It’s A Wonderful Life was my grandfather’s favorite movie of all time and one my mother has watched every year after he passed away. In fact, we always watch the holiday movie yearly as a family and to be honest I thought I knew everything there was to know about it, including how it pioneered a brand new type of snow (though also still used asbestos in some scenes, yikes) and filmed in such hot weather the cast once took a day off. But now, after more than 30 times of watching the film, I’ve learned the Jimmy Stewart/Frank Capra collaboration was a critical flop.

Honestly, I don’t know how I missed it. Maybe I was too busy making jokes about lassoing the moon while watching, but whatever the reason, this week I found out the movie that Frank Capra called “probably the strongest picture I made” as well as his “favourite film” was actually a critical flop when it came out.

Watching the movie with my mother for over the 30th time (I’d tell you exactly but then I’d be dating myself), my mom and I got into a conversation about the $8,000 dollars that’s a key plot point in the movie. We wondered about inflation between 1946 and now and suddenly I found myself searching around about the movie and the Post-War Era in which it filmed. Suddenly, I learned It’s A Wonderful Life was not always a beloved holiday film airing repetitively on TV around Christmas. In fact, plenty of critics hated it.

Bosley Crowther's famous It's A Wonderful Life review is still available to New York Times subscribers online, and it's not particularly nice to the film. (Though plenty of modern humans apparently still think the Capra movie is not the best to rewatch.) When the outlet made the review available online, they even noted the movie "did not seem destined" for the holiday "glory" it would receive years later. Looking at this portion of the review you can easily see why.

In 1946, this was the sentiment from many major outlets, though it's worth noting the movie did reasonable business at the box office and did earn some Oscar nominations the year of its release. Still, in the years following its theatrical run, it was a largely forgotten Capra film for decades. And when I say decades I mean it.

In fact, it took until the seventies for the movie to get any real traction, which is when its shelf life extended considerably. USA Today mentions it was a clerical error that led to the public's fascination with the movie decades after it's release. Someone forgot to file to maintain copyright for the Jimmy Stewart-led film and in 1974, per the outlet, it went straight into the public domain and started airing regularly as part of the Christmas movie schedule. Years later, it's still streaming for free during the holiday season.

Filmmaker IQ co-founder John P. Hess explained more about what happened to the outlet, which led to its status as great Christmas movies staple in subsequent years.

This means it became cheap to air on TV, and that plus the holiday theme was the perfect kindling to get one wonderful fire burning. A fire that has kept burning for the subsequent 50 years.

No one can resist a good “rags to riches” story, in which a struggling protagonist manages to achieve the fortune they have always dreamed of. However, we happen to find “riches to rags” stories — in which a wealthy protagonist loses everything but, in most cases, gains something more valuable — even more interesting and, in many cases, much funnier. See for yourself by taking a look at some of our favorite examples from the big and small screen.

Schitt's Creek (2015-2020)

The beloved, hilarious, Emmy-winning Canadian import Schitt’s Creek starred real-life father and son duo Eugene and Dan Levy (who also created), along with Catherine O'Hara and Annie Murphy, as a wealthy family who lose everything… well, almost everything. Their one remaining asset is the titular small town, which was purchased for David Rose (Dan Levy) as a joke, and becomes their new home.

It's A Wonderful Life (1946)

One of the most iconic and inspirational holiday movie classics is Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life, starring James Stewart as a businessman who grows desperate when he loses an important sum of cash. However, after his guardian angel shows him a world in which he was never born on one fateful Christmas Eve, he realizes there are things in life worth much more than money.

Trading Places (1983)

John Landis' hilarious classic counts as both a riches-to-rags story from the perspective of Dan Aykroyd's Louis Winthorpe and a rags-to-riches story when following Eddie Murphy's Billy Ray Valentine. By the end, however, Trading Places ultimately becomes a riches-to-rags story when the duