truly love more than most TV shows nowadays, and Marcus has snuck in and become a clear favorite of mine. One of my most-loved parts about him is in Season 1, where he spends so much time trying to perfect this chocolate cake, and it seriously makes me want to make a cake of my own—which I did end up doing because I have no self-control.

Those Scallion Noodles (Everything Everywhere All At Once)

The Academy Award-winning, Everything Everywhere All At Once is known for more than just its bagel. It also has scallion noodles, at least in the very beginning. What looks like a simple dish is actually delicate Asian cuisine that takes a certain amount of pizzazz to get just right, but once it's done, these are the best noodles you will ever have in your life. 

The Krabby Patties Because Obviously (Spongebob)

I'm a young woman; I grew up watching Spongebob Squarepants, so let's be honest here – you knew I was going to put this on this list. Come on. I'm pretty sure any time we saw Spongebob make these patties, we would salivate at the mouth to try them. 

Julieta Making Her Literal Healing Arepas (Encanto)

Encanto is a great Disney movie, and the arepas that Mirabel's mother, Julieta, makes look so good. They're so good that they literally heal people. If you can make an arepa that somehow heals wounds and more, you have captured my interest – even if it can't do the same in real life.

The Grilled Cheese Sandwiches (The Devil Wears Prada)

As someone who loves The Devil Wears Prada cast and adores the movie as a whole, I will openly say that I hated Nate's character. But what I didn't hate was that he was a chef who also spent his nights making some of the best-looking grilled cheese sandwiches for Andy. And yes, now I seriously crave something to eat. 

The Tamales Coco's Family Makes (Coco)

There are so many amazing Pixar films out there, but Coco has always been my favorite. However, something that I did forget about the movie for a while is that his family spends a decent amount of time crafting tamales, a very traditional Mexican dish that has been passed down from generation to generation. And truthfully, watching them make the dish made me want to try it so badly. 

Anytime Garfield Gets To Eat Cooked Lasagna (Garfield: The Movie)

I have to get Garfield on this list somehow. Garfield: The Movie is probably the best example, but any time Garfield gets to eat lasagna, I'm always jealous. Lasagna isn't even my favorite pasta dish, but somehow, this orange furball always finds a way for me to crave it by the time the movie ends. 

When The Chef Makes The Spaghetti (The Lady And The Tramp)

What is arguably one of the most romantic scenes in any Disney movie ever, we see Lady and Tramp share a plate of spaghetti after watching the chef at an Italian restaurant make it from the window. When I tell you that I have never craved spaghetti and meatballs more than after watching this film, I mean it. It looks so good. 

That Boursin Cheese Omelet (The Bear)

The Bear has so many dishes that I would gladly eat or make in a heartbeat, but I have to point out this omelet from Season 2 of the show. Sydney makes it for Sugar, and the dish itself is relatively easy to make but takes a certain amount of skill to pull off. Yes, I have remade it, and yes, I am salivating just thinking about those potato chips on top. 

The Crazy Amount Of Pastries (Marie Antoinette)

While Marie Antoinette is not the most historically accurate portrayal of the famous queen of France, I will say that the amount of pastries we see in that movie is godlike. I feel like seeing her eat them makes me gain twenty pounds—and also makes me want to go to a French bakery. 

The Classic Beef Bourguignon (Julie & Julia)

What makes Julie & Julie such a good movie is that it's actually based on a real-life culinary legend, so you know that the food in it is going to be spectacular. One of my favorite scenes from the film involves when they make the classic beef bourguignon, a stew where meat simmers for hours and is absolutely delicious by the time it is done. Ugh, I want to make it just thinking about it. 

Kevin Cooks His Own Macaroni & Cheese (Home Alone)

You know, sometimes you need to get the boxed mac and cheese and call it a day, and that's exactly what Kevin did in Home Alone. While we could go on for hours about how the burglar's injuries were super serious, I'm going to instead focus on how amazing that boxed macaroni and cheese looks that Kevin puts in the microwave. That feels like comfort on a plate. 

Carl Makes Aglio E Olio (Chef)

Aglio e Olio is actually one of the simplest pasta dishes you can make, and it's cooked to perfection in Chef. The dish itself is easy on the surface level but takes a certain amount of skill to pull off and achieve culinary perfection, and this scene perfectly captures it. Heck, I'd be waiting patiently, like Scarlett Johansson's character, too, for that meal. 

Monica's Candy That She Makes For The Neighbors (Friends)

Monica made some of the most delicious-looking food throughout Friends, but do you want to know the one dish that I have always wondered about? That homemade candy had neighbors coming directly to her door. It seemed like a nice favor at first, but eventually, it got so popular that she had to stop making it. What was in that candy that made it so good? I'm so curious. Give me all your secrets. 

That Classic Breakfast With Steak And Eggs (Twister)

You can't get better than this breakfast. While Twister isn't known for its cooking scenes, when we see steak and egg breakfast cooking, it'll make you want to make your own. I did precisely that after watching it for the first time. 

Remy's Reinvented Potato Leek Soup (Ratatouille)

There are so many delicious meals in Ratatouille that I could devour in a heartbeat, but Remy made the potato leek soup look so good. Alfredo nearly messes it up, but Remy secretly pulls it all together in the end and makes this delectable-looking masterpiece that makes me jealous that I'm not there in the kitchen with them. 

That Steaming New York City Pizza Delivery (Home Alone 2)

Okay, so Kevin doesn't actually make the pizza, but I have to put this on the list mainly because my mother and I still quote the scene where Kevin gets the pizza in Home Alone 2. It's steaming and is right out of the box, and it looks like something that I would absolutely devour in two seconds flat. 

A Chinese Christmas (A Christmas Story)

While we don't see them physically cook the Chinese, we do see the family of four receive a Chinese feast on Christmas Day when their dinner doesn't exactly pan out as planned. Featuring hilarious moments (some of which haven't aged super gracefully, but oh well), this scene captures the joy and craziness of Christmas—and makes me really want Chinese. 

Any Time Iroh Made Green Tea (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

I can't tell you how many times we've seen Uncle Iroh and all his wisdom in Avatar: The Last Airbender makes tea. I started drinking tea because of how good he made it look in every scene that he brewed. I even have a Jasmine Dragon mug now! I am fully on that Avatar train, no matter what. 

The Reveal Of That Timpano (Big Night)

I can't tell you how many times I've looked at that Timpano in Big Night and wondered how the heck that thing even exists. But that doesn't mean I don't want to try it. Look at it. Just look at this giant plate of food; God, my stomach is grumbling. 

Ross's Moist Maker Sandwich Because How Good Is It? (Friends)

No, because seriously, how good would this moist maker sandwich be if Ross basically got suspended from his job because of it? As someone who has had excellent Thanksgiving dinners and less than-great ones as well, that sandwich that Monica makes makes me so curious as to how good it tastes. 

Every Pie That's Baked (Waitress)

It's pie. How can you not want pie? Every pie that's baked in Waitress makes me want to make my apple pie no matter what time of year it is, and yes, I am going to go and bake one right now just thinking of it. 

Tiana's Gumbo (The Princess And The Frog)

Tiana is one of the best Disney princesses and it's because she knows all these excellent life skills and has an unbreakable spirit. One thing that she's amazingly good at is cooking and baking, and while I could point out her beignets, I have to give praise to her gumbo because, good lord, it looks so good. 

Gumbo honestly takes a lot of skill to properly make (as someone who has tried and failed), so I give her all the praise for somehow making it as a child. 

Okay, I think I need to revisit my cookbooks again because now I'm hungry. Time to cook! 

You can typically tell who is meant to be considered the “hero” of a movie by identifying the title role or looking at the top-billed cast member. However, there are many ‘80s movie characters who often go overlooked for the pivotal role they play in bringing things to a satisfying conclusion. We took a deeper look at some of the best movies of the 1980s, identified who we believe is the real hero, and decided to give them the credit they deserve.

Short Round (Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom)

While many like to criticize Raiders of the Lost Ark by claiming Indiana Jones' actions have no bearing on the plot, it is more surprising that Harrison Ford's intrepid archaeologist gets more credit for defeating the Thuggee Cult than he really deserves in the sequel. If not for Short Round (Academy Award winner Ke Huy Quan in his debut role) freeing Indy from their captors' spell, 1984's Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom would not have had the happy ending the bleak thriller so thankfully concludes on.

Sgt. Al Powell (Die Hard)

In arguably the greatest action movie ever made (let alone one of the best Christmas movies), 1988’s Die Hard, as John McClane (Bruce Willis) is single-handedly warring against violent thieves invading Nakatomi Plaza, his only real ally at ground zero is Al Powell (Reginald VelJohnson). At the very end, the L.A. cop actually ends up taking out the last of Hans Gruber’s (Alan Rickman) goons, Karl (Alexander Gudunov), with the first shot he gained the courage to take in years.

Boy In Police Station (Ferris Bueller's Day Off)

At the end of Ferris Bueller's Day Off, the title character (Matthew Broderick) probably would have gotten caught without help from his sister, Jeanie (Jennifer Grey), who would not have been willing to help if she hadn't met Charlie Sheen's character at the police station. Not to mention, despite his off-putting appearance, the unnamed teen gives off a more genuine and endearing aura than the central character of John Hughes's 1986 classic.

George McFly (Back To The Future)

When Marty McFly's (Michael J. Fox) plan to get his future mother, Lorraine (Lea Thompson), and father, George (Crispin Glover), to fall in love goes awry courtesy of Biff (Tom Wilson), George gains the courage he needs to knock the ruthless bully out himself. This ensures that Marty will one day be born and changes his family's fate for the better at the end of the 1985 time travel movie masterpiece, Back to the Future.

Chunk (The Goonies)

Out of the entire Goonies cast — a stunning who’s who of future A-listers, including Sean Astin and Josh Brolin — it is Chunk (Jeff Cohen) who has the most memorable and inspiring character arc. He goes from being the butt of every joke to the one who helps rescue his buddies from The Fratellis (with help from Sloth, of course).

Jessica Rabbit (Who Framed Roger Rabbit)

In 1988’s groundbreaking fusion of live-action with animation, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Jessica Rabbit (voiced by Kathleen Turner) assures private eye Eddie Valiant (Bob Hoskins) that she is not bad, but “just drawn that way.” She goes on to prove that her words ring true by becoming a pivotal role in Valiant’s effort to clear her husband (Charles Fleischer in the title role) for murder.

Wang Chi (Big Trouble In Little China)

Kurt Russell may get top billing and his character, Jack Burton, may kill Lo Pan (James Hong) by the end, but did you ever notice that is really his only heroic act in 1986's Big Trouble in Little China? His Chinese-American best friend, Wang Chi (Dennis Dun), is the one who makes the smartest decisions and kicks the most butt in John Carpenter's cult-favorite fantasy that is lauded for its predominantly Asian cast at a time when such representation was scarce.

Rebecca "Newt" Jorden (Aliens)

Aliens may have solidified Sigourney Weaver's Scream Queen status and made a heroic icon out of her character, Ellen Ripley, but the most courageous and resourceful character in James Cameron's 1986 sci-fi sequel has to be Carrie Henn as Newt. The young girl manages to survive on a planet overrun with Xenomorphs all by herself before the arrival of a crew of marines, who also might not have survived as long as they did without her tips and tricks.

Rufus (Bill And Ted's Excellent Adventure)

If you think about it, the plot of 1989’s Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure is not so different from The Terminator, which makes George Carlin's Rufus the sci-fi comedy's own Kyle Reese. The time-traveler ensures a bright future by helping the titular messianic duo (Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter) at every turn, including in 1991’s Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey when he disguises himself as Pam Grier’s character, Mrs. Wardroe, to let them into Battle of the Bands.

The Ewoks (Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi)

There are many Star Wars fans who see the Ewoks as nothing but a cheap  gimmick to attract younger audiences to the franchise. Whether or not that is true, the cute, cuddly warriors were pivotal to the Empire's downfall at the end of 1983’s Return of the Jedi.

Grandpa (The Princess Bride)

In 1987’s The Princess Bride, there is no real doubt that Westley (Cary Elwes), Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin), and Fezzik (Andre the Giant) are the heroes of the enchanting, action-packed fairy tale. However, to us, the hero of the whole movie is Peter Falk's character, who takes the time to visit his ill grandson (Fred Savage) and read to him the story within the story.

Roy Batty (Blade Runner)

The main protagonist of 1982’s Blade Runner is, of course, Harrison Ford's Rick Deckard, but his job as a cop assigned to retire Replicants makes him a better qualifier for the villain of the story. It is Roy Batty's (Rutger Hauer) bid to try to give artificial humans like himself a chance at a better, longer life that makes him the real hero of Ridley Scott's groundbreaking, futuristic noir.

Ophelia (Trading Places)

After losing everything as part of an experiment to make him poor and give his job to the impoverished Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy), hot shot investor Louis Winthorpe (Dan Aykroyd) crosses paths with a street walker named Ophelia (Jamie Lee Curtis). While she was initially hired by Clarence Beeks (Paul Gleason) to make life even worse for him, she takes him in, cares for him, and attempts to help him get back on his feet, making her the true hero of 1983’s Trading Places.

Cabbie (Escape From New York)

One of Kurt Russell’s most iconic roles is Snake Plissken — a hardened criminal tasked with rescuing the President (Donald Pleasance) from a penal colony that used to be Manhattan in a dystopian 1997 in John Carpenter’s 1981 cult favorite, Escape from New York. The only incarcerated individual who is selflessly willing to help the anti-hero complete his mission in time is Oscar winner Ernest Borgnine’s Cabbie, whose own taxi ends up being Snake’s escape vehicle.

Carl Fox (Wall Street)

Oliver Stone’s 1987 drama Wall Street chronicles the rise and fall of ambitious stockbroker Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen), as a result of taking orders from the devil on his shoulder: the ruthless Gordon Gecko (Academy Award winner Michael Douglas). If only he had listened to the angel on his shoulder — his father and the moral center of the story, Carl (Sheen’s real-life father, Martin Sheen) — he might not have wound up behind bars.

Queen Aoleon (Coming To America)

In Coming to America, Akeem’s (Eddie Murphy) chances at a life with his true love, Lisa McDowell (Shari Headley), are almost ruined by his father, King Jaffe Joffer (James Earl Jones), if not for the support of his mother, Queen Aoleon, who we assume talked sense into her husband offscreen. Her tender-hearted performance and truly majestic presence in the 1988 comedy makes us sad that the late Madge Sinclair could not reprise the role in 2021’ Coming 2 America.

Bub (Day Of The Dead)

Never did a horror fan have any reason to feel empathy or admiration for a zombie until writer and director George A. Romero introduced “Bub” in 1985’s Day of the Dead. Played by Sherman Howard, the reanimated corpse displays an unusual level of intelligence, endearing human characteristics, and a strong compassion for his handler, Dr. Matthew Logan (Richard Liberty) which drives him to seek vengeance on his murderer and the film’s true villain, Capt. Henry Rhodes (Joseph Pilato).

The Gopher (Caddyshack)

As far as we are concerned, anyone who proves to be a source of frustration for Judge Smails (Ted Knight) is on the side of heroism in the classic 1980 comedy, Caddyshack. That being said, absolutely no one gets under that man's skin like the Gopher who lives underneath Bushwood Country Club and makes burrows in the golf course grounds wherever he goes.

Cousin Eddie (National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation)

When Eddie (Randy Quaid, reprising his role from 1983’s Vacation) arrives at the Griswolds’ house unannounced, Clark (Chevy Chase) believes his holidays are destined for disaster. He is right, but his otherwise annoying and absent-minded cousin is responsible for very few of the uproarious mishaps in 1989’s National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. In fact, he really comes through at the end when he brings Clark’s boss, Frank Shirley (Brian Doyle-Murray), to the house, where he becomes ultimately convinced to give Clark the bonus he deserves.

Dawson (Adventures In Babysitting)

We are not just including Dawson, Vincent D’Onofrio’s garage mechanic character from 1987’s Adventure in Babysitter, because he happens to look like one of Marvel Comics’ iconic depiction of Thor. Then again, if not for that striking resemblance, he might not have been coerced into giving Chris Parker (Elisabeth Shue) a $5 dollar discount for her car repair by young Sara Anderson (Maia Brewton) who calls him her hero. 

Carl (The Breakfast Club)

The character who forever changed the way high schoolers perceive their custodial employees was Carl (John Kapelos) from 1985’s The Breakfast Club, who has a bit of a heart-to-heart with the nearly sadistic Richard Vernon (Paul Gleason). We like to think that the janitor's defense of the students in detention that day got through to the uptight teacher so, by the time he reads their letter at the end of John Hughes’ quintessential teen dramedy, he may have seen them in a new, more sympathetic light.

Vi Moore (Footloose)

In Guardians of the Galaxy, Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) refers to Ren McCormack (Kevin Bacon) as the hero of Footloose for bringing the joys of dancing back to the small, conservative town of Bomont. However, there is one character from the 1984 classic of equal (or even greater) importance that he should have also mentioned: Vi Moore (Dianne Wiest), who breaks her long silence and ultimately convinces her strict preacher husband, Shaw (John Lithgow), to give the town’s youth the freedom the dance.

Billy Francis Kopecki (Big)

In 1988’s Big, when 13-year-old Josh’s (David Moscow) wish to be a grown-up mysteriously comes true, turning him into Tom Hanks, the only one coming to his aid (after some convincing) is his best friend, Billy (Jared Rushton). He tries to be there to get his buddy through his strange situation in any way he can, even helping him get a job, but when Josh starts act a little too grown-up, it is Billy who brings him back down to Earth, reminding him it is time become his real self again.

Mr. Green (Clue)

Determining the real hero of Clue depends on which ending of the 1985 board game-inspired whodunit you consider canon. The conclusion we like to settle on reveals that Mr. Green (Michael McKean) is an undercover FBI agent, which he announces after shooting Wadsworth (Tim Curry), who also turns out to be the real Mr. Boddy.

The Gyro Captain (The Road Warrior)

Things between Max Rockatansky (Mel Gibson) and a fellow loner known only as The Gyro Captain (Bruce Spence) get off to a rough start in the second installment of George Miller’s Mad Max franchise, released as The Road Warrior in the States. However, the gyrocopter pilot comes to see the hardened former cop as a great teammate, later rescues him from a near-fatal accident, and assists him in his race to bring the rig to the Oil Refinery compound.

Mrs. Parker (A Christmas Story)

There are countless cinematic mothers, especially from the 1980s, who deserve more credit than they receive, and the quintessential example has to be Melinda Dillon’s role in 1983’s A Christmas Story. The classic moment when she keeps her son, Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley), out of trouble with The Old Man (Darren McGavin) after his tussle with Skut Farkus (Zach Ward) is just one way she shows her loving devotion to her family and undisputedly earning the honor to be called a hero. 

Curtis (The Blues Brothers)

The heart and soul of the best movie based on Saturday Night Live characters, The Blues Brothers, is Cab Calloway's Curtis, who served as a father figure for the titular siblings, introducing them to music in their youth. Not to mention, he motivates them to attend a church service that ends up giving them the idea to put the band back together to save the orphanage.

Ken Pile (A Fish Called Wanda)

It comes as a surprise to see the stuttering, accident-prone goof, Ken Pile (Michael Palin), take down the true antagonist of 1988’s A Fish of Wanda, Otto West (Oscar winner Kevin Kline). To avenge the death of his beloved fish, Ken runs over Otto with a steamroller when he is stuck in cement, seemingly putting an end to his career in thievery, until we discover at the end that he survived the ordeal. Nonetheless, to see Ken get even with his enemy is one of the hit comedy’s most satisfying moments.

Otto (Airplane!)

When food poisoning incapacitates the entire piloting staff on a commercial flight, former fighter pilot Ted Striker (Robert Hays) is asked to help bring the also ill passengers to safety, but he is not the only one equipped for the job. Lest we forget, a great deal of the classic 1980 spoof movie, Airplane! sees an inflatable automatic pilot — aptly named “Otto” — at the helm of the aircraft. 

Lt. Andrew Bogomil (Beverly Hills Cop)

When Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) first blows into town in 1984’s Beverly Hills Cop, he immediately comes at odds with Lt. Andrew Bogomil. However, because the Detroit detective helps Rosewood (Judge Reinhold) and Taggert (John Ashton) take down local traffickers while he is supposed to be on vacation, he fabricates a story to cover for him and helps smooth things out with Inspector Todd.  

Yori (Tron)

In 1982’s Tron, Flynn (Jeff Bridges) and the title character (Bruce Boxleitner) might have never managed to take down the Master Control Program without the help of Yori (Cindy Morgan). She gives Tron the chance to get pivotal information from his user outside the grid after convincing a guard named Dumont to let him. 

Merlin (Top Gun)

At the end of 1986’s Top Gun, Maverick (Tom Cruise) is still reeling from the death of his best friend, Goose (Anthony Edwards), which distracts him from his current aerial battle. Luckily, Merlin (Tim Robbins) is in the other seat and helps bring him back to Earth, leading him to victory.

So, next time you watch a flick and think you know who the real hero is, think again.

When you're a kid, every movie that you see is good. Children don't usually notice the nuances of film and performance that separate the good from the bad, they're just blown away by the visuals or the fun story or characters. It's not until you get older that you realize that bad movies are a thing, and by then your nostalgia for youth often blinds you to those early movies you loved so much.

But, make no mistake. Some of those movies that you loved as a kid, that maybe you still love today, are actually really bad. If you were a kid in the '80s, then more than a few of these will be familiar. It's ok to still love them because of the way they made you feel, but it's important to also acknowledge that some of the movies we loved were terrible.

The Wizard 

Before Hollywood had an ever-increasing list of upcoming video game movies, they tried to make playing video games a movie itself. The Wizard starred Fred Savage and was basically just a commercial for Nintendo, the Power Glove, and the then-upcoming Super Mario Bros. 3, with a bare-bones plot surrounding it.

Mac And Me 

E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial is one of the greatest '80s movies ever made. That was clearly the inspiration for Mac and Me, but the vague plot similarities are all these two films have in common. Mac and Me works better as a Paul Rudd gag than it does as a movie.

Masters Of The Universe 

A live-action movie based on Masters of the Universe was probably the coolest thing ever for many kids in the '80s. Dolph Lundgren was perhaps the best possible casting at the time, but while the characters are still pretty fun, moving the action to Earth removes most of what made He-Man fun. 

The Karate Kid Part III 

The Karate Kid was a great movie, and its first sequel certainly had some charm. However, by The Karate Kid Part III, it's clear the franchise was losing steam. Everybody here is just going through the motions and there's barely enough story to sustain the runtime. Even Ralph Macchio doesn't love the movie anymore.

Superman IV: The Quest For Peace

Christopher Reeve's Superman is the movie superhero by which all others are judged. However, even his own sequels come up short by that measurement. Superman IV had a timely message regarding the fear of nuclear weapons, but it was delivered with an incredibly boring villain and a criminal underuse of Gene Hackman's Lex Luthor. 

Teen Wolf Too 

Teen Wolf is one of Michael J. Fox's great movies. It was a solid hit in its day, so in response, rather than a real sequel, the studio decided to basically remake the movie over again, replacing Fox for Jason Bateman and the sport of basketball with boxing. The end result is about as interesting as that sounds. 

All Dogs Go To Heaven 

The '80s were a rough time for Disney animation, but the medium remained strong in the decade thanks to great animated films not by Disney, but Don Bluth and his hits like An American Tail and The Secret of NIMH. His final film of the decade, All Dogs Go To Heaven, was just about as popular as those others, but it's not nearly as good, especially when compared to the beginning of the Disney Renaissance which started at the same time. 

A Christmas Story 

A lot of people have very nostalgic feelings for A Christmas Story both as an '80s movie, and a Christmas movie, but the fact of the matter is the movie just isn't actually that good. A Christmas Story has real problems. It's a grating movie with annoying characters who don't grow or change or honestly do anything the least bit interesting.

Ernest Goes To Camp 

Jim Varney's Ernest was such a popular character in a series of TV commercials in the '80s that the character eventually graduated to television and film. Ernest Goes to Camp was the character's feature film debut, and while the juvenile humor might have appealed to you when you were an actual juvenile, now it's just dumb.  

Garbage Pail Kids: The Movie 

If you weren't around in the 1980s then explaining what Garbage Pail Kids were is going to be a lost cause. You had to be there. It's not a shock that somebody thought turning the still images kids' were obsessed with into a movie would be a good idea. If you were a fan of the trading cards you may have been a fan of the movie, but it's one of the worst ones ever made. 

Supergirl 

With the success of the Superman movies, it's little surprise that a Supergirl move followed in short order. Seeing Supergirl on the big screen and taking on supervillains just like her cousin was cool, but the movie obviously wasn't given the same care as the first two Superman films. It looks and feels like a cheap knock-off of the franchise in every conceivable way. 

The Fox And The Hound 

The Fox and the Hound may have been the first animated Disney movie for a lot of young kids, and so it holds a special place in hearts. But the movie is just nothing. It's lovely to look at, but it's missing the soul of the Disney films that came before, and would come after. 

The Legend Of The Lone Ranger 

If you thought that the Lone Ranger movie starring Johnny Depp was the only bad movie about the masked man, then you were not a kid in the '80s. That film has everything a Lone Ranger movie needs: masks, horses, gun fights, and "The William Tell Overture" but even with all that the movie is surprisingly lacking in energy. This may be due to the fact that the main character's entire performance is overdubbed. It's that kind of a mess of a movie, but you probably didn't notice that as a kid. 

The Beastmaster 

If you were a kid in the '80s then The Beastmaster was either a go-to VHS rental for sleepover nights or an ever-present cable TV movie. You probably saw it so often as a kid that it burned into your memory. However, your memory is playing tricks on you; this is a bargain bin Conan movie and little more. 

Popeye 

If you watched Popeye cartoons as a kid then you likely checked out the live-action movie at some point, as well. Some of the movie's bizarre choices, like the fact that the Robin Williams-led film was a musical, may have worked when you were a kid, but now the whole thing just looks and feels bizarre. The fact that nobody has made a Popeye movie since indicates just how tough it is to do this one right.

Flight Of The Navigator 

When you're a kid, any movie where the hero is a kid is going to grab your attention. And what kid hasn't dreamed of meeting friendly aliens or flying spaceships? Unfortunately, beyond the wish fulfillment of children, there's nothing in Flight of the Navigator except Paul Reubens doing his Pee-Wee Herman voice.

Short Circuit 2 

The original Short Circuit, about a robot who is struck by lightning and gains sentience (because that's how that works), is actually pretty fun. The sequel really isn't. As a kid you just like the movie about the funny talking robot. As an adult, you notice Fisher Stevens' racist brown face and the paper-thin plot.

The Black Cauldron 

Disney's The Black Cauldron could have been a massive shift in the sorts of animated films we got from the Mouse House. It was unlike anything we'd seen before from Disney, which may have been just what you wanted if you were the right age in the '80s. The Black Cauldron nearly killed Disney Animation it was so bad, but that doesn't mean that kids who saw it didn't love it.

Superman III 

Superman is popular, and Richard Pryor is famous so clearly what the world needs is a movie with the two of them together. This movie was certainly the most mature in this particular franchise, and while you might not have noticed as a kid focusing on the cool superhero stuff, it's impossible not to notice now that everything about this movie is wrong.

Ghostbusters 2 

As a kid, Ghostbusters 2 might be preferable to the original. It's a bit lighter in tone and the characters are a bit sillier. It includes the Statue of Liberty being controlled by a Nintendo joystick. But, the things you loved as a kid are part of the reason the sequel doesn't work as well as the original.

Herbie Goes Bananas 

The Love Bug movies, which focused on a sentient Volkswagon named Herbie and the humans who drive him, were movies made for children. Any child of the '80s likely watched them all. Herbie Goes Bananas was the final film of the original series, and that's not a shock, as it seemed by the fourth movie that all the gags they could think of had been used. Even adding Cloris Leachman and Harvey Korman didn't help.

The Secret Of The Sword 

The Secret of the Sword was designed to be the first few episodes of the She-Ra: Princess of Power cartoon series, but the movie version actually got a theatrical release first. While both the He-Man and She-Ra cartoons were popular, they were little more than toy commercials, and that's all the more apparent looking back with a mature eye.

Rad 

If riding your bike with your friends was something you were into, then Rad was probably the definition of an aspirational story. A kid chases a dream of becoming a professional BMX racer. That's basically all there is to it. Even if you love BMX racing as an adult, this one is hard to get through now.

Caravan Of Courage: An Ewok Adventure/Ewoks: The Battle For Endor

The era in between the original Star Wars trilogy and the prequel Star Wars trilogy was met with many different attempts to build on the franchise. Among them were a pair of made-for-TV movies set on Endor and starring the beloved little furry Ewoks. As a kid you thought Ewoks were cute and anything Star Wars was cool. Now we know these were actually the first bad Star Wars movies. 

Thrashin’ 

If you were a skateboarder as a kid in the 1980s, then it's all but certain that you came across Thrashin'. It stars a post-Goonies Josh Brolin in what is basically Romeo + Juliet if the Montagues and Capulets were teenage skateboard gangs. It's about as deep as that sounds, but it does have a switchblade knife duel on skateboards, so there's that.

D.A.R.Y.L. 

In the '80s computers were these new magical things with no conceivable limits beyond our imagination. This led to a host of movies where computers did, or were, incredible things. D.A.R.Y.L. had a child protagonist, so it was more interesting to most '80s kids than other films in the genre. It wasn't the best effort.

The Care Bears Movie 

The Care Bears Movie was a smash hit in 1985 that grossed more at the domestic box office than Disney's The Black Cauldron the same year. This one clearly meant a lot to the kids. But, like many movies of its era, it's more commercial than movie, and if you're not buying what it's selling, there's little else to recommend it.

Conan The Destroyer 

Conan the Barbarian is one of the movies that made Arnold Schwarzenegger the star he is today. The sequel is a bit more accessible and kid-friendly, and by kid-friendly, we mean the plot is really silly. If there's one reason that a King Conan movie has struggled to get made, it's the existence of Conan the Destroyer.

Little Monsters 

Little Monsters was a movie that most of us probably rented at the video store because the kid from The Wonder Years was in it. It's full of silly childish humor and just the sort of movie that little kids will probably love. But, then you outgrow the humor and realize how dumb it is. 

No Holds Barred 

If you discovered professional wrestling as a kid in the 1980s then you were probably very excited for No Holds Barred, Hulk Hogan's first movie role, where he played...a professional wrestling champion. It's not exactly an acting stretch, and it's as predictable and formulaic as you can imagine. It's all you wanted in the '80s. You want more now.

G.I. Joe: The Movie 

G.I. Joe: The Movie very much follows the formula set before it by The Transformers movie. Both were based on animated cartoons/toy lines and made films designed to introduce the new set of action figures. While The Transformers movie at least took some risks and has survived the test of time because of it, this movie did not, and it's sterile and dull because of it. 

Annie 

1982's Annie was the first film based on the popular stage musical, and while the movie produced some iconic versions of the musical's songs, that's about all there is to say about it now. If you love Annie then the movie is exactly what you were looking for, but it has no style of its own.

Not every movie stands the test of time in quite the same way. We all change as people and that means the way we approach art changes, too. It's still ok to love these movies because they were important to you once, but we don't need to pretend that everything we loved as kids was actually good. 

What connects one of the best action movies, Die Hard, with one of the best Christmas films of all time, A Christmas Story? They obviously both belong within the elite category of the best '80s movies, but now star Peter Billingsley, who portrayed the belovedly bespectacled Ralphie Parker, has weighed in concerning the ongoing Die Hard debate about whether the Bruce Willis-led classic qualifies as a Christmas movie. The actor believes John McClane's first adventure unequivocally fits that bill, and he's ready with an argument to support his claim.

In a recent episode of the A Cinematic Christmas Journey podcast, the 52-year-old former child star joined co-host Steve Byrne in a discussion about Die Hard. The actor-turned-director recalled a moment with the action classic's cinematographer, Jan de Bont, whose own not-so-positive opinions about the connection sparked Billingsley to reach out. Here's how he started his explanation:

While Die Hard hit theaters in the summer of 1988, the film's plot unfolds on Christmas Eve, and according to Billingsley, it's this crucial detail that forms the backbone of his argument for its inclusion in the Christmas movie canon. He continued: 

It's not the hottest take in the world, and Billingsley is certainly not the only one out there waving the flag for Die Hard is in the holiday film club. Director John McTiernan aligns with fans and critics who have long argued that the film qualifies as such, having told the American Film Institute in 2020: “We hadn’t intended it to be a Christmas movie, but the joy that came from it is what turned it into a Christmas movie.”

Still, not everyone involved in the film shares this sentiment. The actor who brought the iconic role of John McClane to life, Bruce Willis, tried to settle the debate by making his stance clear during his Comedy Central Roast in 2018, saying "Die Hard is not a Christmas movie! It’s a goddamn Bruce Willis movie." 

Despite Willis' strong position, Billingsley says he successfully swayed de Bont, and his explanation pretty much convinced me, too. The Elf alum shared how the cinematographer reacted when confronted with this perspective on the debate, saying:

The debate on whether Die Hard belongs in the Christmas movie category will undoubtedly persist where audiences are concerned. Still, the Four Christmases actor's compelling and persuasive argument brings a unique perspective to the ongoing discussion.

Though the holidays are technically over, if you still want to enjoy your favorite festive films, Die Hard is available for purchase or rent wherever you get your entertainment. A Christmas Story is also streaming with a Max subscription.

It seems as though the best Christmas movies revolve around family, and while each member of the family is equally important, I tend to focus on the dads more than most. As a father of a child, I look as much to the dads of Christmas movies as much as my own father and step-father to try and deliver the perfect holiday experience. I want to be like Clark Griswold in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, without bringing the annoying cousin Eddie I'd hate spending time with at Christmas. 

With many options to choose from, I decided to round up my own definitive list of dads from Christmas movies that I'd love to spend the holidays with. Be sure to revisit these movies while checking out what's new on the 2023 Christmas movie schedule, and reminisce on some of the best dads to emulate during the holiday season.

Clark Griswold

Clark Griswold is the epitome of the American family dad. He works hard for his family and he has grandiose plans for how he wants things to play out, though sometimes they don't work out the way he wants. But it's the thought that counts, and I think that regardless of their opinions, the Griswold family always appreciated the level of effort Clark put into the holiday. 

Much like CinemaBlend's Philip Sledge when he rewatched National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, I can't help but relate to Clark Griswold the older I get. The holidays are a mix of stress, fun, tradition and sometimes just surviving the holidays no matter what may come. I'd certainly want to be the father who tries to give my all to make it the best experience for everyone involved, regardless of whether it's the happiest time of the year or not. If you're having Christmas with Clark, it's sure to be eventful and fun, which is the kind of holiday I love. 

Scott Calvin

Scott Calvin stumbled into getting the best gig ever, and he should be thankful. Usually when someone dies on your property, they don't just disappear and you assume their identity with no questions asked. Thankfully, the rules of succession made him Santa Claus, and he's enjoyed a pretty lengthy run in the role without dying. 

I think it's pretty obvious what the advantages are if you're spending the holiday with your dad when is literally Santa Claus. Sure, he's going to be busy on the big day, but you're going to have literally whatever you want underneath the tree to stay entertained until the day is over. Yes, having the elves around all the time would probably get annoying, but who could pass up the relative solitude of living at the North Pole? 

Peter McAllister

Listen, I know Peter McAllister doesn't have the best track record given the events of Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost In New York. He managed to go on vacation not once, but twice without one of his children, which would be a national news story with serious repercussions in the real world. I'd hardly call him the father of the year, but the man has some money to spend. 

If Peter McAllister is willing to bankroll a vacation to Florida and France for his large family, as well as his brother's family, you have to think the man gives good presents. And I know that Kevin was probably getting the best gifts from that point on after all he went through. Honestly, I'd love to know what the man's job was, and how he was living so large that he didn't bat an eye at bankrolling an international vacation for over ten people. 

Papa Elf

He doesn't get a ton of screentime in Elf, but there's plenty to love about Papa Elf in the Will Ferrell-led Christmas classic. The adoptive father of Buddy certainly had his work cut out for him when he took in a human child, especially given the massive size difference between elves and humans. The man had to have thighs of steel to be able to handle all those lap-sitting sessions!

Papa Elf does have his flaws, of course. As CinemaBlend's Danielle Bruncati pointed out in her post, maintaining Elf is still the best 20 years later, he could've told Buddy he was adopted much sooner. Doing so would've probably saved him some unfortunate growing pains and feelings of isolation as he became more of an adult, but I digress. He does, overall, seem like a sweet old man and someone who every person would want as a father growing up. 

The Old Man

The Old Man and his famous temper are part of the weird quirks of A Christmas Story that we sorta accept, but he does have admirable qualities. For better or worse, he did end up sneaking out to get Ralphie that Red Ryder BB gun that he wanted, even if his wife wasn't on board. I like to think it was a subtle revenge on his end for the leg lamp breaking, but that's just a theory. 

Who doesn't love getting something they really wanted on Christmas? Furthermore, who doesn't love getting something they really want and totally didn't expect to see it arrive under the Christmas tree? The Old Man understood the value in making a memory during the holiday season, and based on the fact that Ralphie is telling the story decades later, he certainly did. These are the kinds of memories I hope to create for my kids, though I'd rather my daughter not shoot her eye out. 

Myron Larabee Or Howard Langston 

When it comes to the top-tier Christmas movie Jingle All The Way, it's a toss-up of who is the better father between Myron Larabee and Howard Langston. Both men are desperate to get the hottest holiday toy of the season for their children, and they go to some pretty extreme lengths to do so. Don't get me wrong, these guys took things to the extreme and maybe lost sight of the true reason for the season. 

At the same time, who doesn't want to spend the holidays with a dad who will go through hell or high water just to get the perfect gift for their children? As someone who has had to pursue a hard-to-find gift or two in my day, I tip my hat to these guys going through all they did in an era where online shopping wasn't like it is now. I'd be honored to spend the holidays with either character, though I'd lean more toward Myron because he's hilarious. 

Many of these movies are available on streaming, so make sure to check them out and see which holiday dads you admire. I'm sure there are even worthy options outside this list that need to be considered, so be sure to binge as many movies as possible this holiday season. 

The holiday season is upon us, and on top of seeing loves ones and doing wintery activities, for many, now is the time to re-watch our favorite festive content. While there are a ton of Christmas movies out there, some of them stand out among the rest thanks to their comedic chops. And the following are the most funny Christmas movies out there, in my opinion.

This isn't to say that there aren't other Christmas titles that I re-watch every year that didn't happen to make it on the list. I'm a sucker for the claymation movies like Santa Clause is Coming to Town, as well as animated Christmas movies like Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol. Still, these are the Yuletide flicks that annually give me the most chuckles. 

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

I mean, how could this not be the first entry on this list? Christmas Vacation is widely considered one of the best Christmas movies of all time, and that's because of its absolutely hilarious script and killer performances by the cast. What's more, it's something that lots of families could relate to; sometimes things just go awry during the holidays. Luckily, most of us don't end up with squirrels in our house or cutting off a bannister with a chainsaw. 

National Lampoon's Vacation movies span a number of different settings, but I personally think the holiday outing is the best. And watching Chevy Chase's Sparky lose his sanity as his family seemingly tries to ruin the holiday never gets old. Christmas Vacation's behind-the-scenes facts are fascinating, and the movie remains endlessly quotable to this day.

A Christmas Story

A Christmas Story might have become the quintessential Christmas movie thanks to being played on 24 hour loop on the titular holiday ever year. And it's so popular that a long-awaited sequel finally arrived on Max last year. Still, there's no comparing it to the 1983 original.

A Christmas Story is set in 1940, and offers a nostalgic look at the holiday in years gone by. All protagonist Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) wants for Christmas is a Red Rider BB Gun, and we watch as he drops hints and tries to survive Kid-dom. This movie changed the pop culture landscape as we know it, and it's chock full of hilarious scenes involving the leg lamp, a frozen pole and one seriously cranky department store Santa. 

The Muppet Christmas Carol

This one is my personal favorite Christmas movie of all time. The Muppet Christmas Carol is a delightful musical adaptation of Charles Dickens' novel. The movie is full of gorgeous music, and stars Michael Caine opposite everyone's favorite group of talented puppets.

The Muppets are known for being funny, and there are so many moment in this take on the Christmas Carol that still make me chuckle to this day. The movie is available to stream with a Disney+ subscription, and longtime fans will be delighted to know that The Muppet Christmas Carol's extended version is also available, including Belle's deleted song.

The Santa Clause

1994's The Santa Clause was a critical and box office hit when it arrives in theaters. That popularity led it to becoming a bonafide franchise, with multiple movie sequels as well as the new series The Santa Clauses on Disney+, which just returned for Season 2. 

Tim Allen stars in The Santa Clause as Scott Calvin, a marketing director who accidentally becomes the new Santa after his predecessor fell off his roof. The movie is a delightful fish out of water story where we watch him gradually become Saint Nick. The movie's comedy has aged rather well, and it also has that Christmas magic that moviegoers of all age are looking for. Seeing isn't believing, believing is seeing!

Elf

Jon Favreau's Elf is probably the most recent bonafide movie Christmas classic. While plenty of other movies have been released, including countless Hallmark Christmas movies, they haven't necessarily had the staying power and iconography of Will Ferrel's holiday movie.

20 years later Elf is the ultimate Christmas movie chock full of laugh-out-loud moments. This is all because of Will Ferrell's outstanding performance as Buddy the Elf, who brings a manic naivety as someone raised on the North Pole and experiencing the real world for the first time. Seeing him scream out of excitement to see Santa never gets old, nor does his montage exploring New York City and eating gum off of the street. And while Elf 2 won't happen, it's gotten more life thanks to a Broadway musical. 

How The Grinch Stole Christmas 

This one was a bit of a mixed bag when it first arrived in theaters back in 2000. The live-action How the Grinch Stole Christmas had some big shoes to fill given how beloved the original animated special is, but I personally have found that Ron Howard's movie has actually held up super well, especially related to its non-stop jokes. And yes, we have to give credit where credit is due regarding Jim Carrey, who gives an endlessly energetic performance as the green title character. 

Just like the original animated Grinch movie, we follow Dr. Seuss' green villain as he loathes the Whos and the entire holiday season. While Taylor Momsen's Cindy Lou Who tries to include him on the fun as she goes through her on existential crisis about the holiday, things soon go awry. 

Jim Carrey is firing at 100 the entire runtime of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and I've only grown more appreciate of his work as the years have gone by. He was already an acclaimed comedic genius at that point, and it's impossible to imagine anyone else in the role. While we'd get an Illumination Grinch movie years later, the 2000 live-action flick will always be my favorite of the three.

Happiest Season

For a few years now, the entertainment industry and its consumers have been speaking about the power of representation in the media. As a result, we've seen much more stories about women, people of color and LGBTQ+ folks. That includes holiday projects like Happiest Season, which is centered around a lesbian couple.

Happiest Season focuses on Abby and Harper (played by Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis), with the latter going home for the holidays. But her parents don't know she's queer, so she and Abby are forced back into the closet during the festivities, and all sorts of contemporary shenanigans begin. The Happiest Season cast list is rounded out with great performances by Aubrey Plaza, Dan Levy, Victor Garber and Mary Steenburgen. 

Home Alone

While there's long been debate about whether or not Die Hard is a Christmas movie, the same discourse isn't possible for Home Alone. The 1990 classic comedy is one of the most popular Christmas movies of all time, thanks to its steady supply of family friendly laughs.

Despite the decades that have gone by, Home Aone and its sequel Lost in New York have aged pretty damn well. The various pratfalls are effective, but the biggest credit should go to Macaulay Culkin, who was endlessly charismatic as a young performer in this pair of movies. 

Krampus

Krampus is perhaps the least traditional Christmas movie on this list, as it's a horror comedy set during the holiday season. But if you're someone who can handle suspense and some cartoon violence, it's actually a hilarious commentary on the way the holidays can sometimes be toxic-- especially related to family dysfunction.

In Krampus, we follow the Engal family, who are basically at each other's throats during the holiday season. The titular demon comes from the North Pole to punish them, serving as a dark shadow to Santa's yuletide cheer. The family drama is consistently funny, and even the kills are bonkers and comedic. So if you're looking for a different type of funny Christmas movie, this one's for you. 

Christmas with the Kranks

Christmas with the Kranks is a movie adaptation of the John Grisham book Skipping Christmas. And while Tim Allen is known for playing The Santa Clause's title character, he's also the leading man of this 2004 comedy opposite scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis. 

While I was first introduced to Christmas with the Kranks against my will, it's actually grown on me. Some of the funniest moments come from JLC herself, who shows that she's an effective comedian as well as a horror icon. And if this one is on TV during the holiday season, I'm probably leaving it on for all the Curtis-related comedy. And I'll never look at a Honey Ham the same way. 

With new holiday movies being released every year, only time will tell if another hilarious Christmas movie is released, and is able to join this list of elite titles. In the meantime, check out the 2024 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

Though the region is often referred to as “Flyover Country,” the states that make up the Midwest have been home to some all-time classics when it comes to American cinema. There have been great films set in Chicago and other major cities in the region, and even some Best Picture winners have used the loosely defined group of states as a backdrop. 

Here are 32 great movies set in the Midwest, including comedies, dramas, and almost every other imaginable genre. So please, quit knocking on the Midwest and calling it a land void of creativity and culture. An odd place? Yes. But a void? Never!

Fargo (1996)

When it comes to quirky black comedy movies set in the region, the Coen Brothers’ 1996 crime film, Fargo, is in a league of its own. With action, drama, and murder happening in states like Minnesota and North Dakota, this Academy Award-winning film has the Midwest stamped all over it, even when you discount Frances McDormand, William H. Macy’s, and other iconic characters with their wild accents.

Grumpy Old Men (1993)

Set in the southern Minnesota town of Wabasha, Grumpy OId Men follows feuding next-door neighbors John Gustafson (Jack Lemmon) and Max Goldman (Walter Matthau) as they try to coexist in the “Land of 10,000 Lakes,” a feat that’s easier said than done. Ice-fishing, small-town attitudes, and a general disdain for the IRS perfectly sum up life in semi-rural areas of the Midwest.

Planes, Trains And Automobiles (1987)

One of John Candy’s best movies, as well as an all-time great Steve Martin comedy, Planes, Trains and Automobiles enlists not one but many Midwestern cities for its story of road trip misadventure. As Neal Page (Martin) and Del Griffith (Candy) attempt to get home for Thanksgiving, the unlikely pair learn a great deal about themselves and the I-55 corridor in this John Hughes classic.

Hoosiers (1986)

While Texas holds its down when it comes to great football movies, Indiana does the same when it comes to some of the best basketball films. For example, look at the 1986 sports flick, Hoosiers, which follows disgraced coach Norman Dale (Gene Hackman) as he takes over a high school basketball team and attempts to lead them to glory and a better future.

Chicago (2002)

Not only does Rob Marshall’s 2002 musical, Chicago, take place in the “Windy City,” it also spends a considerable amount of time in the Cook County Jail, one of the most notorious facilities in the region and country. Featuring one of the best Renée Zellweger performances, Catherine Zeta-Jones on top of the world, and some catchy 1920s song-and-dance numbers, this one has it all.

Super 8 (2011)

Set in the fictional town of Lillian, Ohio, J.J. Abrams’ 2011 sci-fi coming-of-age thriller follows a group of aspiring filmmakers as they find themselves caught in the middle of a massive train derailment and alien spotting that makes their Midwestern town the epicenter of a massive story.

Gone Girl (2014)

David Fincher’s Gone Girl centers on the sudden disappearance of Amy Dunne (Rosamund Pike) and the highly-televised investigation into whether or not her husband, Nick (Ben Affleck), had anything to do with it. Set in and around Missouri, this visually arresting and twist-heavy psychological thriller captures the fear, uncertainty, and general vibes of the Midwest better than most.

Twister (1996)

Do you know what Midwesterners, especially those in more rural areas, love to do? If you guessed talk about tornadoes, then you would be correct. Twister, which was one of the biggest box office hits of 1996, takes place in the plains states of Oklahoma and Kansas, which some would argue to be part of the Midwest. And since we (I know from experience) love storms up here, we’ll let it slide.

Meet Me In St. Louis (1944)

In addition to featuring one of the most emotional and sentimental renditions of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” the 1944 classic, Meet Me in St. Louis, also makes great use of the city at the core of its story. With the 1904 World’s Fair, a great trolley scene (St. Louisians LOVE trolleys), and one of the most terrifying depictions of Halloween, this cherished film has it all.

Field Of Dreams (1989)

Though Ray Kinsella’s (Kevin Costner) journey of self-discovery takes him around a large portion of the country, Field of Dreams gets started (and ends) in his Iowa cornfield. Not only one of the best baseball movies but also an emotional experience that has resulted in countless phone calls to dads over the years, Phil Alden Robinson’s beloved classic captures the very essence of Midwestern life, for better or worse.

The Blues Brothers (1980) 

Perhaps the best movie based on SNL characters, The Blues Brothers makes perfect use of the City of Chicago as well as its residents and culture to tell its unforgettable story about Jake (John Belushi) and Elwood Blues (Dan Aykroyd) getting the band back together. And really, could that awesome police chase take place anywhere besides the “Windy City?”

Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)

John Hughes was a director who liked to use the City of Chicago more than pretty much everyone before or since, and one of his best movies set in the “Second City” was Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Whether it’s when Matthew Broderick’s titular character is trying to escape suburbia or when he uses the big city as his personal playground, the Illinois metropolis gets a lot of love here.

Tommy Boy (1995)

The 1995 Chris Farley comedy, Tommy Boy, is primarily set in the “Rust Belt” of America as Tommy Callahan (Farley) and Richard Hayden (David Spade) travel throughout the Midwestern states to keep the former’s family’s brake pad company in business. Ohio, Illinois, and every state (and roadway) in between adds a lot to his comedy gem.

A Christmas Story (1983)

Set in the fictional city of Hohman, Indiana, Bob Clark’s iconic holiday movie, A Christmas Story, follows young Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley) as he prepares for the biggest holiday of the year. Though filmed in the early ‘80s, the movie very much captures the look and feel of a Midwestern town in pre-World War II America with its massive (and temperamental cars), snow-covered alleys, and a balance of cynicism and sentimentality.

American Pie (1999)

Though it feels like American Pie takes place somewhere like California, Florida, or pretty much anywhere in the continental United States, this 1999 R-rated comedy calls Michigan home, specifically, the fictional town of East Great Falls. The setting becomes more prominent in later films in the franchise, but there are hints of the Midwest throughout. 

A League Of Their Own (1992)

The 1992 sports comedy-drama, A League of Their Own visits places like Chicago (the setting of the great audition scene), but spends a great deal of its runtime in Midwestern cities like Rockford, South Bend, Kenosha, and Racine, whose Belles provide some stiff competition to the successful and popular Peaches.

Wayne's World (1992)

Based on the popular SNL sketches of the same name, Wayne’s World follows Mike Myers and Dana Carvey’s iconic characters as they find themselves going from hosts of a public-access TV program in Aurora, Illinois to being massive hits in the greater Chicago area. And since we’re talking about the Midwest, we can’t help but recall that hilarious interaction with Alice Cooper in Milwaukee.

Thief (1981)

Michael Mann is known for using the city of Los Angeles better than just about everyone with movies like Heat and Collateral, but early on in his career, the acclaimed filmmaker treated Chicago like the second lead next to the late James Caan in his 1981 crime thriller, Thief. The use of the city, Robert Prosky’s accent, and Dennis Farina's presence make this a Midwestern all-timer.

The Mighty Ducks (1992)

Set in Minneapolis, the 1992 sports comedy, The Mighty Ducks, follows Gordon Bombay (Emilio Estevez) as he leads a group of misfit youth hockey players to glory while also finding peace in the world and remembering his roots. Plus, there’s even an appearance by Minnesota North Stars (before they moved to Dallas) players Basil McRae and Mike Modano.

Angus (1995)

If there’s a movie that best captures the attitudes and sensibilities of the Midwest, it has to be the forgotten 1995 teen comedy, Angus. Set in Minnesota, this coming-of-age story follows Angus Bethune (Charlie Talbert) as he tries to balance school, football, his own insecurities, and a conspiracy to make him king of the Winter Ball. It’s not happy-go-lucky, but neither is the Midwest.

Nebraska (2013)

As its title suggests, Alexander Payne’s 2013 road comedy-drama, Nebraska, spends a great deal of time in the “Cornhusker State” with its story about an elderly man (played by Bruce Dern) as he attempts to claim a $1 million lottery ticket. The movie also ventures to South Dakota as well as outside the Midwest before everything is said and done.

The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford (2007)

Academy Award-winning cinematographer Roger Deakins turns banality into beauty with how he brings the State of Missouri to life in Andrew Dominik’s 2007 Western, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. Several of the film’s sequences, including the epic train robbery and Jesse James (Brad Pitt) in his final moments, are works of art.

The Fugitive (1993)

One of Harrison Ford’s best movies, The Fugitive is also one that makes great use of Chicago (and not just “The Loop” portion of the city). However, it should be noted that while there are some foothills in Southern Illinois, no part of the state is as mountainous as depicted in the prison bus escape or dam sequences.

Major League (1989)

Here’s some well-known trivia about Major League, aka, one of the best sports movies of the ‘80s – this baseball comedy is set in Ohio (it follows the Cleveland Indians), but was filmed “just a bit outside” Cleveland in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This explains why Bob Euker, a great WrestleMania celebrity guest and Milwaukee Brewers broadcaster, appears throughout the movie and its sequel. 

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, which is arguably the best entry in the Vacation franchise, is another great flick set in the Midwest. Though the movie’s depiction of Chicagoland looks like it was placed in Colorado instead of Illinois, there are enough shots of downtown Chicago and regional sports references to let the viewer know that Clark Griswold’s (Chevy Chase) Christmas Eve meltdown is firmly in the center of the country.

Halloween (1978)

Halloween, one of the best horror movies of all time, takes place in Haddonfield, Illinois, a fictional city that is supposed to be just north of Bloomington and Pontiac (about halfway up the state). Michael Myer's reign of terror, if real, would have pretty much taken place in the middle of the country; you can’t get more Midwestern than that. 

Home Alone (1990)

Home Alone is one of the best representations of suburban Chicago, and a lot of that has to do with the fact that John Hughes wrote and produced the beloved 1990 Christmas movie. It’s not as close to the city as other movies set in the greater Chicago area, but it does have loads of references to the region with various sports memorabilia and great accents.

Mean Girls (2004)

Set in Evanston, Illinois, the birthplace of Northwestern University, John Cusack, and Steve Albini, Mean Girls has gone down in history as one of the best 2000s movies and remains a good watch years later. There’s just something timeless to the Tina Fey-penned script about teenagers finding their place in the world.

Adventures In Babysitting (1987)

Chris Columbus’ directorial debut, Adventures in Babysitting, has to feature one of the best uses of the City of Chicago in the history of cinema. Starting in Oak Park and working her way east to the city center, Elisabeth Shue’s Chris Parker goes to great lengths to save a friend while also taking care of a group of young kids, a journey full of twists and turns and all kinds of misadventure.

In Cold Blood (1967)

Based on Truman Capote’s true crime book recounting the real-life 1959 Clutter family murders in rural Kansas, Richard Brooks’ In Cold Blood follows Perry Smith (Robert Blake) and Dick Hickock (Scott Wilson) in the days surrounding the grisly slayings. The Kansas scenery, or lack thereof, adds great weight to this already dark and dismaying crime thriller.

Detroit Rock City (1999)

Adam Rifkin’s 1999 teen comedy, Detroit Rock City, follows a group of friends as they put everything on the line (and Cleveland, Ohio, in the rear-view mirror) as they travel to the “Motor City” to see KISS in concert. Though not successful by any means, it has become a cult classic and a great representation of the moral divide in the Midwest.

Road To Perdition (2002)

Directed by Sam Mendes, Road to Perdition goes all over the State of Illinois to tell its story about a mobster (played by Tom Hanks) who goes to great lengths to protect his son who witnessed a mob hit. It’s dark and at times devastating, but this graphic novel adaptation provides a brilliant representation of the Midwest during the early days of the Great Depression.

Each movie on this list captures at least one aspect of life in the Midwest, a region in the United States that has a little bit of everything, be it good, bad, or somewhere in between.

When it comes to movies that involve family gatherings of any kind, whether it be while some family members are traveling together, getting together for the holidays, or some other event, it can only be a matter of time before something goes wrong. Usually, it's because of one person that begins a cascading effect that turns said family gathering upside down. 

Today, we'll be looking at several characters from different movies that caused a family event to get messed up quite quickly.

When Violet Insults Everyone (August: Osage County)

August: Osage County is based on the play of the same name and is all about a family reunion that turns out wrong. While there are plenty of moments that you could pinpoint from this movie that turn the family gathering sour after their patriarch vanishes, I would point out that Violet insults and embarrasses every family member while under the influence, which later leads to several fights down the line. 

When Christian Made Jokes At Helge's Birthday Dinner (The Celebration)

The Celebration is a Danish film about a family gathering to celebrate their father's 60th birthday, but most of these people do not fit well together. The moment from this film I'd point out is when Christian, the eldest son of the family, decides to make jokes during his toast to his father, some of which involve abuse, and many aren't sure if they're really jokes or not. Tensions rise not that long after. 

Kym And Rachel's Fight At The Rehearsal Dinner (Rachel Getting Married)

Rachel Getting Married is an excellent Anne Hathaway movie where movie lovers get to see her perform so well, and her scene with Rosemarie DeWitt is one of the most heated fight scenes I've seen between sisters. The film follows Kym and her sister, Rachel, who have a deep rift between them due to Kym's self-destructive behavior, which comes to a head at the rehearsal dinner – and later leads to more issues for their family's wedding. 

Dan And Marie's Kiss - Prior To Dan's Family Appearing (Dan In Real Life)

Dan and Marie's kiss in Dan in Real Life is arguably the moment that escalated the quickest. While viewers can see the building tension between Dan and Marie, when they finally kiss, all hell breaks loose when Dan's entire family arrives to bowl at the same bowling alley they were at, and Mitch (Marie's boyfriend and Dan's brother) punches Dan. 

Buzz Bullying Kevin - Which Leads To Kevin Pushing Buzz (Home Alone)

Home Alone is one of the best Christmas movies of all time, but it never would have started if not for this moment. When Kevin and his family are in the kitchen eating pizza the night before a big trip, Buzz bullies Kevin, saying he ate all of Kevin's pizza. Kevin pushes him, which leads to drinks spilling on food, the plane tickets, and so much more. 

Kevin Hitting Buzz After He Teases Him During A School Concert (Home Alone 2: Lost In New York)

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York features Buzz and Kevin in the same school choir – which is strange, considering Buzz seems considerably older than Kevin. Either way, Buzz teases Kevin mid-concert, and Kevin doesn't put up with it and decides to push Buzz down – which starts a domino effect and knocks every choir member off the stands. 

The Entirety Of Death At A Funeral 

Death at a Funeral doesn't just have a moment that ruins a family event – it is the moment—the entire movie. From the opening minutes, there are so many instances that ruin this family gathering, but if I had to pick one, I'd say the moment a literal body falls out of the coffin, and everyone freaks out about it. 

Annie's Tantrum At The Bridal Shower (Bridesmaids)

Bridesmaids is one of the best Paul Feig movies and is hilarious in many ways. Annie, played by Kristen Wiig, has been getting pretty upset throughout the film with Helen continuously upstaging her in preparing for Lillian's wedding, and the luxurious bridal shower is the straw that breaks the camel's back. Lillian ends their friendship afterward – for the time being. The movie still works so many years later.

When Jacob And Hannah Show Up At The Family Gathering (Crazy, Stupid Love)

Crazy, Stupid, Love is a great film showing how small the world can be sometimes. The moment when Jacob and Hannah arrive at a family gathering, and Cal realizes that Jacob (the person helping him try to pick up women) is dating his daughter, is hilarious. And from there, it all goes downhill in a comical fashion. 

When The Brothers Fight On The Train (The Darjeeling Limited)

I've watched every Wes Anderson movie, and The Darjeeling Limited surprised me with how much I liked it, mainly because of the three brothers. Throughout the film, the tension rises between them as they travel until it ultimately breaks into a fight on a train. This, in turn, leads to them getting thrown off. 

When Paige Tells Her Family She Doesn't Want To Wrestle Anymore (Fighting With My Family)

Fighting With My Family is another underrated movie on this list, featuring Florence Pugh in a significant role. In this film, we mainly follow a family of wrestlers, and one of them, Paige, decides to quit because she doesn't think the professional career is worth it. She decides to tell them this during a family dinner – and later, it leads to her older brother, Zak, facing her in the ring to fight her for that, causing more tensions to rise. 

Micky And Dicky's Spar (The Fighter)

Starring Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale, The Fighter is all about fighting, but the one moment I point to is when Micky and Dicky, the prominent brothers we follow in the film, fight. It's an arranged match, but it's brutal and leads to a fight between Micky and his mother, saying that she always favored Dicky over him. 

Uncle Lewis Burns Down The Christmas Tree (National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation)

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is another one of the best Christmas movies out there, and there are plenty of moments during that film I could point to that lead to family events turning disastrous. But I think the one we need to talk about is when Uncle Lewis accidentally burns down their Christmas tree – but I'll say the cat getting electrocuted is a good runner-up. 

Harlan's Death (Knives Out)

Knives Out is another film that's all about a family gathering, but this time, murder is involved. What starts this movie is Harlan's death, the patriarch of the family, which is the moment that sends this family gathering into a tailspin – and introduces folks to the excellent Benoit Blanc. 

Geun-sae Stabs Ki-jung (Parasite)

Parasite won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2020, and it's understandable as to why. This moment occurs at the movie's end, when a family birthday party occurs. But at that moment, Geun-sae can leave the confines of the family's basement, and he stabs Ki-jung in front of everyone. This leads to panic – and more murder later on. 

The Fight At The Dinner Table (The Incredibles)

If you want to talk about the best Pixar films, The Incredibles ranks high, if not just for the family dynamic. While their dinner together isn't necessarily an "event," it's a gathering that establishes how the family works. This dinner goes downhill fast when they discuss Dash's powers at school – this, in turn, leads to a massive fight down the line where superpowers need to be used to calm people down. 

When The Family Members Get Into A Fight About Money (Nebraska)

Filmed in black-and-white, Nebraska is the classic tale of what money will do to people when an elderly Montana man wins the lottery, and his family all want a piece of it. The film is slow to elevate its conflict, but once it gets there, it continues. The moment that really sets everything in motion is when several family members decide to pay Woody a visit because they believe he owes them money. 

Krisha Arriving For Thanksgiving (Krisha)

Krisha is an example of a film where the main character really sends everything topsy-turvy. Played by Krisha Fairchild, the movie tells the story of a woman who tries to make amends with her family after years of addiction. Still, when she arrives for Thanksgiving Day, everything begins to trend downhill. 

Dwayne Snapping At His Family (Little Miss Sunshine)

Little Miss Sunshine is a tragic movie about a family gathering in a van for a road trip to get across the country for a beauty pageant. Many moments in this film could make the list. However, Dwayne snapping at his family after everything they had been through on this trip (including the death of a family member) and screaming about how he hates them is undoubtedly one that causes the mood to shift dramatically and stands at the top.

Billi's Disagreement (The Farewell)

The Farewell is one to watch if you like Awkwafina, featuring one of her best acting performances. In this, her character, Billi, is the person who messes up a lot of what is going on specifically because she does not believe that what they are doing to Na-Na (hiding her illness from her) is correct. This leads to clashing with family. 

Eli Crashes His Car Into The House (The Royal Tenenbaums)

Plenty of moments in The Royal Tenenbaums could appear on this list since they are an exciting family. Still, we'd have to give it to the moment that Eli crashes his car into a house while under the influence, which leads to not only a dog getting killed but fights later on. 

Junon's Diagnosis, Which Leads To People Not Wanting To Take Blood Tests (A Christmas Tale)

A Christmas Tale is about a gathering during Christmas that turns sour when the matriarch reveals that she has blood cancer and will die unless she is given a bone marrow transplant. So, when she brings this up to her family, it causes turmoil very quickly, with secrets coming out not that long after about how they really feel about her, as well as this family unit.

Daniel Switching In And Out Of Mrs. Doubfire During The Dinner (Mrs. Doubtfire)

Mrs. Doubtfire is one of Robin Williams' best movies. While it's hilarious to see him switch out of character as Mrs. Doubtfire, it's during the family birthday dinner that everything really goes downhill. Running back and forth causes strain on his disguise, and it melts off, revealing who is genuinely underneath the kind nanny's face. Miranda is outraged. 

Miguel Begins To Play Guitar (Coco)

Coco is one of my favorite Pixar movies, but no one can deny that this moment is truly what sent Miguel searching for a guitar and sending him to the other side. His playing of the guitar in front of his family, who had strictly banned music, led to his abuelita getting incredibly angry and smashing his guitar. El Día de los Muertos was effectively ruined after that. 

Merida Shooting For Her Own Hand (Brave)

Brave doesn’t get enough love, and Merida is a great princess because she stands for what she believes in. But she does ruin these games when she decides to fight for her own hand in marriage – and knocks it out of the park with her archery skills. But in her mother's eyes, she shamed the family at that moment, which led to tensions rising. 

Ember's Fiery Outburst, Which Ruins The Yearly Sale On Her Family's Store (Elemental)

Ember from the Pixar film Elemental has a temper that is an integral part of her story, and in the beginning of the film, her getting overwhelmed by customers at her family's annual sale is what leads to her letting her fiery temper out in the basement, away from everyone. But it's this moment that leads to the pipes bursting – and later meeting Wade, but she did end up messing up the sale and the store. 

Ralphie Curses (A Christmas Story)

I'm pretty sure every person who has seen A Christmas Story remembers this moment. The family of the iconic Christmas movie just got back from getting a tree, but when Ralphie goes out to help his father when the car blows a tire and he lets an F-bomb slip, the mood is ruined, and he is punished with soap in his mouth.

Nic Finds Traces Of Jule's Hair In Paul's Bedroom (The Kids Are All Right)

The Kids Are All Right is a great film that tells the story of two families colliding when a child wants to find their biological father after being conceived using a sperm donor. But when an affair begins, and Nic (Annette Bening) finds out about it from discovering Jule's (Julianne Moore) hair (her wife) in Paul's (Mark Ruffalo) bedroom, it leads to tensions rising and any nice dinner turning sour. 

Wendy Forces Judd To Tell The Truth About His Wife's Affair (This Is Where I Leave You)

This Is Where I Leave You is a film directed by Shawn Levy about a family gathering where siblings come back together when their father passes and are forced to reside in the same home. It's during a family gathering that Wendy forces her brother to admit that an affair is happening with his wife and then everything goes downhill from there.

The Power Goes Out (The Humans)

The A24 film The Humans, is all about a family telling each other how they feel on Thanksgiving. Tensions rise even quicker once the power goes out, where bombshells are thrown. But plenty of moments before led to the family fighting against each other, too. I love the power going out, though.

Harper And Sloane's Fight (Happiest Season)

Happiest Season is a tremendous modern-day Christmas movie with LGBTQ+ themes, and the moment that leads to things falling apart is when Harper and Sloane (two sisters) get into a fight. This later leads to Sloane outing Harper as a lesbian. 

Jackson Confesses His Feelings At Thanksgiving (Holidate)

The worst time to confess feelings is at Thanksgiving dinner, and Jackson in Holidate does that to Sloane, which leads to a big, intense fight that ruins the dinner – even if they make up later in the film. 

There are so many movies with crazy moments that ruin family events, but these are just some of the most memorable. I'm sure there will be even more to add to this list as time passes. 

Normally when CinemaBlend does a staff-wide best-of list, the loudest and most aggressive arguments are about the order. Not for The Best Christmas Movies. Sure, plenty of us have #thoughts about a few festive choices being too low or too high, but the most heated conversations were all about what counts as a Christmas movie and what does not. Does merely taking place during Christmas time count? Does having a key Christmas scene in a movie with an extended time period count? Does it need to have traditional Holiday themes?

At first we tried to make hard and fast rules about what went down the chimney and what stayed outside, but Christmas isn’t a math equation or a science experiment, it’s a feeling. And after countless arguments and emails that would make Mrs. Claus blush, we finalized a list of festive movies we collectively felt elicited that aforementioned holiday feeling. We then had everyone at CinemaBlend assign a score for every movie they’ve seen. We averaged the ratings, threw out everything that didn’t meet a minimum vote count and wound up with what you’re about to read.

So, put your Santa hat on, bust out some milk and cookies and preemptively rejoice. This is CinemaBlend’s list of the best Christmas movies of all time. 

25. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)

Okay, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is technically a holiday special and not a Christmas movie, but it’s hard to imagine leaving off this stop-motion animated classic. From the introduction with Sam the Snowman welcoming audiences into the fantastical world that is North Pole with its reindeer games and busy workshops to the iconic journey of the titular Rudolph finding his place in the world and coming through to save Christmas, there’s so much to enjoy.

The 1964 TV special, which has been a staple of the holiday season for nearly 60 years, introduces an assortment of wonderfully crafted beloved characters like Yukon Cornelius, the Abominable Snowman, and Hermey, the young elf with aspirations of being a dentist. Plus, it doesn’t feel like Christmas until Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer guides Santa’s sleigh to save the day, even if there are some things about the film that some may find problematic. 
- Philip Sledge

Memorable Quote: "Oh, excuse me, call me Sam. What's the matter? Haven't you ever seen a talking snowman before?"

24. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

The Nightmare Before Christmas is a stop-motion film directed by Henry Selick and tells the story of Jack, the Pumpkin King, who lives in Halloween Town, but when he grows tired of the same old thing every day, he decides to turn it into Christmas Town after he gets the chance to visit accidentally. 

The Nightmare Before Christmas is one of the best stop-motion movies out there and has continued to play for many years on television because of its popularity. The movie has excellent animation and beautiful songs and is one of those few movies that could play at Christmas and Halloween. It is undoubtedly a winner and full of soul, unlike any other animated movie.
- Alexandra Ramos

Memorable Quote: "And I just can’t wait until next Halloween ‘cause I’ve got some new ideas that will really make them scream. And by God, I’m really gonna give it all my might!"

23. Violent Night (2022)

Santa sees you when you’re sleeping – and he will beat you up if you’re naughty. 

Violent Night, directed by Tommy Wirkola, stars David Harbour as Santa Claus, who has lost his Christmas spirit. But when he suddenly finds himself in a home that is held hostage by a group of mercenaries, he decides to rescue Trudy, a little girl with a big heart, and her family by taking out everyone one by one. 

Violent Night isn’t the typical Christmas movie that people would think of. It’s bloody, full of great fight scenes, and much more, but it is fun. The story is the perfect mix of action and heart, and features an excellent performance from Harbour as the man in the red suit, later covered in blood. If you need something action-filled, this is the movie to watch. 
- Alexandra Ramos

Memorable Quote: "Santa's gonna eat through these guys like a plate of cookies!"

22. Lethal Weapon (1987)

Ah, yes. The Christmas movie about a suicidal, widowed cop (Mel Gibson) and his retiring partner (Danny Glover) teaming up to take down an illegal heroin ring during the holidays. Everything we look for in a classic holiday movie. 

But Lethal Weapon has a key factor that pushes it into the Christmas movie conversation: It was written by Shane Black, who sets almost all of his action thrillers (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Iron Man 3) during the holiday season, and weaves plenty of references throughout his dark story to pepper in holiday cheer. The first time we meet Martin Riggs (Gibson), for example, he’s buying drugs from criminals on a Christmas Tree lot. Not every holiday movie needs to have seasonal lights, snow, and goodwill toward man. Some days, you just want to see Gary Busey punching Gibson on Glover’s front lawn. And when you are ready, Lethal Weapon awaits.
- Sean O'Connell 

Memorable Quote: "What do ya say, Jack? Would you like a shot at the title?"

21. Arthur Christmas (2011)

While classic and traditional Christmas movies are all fine and dandy, there’s something about Arthur Christmas’ modern take on Santa Claus (Jim Broadbent)  that is refreshing and totally unique. This film follows the family of Santa on the night between Christmas Eve and Christmas. Our protagonist is Arthur (James McAvoy), Santa’s youngest son and the man who responds to all the letters children send to the North Pole. He realizes a gift has been left behind, so he sets out to deliver it with the help of Grandsanta (Bill Nighy) and the spunky elf Bryony (Ashley Jensen). 

This movie imagines what it would be like if Santa ran a military-like operation, and it’s also a comedy about the dysfunctional family of Father Christmas. Seeing Arthur go on this mission and lovingly deal with his hilariously grumbly grandpa, his retired father, and his uptight older brother Steve (Hugh Laurie), is heartwarming and wholesome. It’s also the basis of a totally new and unique take on the story of Santa Claus.
- Riley Utley 

Memorable Quote: "Jingle Bells, this boat smells, 3000 miles to go!"

20. Home Alone 2: Lost In New York (1992)

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York is the sequel to Home Alone. The film, starring Macaulay Culkin, follows Kevin when he arrives in New York City after boarding the wrong plane, and how he spends his time at The Plaza Hotel. But he runs into the escaped Wet Bandits (now known as the Sticky Bandits), Harry and Marv, that turns his trip to the Big Apple upside down, and he must stop them. 

The premise of Home Alone 2 is about the same – the kid is lost during Christmas time, parents must find the kid, and the kid gets into trouble while parents struggle to get home – but this time, he’s lost in a city. However, just something about NYC during the holidays makes this movie that much better. The stakes are heightened, and the new characters are fun to watch – this is even one of Tim Curry’s best movies.
- Alexandra Ramos

Memorable Quote: "Get outta here, you nosey little pervert, or I'm gonna slap you silly!"

19. Love Actually (2003)

Juggling multiple plotlines is never easy. Balancing ten that are interwoven but also tonally independent isn’t something your average Christmas movie could pull off, but director Richard Curtis, with support from a fantastic cast, is mostly able to do it with his classic romantic comedy Love Actually. 

Through dozens of different characters, the film is able to depict Christmas from a wide variety of perspectives, and there’s a lot of joy and sometimes sadness in watching those characters use the holidays to enact meaningful change in their own lives. The holidays are messy. So is Love Actually, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.
- Mack Rawden

Memorable Quote: "Tell her that you love her. You've got nothing to lose and you'll always regret it if you don't."

18. Scrooged (1988)

Richard Donner directed Scrooged back in 1988, another adaptation of the famous Christmas story, A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens. The comedy film, starring Bill Murray, is a modern retelling of the classic tale, where three ghosts visit a selfish TV executive to regain his Christmas spirit. 

Few adaptations of A Christmas Carol come quite as close as Scrooged. Not only is it hilarious – because it obviously would be with Bill Murray as the star – it features plenty of heart and great acting that translates to a great Christmas movie. 
- Alexandra Ramos

Memorable Quotes: "I never liked a girl well enough to give her twelve sharp knives."

17. Trading Places (1983)

Not all great Christmas movies start out as traditional Christmas movies. Trading Places opened in theaters in June 1983, months before the holiday season. But it’s impossible to watch this comedy and not feel the holiday spirit, as its wintery New York City Christmas-time backdrop is as undeniably appealing as the comedic talents of Eddie Murphy, Jamie Lee Curtis and Dan Aykroyd.

Beyond being a hilarious comedy in which Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche’s Duke brothers place a bet to see the outcome of two men — Eddie Murphy’s Billy Ray Valentine and Dan Aykroyd’s Louis Winthorpe III — when their positions in society are swapped is bit of an underdog story where, amidst a series of comedic and occasionally ridiculous events, goodness and resourcefulness overcome greed. What’s more Christmassy than that? (The only answer might be the sight of Dan Aykroyd's character devouring a salmon through a Santa beard on a bus.)
- Kelly West

Memorable Quote: "Merry New Year."

16. The Lodge (2020)

Christmas is a time for gathering with family, sharing memories, and playing in the snow. All three of those activities are present in directors Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala’s film The Lodge, but there’s one key ingredient that should stop you in your tracks when thinking about family movie night. You see, this holiday flavored entry is a pitch black psychological horror film. 

As Grace (Riley Keough) is getting to know her future step children Aiden (Jaeden Martell) and Mia (Lia McHugh) through the holidays, a steady and creeping dread starts to overtake The Lodge’s narrative. Puzzling out the source of such horror is just as exciting as experiencing it, and trust me, you’ll never forget your first time seeing some of the sights this film has to show you. 

Slow burning to a climax that’s worthy of some therapeutic discussion, this chiller is a fantastic offering for those of you who take the scary stories part of the holiday very seriously.
- Mike Reyes 

Memorable Quote: "Do you see now? You see that we cannot die? Because you're already dead. We're in purgatory." 

15. The Holiday (2006)

Not all Christmas movies are totally wrapped up in the holiday, but there are some that nail the spirit of the season without hammering it home too hard. Writer/director Nancy Meyers uses her masterful skills weaving romantic comedy to make The Holiday feel like an A-list version of the coziest offering Hallmark has to offer and the result is one of our favorite festive movies on Netflix right now. 

Iris (Kate Winslet) and Amanda (Cameron Diaz) agree to swap houses, and to a certain extent lives, as the both of them are having some relationship problems. Apparently, that’s what the doctor ordered, as Iris’ brother (Jude Law) and a colleague of Amanda’s (Jack Black) get entangled in the wake of this decision, and the result is beautiful. 

The Holiday is a Christmas charm offensive that’s firing on all cylinders, and if you weren’t a Jack Black fan before this movie, this will be the one to change your mind. You can definitely watch this one with someone you love, or with your own bottle of champagne to celebrate yourself.
- Mike Reyes 

Memorable Quote: "I've found almost everything written about love to be true."

14. Edward Scissorhands (1990)

Starring Johnny Depp in one of his greatest roles, Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands tells the story of an artificial humanoid who was unfinished, so he has scissors for his hands. A family takes him in, and he falls in love with their teenage daughter. 

While Edward Scissorhands isn’t necessarily a Christmas movie, several elements surround the popular holiday, and there’s no denying the holiday spirit you will feel after watching it. No matter what, your eyes will get tearful when you see Edward carve that ice sculpture for Kim. It’s a great romantic movie for Christmas. 
- Alexandra Ramos

Memorable Quote: "I know it is a little early for Christmas, Edward, but; I have a present for you."

13. Elf (2003) 

There’s a certain intensity to how you experience Christmas when you’re a kid. The feelings of anticipation and if all goes well on the present front, realized joy are naive and over the top, but in retrospect, they’re also beautiful and unspoiled. We’d all visit that emotional place now and again if we could, and Elf gets that completely. 

With a perfect Will Ferrell performance, it brings back that unapologetic excitement and lets us watch as a human raised by elves goes through a Christmas season and experiences it all as we did when we were five. Buddy The Elf is all of us, if we weren’t encumbered by wisdom and worried about judgmental looks, and watching him take great pleasure in all the little things helps us remember how great Christmas is.
- Mack Rawden

Memorable Quotes: "We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns, and syrup."

12. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)

Rarely is the third movie in a franchise the best installment, but that just so happens to be the case with National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik and written by the legendary John Hughes, this hilarious 1989 classic follows Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) as he attempts to put on the best Christmas ever for his family (both immediate and extended). That, however, proves to be no easy task for the accident-prone and high-strung family man, as he is faced to overcome all kinds of obstacles in the lead-up to the big holiday.

What’s so wonderful about National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is that it doesn’t feel like a cheap way to continue a popular ‘80s movie franchise, but instead something genuine and genuinely funny. It has countless classic side characters (Cousin Eddie, Margo and Todd Chsester, Aunt Bethany), laugh-out-loud moments (“Why’s the floor wet, Todd,” the dried-out turkey, a SWAT team crashing the Christmas party), and perhaps one of the best Christmas movie songs of all time.
- Philip Sledge

Memorable Quote: "Can I refill your eggnog for you? Get you something to eat? Drive you out to the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead?"

11. Gremlins (1984)

You’re probably thinking to yourself, “Gremlins isn’t a Christmas movie, is it?” You wouldn’t be blamed for such a viewpoint, as the chaotic horror-comedy that ensues in director Joe Dante’s classic creature feature kind of eclipses the fact that it does take place during the holidays. 

The adventures of Billy Peltzer (Zach Galligan) and Gizmo (Howie Mandell) fending off the hordes of the titular green menace have definitely left a cultural impact. But let’s not forget, there’s plenty of Christmas carnage involved in writer Chris Columbus’ dark rollercoaster ride of yuletide terror. 

Invoking It’s A Wonderful Life, both in its idyllic small town setting and through including actual footage, is probably the best indicator of what Gremlins is trying to do. Unleashing a nightmare in small town America one monster at a time, laughs and screams are good neighbors in the world of this holly jolly horror show.
- Mike Reyes 

Memorable Quote: "You say you hate Washington's Birthday or Thanksgiving and nobody cares, but you say you hate Christmas and people treat you like you're a leper."

10. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

Directed by Brian Henson, the Muppet adaptation of A Christmas Carol was hardly the first to tackle the classic Dickens story, but it is arguably  the most colorful and most musical, if not the funniest (Scrooged gives it a run for its money there). Not only does it feature some incredible puppeteer talent, including Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Jerry Nelson and the great Frank Oz, but this holiday classic features none other than Michael Caine in the role of the cranky Ebenezer Scrooge, a rich, cold man who’s offered a chance at redemption in the face of a bleak alternative. In addition to Caine, the cast includes grumpy commentators Waldorf and Statler playing the Marley Brothers, Kermit the Frog as Bob Cratchit, and Miss Piggy as his frustrated wife Emily, not to mention Rizzo the Rat as the helpful co-narrator (alongside Gonzo). 

We can celebrate the greatness of the Muppets all day long, but what works so well about The Muppet Christmas Carol is that it manages to be both a Muppet movie and a proper adaptation of Charles Dickens’ story simultaneously and throughout, telling the occasionally dark and classic tale with humor and genuine heart in a way that kids and adults can appreciate every holiday season.
- Kelly West

Memorable Quotes: "You're a little absent-minded, spirit."

9. A Christmas Story (1983) 

Despite being narrated by a man in his 60s, A Christmas Story is one of the most authentic depictions of what it feels like to be a kid that we’ve ever gotten. It’s certainly the best one that touches on Christmas and how life or death getting the right present can feel. In Ralphie’s case, that life or death present is a Red Ryder BB Gun. He wants it. Everyone else thinks he’ll shoot his eye out.

He, of course, does shoot his eye out, but before he pulls the trigger, A Christmas Story delivers moment-after-moment of comedy gold, many of which feel so relatable. There’s the blowout Christmas meal that turns into an inedible disaster. There’s the embarrassing present from extended family members, the department store Santa that just wants to keep the line moving, the first f-bomb in front of the parents, the childhood dare that goes disastrously wrong, the first fight, the brother who won’t eat, the bad grade, the bar of soap punishment and the new decoration one family member loves and everyone else hates. Some of the details might be different, but A Christmas Story portrays every one of those universal emotions, which is why it means so much to so many.
- Mack Rawden

Memorable Quote: "You'll shoot your eye out."

8. Klaus (2019)

It is hard to stick the landing when it comes to creating a new holiday tradition. The Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeers and Santa Clauses of the world don’t just happen overnight. Trying too hard is something that can sink even the best natured attempts at making a seasonal favorite, and thankfully the Netflix original film Klaus succeeds where most have failed.

Spoiled postman Jesper (Jason Schwartzman) finds himself banished to a small town in Norway with a mission: get the town to post 6,000 letters, or lose his claim to the family fortune. Banding together with Klaus (J.K. Simmons), a toymaker who keeps to himself, co-writer/director Sergio Pablos’ tale of Santa Claus’ origins is all at once hysterically funny, and also touchingly bittersweet. 

Never tipping over into overly maudlin or snarky material, watching Klaus for the first time is an emotional ton of bricks. It celebrates the season in a way that even those who don’t celebrate can still enjoy. Nurturing the wondrous inner child in all of us, it’s a picture that’s truly earned its place as a new perennial favorite with its heart firmly in the right place.
- Mike Reyes  

Memorable Quote: "We need to show people that a true, selfless act always sparks another."

7. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

One of the most well-known and beloved Christmas movies of all time, George Seaton’s Miracle on 34th Street tells an exceptional and transfixing story about a department store Santa Claus who claims the be the real deal and then captures the hearts of pretty much everyone around him, save for a jealous co-worker and an arrogant psychologist. Released in 1947, this holiday staple follows Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) as he becomes the Santa Claus of the flagship Macy’s in New York City and teaches event director Doris Walker (Maureen O’Hara) and her young daughter, Susan (Natalie Wood), the meaning of Christmas.

As soon as Kringle is introduced in the early goings of the movie, it’s hard not to be carried away by his calm and kind nature, and it only gets better from there. Despite those around him not believing in Santa, and others doing everything they can to get rid of him, the bearded elderly man with mysterious abilities never lets it get him down, and never loses his faith in people or the holidays.
- Philip Sledge

Memorable Quote: "You see, Mrs. Walker, this is quite an opportunity for me. For the past 50 years or so I've been getting more and more worried about Christmas."

6. Home Alone (1990)

On the surface, Home Alone is about bad guys, booby traps and being a kid, but beneath that adventuresome exterior, it’s also about loneliness. Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) isn’t just defending his literal home from the Wet Bandits (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern), he’s defending his sense of home, which is upended when his entire family mistakenly leaves without him. With blow torches and paint cans, he keeps the robbers out, and with a suddenly more mature perspective on what matters, he connects with his elderly neighbor, who is dealing with his own isolation. 

Christmas is always wrapped up in expectations, and if you look beyond the tar and chicken feathers, Home Alone spends a lot of its runtime exploring what happens when those expectations aren’t met. Families can’t always be what we need them to be, and we can’t always be what we want to be. We all have cheap, scumbag uncles or brothers who wouldn’t let us sleep in their rooms if we were growing on their asses. We accidentally leave without our kids or leave them beside corpses at a funeral home. We steal toothbrushes and say things we shouldn’t to our sons. And then we deal with the loneliness that follows.

Beneath the wipeouts and head fires, Home Alone lives in that loneliness, and that helps turn what could be a mindless revenge fantasy for kids into something that means so much more. Having one of the best child actor performances ever helps too, who continued to delve out amazing performances, leading to a debate about which film in the Home Alone series is superior.
- Mack Rawden 

Memorable Quote: "Buzz! Your girlfriend! Woof!"

5. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)

The first TV special based on Charles M. Schulz’s Peanuts strip, and one of the most well-known holiday cartoons of all time, A Charlie Brown Christmas was released in 1965 and has been a permanent fixture of the season ever since. This short and sweet special centers on Charlie Brown as he attempts to direct a Christmas play that captures the true meaning of the season, only to be disregarded by an uncooperative cast and rampant commercialism. But that all changes when Charlie and Linus go looking for a Christmas tree to be the centerpiece of their production.

For decades, Bill Melendez’s special has captured the hearts and minds of countless viewers spanning multiple generations who can’t help but fall in love with its touching story, simple yet beautiful animation, and a score by Vince Guaraldi that is just as popular. It has everything someone could ever want in a Christmas special and laid the foundation for similar titles that followed over the coming years.
- Philip Sledge

Memorable Quote: "I never thought it was such a bad little tree. It's not bad at all, really. Maybe it just needs a little love.

4. How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)

1966’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas is the best of the network TV animated specials produced in the late 1960s and early 1970s, which is saying a lot given many of them are still broadcast almost sixty years later. The success starts with the creative choice to keep Dr. Seuss’ words at the center of the story. Narrated by the delightful Boris Karloff, who also provides the voice of The Grinch, the special never drifts far from the wordplay at the heart of the book, and that results in an end product that, at times, can feel like an audiobook with a visual component.

Even with that visual component hanging as the second stocking, however, the animation works extremely well. It’s a little crude compared to modern standards, but it’s also extremely clever and features a lot of fun transitions and vibrant creative choices. Apples turn into eyes. The Grinch slithers around the floor when he’s at his most mischievous, and Max, The Grinch’s trusty sidekick, delivers in every single cut-to shot he gets. All of it is just delightful, and the bow on top is Thurl Ravenscroft’s fantastic song “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch” which still hits the Billboard charts every holiday season.
- Mack Rawden

Memorable Quote: "Maybe Christmas, he thought...doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps...means a little bit more."

3. Die Hard (1988)

“Now I have a machine gun. Ho-Ho-Ho.” That one line might have started the debate about whether or not John McTiernan’s Die Hard is a Christmas movie (it clearly is), but there’s plenty more evidence sprinkled throughout this action classic about an off-duty cop (Bruce Willis, at his finest) foiling a high-stakes robbery during a Los Angeles Christmas party.   

Everything about Die Hard is perfect. The pacing, the set pieces, the humor… they all help to make Die Hard one of the most rewatchable movies of all time. But little touches put us in the holiday mood while watching John McClane run barefoot across broken glass, or throw his body off the roof of Nakatomi Plaza with only a fire hose to catch him. Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, “Ode to Joy,” is basically “The Die Hard Song” at this point. Stellar villain Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) leans on Christmas miracles to aid his plot. And Die Hard ends with a warm – and bloody – family reunion, as all good Christmas movies should.
- Sean O'Connell

Memorable Quote: "Just a fly in the ointment, Hans. A Monkey in the wrench. A pain in the ass."

2. It's A Wonderful Life (1946)

Is it even Christmas if you don’t watch It’s a Wonderful Life at least once? Released in 1946, Frank Capra’s celebrated black-and-white holiday classic follows George Bailey (James Stewart), a down-on-his-luck man who considers ending it all after all his personal and professional plans blow up in his face. However, before Bailey can jump from a bridge and put an end to his miserable life, his guardian angel, Clarence Odbody (Henry Travers) takes him on a journey through his past to prove that George isn’t all that bad.

Along the way, George is taken back in time and experiences all sorts of memories, both good and bad, as he revisits the consequential moments from his life and how those various decisions affected those around him. Full of life lessons and iconic moments, this wonderful movie not only captures the meaning of the Christmas season but also has all the best qualities of a standard drama, making it something the whole family can enjoy throughout the year. But there’s no better way to watch It’s a Wonderful Life than around the fire with your family in the final days of the holiday season.
- Philip Sledge

Memorable Quote: You see, George, you've really had a wonderful life. Don't you see what a mistake it would be to throw it away?

1. White Christmas (1954)

When you’ve got people like Clark Griswold using films like White Christmas to define the ideal holiday celebration in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, that’s saying a lot. Invoking Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye by name, that was enough to cement this movie’s place in the pop culture landscape. However, that position is not without merit, as you can clearly see by director Michael Curtiz’s movie winning out the top spot.

Just what is it about White Christmas that makes it a timeless hit? Well, one of the most well-known Christmas songs being its title and third act centerpiece is certainly a good start; as is the rest of the catalog of catchy tunes. And when you’ve got Crosby and Kaye paired with Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen, that’s an anchor that’d stop a glacier from veering off course. However, much like another landmark directing gig of Curtiz’s, 1942’s Casablanca, White Christmas finds a way to appeal to a wide swath of audience members. Blending a tale of war time buddies banding together to help out a commanding officer (Dean Jagger) with a rom-com replete with subterfuge, misunderstandings, and epic makeups, it’s a movie that still looms large over the holiday canon.

If there’s a lack of laughter or a dry eye in the house after watching White Christmas, then chances are you had the TV off while playing it. Going on 70 years since its initial release, this is an all-timer that’s as merry and bright now as it was back then.
- Mike Reyes 

Memorable Quote: "We'll follow the old man wherever he wants to go. Long as he wants to go opposite to the foe."

This holiday season, when looking for kids films the whole family will enjoy that are also imbued with a holly and jolly touch, you’re definitely going to want to watch some of the best Christmas movies that not only will appeal to both the young and the young at heart, but are also available with the quickness. With there being more options than ever before — both in terms of movies and streaming platforms — deciding on one or two, or even a marathon of Christmas classics and modern gems, can be a mad dash through the snow without a guiding (red) light to lead the way. 

Worry not, for we have put together a list of 15 Christmas movies that are great for the whole family, while also being a treat for solo viewing. From staples like A Charlie Brown Christmas to more recent offerings like 8-Bit Christmas, and even Home Alone (how could we forget that?), there’s a lot to unpack in this bag of holiday hits that totally sleigh.

Elf (2003)

A 2000s family movie that’s remains fantastic and weirdly timeless, Jon Favreau’s Elf is one of those flicks that just seems to get better over the years. Released 20 years ago this fall, this beloved holiday classic follows Buddy the Elf (Will Ferrell) as he travels from the North Pole to the Big Apple to find his long-lost father, a grumpy executive at a children’s book company who has forgotten the Christmas spirit. Outrageous comedy, syrupy spaghetti dinners, and a whole lot of heart make this the perfect way to kick off the 12 days of Christmas with your family. Bob Newhart is just extra.

Stream Elf on Max.
Stream Elf on Paramount+.

Home Alone (1990)

Can you really celebrate Christmas unless you've watched Home Alone at least once, if not multiple times? Featuring one of cinema's most epic battles between a kid and adults, the 1990 classic never gets old, thank in part to an incredibly touching mother-son arc and some of John Huges’ funniest characters. One could argue that watching the Wet Bandits get owned would still be great even without the holiday setting, but the festive nature of Home Alone adds a whole other dimension to the story, turning a fun and exciting film into a tradition. Plus, Macaulay Culkin’s Kevin McAllister is the GOAT of juvenile Christmas heroes, and probably wouldn't have been left alone on a random weekend in January.

Stream Home Alone on Starz.
Rent/buy Home Alone on Amazon.

A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)

One question that seems to come up every year is “How do I watch A Charlie Brown Christmas?” With the Peanuts library streaming exclusively for those with an Apple TV+ subscription, at least for the foreseeable future, that’ll the best way to check out the classic 1965 holiday special. This beloved treasure follows the young and blockheaded, er, dedicated director of the annual Christmas pageant as he searches for the true meaning of the season. It’s short, sweet, and honestly one of the best specials of its kind ever created, and its music alone should be on everyone's holiday playlists.

Stream A Charlie Brown Christmas on Apple TV+.

A Christmas Story (1983)

Nearly a decade after releasing one of the best Christmas horror movies, director Bob Clark brought a completely different approach to the holiday season with 1983's A Christmas Story. This undeniable family-friendly masterpiece centers on Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley), a young boy who does everything he can to get a Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-shot Range Model air rifle, whether it's through an essay at school, begging a mall Santa, or leaving hints for others around the house. The movie also features other iconic vignettes that are just as entertaining and quotable 40 years later, and the yearly 24-hour cable marathons have become a yearly tradition on their own.

Rent/buy A Christmas Story on Amazon.

The Santa Clause (1994)

Before turning into a franchise that would eventually be brought back as a Disney+ streaming sequel series, The Santa Clause started out as a fun family-friendly movie about a toy marketing executive named Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) who becomes Santa after accidentally killing “Old St. Nick” on Christmas Eve. Despite his best efforts to deny the job (and the metaphorical and literal baggage that comes with it), Scott is forced to step up and save the day for billions of children and non-believers around the world. Nobody can "Ho Ho Ho" quite like Allen.

Stream The Santa Clause on Disney+.
Rent/buy The Santa Clause on Amazon.

How The Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)

Some would say How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is the best Christmas special of all time, and there’s a strong case to be made for the 1965 cartoon. Clocking in at a little under 30 minutes, this brilliant adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ iconic children’s book is full of so much charm and cheer, it’ll make your heart grow three sizes by the time the Grinch finds the reason for the season after taking everything from the Whos. Come for Chuck Jones' timeless animation, and stay for the the earworm narration from Frankenstein's monster himself, Boris Karloff. 

Stream How the Grinch Stole Christmas! on Peacock.
Rent/buy How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000 Live-Action Version) on Amazon.

8-Bit Christmas (2021)

Make no mistake about it, 8-Bit Christmas is not only one of the best holiday movies of the past decade, it also has what it takes to one day be in the conversation for best of all time. Michael Dowse’s stellar comedy follows Jake Doyle (played in youth by Winslow Fegley, and in adulthood by Neil Patrick Harris) as he goes to great lengths to aquire the then-new Nintendo Entertainment System in the late ‘80s. It's an adventure that takes him from the safety of the suburbs to the streets of Chicago, resulting in a Christmas experience Jake and audiences will never forget. Though as silly and raucous as can be at times, 8-Big Christmas also packs quite an emotional punch, one you’ll probably think about for some time.

Stream 8-Bit Christmas on Max.
Rent/buy 8-Bit Christmas on Amazon.

The Polar Express (2004)

Once you get past the uncanny valley of its visuals, specifically the arguably disturbing faces of the human characters, Robert Zemeeckis’ 2004 adaptation of the children’s classic The Polar Express is an easily enjoyable animated adventure. Mostly set on the titular train, the movie travels with a group of young children to the North Pole to visit Santa as he’s preparing for his annual trip around the world. It's a delightful and sentimental exploration of the joy and wonder of Christmas, and even though it could stand to use a video game-esque animation upgrade, that shouldn't stop it from being an annual treat for audiences of all ages.

Rent/buy The Polar Express on Amazon.

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

There have been countless adaptations of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, but perhaps the best version for the whole family to enjoy this (and any other) holiday season is The Muppet Christmas Carol. With late creator Jim Henson's son Brian Henson as director, this version sees Michael Caine take on the role of everyone’s favorite grump, Ebenezer Scrooge as he is taken on a transformative experience to his past, present, and future. Only this time time, he’s dealing with Muppets, who step in as some of the novella’s most iconic characters. Fun and not as dark as say the 2019 FX version starring Guy Pearce and Andy Serkis, this is a great option for the family.

Stream The Muppet Christmas Carol on Disney+.
Rent/buy The Muppet Christmas Carol on Amazon.

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)

Though it’s fun to joke about some of the disturbing truths about Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, there’s no denying the fact that it will forever go down as one of the greatest holiday specials in the history of television. Released on NBC in 1964, the stop-motion animated special from what would later become known as Rankin/Bass Productions tells the story of the unlikely reindeer who saved Christmas after embarking upon a perilous journey with new friends and abundant dangers. Classic songs, unforgettable characters, and nostalgia make this a must-watch.

Buy Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer on Amazon.

The Christmas Chronicles (2018)

Action, comedy, and holiday cheer all come together for Clay Kaytis’ 2018 Netflix original movie, The Christmas Chronicles. This new spin on the Santa Story sees none other than Kurt Russell take on the role of St. Nick as he deals with a pair of stowaways who cause him to crash and nearly ruin Christmas. With a ticking clock that could spell disaster for children around the world, the trio attempt to find a way to deliver all the presents (to the right kids) before time runs out. 

Stream The Christmas Chronicles on Netflix.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

One of the defining releases of 1993, The Nightmare Before Christmas is also one that could be included on the list of best Halloween titles in addition to being a holiday staple. Directed by Henry Selick from a story by producer Tim Burton, the 30-year-old stop-motion movie follows Jack Skellington (Chris Sarandon) as he attempts to take over “Christmas Town,” only to find some hiccups (and joy) in his grand scheme. The soundtrack remains as classic as the animation itself, and Jack and Sally have become some of the most brand-friendly characters in Disney's library, especially from October-December.

Stream The Nightmare Before Christmas on Disney+.
Rent/buy The Nightmare Before Christmas on Amazon.

The Preacher’s Wife (1996)

A black-led Christmas movie that will never not be amazing, Penny Marshall’s The Preacher’s Wife follows Reverend Henry Biggs (Courtney B. Vance) and his wife, Julia (Whitney Houston) as they are visited by Dudleye (Denzel Washington), an angel who changes their lives in more ways than one. Between crises of faith, Christmas pageants, and Whitney Houston’s outstanding singing voice, there’s so much working for this 1996 fantasy drama.

Rent/buy The Preacher’s Wife on Amazon.

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (2020)

Directed by David E. Talbert, the 2020 Netflix musical fantasy film Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey centers on Jeronicus (Forest Whitaker), a once joyful inventor and toymaker who finds new purpose in life when his granddaughter, Journey (Madalen Mills) shows up. Fantastical sets, enchanting songs, and outstanding performances from the Jingle Jangle cast all work together to create a phenomenal holiday romp for those who want something they probably haven't seen a thousand times already.

Stream Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey on Netflix.

The Princess Switch (2018)

One of the best Christmas movies on Netflix right now, The Princess Switch follows the Duchess of Montenaro and a Chicago baker (both played by Vanessa Hudgens) as they discover they are practically identical to one another. Having fun with the situation, the pair decide to switch places for a couple of days, a decision that will ultimately lead to major changes in each of their lives.

Stream The Princess Switch on Netflix.

Well, these 15 movies and holiday specials will certainly give you and your family plenty to watch this Christmas. Here's hoping more modern classics are on the way in the years to come.

Every movie has a star, most have a hero. Sometimes there other roles that get overlooked, or under-appreciated. This list is dedicated to those ‘80s movie characters that just don't get the credit they should. 

Sallah - Raiders Of The Lost Ark

Indiana Jones is a legend. A hero. Everything anyone ever wanted from a big screen idol. Dr. Jones also probably wouldn't have survived the first half of Raiders of the Lost Ark if not for Sallah (John Rhys-Davies). Remember, it's Sallah who notices the monkey that died from eating the poisoned dates. 

Queen Aoleon Joffer - Coming To America

When Eddie Murphy's character, Prince Akeem, wants to travel to America to sow his royal oats in Coming To America, it's his mother, Queen Aoleon Joffer (Madge Sinclair in one of her roles as a Queen), who encourages it. When Akeem declares his love for Lisa, it's Queen Joffer who tells him to run after her. She's a queen in name and in action. 

Merlin - Top Gun

The are two critical moments in Top Gun when a pilot needs his "RIO" (the guy in the other seat). One is at the beginning of the movie when Cougar loses it after the first dog fight. He cracks under the pressure and his RIO, Merlin (Tim Robbins), helps Maverick (Tom Cruise) talk Cougar down to the flight deck. In the end, when Maverick needs to get back in the fight but is struggling with the loss of his RIO, Goose (Anthony Edwards), It's Merlin in the backseat that helps get Maverick back in the fight. 

Fezzik - The Princess Bride

There is one person you can always count on in The Princess Bride and that is Fezzik, played by Andre The Giant. Sure, he threatens to crush Wesley's skull and he is the Brute Squad, but that's before we really get to know him. After drying Inigo Montoya out from the booze, they set out to help the man they once were ordered to kill and in the end, it's Fezzik with the four white horses to carry everyone to safety. 

Sarah - Adventures In Babysitting

Sure, Sarah gets herself in a jam on the edge of a skyscraper in downtown Chicago in Adventures in Babysitting, but she's also the one that convinces the mechanic played by a blonde Vincent D'Onofrio to help. In the movie, he may look like Thor, but at first, he's not interested in saving the kids, because they are short a few bucks on the car repairs. Sarah offers up her favorite toy and he's so touched, he gives them the car. 

Jake Houseman - Dirty Dancing

Dr. Jake Houseman, Baby's father in Dirty Dancing, played brilliantly by Law & Order's Jerry Orbach, is a bit of a villain at times in the movie. He's very old school and very over-protective of his daughters. He certainly isn't happy about Baby (Jennifer Grey) and Johnny (Patrick Swayze) canoodling around. When the chips are down and Johnny's partner Penny is in trouble after a botched back-alley abortion, it's Dr. Houseman who steps in and saves her life.

Yori - Tron

In Tron, it's Tron (Bruce Boxleitner) and Flynn (Jeff Bridges) who win the day by defeating the Master Control Program. But without critical information that Tron gets by contacting his user outside the grid, it never could've happened. To do this, Yori convinces the guard, Dumont, to let Tron get the info he needs from his user.

Lt. Bogomil - Beverly Hills Cop

Ronny Cox plays the hardass Lt. Andrew Bogomil in Beverly Hills Cop. At first, he's definitely not on Axel Foley's (Eddie Murphy) side. He orders Rosewood (Judge Reinhold) and Taggert (John Ashton) to follow Foley while he's in Beverly Hills. Bogomil comes around and ends up inventing a story to cover for Foley after they take down the drug traffickers.

Agent Oscar Wallace - The Untouchables

Agent Oscar Wallace (Charles Martin Smith) isn't the prototype of a Treasury Officer tracking the gangsters in the 1930s in The Untouchables. He's not the grizzled vet like Sean Connery's Malone, or the hard-charging Elliott Ness (Kevin Costner). What he is, though, is the guy that actually nails Al Capone (Robert DeNiro). It's his bookish nature that gets him examining Capone's accounts to discover that Capone has paid no taxes for years. 

Carl Fox - Wall Street

Carl Fox, played by Martin Sheen, is Bud's (his real son, Charlie Sheen) father. Bud is caught up in the glitz and glamour of the go-go 1980s. Beach house, modern art, Darryl Hannah...you remember. He goes down some pretty dark roads in the movie, gaining insider trading info for the diabolical Gordon Gekko. The whole time, it's Carl  who tries to speak reason to him. Carl even lines him up with a job at his company that Bud once tried to kill with a deal. That's love. 

Sgt. Hulka - Stripes

In the beginning, he was the drill sergeant. Sgt. Hulka (Warren Oates) is mean; he's tough; he drills the men in the platoon in Stripes, directed by Ivan Reitman, half to death. Like any drill sergeant, he never lets down his guard or shows his human side. That is, until the end, when the idiots in the platoon drive straight into communist Czechoslovakia. Using all his toughness and smarts, Hulka gets word to John (Bill Murray) and Russell (Harold Ramis) and together they break the rest of the platoon out of jail and get back safely to Western Europe, becoming national heroes. 

Iona - Pretty In Pink

Iona (Annie Potts) is the best friend everyone needs in Pretty in Pink. She's the (slightly) older, wiser, big sister type for Andie (Molly Ringwald) and guides her through some of the most important parts of her life. When the brass tacks are down at the end of the movie and Andie needs a dress to the prom, it's Iona who gives Andie her own prom dress, making Andie pretty in pink. It's enough to bring a tear to your eye.

President John Harker - Escape From New York

Okay, so President Harker (Donald Pleasence) in Escape From New York isn't exactly a hero. In fact, the character is easy to despise. He's annoying, he's obnoxious, and he's almost ungrateful at times for the help he gets from Snake (Kurt Russell). For one brief moment, he is the hero. As Snake is being pulled to safety and off the prison island that is 1997 New York, The Duke (Isaac Hayes) appears with a gun and aims to kill Snake. Harker raises a machine gun and blows The Duke away, saving Snake, even if it was really Harker's own anger towards The Duke that motivated him. 

Billy - Big

Like Iona, Billy (Jared Rushton) in Big is the best friend we all need. After Josh (Tom Hanks, who almost didn't get the role) "grows up," he's basically on his own. The only person who believes Josh's story, that a wish from a fortune-telling machine made him "big," is Billy. He takes it upon himself to locate the machine while Josh is wrapped up in his "adult" life. In the end, it's Billy that finds the machine so Josh is able to become a kid again. 

Carl The Janitor - The Breakfast Club 

Carl (John Kapelos) is the eyes and ears of Shermer High School in The Breakfast Club. He's also quite the philosopher when he explains to Vice Principal Vernon (Paul Gleason) that the kids haven't changed, he has, after Vernon says he thinks '80s kids aren't like kids of yesteryear. It's an important thing for everyone to remember: kids will always be kids. 

Vasquez - Aliens

Vasquez (Jenette Goldstein) is one tough marine. She might be the toughest of the bunch in Aliens. She proves how tough she is when she and Lt. Gorman fight down to their last bullet, holding the alien off so Newt and Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) can escape. Vasquez and Gorman end up sacrificing themselves so the rest can get away. 

Sato - Karate Kid Part II

Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita) and Sato (Danny Kamekona) have, it's easy to say, a complicated relationship in The Karate Kid Part II. We learn that the reason Miyagi left Okinawa as a kid was because Sato had challenged him to a fight to the death over a girl. When Miyagi returns to Okinawa, Sato has not forgotten. In the end, Sato finds forgiveness, and we need more of that in this world. 

Vijay - Octopussy

Sometimes even James Bond needs a little help. In Octopussy, a lot comes from Vijay (Vijay Amritraj), MI6's man in India. Not only does he help Bond get acclimated to the country, but he also drives the tuk-tuk in the chase scene, saving Bond and making the ultimate sacrifice when he's killed on a stakeout. 

Sgt. Al Powell - Die Hard

It's easy to hear "pal" instead of "Powell" in Die Hard when John (Bruce Willis) is communicating with Al Powell (Reginald VelJohnson) of the LAPD. That's good, because Powell is a real pal to John. He's there to listen when John needs it, and most importantly, he's there with his weapon at the end so save John from the lone remaining terrorist. 

Zev Senesca - The Empire Strikes Back

Zev Senesca (Christopher Malcolm) in The Empire Strikes Back has a small role. He's one of many heroes in the rebellion, but the reason Zev stands out is because he locates Han and Luke after their night in the cold on Hoth. Without Zev, we might not have our heroes to save the galaxy from the Empire.

Da Mayor - Do The Right Thing

In Do The Right Thing, most of the characters do the wrong thing. The lone voice of calm in the movie is Da Mayor (Ossie Davis). He tries with all his might to educate the young and calm tensions at the end, but he, like many of our elders, is ignored and lambasted. He should be the hero that is needed at the moment, and would have been if any of us had been listening. 

Mrs. Parker - A Christmas Story

Moms are always a good bet for being unsung heroes and Mrs. Parker (Melinda Dillon) in A Christmas Story is no different. Anytime Ralph needs his mom, she is there. From the fight with the bully to covering up for shooting his eye out, Mrs. Parker has his back. 

Coleman The Butler - Trading Places

Butlers on film are often some of the most loyal characters, and Coleman (Denholm Elliott) in Trading Places is loyal not to one, but to both the characters he works for, Winston and Billy Ray (Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy). He even plays a big part in the scheme to get rich while bankrupting the Dukes and he ends up on the beach with them at the end, as he should.  

Rufus - Bill And Ted’s Excellent Adventure

Speaking of loyal servants, Rufus (George Carlin) in Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure is just that. Serving Bill and Ted with all the info they need to fulfill their destiny. Sure, he worships them, but he does the hard work to get them where they need to go so that in his future, Bill and Ted occupy the spot of reverence they are meant to. 

Frank Tillman - Road House

Frank Tillman (Kevin Tighe) in Road House is the boss. He's the bar owner who hires Dalton (Patrick Swayze) and lets him run the show. That's enough to get him on this list, but in the end, he's also one of the people who saves Dalton's life when Brad Wesley (Ben Gazzara) goes to shoot him. A true hero in every sense. 

Next time you're watching a movie, pay attention to the supporting characters that truly make the difference. It shows we can matter in our own ways.

The nerds versus the jocks. The geeks vs. cool kids. It’s a tale as old as time, but especially since the 1980s. At least on film. Nerd culture may be winning today, but it wasn’t always that way, so here are some of the best movies where the geeks defeat the bullies.

The Nerds Beat The Jocks - Revenge Of The Nerds

Revenge of the Nerds has a LOT of problematic parts to it, but the core theme of the movie remains universal. The underdog nerds get picked on by the football-playing jocks so much that there is nothing left to do but beat them, and beat them at their own game. Sure, it takes the help of some of their national fraternity brothers, and it can easily be argued that much of what the nerds do in the college olympics is straight-up cheating. But hey, at least they use their brains to outwit the jocks' brawn. No one can say Booger cheated in the belching contest, though. 

Daniel Ruins Johnny’s Life - The Karate Kid

Daniel LaRusso in The Karate Kid is a quiet East Coast kid who is forced to move to LA where he has a hard time fitting in. In a moment of anger, he lashes out at the popular kid in school, Johnny Lawrence, which makes him a target for some vicious bullying by Johnny and his fellow Cobra Kais. It’s Daniel, of course, who gets the last laugh when he takes Johnny down at the Under 18 All-Valley Karate Championship, which, we’d later learn in Cobra Kai, completely ruins Johnny’s life. Which seems a little unfair of the Karate Kid movies, but nothing a few Coors can’t fix. 

Clifford Breaks Moody’s Nose - My Bodyguard

If you’ve never seen My Bodyguard, you’re not alone. If you’re of a certain generation, though, it was one of those movies that was on cable all the time in the mid-'80s, so you might not remember it well, but you remember it. The plot is pretty basic: a wimpy kid, played by Chris Makepeace, gets bullied by a greaser-type (Matt Dillion) and he enlists the biggest outcast in the school (Adam Baldwin) to help settle the score. It takes a while and some ups and downs, but finally, the wimp shows he doesn’t need the outcast and takes out the greaser with one solid punch. 

Cecile And Annette Expose Kathryn - Cruel Intentions

It’s hard to think of Reese Witherspoon as some kind of underdog, but that’s what her character, Annette, is compared to the alpha female at an elite private school played brilliantly by Sarah Michelle Gellar in Cruel Intentions. Together with Cecile (Selma Blair), an even quieter teenager at the school, they get revenge on the manipulative Kathryn by exposing all her dirty secrets and sexual exploits, not to mention her copious cocaine use. The final scene in the movie is one that should be in the canon of great moments on film as The Verve’s “Bittersweet Symphony” plays and Kathryn is embarrassed beyond belief. It’s incredibly satisfying.  

Jerry Earns The Bully’s Respect - Three O’Clock High

If there were a Mt. Rushmore of geeks beating bullies, Three O’Clock High would be on it. The movie is so rewatchable because it’s so relatable, yet fanciful. The tension that builds as the clock gets closer and closer to H-Hour – 3 p.m. – is so anxiety-inducing, that you have to keep watching, even when you know how it’s going to end. Starring Casey Siemaszko as Jerry, the geek, and Richard Tyson as Buddy the bully, the movie takes us through all the highs and lows as Jerry tries desperately to get out of the fight he’s been forced into by Buddy. Tick Tock, Jerry. 

Ralph Wails On Scut - A Christmas Story

Another classic moment in great bully defeats is in, of course, A Christmas Story. Scut Farkas (Zack Ward) has been harassing Ralphie (Peter Billingsly) and his buddies forever. Every day on their walk to school, they must run the gauntlet past Scut and his toadie, Grover. Finally, one day Ralphie snaps and amid a flurry of obscenities, smacks Scut around for what seems like way too long to cause just a bloody nose, but it works, and Ralphie finally rids himself of the harassment forever. As we learned in A Christmas Story Christmas, he also won Scut's respect. 

Chet Gets What He Deserves - Weird Science

One of the great bullies of the ‘80s was Chet in Weird Science. In a lot of ways, he’s the ultimate prototype of the big brother bully, constantly picking on Wyatt, played by Ilan Mitchell-Smith. Chet, played by the late, great Bill Paxon, pretty much doesn’t like anything about Wyatt and is never afraid to let him know it, or give him a towel to cover his women’s underwear. Finally, Lisa (Kelly LaBrock), the woman Wyatt and Gary (Anthony Micheal Hall) created, has had enough and turns Chet into a weird toad-like, fly-eating thing. It’s karmic justice for sure. 

The Freshman Dump Paint On O’Bannion - Dazed And Confused

Dazed and Confused has a lot of characters that you’d want to hang out with in high school and one that you wouldn’t. Fred O’Bannion (Ben Affleck) failed his senior year and it seems he only had two goals for his “super senior” year, play football and haze freshman. After taking out some anger on Mitch Kramer (Wiley Wiggins), Mitch and his buddies hatch a plan. They lure O’Bannion out of the Emporium and just as he’s about to wail on a couple of freshmen with his infamous paddle, the others satisfyingly dump a bucket of paint on him. It’s the last time we’d see O’Bannion in the movie, and you have to wonder what became of his night. 

George Saves Lorraine - Back To The Future 

One of the greatest geek getting back at the bully moments on film happens by accident. You see, it’s supposed to be Marty (Micheal J. Fox) in the car with Lorraine (Lea Thompson) outside the dance in Back To The Future, not Biff (Thomas F. Wilson). When George (Crispin Glover) opens the car door, he recoils in fear, as this is NOT how things were supposed to go. After taking a few punches, George girds his strength and takes Biff down. Audiences rejoice, Lorraine falls in love with the right person, and Marty’s siblings start reappearing on his photo (after George and Lorraine finally kiss, of course). 

The Kids Fight Back - Heavyweights

Heavyweights is a great, underrated summer camp movie. The camp for overweight kids has a new owner, Tony (Ben Stiller), who is a nightmare of a director that terrorizes the kids at the camp they previously loved under the old ownership. Finally, the kids snap, and enact revenge in a way only summer camp kids can. 

With a plan right out of Home Alone the kids trick Tony into getting trapped in a hole while on a hike and build a holding cell for their tormentor using a bug zapper to electrify it. Tony eventually escapes and knocks himself out trying to fight a camper’s father. The camp is saved from his dictatorship, and we learn not to put Twinkies on our pizza. 

Cinderella Saves A Slipper - Cinderella

There is no bigger classic in this genre than good old Cinderella. The Disney film may have come out almost 75 years ago, but it still resonates with kids today because everyone can relate to her. Cinderella loses one glass slipper at the ball, leading Prince Charming to declare he'll marry the woman whose foot fits. Even when her evil stepmother and witchy stepsisters do all they can to stop her from trying it on, she has the other slipper, which she'd hidden, and it fits, of course. So, they all lived happily ever after! Except for the bullies, naturally. 

Lana Gets Coned - The Princess Diaries

Lana Thomas (Mandy Moore) is a prototype of the popular cheerleader bully. She torments and harasses Mia (Anne Hathaway) mercilessly until one day Lana goes too far. As Mia and her friend, Jeremiah, sit and chat, Lana lays into both of them. Mia, who has found some confidence after learning she's royalty, calmly walks up to Lana, compliments her cheerleading outfit, and smears an entire ice cream cone on it. The other students erupt in cheer, chanting "Lana got coned!" and Mia wins the day, while later winning at life as the princess of Genovia. It's something the two stars still joke about today. 

Bastian Chases Away The Bullies - The NeverEnding Story

The bullies play a pretty small, but extremely crucial role, in The NeverEnding Story. You might not even remember that the three kids who bully Bastian (Barret Oliver) are even in the movie, but without them, we wouldn't have the beginning of the story. The reason Bastian discovers the bookstore and the book that leads to his amazing adventure is because he's hiding from the three little twerps. Bastian gets his revenge at the end, when he rides Falkor into New York City and chases the bullies into the dumpster where they first tossed him. 

There may always be bullies, unfortunately, but as long as there are people to stand up to them, the world will be a better place. Let's all take a lesson from our heroes here and, if you're the geek, always stand up for yourself. But, if you're the bully...well...take your just desserts and learn from your mistakes. 

Melinda Dillon is one of those names that modern film audiences might not recognize, but she’s an actress nearly everybody has seen. Dillon played the mother of Peter Billingsley’s Ralphie in the classic A Christmas Story and Billingsley has penned a touching tribute to the actress following news of her death at the age of 83.

Dillon died back on January 9 but news of her death only recently surfaced. The New York Times reports that it came via a public notice from a cremation service. Following the reveal that Dillon had passed away, Billingsley took to Instagram to post a remembrance of the actress he called “kind” and “supportive.” The actor wrote…

It sounds like Melinda Dillon played the role of a strong supporting person for Peter Billingsley behind-the-scenes of A Christmas Story just as she was Ralphie in the film itself. Considering how young so much of the cast was, it's not that surprising.

Billingsley calls attention to Melinda Dillon’s body of work which, as he said, showed incredible range. While best known for playing the comedic mother at her wit’s end in A Christmas Story, and playing a similar role in the comedy Harry and the Hendersons a few years later, she was recognized for her talent in playing very different roles throughout her career.

Dillon played one of the lead roles in the original Broadway run of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? in the 1960s. Overnight Dillon was a Broadway star who was seen as someone with an incredible career in front of her. 

Prior to her Christmas Story stardom, Dillon was a two-time Oscar nominee for her supporting roles in Steven Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind, where she played a very different sort of mother role, and Absence of Malice, where she plays a catholic woman who admits to having an abortion. 

While Dillon never became a massive star she is remembered every Christmas season when A Christmas Story plays on television. In the film, she is constantly tasked with dealing with one family crisis after another, from dealing with a son using fowl language to a husband who has an unhealthy relationship with a lamp.

Dillon had retired from acting by 2007. In the recent HBO Max sequel A Christmas Story Christmas, the sequel to the original film starring Billingsly, Dillon’s role was recast and played by Julie Hagerty. 

Melinda Dillion, an actress best known for playing Ralphie’s mother in A Christmas Story and being the leading actress in one of the best sci-fi movies of all time, Steven Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind, has died at the age of 83. The actress was also nominated for two Oscars and earned a Tony nomination for a production of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

News of her death comes via her family (per The Hollywood Reporter), who shared that the actress died on January 9, 2023. The actress had been retired from acting, with her final appearance on screen being during a 2007 guest spot on the medical drama Heartland. 

The actress leaves behind a large body of work, having over 60 credits in movies and television dating back over sixty years, along with memorably uttering the famous line “You’ll shoot your eye out!” as a part of A Christmas Story cast. Also among her memorable roles is playing Rose Gator in Magnolia alongside Tom Cruise and the late Philip Seymour Hoffman. Dillon was also Nancy Henderson in the 1987 comedy Harry and the Hendersons. 

The actress was born on October 13, 1939 and was raised in Arkansas. Melissa Dillon broke out into acting in a big way when she played Honey in her 1962 Broadway debut, a production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf. Her first role in a feature film was the 1969 Jack Lemmon-led romantic comedy The April Fools. At the age of 37, the actress was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Female Acting Debut in the 1976 Woody Guthrie biopic Bound for Glory. 

1977 was a particularly big year for the actress considering she starred in Steven Spielberg’s science fiction epic Close Encounters of the Third Kind, playing the mother of a three-year-old child who gets abducted by aliens. Also in 1977, the actress was part of Paul Newman's ice hockey movie Slap Shot. Dillon earned a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination for her role in Close Encounters before being considered for the same golden trophy once more for 1981’s Absence of Malice, also with Newman. 

Melinda Dillon was married to actor Richard Libertini from 1968 and 1978, and during their union, the pair had a son, Richard Libertini Jr. Her ex-husband died of cancer back in 2016. Further details of Dillon’s personal life are rather scarce. 

Hollywood returned to A Christmas Story this past year, following the Melinda Dillon movie being on everyone’s festive binging year after year with the recent HBO Max sequel, A Christmas Story Christmas, starring Peter Billingsley’s Ralphie all grown up and other familiar faces, but Dillon was not involved. Instead, Ralphie's mom was played by Julie Hagerty.

CinemaBlend sends love to the family, friends and fans of Melinda Dillon following her January death. The actress will live on through her work in movies and television from now on. 

The holidays are here and it's time to curl up next to the ol' Yule log and stream your favorite winter classics. Now that all the arguing about whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie is finally settled, we've pulled together a list of some of the best Christmas and holiday movies, with some fun behind the scenes facts, interesting tidbits, and most importantly, where you can stream these classic tales. You can also check out what's streaming and airing on TV this holiday season.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

One of the most beloved holiday specials of all-time, A Charlie Brown Christmas has been warming the hearts of fans since 1965. Although the special has aired on various networks over the years, the current home of the Peanuts gang is on Apple TV+, which you can find below.

You can stream A Charlie Brown Christmas on Apple TV+:

• How To Watch A Charlie Brown Christmas This Year
• A Charlie Brown Christmas: 6 Behind-The-Scenes Facts You Probably Didn't Know
• The Reason A Charlie Brown Christmas Almost Never Aired

A Christmas Story

No Christmas movie list is complete without the classic comedy, A Christmas Story.  If you don't already catch this film on the TBS/TNT 24-hour marathon, you can witness Flick sticking his tongue to the flagpole on HBO Max.  Just in case that isn't enough A Christmas Story for you, you can also watch Peter Billingsley in the 2022 sequel, A Christmas Story Christmas streaming on HBO Max.

I triple dog dare you to stream A Christmas Story on HBO Max.

•  How To Watch A Christmas Story Streaming And On TV 
•  A Christmas Story: 10 Behind-The-Scenes Facts From The 1983 Holiday Classic 
•  How A Christmas Story Actually Filmed The Infamous Tongue Scene 

It's A Wonderful Life

Even though it has been over 75 years since its original release, It’s A Wonderful Life is still considered one of the best holiday films.  You can find all the good feels of this classic movie streaming on Amazon Prime Video. 

 You can stream It’s A Wonderful Life on Prime Video. 

•  How To Watch It's A Wonderful Life Streaming And On TV 
•  Stephen King Shares His Dark Take On The Ending Of The Christmas Classic It's A Wonderful Life 
•  It's A Wonderful Life: 12 Behind-The-Scenes Facts About The Classic Christmas Movie 

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Light up this Holiday season with a little Griswold Family Christmas spirit in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.  Stream this holiday film on HBO max to get the full comedy experience of expectations versus reality of anticipated holiday celebrations. 

You can stream Christmas Vacation on HBO Max.

• How To Watch Christmas Vacation Streaming
• Christmas Vacation Stars Chevy Chase And Beverly D’Angelo Reunited, And There’s Video
• National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation: 10 Behind-The-Scenes Facts About The Holiday Movie

How The Grinch Stole Christmas

Over the years, several different adaptations of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas have been released.  Watch all three of them this season to see which one is your favorite!

You can stream How the Grinch Stole Christmas on HBO Max
You can stream Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas on Peacock
You can buy (or rent) Ilumination’s Presents: Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch

• How To Watch Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas Streaming
• How The Grinch Stole Christmas: Reasons I Still Believe It's The Best Christmas Special To This Day
• Lizzo Is ‘100% That Grinch’ This Christmas Season In Viral TikTok Post

The Muppet Christmas Carol

In this 1992 film, our felted friends take on the retelling of Charles Dickens' holiday classic. Add in the brilliant Michael Caine as Scrooge and you have a magic in the making.

Sing along and stream The Muppet Christmas Carol on Disney+. 

• Why Michael Caine Decided To Do The Muppet Christmas Carol
• Why The Muppet Christmas Carol's Deleted Song Was Cut, But Really Should Have Stayed
• The Muppet Christmas Carol’s Restored Deleted Scene Is Truly A Holiday Miracle

Elf

Considered a modern holiday comedy classic, Elf follows the naive but charming Buddy the Elf on his journey to New York City in search of his birth father.  If you enjoy watching Will Ferrell in this film on HBO Max, you should also check out Spirited, his new holiday movie with Ryan Reynolds.

You can stream Elf on HBO Max.
You can also stream Spirited on AppleTV+.

• Elf: 7 Sobering Thoughts I Had When Watching The Will Ferrell Movie That Made Me Question Everything
•  Will Ferrell Explains Why He Turned Elf 2 (And A Huge Paycheck) Down 
•  7 Things We Learned About Elf After Watching Netflix's The Christmas Movies That Made Us 
•  Tons Of A-Listers Share Support For Ryan Reynolds And Will Ferrell’s Spirited Dancing But Blake Lively Wins The Comments 

The Nightmare Before Christmas

One of those few films that falls into both the Halloween and Christmas movie categories, this hauntingly fun tale by Tim Burton is the perfect way to add variety to your holiday movie viewing this season. The Nightmare Before Christmas classic stop motion film can be streamed on Disney+. 

 You can stream The Nightmare Before Christmas on Disney+. 

•  Nightmare Before Christmas' Jack Star Has Strong Feelings About A Sequel 
•  The Awesome Way Disneyland Will Celebrate The 20th Anniversary of The Nightmare Before Christmas Haunted Mansion 
•  The Nightmare Before Christmas Told With Emojis Is Adorably Creepy And Fun 

A Christmas Carol

If you are looking for a bit more haunting, look no further than the A Christmas Carol TV Movie. Complete with the infamous creepy ghosts and an adorable Tiny Tim, you can stream this favorite Charles Dickens story on Tubi.

You can stream A Christmas Carol on Tubi. 

• The 6 Best A Christmas Carol Movie Adaptations Ever, Ranked

Even More Holiday Movies

If you're looking for more than just the fan-fave holiday classics, make sure to browse other streaming options like Hallmark and Plex, or check out our lists below of holiday movies by genre, like action, LGBTQ+, horror, and more! 

• Hallmark Christmas Movies Streaming Now
• The Best Christmas Movies On Netflix Right Now
• 11 Christmas Movies Featuring LGBTQ+ Stories
• The 10 Best Christmas Movies Streaming On Disney+
• 13 Christmas Action Movies And Where To Stream Them
• 16 Christmas Horror Movies To Watch
• 9 Christmas Movies Streaming For Free On Plex

A Christmas Story is one of the most iconic Christmas movies out there, which is why it's no surprise it's one of the most popular Christmas movies streaming. I know I’ll be watching it at least a few times before the holiday is up, and have seen it dozens of times prior to now. When one watches a movie this many times, one starts to notice things, and there’s weirdness to A Christmas Story the fanbase just accepts. 

While there’s no denying A Christmas Story is a timeless classic and its latest sequel, A Christmas Story Christmas, is certainly worth a watch with an HBO Max subscription, it’s full of weird moments. Some of the more notable "odd" things to look out for ahead of an upcoming viewing may really make you challenge how well you understand this movie. And hey, perhaps they'll be as great a conversation starter as many behind-the-scenes facts about the 1983 classic!

Ralphie’s Beating Of Skut Farcus Goes Well Over The Line

Is Scott “Skut” Farcus an asshole? Yes, and I say that with my whole heart. Without a doubt, he’s the worst type of bully, and he got what was coming to him when Peter Billingsly’s Ralphie flew off the handle and started beating him. That said, we should unpack that unbridled rage that made Ralphie fly off the handle. 

Ralphie had more pent-up rage in that beating than what was reserved solely for Skut Farcus. Perhaps it was his frustration of not getting a BB gun, or maybe it was the constant rejection he faced in recent weeks. Maybe he’s just a kid with a lot of unresolved issues and Farcus picked the wrong day to mess with him. In either case, the beating goes on for far too long to be just about the bullying, and it’s more disturbing than the original disaster of a sequel this movie had. 

Ralphie’s Mother Is Borderline Hysterical At Various Points In The Movie

As a kid I didn’t notice the twitchy and chaotic behavior of Ralphie’s mother, but as an adult, I now see that she’s just a bundle of nerves. At several points in the movie it’s like she’s on the verge of flying off the handle or collapsing into a complete breakdown. Even at her best, she seems tightly wound, and I just wished someone would’ve reassured her at one point during A Christmas Story that everything was going to be alright!

Of course, perhaps it’s important at this point to remember that the entirety of A Christmas Story is told by adult Ralphie, who is relying on his memories from the age of nine. Kids don’t always have the most reliable memories, and because of their age, may not remember things exactly as they were. It’s possible that we’re missing some key context here that would’ve better explained what’s going on with her, or maybe that was just how Ralphie saw her. Either way, she’s so stressed out in this movie it makes me want to meditate and cool down, which is wild. 

The Family Quietly Lives In Fear Of The Old Man

The Old Man of A Christmas Story seems like an alright guy, but that’s largely because the family works so hard to keep him in an agreeable mood. Ralphie’s Mother does the lion’s share of the work, frequently making sure there are no problems happening in the house that he has to handle. The things she can help, anyway. Sometimes, there’s just no preventing a furnace from going on the fritz!

Just look at that scene though for a glimpse at the unbridled rage The Old Man has! While there’s nothing in the movie that openly suggests he’d ever take out that aggression on his family, there’s definitely a sense that the family lives in partial fear of that anger to the point they go to extreme lengths to avoid it. As such, there’s a lot that happens in the movie he knows very little about, which is also a little sad. Times were different, of course, but if there's one part of the movie that’s become a little harder to watch as an adult, it’s that. 

Why Is There A Pack Of Dogs Just Terrorizing The Old Man? 

There’s a lot in A Christmas Story that may be a little weird, but overall, it falls in line with things that happen in everyday life. One thing that doesn’t, however, is the wild premise that The Old Man is frequently chased, attacked, and bothered by a pack of dogs in the neighborhood. These dogs get their biggest moment towards the end of the movie, when they somehow get into the house through Ralphie’s fenced-in backyard, destroy the dining room table, and devour the Christmas Turkey. 

I’ll concede that sometimes the most unbelievable things can happen during the holiday season, but what in the hell is happening in this small Indiana town that these dogs are terrorizing everyone unchecked? This is not some rural area, there are consequences for stuff like this. Why has no one contacted the authorities? The pack of domesticated dogs is by and large the most ridiculous and fantastical part of the movie, and it pisses me off every time I watch A Christmas Story streaming that no one just responds to the situation like a reasonable adult. 

The Leg Lamp Is Only There Because Of The Mother

The Old Man’s prized leg lamp is the only major conflict between him and “mother” during the whole movie and one of the only times we hear them seriously bicker. The Old Man accuses his wife of intentionally destroying the lamp when it breaks as he’s sitting in the other room. The Old Man lashes out and claims that she broke it on purpose, but there’s a big point the movie glosses over that needs to be acknowledged. Without his wife, The Old Man would’ve never gotten that lamp. 

The Old Man’s leg lamp arrived as a prize for completing the crossword puzzle, which he only did with the help of Ralphie’s mother. Had she not given him the answer to the crossword clue, the lamp would’ve never been in her home to begin with. At the same time, The Old Man should’ve acknowledged it was through her that he even received his gift, and could’ve kept a cooler head when the lamp wound up broken. 

The Store Santa Is  A Jerk

Meeting Santa in a mall or department store is one of the few parts of A Christmas Story that’s still universal to the Christmas experience for children. It’s a shame, then, that Ralphie’s experience with the department store Santa is a pretty miserable one. Furthermore, A Christmas Story doesn’t do much to redeem this Santa in the eyes of its children and cap off the whole thing by having him put his boot in Ralphie’s face!

A Christmas Story isn’t the first and won’t be the last movie to show a bad Santa. At the same time, in an era where this movie is on wall-to-wall throughout the holidays, it’s hard for a young kid not to see that. That’s not really a fault of the movie, but regardless, it’s just a weird scene to have in a movie that, for the most part, captures the Christmas spirit rather well. 

Watch A Christmas Story and its spinoff A Christmas Story Christmas, which premiered back in November on HBO Max, now. Of course, anyone hoping to save it for closer to the holidays can always catch the 24-hour broadcast of the movie on TBS beginning Saturday, December 24th at 8:00 p.m. and concluding Sunday, December 25th at 8:00 p.m. ET. Rewatch it whenever, and be sure to keep an eye out for those moments and don't just accept them like you may have in past years. 

It’s that time of year when A Christmas Story becomes one of the more popular movies around. It will run on cable TV nearly constantly for the next month, and that means both new fans and old will become intimately familiar with all of its elements, including the iconic house, which was recently the site of an altercation between a member of the film’s cast and its current owner.

TMZ recently obtained video of an expletive-laced tirade directed at Yano Anaya, who played Grover Dill in A Christmas Story, by Brian Jones, who currently owns the house. Anaya was out in front of the house earlier this month taking pictures with fans, when Jones came outside and laid into the former child actor, telling him to get off the property and never come back.

It would be one thing if the homeowner didn’t want people taking pictures in front of his house, but that’s likely par for the course for the owner of the Cleveland-area home. And it seems this was not the response the homeowner would have given to just anybody, but was specific to Anaya. This was all seemingly due to a previous issue between the two. 

Apparently, the iconic house from A Christmas Story is currently for sale, and Yano Anaya had previously expressed interest, allegedly with other former cast members of the film, of buying the house. Anaya has a business partner, Emmanuel Soba, who claims to have spoken to Brian Jones the day before the incident, and he says Jones expressed willingness to sell them the house and they’d had a good conversation.

It seems the altercation was due to a GoFundMe that had reportedly been set up to raise funds for the purchase of the home. Jones says he didn’t want people to contribute money to a fund that might not buy the house, as Jones is entertaining offers through his agent, so even if he’s willing to sell to this group, he has not committed to doing so.

There apparently was a GoFundMe set up by a volunteer of the organization interested in buying the house, but it was never made active, so Soba feels that it shouldn’t have caused such an outburst from Jones. 

Since 2006 the Christmas Story House has been a tourist destination. Jones bought the house in 2004, along with surrounding properties, in order to turn the house into a museum with a gift shop and a parking lot. The home is also an official Cleveland landmark.

Interest in the home as likely only increased this year due to the release of A Christmas Story Christmas, an actual sequel to the classic film starring most of the original cast.  

For almost 40 years, A Christmas Story has been a holiday staple beloved by a wide array of fans. Although there’s been a couple of sequels, and a musical adaptation, Peter Billingsley had never returned to the role of Ralphie Parker since that first film. That’s now changed, as the new movie release A Christmas Story Christmas has a new legacy-quel heading to HBO Max, as Ralphie heads home for a bittersweet, but chaotic Christmas.

Recently released by HBO Max, the trailer for this latest follow-up to Bob Clark’s 1983 classic picks up with Ralph Parker all grown up. Upon the passing of The Old Man, A Christmas Story Christmas is all about Ralphie traveling with his wife (Erinn Hayes) and kids to the old house on Cleveland Street. 

Promising his mother (Julie Hagerty) that he’ll help make a Christmas his father would be proud of, our returning holiday narrator seems to be in a bit over his head. Ralphie's going to need the help of some old friends, his fond memories, and a bit of holiday magic, in order to pull this off. And lucky for him, he's at least got two of those three factors in the bag.

A handful of actors from the original cast of A Christmas Story are returning for the festivities in The Christmas Chronicles director Clay Kaytis’s would-be holiday hit, which really helps with that familiar faces angle. Most prominently featured in A Christmas Story Christmas’ trailer is Ralphie’s old pals Flick (Scott Schwartz) and Schwartz (R. D. Robb), who clearly haven’t learned much about the invocation of a “triple dog dare’ in their adult lives.

Not to mention Ralph’s brother Randy (Ian Petrella) and bully Scut Farkus (Zack Ward) also popped up in this footage, teasing even more callbacks to the past. While it’s not certain how much of a balance there will be between new characters and old favorites, what we know about A Christmas Story Christmas is that it’s definitely made to bring fans of that iconic classic back to the fold.

That’s probably a good thing, as some of the franchise’s admirers probably still remember the, shall we say, questionable sequel A Christmas Story 2 rather freshly. With this third attempt at a cinematic continuation now on the way, A Christmas Story Christmas has a lot to live up to when being compared to author Jean Shepherd’s trivia inspiring source material. Looking at this trailer, the spirit of the Parker family’s history as one of the most popular Christmas movies streaming, or otherwise, feels very much alive.

Don’t worry, those of you with an HBO Max subscription shouldn’t fear the Christmas Creep just yet. A Christmas Story Christmas won’t be debuting until November 17th, so you still have time to prepare. Though if you do want to dig into some holiday cheer bright and early, you can stream A Christmas Story from this very same library.

Many of us grew up with the fear that we might shoot our eye out. A Christmas Story gave us haunting images of soap poisoning, Red Ryder BB Guns, and mall Santa Clauses. In many ways, it's kind of a horror movie. In others, it’s one of our childhood favorite holiday movies. Because I hold A Christmas Story so close to my heart, I have worries, concerns, and hopes for HBO Max’s A Christmas Story Christmas. 

A Christmas Story Christmas may be one of the most anticipated upcoming movies. Fans have waited nearly 40 years to see the return of Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) and his family, and the wait will soon end. Before A Christmas Story Christmas becomes one of your favorite or least favorite holiday sequels, let’s discuss everything you need to know before its premiere.  

A Christmas Story Christmas Premieres On November 17 On HBO Max 

Many interesting and family-friendly movies plan to take over your holiday season. In November and December, a lot of new Christmas and holiday movies premiere, including some long-awaited films. A Christmas Story Christmas is one of many movies you'll find on the 2022 Christmas Movie schedule. 

It premieres on HBO Max on November 17 -- exactly one week before Thanksgiving. Families may gather around their TV to stream the film during the holiday season. If it hits the right nostalgic notes, it could become an annually viewed movie, like the original film. 

Maybe 40 years from now, HBO will allow TBS and TNT to air both A Christmas Story and A Christmas Story Christmas for the 24 hours marathons.  

Peter Billingsley Reprises His Role As Ralphie 

A proper Christmas Story sequel can’t exist without Peter Billingsley as Ralphie. The lack of involvement by the original cast may be one of the reasons why the previous Christmas Story sequels have not been well-received. Ralphie just doesn’t feel like Ralphie without Peter Billingsley playing him. His return to the role makes me optimistic about this sequel.

Billingsley has spent most of his time in the film and television industry behind the scenes. Recently, he produced Christmas with the Campbells and F Is for Family. Occasionally, he appears in front of the cameras, such as with his Elf cameo. His most recent appearances include the film A Case of You, and his sometimes-forgotten appearances in the Marvel films Iron Man and Spider-Man: Far from Home. 

The Cast Includes Returning Favorites And New Characters  

Ralphie isn’t the only familiar face A Christmas Story fans can expect in A Christmas Story Christmas. Four of the other original actors are returning. Deadline revealed that Ian Petrella, Zack Ward, Scott Schwartz, and R.D. Robb will all reprise their original Christmas Story roles.

Ian Petrella plays Randy, Ralphie’s little brother in the film. Scott Schwartz plays Flick, the kid who unfortunately got his tongue frozen to a pole. R.D. Robb plays Schwartz, the kid who triple dog dared Flick to do it.  And we all remember yellow-eyed Scut Farkus, played by Zack Ward.  

Part of A Christmas Story Christmas plot involves Ralphie reconnecting with his old friends, so it’ll be interesting to see if Farkus becomes a friend or remains that feared bully. 

A Christmas Story Christmas also adds several new actors to the Parker family and the Christmas Story cast. According to Deadline Erinn Hayes plays Ralphie’s wife Sandy. River Drosche and Julianna Layne play their children Mark and Julie. Julie Hagerty takes over the role of Ralphie’s mother. Melinda Dillon originated the role, who, according to People, retired from acting in 2007.  

A Christmas Story Christmas Takes Place In The ‘70s 

A Christmas Story premiered in 1983, but it is set in the 1940s. Therefore, A Christmas Story Christmas can only take place in the past to make sense. According to People, it takes place in 1973--33 years after the setting of the original film. The teaser for A Christmas Story Christmas didn’t reveal much about the setting or plot. 

However, Warner Bros. released some exclusive first images of this sequel. Adult Ralphie’s hair and clothing very much signify the ‘70s. Because the movie takes place in the ‘70s, it’s bound to be even more nostalgic for those who grew up in that era. The popular toys of that decade may make an appearance in A Christmas Story Christmas.   

The Film “Is A Love Letter To The Old Man” 

Peter Billingsley revealed a lot more about the plot of A Christmas Story Christmas in his People interview. Ralphie is now a struggling writer who isn’t completely happy with his life. As with his younger self, fantasizing is still a major part of his daily routine. The unexpected death of the Old Man (played by the late Darren McGavin) brings Ralphie back to his childhood home in Indiana.

Billingsley discussed how the film honors the memory of McGavin and the Old Man character.

Billingsley also discussed trying to make this film feel as realistic as the original and getting the tone right. Because the film is so important to many, he also mentions the pressures of living up to people’s expectations. It took four years of development before filming began on A Christmas Story Christmas in February 2022.  

HBO Max Released A Nostalgic Teaser And A Full Trailer For A Christmas Story Christmas 

HBO has been quite secretive about A Christmas Story Christmas. The film premieres in November, but as of October 2022, there was no full trailer of it. Instead, a quick teaser was released. The cable channel has slowly been revealing details and waited until the very start of November to release a full trailer. 

The quick teaser leans heavily into the original film. It shows images from A Christmas Story, including the famous leg lamp. It also has A Christmas Story audio playing over the images. 

Eventually, the teaser shows Peter Billingsley as Ralphie. In his People interview, Billingsley discussed recreating some of the original homes from A Christmas Story. According to him, getting those “details right was such an important aspect” for the crew. 

Variety reported that A Christmas Story Christmas was filmed in Hungary, and the original location has become a tourist attraction, so movie magic was the only way to repeat the look of the first film. 

The official trailer shows the hard work of recreating the town come to life. It looks like the Christmas Story of yesteryears but with a more HD look. We also get a full look at the kids as their adult selves. 

A Christmas Story Christmas shows a very stressed Ralphie, as he tries to have the best Christmas ever to honor his father. This trailer also leans heavily into nostalgia with a bunch of references to the original film. These fun little callbacks make me excited to see if it can blend nostalgia with a brand new chapter for Ralphie and friends. 

A Christmas Story Christmas streams on HBO Max on November 17. As you wait for the sequel, you can have your own 24-hour marathon by streaming A Christmas Story on HBO Max.

For fans of A Christmas Story, it was exciting enough to hear that the upcoming HBO Max sequel bringing back original star Peter Billingsley for the next chapter in Ralphie’s story. But this latest piece of news is sure to get lovers of the 1983 holiday classic excited. It seems like all the pieces are coming together, as Warner Bros. is reportedly bringing back even more familiar faces for the long-awaited follow-up.

Peter Billingsley’s adult Ralphie Parker will be joined in A Christmas Story Christmas by original cast members Ian Petrella, Zack Ward, Scott Schwartz, and R.D. Robb. Per Deadline, Petrella returns to play adult Randy (Parker’s younger brother), while Schwartz and Robb will portray adult versions of Flick and Schwartz, respectively. Meanwhile, Ward will take on neighborhood bully Scut Farkus once more. For Petrella, this will mark his first film role since starring in Bob Clark's classic.

The returning cast will also be joined by some new additions to the franchise as well. Erin Hayes (of Bill & Ted Face the Music), River Drosche, and Julianna Layne will take part in the 1970s-set sequel along with Airplane alum Julie Hagerty. Hayes will play Ralphie’s wife, while Drosche and Layne will star as the couple's young children. Hagerty's role is unclear, as of this writing.

Based on the premise, the sequel should allow fans to catch up with the original characters and explore new stories. A Christmas Story Christmas will see Ralphie Parker trying to create a magical holiday for his kids in his childhood home. Parker will also reconnect with friends and other family members while dealing with his Old Man’s death. With this, it's probably a safe bet that there will be callbacks to the first film. Though at this point, it's unclear if the events of the other sequels will be referenced. It's not impossible but there's a chance this new movie may pull a Halloween and retcon the events of those installments to keep things simple continuity-wise.

In addition to headlining the sequel, Peter Billingsley is also set to serve as a producer alongside Vince Vaughn. The film is expected to start shooting in Hungary, with Clay Katis directing a script from Nick Schenk. Hopefully, the follow-up will be as successful as its predecessor. I'd personally love to have yet another A Christmas Story film to watch amid the annual 24-hour Christmas Eve and Christmas Day marathon. But with the original cast and some strong forces behind the scenes, there's at least a chance it'll live up to the hype.

A Christmas Story Christmas will be part of the growing number of movies on HBO Max that viewers can look forward to seeing in the future. If you want to catch the sequel when it drops, be sure to subscribe to HBO Max. You can also check out CinemaBlend's 2022 movie schedule to see what other upcoming releases are coming.

If you ask people what movies they watch each Christmas season, chances are many of them will include A Christmas Story on the list. The movie was met with a decent amount of positive critical reception when it came out in 1983, but it’s been cemented as a Christmas classic in the decades since, and you won’t have any problem finding marathons of it on cable during that period of the year. Well, today brings word that not only is a new Christmas Story sequel on the way, the star of the original movie is coming back too.

Warner Bros. and Legendary are teaming together on A Christmas Story Christmas, and Peter Billingsley is on deck to reprise Ralphie Parker. Clay Katis, who directed 2018’s The Christmas Chronicles, will direct the sequel, and Gran Torino’s Nick Schenk wrote the script. In addition to his acting duties, Billingsley will also produce alongside Vince Vaughn through their Wild West Picture Show Productions banner. Cameras begin rolling next month in Hungary.

As for the plot, according to THR, A Christmas Story Christmas will be set in the 1970s, approximately three decades after the first movie, and follow the adult Ralphie returning to his childhood home on Cleveland street to “deliver his kids a magical Christmas like the one he had growing up.” Warner Bros. is aiming “recreate the same real-life tone of the first movie” by showing Ralphie reconnect with his old friends and reconcile the passing of his father (a.k.a. The Old Man). Oh, and of course there will be plenty of Christmas Story callbacks.

Although this marks Peter Billingsley’s first time playing Ralphie since his first outing as a child, it’s not the first Christmas Story sequel to be made. First off, the PBS series American Playhouse made two TV film follow-ups called The Star-Crossed Romance of Josephine Cosnowski and Ollie Hopnoodle's Haven of Bliss, the latter of which had Jerry O’Connell playing young Ralphie. Then there was 1994’s My Summer Story, which featured Kieran Culkin as Ralphie and also starred Charles Grodin and Mary Steenburgen. Finally, A Christmas Story 2 (which ignored what happened in My Summer Story) was released straight to video in 2012, and starred Braeden Lemasters as Ralphie. 

A Christmas Story 2 was billed as the “official sequel” to A Christmas Story in the trailer, but it’s fair to say that title can now be bestowed upon A Christmas Story Christmas given Peter Billingsley’s involvement. As an adult, Billingsley has largely focused on writing and producing various movies and TV shows, but you might recognize him on camera as Ming Ming in Elf and William Ginter Riva in Iron Man and Spider-Man: Far From Home.

Only time will tell how A Christmas Story Christmas measures up to its predecessor, but as soon as more significant details come in about the sequel, we’ll let you know. For now, catch up to speed on the movies expected to come out this year by reading through our 2022 release schedule.

Every now and again, a new Christmas movie comes along and immediately finds a place in your rotation of must-watch holiday classics. It doesn’t happen nearly as much as it should, but it did recently happen with me when I watched 8-Bit Christmas, the 2021 HBO Max movie starring Neil Patrick Harris as a father telling his daughter about one of his most treasured memories and how he secured his very own Nintendo Entertainment System. 

After watching 8-Bit Christmas, which was directed by Michael Dowse (Goon, Stuber) and written by Kevin Jakubowski, who adapted his own book of the same name, I almost immediately started looking for movies that were similar either in tone, setting, or featured similar experiences. What I found was a mashup of popular Christmas movies, ‘80s classics, and films focused on Nintendo. It might seem random, but this all makes sense…

A Christmas Story (1983)

There is one thing and one thing only Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley) wants for Christmas, and that is a Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-shot Range Model air rifle. A simple request, right? In A Christmas Story, the young hero quickly finds out that his parents, his teacher, and even Santa himself don’t think a young boy should have a BB gun, because he’ll shoot his eye out.

Why it’s worth checking out: There are a lot of things A Christmas Story and 8-Bit Christmas have in common, from the undeniable charm of Jake Doyle (Winslow Fegley) and Ralphie Parker, to their respective journeys to do anything in their power to get their hands on a highly-coveted present.

Stream A Christmas Story on HBO Max.
Rent/Buy A Christmas Story on Amazon.

The Goonies (1985)

With their community on the eve of being torn down and turned into a country club, Mikey (Sean Astin), Brand (Josh Brolin), and the rest of a group of misfits called The Goonies set off on one final adventure together: a quest to find the long lost treasure of One-Eyed Willy in hopes of saving their parents’ homes.

Why it’s worth checking out: The Goonies, much like 8-Bit Christmas more than 35 years later, perfectly captures the sense of childhood adventure and the little moments of rebellion that make the pre-teen years so much fun. In the event you haven’t seen Richard Donner’s beloved classic, now is the perfect time to see what all the fuss is about.

Stream The Goonies on HBO Max.
Rent/Buy The Goonies on Amazon.

The Wizard (1989)

When his kid brother, Jimmy (Luke Edwards), is put in a mental hospital, Corey Woods (Fred Savage) does what any older sibling would do: he breaks him out and the two run away to California. On their cross-country journey, the brothers meet Haley Brooks (Jenny Lewis), who informs them of the Video Armageddon tournament with a cash prize of $50,000. And, as it turns out, Jimmy has a tremendous knack for video games.

Why it’s worth checking out: The Wizard is essentially a 100-minute commercial for the Nintendo Entertainment System, and even introduced Super Mario Bros. 3 to North American audiences upon its release. If you want to see another movie that features the Power Glove as a plot point like 8-Bit Christmas, this is for you.

Stream The Wizard on Starz.
Rent/Buy The Wizard on Amazon.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) just wants what any suburban father of two wants: a joyful Christmas with his family, 25,000 incandescent lights on his house, and his end-of-the-year bonus to cover the deposit he put down on his new in-ground swimming pool. But, as he finds out in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, you can’t have a holiday to remember without chaos, a little eggnog, and a visit from Cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid).

Why it’s worth checking out: One of the biggest similarities between National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and 8-Bit Christmas is the way in which they portray stressed-out fathers who are trying like hell to get the most out of the season, even if they look like crazy people in the process. Behind layers of humor, fits of rage, and over-the-top plans, both movies have a beating heart of gold.

Stream National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation on HBO Max.
Rent/Buy National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation on Amazon.

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

Elliott Taylor (Henry Thomas), his brother, sister, and friends find themselves on quite an adventure when they are visited by E.T., an alien who was stranded in the California forest when his spacecraft is chased away by government agents. What follows is a quest to get E.T. home before those agents catch him.

Why it’s worth checking out: Steven Spielberg’s E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is perhaps one of the best examples of the childhood adventure story with the way in which it captures the sense of wonder, the emotion, and thrill of it all. The movie, like 8-Bit Christmas, also does a lovely job of showing kids being kids and getting into all kids of trouble while attempting to avoid their parents’ watchful eye.

Stream E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial on Peacock.
Rent/Buy E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial on Amazon.

The Monster Squad (1987)

A group of childhood friends called The Monster Squad live up to their name when a handful of the most iconic movie monsters descend upon their town looking for a mysterious amulet to make the planet a dark and deadly place. The fearless gang team up to take on Dracula, the Mummy, the Gill Man, and Frankenstein’s Monster before it’s too late.

Why it’s worth checking out: The Monster Squad is a hell of a good time, and has great moments around every corner. Although the stakes are much higher here than in 8-Bit Christmas, both movies capture the excitement, fear, and adventure of the childhood experience.

Stream The Monster Squad on Paramount+.
Rent/Buy The Monster Squad on Amazon.

Adventures In Babysitting (1987)

After being stood up by her boyfriend (played by go-to Hollywood jerk Bradley Whitford), Chris Parker (Elisabeth Shue) is asked to babysit the Anderson kids in what should be a boring and uneventful evening. But, when one of her friends calls in a time of need, Chris and the kids she is supposed to be babysitting drive into Chicago for a night none of them will soon forget.

Why it’s worth checking out: Adventures in Babysitting and 8-Bit Christmas both feature a group of young heroes leaving the safe and quiet streets of the Chicago suburbs to venture into the big city without their parents knowing, which opens the door for all kinds of shenanigans.  

Stream Adventures in Babysitting on Disney+.
Rent/Buy Adventures in Babysitting on Amazon.

Home Alone (1991)

When Kevin McAllister’s (Macaulay Culkin) family forgets him in a mad dash to make a flight to Paris for Christmas, the young boy finds himself alone over the holidays. What starts out as a fun escape from his parents, siblings, and the ill-tempered Uncle Frank, quickly turns into a race to protect his home from the Wet Bandits by any means necessary.

Why it’s worth checking out: You could make a case for Home Alone being one of the best Christmas movies of all time. I mean, it has a little bit of everything: heart, adventure, thrills, and one charismatic main character. 

Stream Home Alone on Disney+.
Rent/Buy Home Alone on Amazon.

Unaccompanied Minors (2006)

A group of five young kids treat an airport as their own personal playground when a blizzard prevents them from getting home on Christmas Eve. With the massive terminal sparsely populated and full of excitement, the group does anything and everything they can to make the most of the situation, even if the grownups in the airport don’t get as much enjoyment out of it.

Why it’s worth checking out: Unaccompanied Minors is a lot like 8-Bit Christmas in the sense that it focuses on young kids finding unique ways to solve problems. Both movies also have a tremendous amount of heart, and themes about the meaning of Christmas.

Stream Unaccompanied Minors on Netflix.
Rent/Buy Unaccompanied Minors on Amazon.

Jingle All The Way (1996)

Howard Langston (Arnold Schwarzenegger) isn’t the world’s greatest dad, but he tries to make up for his shortcomings by getting his son the most popular toy on the market: a Turbo-Man action figure. On Christmas Eve, Howard sets off to achieve the impossible before he finds himself in a whole mess of trouble. 

Why it’s worth checking out: Like 8-Bit Christmas, Jingle All the Way centers on a main character who is willing to risk limb, life, and dignity to bring home one of the hottest toys around during the holiday season. And sure, Jingle all the Way is a silly movie with some absurd moments, but it does capture the insanity of the holiday shopping season.

Stream Jingle All the Way on Amazon.
Rent/buy Jingle All the Way on Amazon.

Playing With Power: The Nintendo Story (2021)

As its name suggests, Playing with Power: The Nintendo Story tells the complete history of the popular video game company from its early days in 19th-Century Japan all the way to the modern era of the tech behemoth. Over the course of five episodes, the documentary series dives into the history and impact of the legendary brand as told by those it has influenced the most.

Why it’s worth checking out: Playing with Power: The Nintendo Story is perfect for anyone who either missed out on the Nintendo craze of the 1980s or wants to refresh their memory after watching 8-Bit Christmas.

Stream Playing With Fire: The Nintendo Story on Plex.

BONUS: About Time (2013)

Not long after Tim Lake (Domhnall Gleeson) turns 21, his father, James Lake (Bill Nighy) lets him in on the family secret: the men have the ability to travel back in time to relive any of their memories. With this knowledge, Tim gets second chances at some of life’s biggest decisions, but soon learns there are some things you can never change without facing severe consequences.

Why it’s worth checking out: Like 8-Bit Christmas, About Time is one movie for most of its runtime but then has a major tonal shift in the third act, a change that adds even more more heart and meaning to the overall product, making it a perfect movie to revisit with this new knowledge.

Stream About Time on Netflix.
Rent/Buy About Time on Amazon.

Each of these movies share at least one thing in common with 8-Bit Christmas and will hopefully bring more enjoyment to your lives when looking for something to watch this holiday season and beyond. And, speaking of the future, now’s the perfect time to take a look at all the 2022 movies you will certainly be hearing about quite a lot in the coming months.

In the nearly 40 years since its release, A Christmas Story has become one of the most beloved holiday movies and its annual 24-hour marathon on TBS and TNT has become a tradition for millions of households. And as you sit down with your family and try to beat your record of most consecutive viewings of Bob Clark’s adaptation of a few of Jean Shepherd’s short stories, there’s a good chance you will want to know how some of the classic scenes in one of the most popular Christmas movies came to be.

 Well, look no further as we have compiled a list of the most interesting behind-the-scenes facts from the making of A Christmas Story drawing from director commentary tracks, documentaries, and various interviews. And don’t worry, you won’t shoot your eye out…

Although Set In Indiana, A Christmas Story Was Filmed In Cleveland And Toronto

The events of A Christmas Story all take place in the fictional town of Hohman, Indiana, but the movie was actually filmed in two different cities, neither of which were in the Hoosier State. In the commentary track on the home release of the 1983 Christmastime classic, director Bob Clark explained that all of the exterior shots were filmed in Cleveland, Ohio, including the downtown square seen in the opening sequence and again the parade laster in the movie (the scenes were filmed just after the holiday and so the production didn’t have to set up any Christmas lights).

All of the shots inside the Parker home and the school, however, were shot in Toronto, Canada. In the commentary, Peter Billingsley admitted that this setup sometimes made it difficult because there would be extended breaks between the exterior and interior shots of a single scene.

All Of The Snow In A Christmas Story Had To Be Made For The Production

Practically every exterior scene in A Christmas Story features snow-covered ground (or snow falling like in the final sequence), but there was one problem, there was no snow in the forecast in Cleveland. In his commentary track, Bob Clark revealed that the production brought in snow machines to make large quantities of fresh powder for the shoot. The neighbors who lived on the street where all the exterior shots of the Parker house were filmed gave the crew the OK to run the machines through the night so that the location would look like a winter wonderland.

Bob Clark Initially Passed On Peter Billingsley Because He Thought The Actor Was Too Obvious Of A Choice For Ralphie

It is hard to imagine anyone but Peter Billingsley taking on the role of Ralphie in A Christmas Story, but that was almost the case. In his commentary track on the film’s home release, Bob Clark admitted that although he was very high on Billingsley when he first auditioned, the director thought he was “too obvious” and went on to have around 8,000 kids read for the part. At some point, Clark realized that Billingsley was the way to go and went back to his original idea of casting him.

The Hilarious Flagpole Scene Was Pulled Off Thanks To A Hole And A Vacuum Tube

The triple-dog dare flagpole scene is not only one of the most memorable scenes from A Christmas Story, it’s also one of the most iconic moments in the history of cinema. And although it looks like Flick’s (Scott Schwartz) tongue was actually stuck to a frozen flagpole on the schoolyard, the gag was pulled off with the help of an ingenious as Schwartz (the actor, not the character of the same name) revealed during a 2017 conversation with Yahoo! Entertainment: 

The scene, and the way in which it was filmed, just shows you how much Bob Clark and company were able to get out of such a small budget.

Jack Nicholson Was Originally Eyed For The Role Of ‘The Old Man’ In A Christmas Story

Mr. Parker, better known as The Old Man, was brought to life by the late Darren McGavin in A Christmas Story, but the role was almost portrayed by a different actor. In the director’s commentary on the film’s home release, Bob Clark revealed that at one point, the studio wanted to cast Jack Nicholson, but he was able to make a case for McGavin by telling them they would save money by not having Nicholson’s high fee on the books.

Peter Billingsley Shot The ‘Oh, Fudge’ Scene Both With And Without The Four-Letter Word

Another classic moment in A Christmas Story takes place when Ralphie attempts to help The Old Man change a flat tire on the way from the Christmas tree stand. In the movie, Ralphie says “Oh, fudge” but when filming the scene Peter Billingsley actually said “the queen-mother of dirty words,” the “f, dash, dash, dash, word,” as he revealed in commentary track accompanying the movie’s home release. Billingsley and Bob Clark discussed the scene at length and admitted that both ways were filmed to get the right mouth movements though they did cut before the word could be completed in the final version of the film.

Peter Billingsley Was Given Chewing Tobacco For The Cowboy Sequence

Although A Christmas Story is a series of vignettes, there is a narrative thread running throughout it, and that is Ralphie’s quest to get a Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-shot Range Model air rifle for Christmas. In his quest for the Christmas present of all presents, Ralphie fantasizes about being a sheriff defending his family from Black Bart and his gang. But the scene almost ended in disaster after the prop master gave Peter Billingsley actual chewing tobacco for the shot, as he explained on That Scene with Dan Patrick:

The entire episode is something Peter Billingsley can laugh about now, but anyone who has accidentally swallowed chewing tobacco knows it's not a pleasant experience.

Multiple Fantasy Sequences Were Cut From A Christmas Story Before Its Release

There are multiple fantasy sequences throughout A Christmas Story, but there were initially going to be more than what made into the final film. In the film’s commentary, Peter Billingsley and Bob Clark talked about several that were left on the cutting room floor or not filmed at all, including an additional scene with Miss Shields and another with Santa Claus on the roof. This came up again in Billingsley’s AFI Movie Club interview from 2020 in which he discussed a space scene with Flash Gordon that was actually filmed. The scene, which was cut early on, saw Ralphie protect the space hero with his Red Ryder, didn’t make the final cut because it deviated from the movie’s natural path a little too much.

Bob Clark Didn’t Let Peter Billingsley See The Leg Lamp Until Just Before The Scene Was Shot

You can’t talk about A Christmas Story and not bring up the legendary leg lamp that Mr. Parker won as a “major award” in a contest. In the documentary Another Christmas Story, Peter Billingsley revealed that to get his actual genuine reaction to the “electric sex” that was the lamp, director Bob Clark didn’t let him see it be pulled from the box until the cameras started rolling. Billingsley admitted that what was shown in the movie captured how he felt in that moment. The actor also laughed about the discussions that were held as to who was going to take it home.

Darren McGavin Improvised The ‘Deranged Easter Bunny’ Line

One of the most famous lines in A Christmas Story didn’t come from Jean Shepherd’s writing or Bob Clark’s adaptation but from one of the actors in the heat of the moment. During an appearance on In The Credits, Clark and Peter Billingsley got to talking about the scene where Ralphie puts on the bunny outfit his aunt made for him. During the back-and-forth, Clark revealed that The Old Man’s memorable line of “He looks like a deranged Easter Bunny” was improvised by Darren McGavin while they were shooting the movie.

The next time you watch A Christmas Story with your family, start quoting all of these behind-the-scenes facts and impress them with all your knowledge. And since you're here, check out CinemaBlend's 2021 Christmas movie and TV show calendar so you don't miss a thing this holiday season.

The holiday season is approaching, and with the holiday season comes parties, get-togethers, and corporate events where everyone is encouraged to let loose just a little bit and have fun. These are all situations where the right Christmas sweater can make you the talk of the town, or at least seem like a fun and approachable person. This is especially true if you pick best movie Christmas sweater, as it’s the perfect ice breaker and invitation for anyone who realizes they can at least connect with you on that one thing. Oh, and if we’re talking about the perfect holiday gift ideas for an office Christmas party? Look no further. 

I take pride in my holiday sweaters, and my collection of themed holiday sweaters served me well over the years at various formal and informal holiday parties. Plus, the holidays are a little fun and silly, and wearing something fun and silly can always help get one in the mood just a little bit more. Not sure where to start? Not to worry, the following should be great options for anyone just getting started in the holiday sweater game, or veterans looking for a fresh option this holiday season.

Nakatomi Plaza Christmas Party Sweater

There are a lot of Die Hard Christmas sweaters on the market. I’m here to tell you that most of them are a little too in your face, and not appropriate for a majority of Christmas functions. We don’t need to see Hans Gruber falling to his death, or the iconic “Yippie Ki Yay” line knitted across a shirt at the fruitcake exchange. This sweater keeps things jolly by referencing Nakatomi Plaza, but in a way that doesn’t immediately set off alarm bells on why it’s relevant. It also features a hint of danger with knitted skulls along the bottom. This is the type of subtlety other Die Hard fans will appreciate, and definitely give you props for at the function. 

Buy Nakatomi Plaza Christmas Party Sweater on Family-Presents.

Griswold Family Christmas Pullover Sweater

Christmas Vacation is a Christmas classic, but who is it that really makes the film? Sure, Cousin Eddie is a laugh-riot, but if we’re talking about the star we want to see on a Christmas sweater come the holiday season, it’s Chevy Chase’s Clark Griswold. I’m not sure anyone sets out to have a holiday like Clark, but I know I’ve felt like him a time or two when family is all around during the holidays. If you’re feeling like Clark, why not represent it by throwing on this sweater just to add a bit of levity to the stressful moments of the holidays. 

Buy National Lampoon Family Christmas Pullover Sweater on Target.

Happy Hoth-idays Sweater

The holiday season is always a great time to revisit the Star Wars trilogy, mostly because I tend to associate this time of year with the franchise anyway? Maybe it’s just all the Star Wars gifts over the years, or the amazing snowy landscape of Hoth? Ok, that’s a stretch, but there’s not a ton of snow in Star Wars, and this sweater celebrating the iconic Hoth scenes is just a work of art. This is the type of holiday Christmas sweater that people envy and wish they themselves had. Get this sweater, and be that person. 

Buy Happy Hoth-idays Ugly Christmas Sweater on Merchoid.

Marvel Spider-Man Holiday Crew Sweatshirt

Typically, I wouldn’t associate Spider-Man with the holidays. This year, though, we have Spider-Man: No Way Home arriving just before Christmas, and you better believe there will be some people talking about it in the weeks before and leading up to. This sweater will be the perfect choice to wear to any theater screening around that time, plus, you’ll look like a genius with a sweater with three faces of Spider-Man on the sweater if Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield reprise their roles as Peter Parker alongside Tom Holland. 

Buy Marvel Spider-Man Ugly Holiday Crew Sweatshirt on HotTopic.

A Christmas Story Long-Sleeve Leg Lamp Sweater

A Christmas Story was popular before it started airing non-stop during the holidays. Now, it just feels like a mandatory part of the season, not that it’s a bad thing. I’m just saying that people are so used to seeing A Christmas Story during the holidays that I’m not sure anyone would bat an eyelash about someone wearing this leg lamp sweater in polite society, even though Ralphie's mom was mortified by it in the movie. Just make sure the loved ones in your life are more like the Old Man and not Ralphie's mom before buying this one. 

Buy A Christmas Story™ Long-Sleeve Christmas Story Leg Lamp Christmas Sweater on Dillards.

Elf Cotton Headed Ninny Muggins Sweater Cardigan

I, personally, believe that Elf is the best Christmas movie of all time. I think that’s partly because it was one of the few more recent Christmas movies that withstood the test of time for many millennials, but whatever the case, people love Buddy the Elf. Celebrate that with a sweater themed after one of Buddy’s patented elf swears. I’m more partial to “Son of a nutcracker,” personally, but “Cotton-headed ninny muggins” is a close second without a doubt. 

Buy Men's Warner Bros ELF Cotton Headed Ninny Sweater Cardigan on Target

Home Alone Filthy Animal Pullover Sweater

Kevin McAllister had about the worst Christmas any child can have in Home Alone, and we continually honor that each year by watching him attempt to fend off the Wet Bandits in a variety of ways over and over and over again. When it comes to the best Christmas movies, Home Alone is definitely in the top 10. Wear this sweater, and you’re guaranteed to get a few compliments, as well as probably a few questions of whether you’ve seen the new movie on Disney+.  

Buy Home Alone Filthy Animal Pullover Sweater on Target.

It's A Wonderful Life Sweater

If you’re looking to kick it old school, and I mean really old school, there’s a holiday sweater honoring It’s A Wonderful Life. This isn’t a movie I tend to watch during the holidays until I’m really in my feelings, though I could also see this being handy in a situation where someone is trying to impress fans of the classics. This look says “I’m fun, but I also have damn good taste.” Isn’t that what we all strive for at the end of the day?  

Buy It's A Wonderful Life Ugly Sweater on JustAPod

Any one of these sweaters will be a hit at your next holiday party, so be sure to pick one up now! Or, continue to think on it, and pop around the site reading all sorts of articles about the best movies and television shows. 

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We are now into the new year, but if you love Christmas movies and the holiday season, you might still be eager to feel those festive feels. Even if the first few months of the year mean occasional balmy temperatures or a complete lack of snow for you, your family and friends, we can all enjoy the magic of the holiday season whenever we want. And, obviously, many of us do that by retreating into our favorite holiday films and the best Christmas movies out there.

While dozens (upon dozens) of new films premiered on the 2022 Christmas movie schedule, with the movies of October, November, and early December replaying regularly through the end of the year, there’s nothing quite like curling up on the couch with a cozy blanket, your favorite hot beverage, and settling in for a night (or afternoon...I hope you do still have some time off) of watching some of the most popular Christmas movies streaming. Luckily, this list is made to help you do exactly that, as we’ll be giving you lots of options so that you can enjoy your favorite holiday movies whenever you want, with no problems at all. Now, let’s get to the good stuff!

Elf (HBO Max)

I will be thoroughly surprised if you haven’t already seen this 2003 Will Ferrell film, where he stars as Buddy, a human who was accidentally taken to the North Pole as a toddler and then raised among Santa’s elves. As an adult, Buddy heads to New York to find his biological father, and comical Christmas shenanigans ensue. This Jon Favreau-directed comedy became a near instant classic for a reason.

Stream Elf on HBO Max.

The Best Man Holiday (Peacock)

This Christmas movie favorite from 2013 sees a group of college friends (played by Sanaa Lathan, Taye Diggs, Nia Long, Terrence Howard, Monica Calhoun, Harold Perrineau, Regina Hall, and Morris Chestnut) reunite after almost 15 years apart to celebrate the holiday, but quickly find old romances and rivalries being reignited. The Best Man Holiday brought back the stars of 1999’s The Best Man, and will definitely make you long for a slightly chaotic, friend-focused gathering at Christmastime.

Stream The Best Man Holiday on Peacock.

It’s A Wonderful Life (Amazon Prime)

Anyone who’s watched It’s a Wonderful Life in a Christmas Eve marathon or during one of its standard holiday season airings would probably be surprised to know that this now-classic was actually a big ol’ flop when it debuted in 1946. Fortunately, it was finally able to find the audience it deserved, and people who love watching Jimmy Stewart’s George Bailey learn just how important he is to his family, friends, and his town will never be without it.

Stream It’s A Wonderful Life on Amazon Prime.
Stream It's A Wonderful Life On Plex.

A Christmas Carol (Tubi)

This Charles Dickens classic has been adapted for the screen numerous times and in numerous ways (we’ll even see a couple more on this list later), but this 1984, made for TV version starring George C. Scott as Scrooge and Edward Woodward as the Spirit of Christmas Present, is my absolute favorite, and I don’t think enough people even know about it. The acting is amazing, and one thing that sets it apart, I believe, is the fact that the visit from Marley’s ghost in the beginning and the Spirit of Christmas Yet to Come near the end are truly creepy and help you see why Scrooge would have a big change of heart.

Stream A Christmas Carol on Tubi.

A Charlie Brown Christmas (Apple TV+)

People love A Charlie Brown Christmas, and it has to be one of the best-known and most beloved animated Christmas movies of all time. And, it really is a heart-warming delight. Where else can you get a story about a kid (Charlie Brown, obviously) who tries to overcome his holiday depression by directing his neighborhood’s Christmas play, set to a wonderfully jazzy (and equally classic and beloved) score? Nowhere, I tell you! Luckily, you can watch A Charlie Brown Christmas streaming, and there will even be a brief window when you won't need a subscription to do it.

Available streaming with an Apple TV+ subscription.

Jingle All The Way (Starz)

It’s good to have a fun, silly Christmas movie, and Jingle All the Way is certainly that. Arnold Schwarzenegger stars as a workaholic dad in this 1996 comedy, who’s trying to make things up to his son and wife by buying the most hotly demanded toy, even though it’s already Christmas Eve, and his search is made even more complicated by a mailman, Myron (Sinbad), hunting for the same item. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this one, so definitely give it a shot if you need to lighten your holiday mood.

Available streaming with a Starz subscription.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (Disney+)

This dark fantasy musical from producer Tim Burton is an odd mix of Halloween movie and Christmas movie, as it follows Jack (Chris Sarandon), the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town as he discovers Christmas Town and becomes obsessed with the holiday. Other voice cast members include Catherine O’Hara, William Hickey, Paul Reubens, and more, helping to make this 1993 classic quite the oddball treat.

Stream The Nightmare Before Christmas on Disney+.

Miracle On 34th Street (HBO Max)

This 1947 film was remade in 1994, but if you want some real Christmas magic, the original is where it’s at. When a divorced mother (Maureen O’Hara) hires a nice man (Edmund Gwenn) to play Santa at Macy’s, she and her daughter (Natalie Wood) are surprised by his claim to be the real deal. Trust me, this one is great for the whole family.

Stream Miracle on 34th Street on HBO Max.

This Christmas (Peacock)

This 2007 family dramedy (starring Regina King, Loretta Devine, Idris Elba, Delroy Lindo, and more) follows the Whitfield family as they all gather for the holidays for the first time in four years, and some major family secrets come to light. If you’re hoping to be able to easily deal with your own large family gatherings this season, This Christmas could help you realize that it probably won’t be as frustrating as you think.

Stream This Christmas on Peacock.

How The Grinch Stole Christmas! (Peacock)

Here’s another classic that’s been remade a few times now, but, again, I think going with the animated, 1966 original is the best idea. Watch as the hateful and unbelievably grumpy Grinch gets so annoyed by the holiday happiness of a nearby village that he dresses as Santa so that he can steal all of their Christmas goods, only to see his efforts foiled by his own change of heart. Cool animation, a great message, and terrific voice work from Boris Karloff, June Foray, and singer Thurl Ravenscroft make this one a must-watch.

Stream How The Grinch Stole Christmas! On Peacock.

A Christmas Story (HBO Max)

This 1983 comedy continues to win hearts with its story of a boy (Peter Billingsley) who spends the Christmas season trying to stay out of a bully’s reach and dreaming of getting a Red Ryder BB gun for the big day.

Stream A Christmas Story on HBO Max.

While You Were Sleeping (Disney+)

Need a sweet, quirky romance in at least one of your Christmas movies? The 1995 Sandra Bullock hit, While You Were Sleeping, has you covered! Bullock stars as a lonely Chicago transit worker who saves her unrequited crush from an on-coming train, only to be mistaken for the now-comatose man’s fiancée by his lovely family, and then ends up falling in love with his brother. All the feels!

Stream While You Were Sleeping on Disney+.

A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas (HBO Max)

This 2011 continuation of the Harold & Kumar franchise takes their stoner comedy to new holiday heights as the duo travel across New York City to try and find a replacement Christmas tree for Harold's father-in-law…in 3D

Stream A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas on HBO Max.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (HBO Max)

Things have never been more comically difficult for Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) and family as when their hick relatives visit unannounced during the holidays and begin unexpectedly living on their property in an RV. This 1989 Vacation franchise entry quickly became a wacky Christmas classic.

Stream National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation on HBO Max.

The Muppet Christmas Carol (Disney+)

The Muppets take on Charles Dickens in this 1992 retelling of the holiday favorite, which casts our felted friends as characters from the popular tale, with the exception of Scrooge, who’s played by Michael Caine.

Stream The Muppet Christmas Carol on Disney+.

Scrooged (Amazon Prime)

This 1988 modern take on Dickens’ story featured Bill Murray as the titular grump, a TV executive who’s driven away the love of his life with his all-encompassing ambition. But, he gets a chance to reconsider his path in life after firing a member of his staff on Christmas Eve.

Stream Scrooged on Amazon Prime.

Home Alone (Disney+)

Next we have the 1990 film that made a star of Macaulay Culkin, as Kevin McCallister gets left behind when his family travels to Paris for Christmas, and he has to fend off two criminals (Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern) who try to rob his home. Comedy stacked on top of slapstick comedy in this one.

Stream Home Alone on Disney+.

Arthur Christmas (HBO Max)

Last, but not least, let’s take a look at a popular holiday offering that’s much newer than several on this list. In this animated tale, Santa somehow forgets to deliver presents to one child on Christmas Eve, and his son, Arthur (voiced by James McAvoy), takes off to make sure the job is done so that the magic of the season is ruined.

Stream Arthur Christmas on HBO Max.

Of course, these aren’t the only Christmas movies you can watch in the weeks leading up to the big day, but some popular choices (like The Preacher’s Wife, Almost Christmas, and Love, Actually) either aren’t streaming or require a rental for you to watch. In addition, if you’re looking for more animated fare like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer or Frosty The Snowman, you can find several of those movies with your local listings on either cable or broadcast networks. But, the titles here should set you up nicely when it comes to your Christmas movie entertainment choices!

The list of the best ‘80s movies is a massive and diverse list of everything from iconic action movies to Best Picture winners, and so much more. With so many great movies having come out in the penultimate decade of the 20th century, keeping track of all those rom-coms, sci-fi thrillers, horror flicks, and tear-jerking dramas is no easy task.

Looking for a way to revisit your favorites from the ‘80s while waiting for those new releases on the 2025 movie schedule? Well, come with us as we explore the best the ‘80s had to offer and how to watch those movies on some of the best streaming services. There’s a lot to unpack, so let’s go back to the ‘80s with these great movies…

The Big Chill (1983)

The Director: Lawrence Kasdan

The Cast: Glenn Close, Kevin Kline, William Hurt

What It’s About: A group of college friends reunite to bury one of their own who has committed suicide. Together for the first time in years, the once close-knit gang examine their college experience and what has changed.

What To Expect: With one of the best movie soundtracks ever assembled, incredible performances by some of the biggest ‘80s stars, and an unflinching story about friendship and identity, The Big Chill has it all.

• Stream The Big Chill on Max.
  Rent/Buy The Big Chill on Amazon.
• Get The Big Chill on DVD on Amazon.

Major League (1989)

The Director: David S. Ward

The Cast: Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, Wesley Snipes

What It’s About: After discovering that their team’s new owner is planning on tanking the team to relocate to sunny Florida, the ragtag group of misfits that make up the Cleveland Indians take matters into their own hands and attempt to pull off the impossible.

What To Expect: One of the best baseball movies of all time, Major League hits the triple crown of a sports flick: comedy, drama, and all kinds of web gems.

• Rent/Buy Major League on Amazon.
• Get Major League on DVD on Amazon.

Clue (1985)

The Director: Jonathan Lynn

The Cast: Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, Michael McKean

What It’s About: Six seemingly random strangers, who appear to have nothing in common with one another, are summoned to a mansion for dinner, only to discover they are in the middle of a murder mystery where no one can be trusted, not even the staff.

What To Expect: With its multiple endings, hilarious gags, and unforgettable performances by some of the funniest people in Hollywood, Clue takes a classic board game and turns it into a classic whodunit comedy.

• Rent/Buy Clue on Amazon.
• Get Clue on DVD on Amazon.

Honey, I Shrunk The Kids (1989)

The Director: Joe Johnston

The Cast: Rick Moranis, Matt Frewer, Amy O’Neill

What It’s About: After being in the wrong place at the wrong time, a group of teenagers are turned into a fraction of their normal size and are forced to survive the dangerous hellscape that is their backyard.

What To Expect: One of the most hilarious Rick Moranis movies, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, is full of great practical effects, a wild story, and some of the most iconic movie moments of the ‘80s.

• Stream Honey, I Shrunk the Kids on Disney+.
• Rent/Buy Honey, I Shrunk the Kids on Amazon.
• Get Honey, I Shrunk the Kids on DVD on Amazon.

Field Of Dreams (1989)

The Director: Phil Alden Robinson

The Cast: Kevin Costner, James Earl Jones, Ray Liotta

What It’s About: Ray Kinsella’s (Kevin Costner) life is forever changed after hearing a mysterious voice whisper “If you build it, he will come” while out in his cornfield.

What To Expect: What follows is one man’s journey to “ease the pain” of his hero, an odyssey that concludes with one of the most emotional scenes in any sports movie.

• Rent/Buy Field of Dreams on Amazon.
• Get Field of Dreams on DVD on Amazon.

Raising Arizona (1987)

The Director: The Coen Brothers

The Cast: Nicolas Cage, Holly Hunter, John Goodman

What It’s About: A down-on-their-luck couple goes to extreme lengths to have a baby of their own, even if that means kidnapping one from a wealthy family.

What To Expect: One of the Coen Brothers’ best movies, Raising Arizona has a perfect blend of comedy and crime, as well as no shortage of iconic and unforgettable characters.

• Rent/Buy Raising Arizona on Amazon.
• Get Raising Arizona on Blu-ray on Amazon.

9 to 5 (1980)

The Director: Colin Higgins

The Cast: Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Dolly Parton

What It’s About: A trio of fed-up secretaries team up to get even with their sexist boss, but things get out of hand when they learn their dream may have come true.

What To Expect: In addition to having one of the best movie songs of all time, 9 to 5 also has one of the best premises of the ‘80s and a cast that is untouchable.

• Rent 9 to 5 on Amazon.
• Get 9 to 5 on DVD on Amazon.

A Christmas Story (1983)

The Director: Bob Clark

The Cast: Peter Billingsley, Darren McGavin, Melinda Dillon

What It’s About: A young boy named Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) tries to convince everyone from his parents to his teacher and even Santa Claus himself to bring him a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas.

What To Expect: Made up of a series of vignettes showcasing life in 1940s Indiana, A Christmas Story perfectly captures childhood obsession and what happens when reality brings your dreams crashing down.

• Rent/Buy A Christmas Story on Amazon.
• Get A Christmas Story on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Adventures In Babysitting (1987)

The Director: Chris Columbus

The Cast: Elisabeth Shue, Anthony Rapp, George Newbern

What It’s About: After being stood up by her boyfriend, high school senior Chris Parker (Elisabeth Shue) decides to spend the night watching a group of young siblings. What at first seems like a quiet night and easy money quickly turns into anything but.

What To Expect: Adventures in Babysitting, one of the best movies set in Chicago, is full of great and hilarious moments, all kinds of danger, and Elisabeth Shue in all her glory.

• Stream Adventures in Babysitting on Disney+.
• Rent/Buy Adventures in Babysitting on Amazon.
• Get Adventures in Babysitting on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Airplane! (1980)

The Directors: Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker

The Cast: Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Leslie Nielsen

What It’s About: With the crew and passengers incapacitated and no one else left to land the plane, a nervous pilot has to rise to the occasion and save the day.

What To Expect: The 1980 disaster film spoof, Airplane!, answers the question: what happens when a man who’s afraid to fly is the only one who can prevent a jumbo-jet from crashing?

• Rent/Buy Airplane on Amazon.
• Get Airplane! on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Aliens (1986)

The Director: James Cameron

The Cast: Sigourney Weaver, Lance Henriksen, Michael Biehn

What It’s About: After spending decades floating through space, Ellen Ripley is awoken and sent with a group of highly-trained space Marines to investigate a mining colony that has gone dark.

What To Expect: Ripley is back with a vengeance in James Cameron’s 1986 sci-fi action flick, Aliens, and she isn’t stopping until the final Xenomorph is launched into outer space.

• Rent/Buy Aliens on Amazon.
• Get Aliens on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Back To The Future (1985)

The Director: Robert Zemeckis

The Cast: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Llyod, Lea Thompson

What It’s About: When Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) steps into a DeLorean time machine and is transported back to 1955, he must avoid high school bullies and a younger version of his own mom if he wants to get back to 1985.

What To Expect: With great time-traveling scenes, Michael J. Fox at his best, and some hilarious scenarios (both in the past and the present), Back to the Future has everything you’d want in an ‘80s movie.

• Rent/Buy Back to the Future on Amazon.
• Get Back to the Future on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Batman (1989)

The Director: Tim Burton

The Cast: Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger

What It’s About: After falling into a vat of toxic chemicals, one of Gotham’s most ambitious and dangerous criminals is transformed into the prince of crime, and only Batman can stop him.

What To Expect: Tim Burton’s dark and moody 1989 unconventional superhero film, Batman, forever changed the face of comic book movies and gave audiences one of the best representations of the iconic character.

• Stream Batman on Max.
• Rent/Buy Batman on Amazon.
• Get Batman on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Beetlejuice (1988)

The Director: Tim Burton
The Cast: Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Geena Davis, Alec Baldwin

What It’s About: When the efforts by a ghostly couple (played by Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin) to scare away the new owners of their country home are fruitless, they turn to a spirit by the name of Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton) to regain control.
What To Expect: More than 35 years after its release, Beetlejuice remains one of the most inventive, iconic, and hilarious additions to Tim Burton’s massive library of movies.

• Stream Beetlejuice on Max.
• Rent/Buy Beetlejuice on Amazon.
• Get Beetlejuice on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Beverly Hills Cop (1984)

The Director: Martin Brest

The Cast: Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton

What It’s About: A wise-cracking and rebellious Detroit police officer comes to Los Angeles to track down those responsible for his best friend’s murder.

What To Expect: Expect to laugh, like a lot, because this Eddie Murphy classic starts and doesn’t stop until the credits roll.

• Stream Beverly Hills Cop on Paramount+.
• Rent/Buy Beverly Hills Cop on Amazon.
• Get Beverly Hills Cop on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Big (1988)

The Director: Penny Marshall

The Cast: Tom Hanks, Elizabeth Perkins, Robert Loggia

What It’s About: When 12-year-old Josh Baskin (David Moscow) wishes he was a little bigger, he gets his wish and then more when he wakes up to find he has been transformed into a full-grown adult (Tom Hanks).

What To Expect: Penny Marshall’s timeless comedy sees Baskin navigate 1980s New York City, but as a child trapped in a man’s body and various situations.

• Stream Big on Disney+.
• Rent/Buy Big on Amazon.
• Get Big on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Bill And Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989)

The Director: Stephen Herek

The Cast: Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter, George Carlin

What It’s About: Strange things are afoot at the Circle K in Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure when two dopey high schoolers (played by Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves) are given access to a time-traveling phone booth to pass their history exam and keep their band together.

What To Expect: Looking for righteous time-traveling sequences, air guitar, and Napoleon going to a water park? Well, look no further.

• Rent/Buy Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure on Amazon.
• Get Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Blade Runner (1982)

The Director: Ridley Scott

The Cast: Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young

What It’s About: Blade Runner follows replicant hunter Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) as he tracks down four escaped criminals who have returned to Earth from an off-world colony.

What To Expect: What starts off as a simple game of cat and mouse slowly turns into something much more complex.

• Rent/Buy Blade Runner on Amazon.
• Get Blade Runner on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Blue Velvet (1986)

The Director: David Lynch

The Cast: Kyle MacLachlan, Dennis Hopper, Isabella Rossellini

What It’s About: College student Jeffrey Beaumont (Kyle MacLachlan) becomes involved with the dark and twisted world of his town’s criminal underbelly after finding a dismembered ear.

What To Expect: Come in expecting Lynchian twists and turns, unforgettable characters (that you’ll want to forget), and a great soundtrack.

• Rent/Buy Blue Velvet on Amazon.
• Get Blue Velvet on Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Blues Brothers (1980)

The Director: John Landis

The Cast: Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Carrie Fisher

What It’s About: Two brothers attempt to get their old band back together to help save the orphanage in which they were raised.

What To Expect: In the mood for great music, even better characters, and quite possibly the best car chase of all time? Well, look no further than The Blues Brothers.

• Stream The Blues Brothers on Prime Video.
• Rent/Buy The Blues Brothers on Amazon.
• Get The Blues Brothers on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Broadcast News (1987)

The Director: James L. Brooks

The Cast: Holly Hunter, Albert Brooks, William Hurt

What It’s About: In addition to presenting the news day in and day out, a news producer finds herself in the middle of a love triangle with her longtime best friend and a dreamy yet under-qualified anchorman.

What To Expect: James L. Brooks’ romantic comedy, Broadcast News, finds the perfect balance between drama and comedy, composure and awkwardness, and so much more.

• Stream Broadcast News on Starz.
• Rent/Buy Broadcast News on Amazon.
• Get Broadcast News on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Caddyshack (1980)

The Director: Harold Ramis

The Cast: Rodney Dangerfield, Bill Murray, Chevy Chase

What It’s About: Set at the Bushwood Country Club, which is infested with rodents and yuppies alike, Harold Ramis’ 1980 sports comedy, Caddyshack, follows caddies (led by Michael O’Keefe), grounds crew (led by Bill Murray), and all other sorts of characters who spend a summer at the prestigious club.

What To Expect: Considered one of the best sports comedies ever made, Caddyshack has some of the subgenre’s most quotable scenes and one of Hollywood’s most hatable villains.

• Rent/Buy Caddyshack on Amazon.
• Get Caddyshack on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Coming To America (1988)

The Director: John Landis

The Cast: Eddie Murphy, James Earl Jones, Arsenio Hall

What It’s About: John Landis’ 1988 comedy, Coming to America, follows Prince Akeem Joffer (Eddie Murphy) as he travels to Queens to find a wife to bring back to the African nation of Zamunda.

What To Expect: If you’re in the mood for classic Eddie Murphy moments, some outrageous characters, and a great look at ‘80s NYC, this will do the trick.

• Rent/Buy Coming to America on Amazon.
• Get Coming to America on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Dead Poets Society (1989)

The Director: Peter Weir

The Cast: Robin Williams, Robert Sean Leonard, Ethan Hawke

What It’s About: Set in a prestigious college prep academy, the 1989 drama Dead Poets Society follows newly arrived English teacher John Keating (Robin Williams) as he spends a semester opening the eyes and changing the lives of his students, for better or for worse.

What To Expect: Dead Poets Society, one of the great coming-of-age stories of all time, is at times incredibly hopeful while at others utterly heartbreaking.

• Rent/Buy Dead Poets Society on Amazon.
• Get Dead Poets Society on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Die Hard (1988)

The Director: John McTiernan

The Cast: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia

What It’s About: NYPD officer John McClane (Bruce Willis) finds himself in the right place at the right time in Die Hard when his wife’s holiday Christmas party is overtaken by a group of international terrorists who hold them hostage in hopes of securing unfathomable wealth.

What To Expect: Bruce Willis’ wisecracks, explosive action scenes, and one of Alan Rickman’s great villains all make Die Hard an unforgettable classic.

• Stream Die Hard on Hulu.
• Rent/Buy Die Hard on Amazon.
• Get Die Hard on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Dirty Dancing (1987)

The Director: Emile Ardolino

The Cast: Jennifer Grey, Patrick Swayze, Jerry Orbach

What It’s About: Frances “Baby” Houseman (Jennifer Grey) goes to spend a summer in the Catskills with her family in Dirty Dancing. Thinking she’ll spend the time bored out of her mind, Baby quickly finds herself learning what it means to dance, love, and stand up for herself, thanks to her dance instructor-turned-lover Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze).

What To Expect: There is no short order of romance, drama, dancing, and legendary ‘50s music in this decorated classic.

• Rent/Buy Dirty Dancing on Amazon.
• Get Dirty Dancing on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Do The Right Thing (1989)

The Director: Spike Lee

The Cast: Spike Lee, Danny Aiello, Ossie Davis

What It’s About: What initially starts out as a disagreement over which actors should or shouldn’t be included on the wall of a Brooklyn pizzeria quickly escalates into a full-blown riot in Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing.

What To Expect: If you’re looking for comedy, drama, and a large dose of social commentary, give Do the Right Thing a shot.

• Stream Do the Right Thing on Prime Video.
• Rent/Buy Do the Right Thing on Amazon.
• Get Do the Right Thing on Blu-ray on Amazon.

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

The Director: Steven Spielberg

The Cast: Henry Thomas, Robert MacNaughton, Drew Barrymore

What It’s About: Steven Spielberg’s 1982 sci-fi adventure E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial follows a young boy (Henry Thomas) as he forms an unbreakable bond with a gentle alien who is trapped on Earth and just wants to go home.

What To Expect: This 1982 sci-fi classic is full of wonder, adventure, and quite possibly one of the best John Williams scores of all time.

• Rent/Buy E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial on Amazon.
• Get E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial Blu-ray on Amazon.

Escape From New York (1981)

The Director: John Carpenter

The Cast: Kurt Russell, Lee Van Cleef, Ernest Borgnine

What It’s About: John Carpenter’s 1981 dystopian thriller, Escape From New York, sees Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell) attempt to save the U.S. President from a group of fanatical criminals who run the streets of Manhattan, which has been turned into a prison colony.

What To Expect: With one of Kurt Russell’s most badass characters, some great practical effects by James Cameron, and a legendary John Carpenter score, there’s a lot to love here.

• Stream Escape from New York on Prime Video.
• Rent/Buy Escape from New York on Amazon.
• Get Escape from New York on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Fast Times At Ridgemont High (1982)

The Director: Amy Heckering
The Cast: Sean Penn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Judge Reinhold
What It’s About: The school lives, social lives, and love lives of several teenagers are explored both in and outside their California high school.
What To Expect: If you’re looking for a movie that captures the heart and soul of the ‘80s high school experience, look no further than Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Yes, that includes the good, the bad, and the unbearingly uncomfortable.

• Rent/Buy Fast Times at Ridgemont High on Amazon.
• Get Fast Times at Ridgemont High on DVD on Amazon.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)

The Director: John Hughes
The Cast: Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara

What It’s About: John Hughes’ Ferris Bueller’s Day Off follows the charismatic titular high school senior (Matthew Broderick) as he convinces his girlfriend and best friend to skip class and have an epic adventure in Chicago.

What To Expect: A quintessential ‘80s movie, and one of John Hughes’ best cinematic experiences, there are few teenage comedies that hit as hard (or as often) as this one.

• Rent/Buy Ferris Bueller’s Day Off on Amazon.
• Get Ferris Bueller’s Day Off on DVD on Amazon.

Footloose (1984)

The Director: Herbert Ross

The Cast: Kevin Bacon, Lori Singer, John Lithgow

What It’s About: When Ren McCormack (Kevin Bacon), a dance-obsessed high schooler, moves to a small town that has banned all forms of music and dancing, he does what any teenager would do in his position: rebels with loads and loads of dancing, in Footloose.

What To Expect: If you’re in the mood for angry dancing, John Lithgow villains, and great movie songs, look no further than Footloose.

• Rent/Buy Footloose on Amazon.
• Get Footloose on DVD on Amazon.

Friday The 13th (1980)

The Director: Sean S. Cunningham

The Cast: Betsy Palmer, Kevin Bacon, Adrienne King

What It’s About: The slasher film Friday the 13th follows a group of counselors as they are picked off one by one by a sadistic killer with one hell of a backstory involving Camp Crystal Lake.

What To Expect: You won’t see Jason Voorhees tracking down and killing teenagers this time around, but the killer in this iconic slasher is just as brutal and perhaps even more unhinged.

• Rent/Buy Friday the 13th on Amazon.
• Get Friday the 13th on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Ghostbusters (1984)

The Director: Ivan Reitman

The Cast: Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson

What It’s About: Who ya gonna call? Well, Ghostbusters if you’re looking for a fun supernatural comedy involving college professors who use their knowledge to rid New York City of ghostly threats.

What To Expect: Want to go back and see how the Ghostbusters got started? Want to see the Marshmallow Man walk through NYC again? Want to experience one of the best ‘80s movies? Here’s your chance!

• Rent/Buy Ghostbusters on Amazon.
• Get Ghostbusters on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Gremlins (1984)

The Director: Joe Dante

The Cast: Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Hoyt Axton

What It’s About: Written by Chris Columbus and directed by Joe Dante, the 1984 horror flick Gremlins answers the question: What’s the worst that could happen when you spill water on your new pet and feed them after midnight?

What to expect? Well, you’ll find out what happens when you feed a gremlin after midnight. That’s for sure!

• Rent/Buy Gremlins on Amazon.
• Get Gremlins on DVD on Amazon.

Lethal Weapon (1987)

The Director: Richard Donner

The Cast: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Gary Busey

What It’s About: Los Angeles police detectives Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) and Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) are forced to look past their differences and opposing lifestyles to uncover a massive drug-trafficking ring in Richard Donner’s Lethal Weapon.

What To Expect: If you want to see one of the premier buddy action movies, Lethal Weapon is going to do the trick, and then some.

• Rent/Buy Lethal Weapon on Amazon.
• Get Lethal Weapon on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Midnight Run (1988)

The Director: Martin Brest

The Cast: Robert De Niro, Charles Grodin, John Ashton

What It’s About: Bounty hunter Jack Walsh (Robert De Niro) sets out to capture mob accountant Jonathan “The Duke” Mardukas (Charles Grodin), who has skipped out on his bail.

What To Expect: What follows is a cross-country adventure involving two personalities that mix like oil and water. But with mobsters, bounty hunters, and the FBI hot on their tail, they’ll have to work together.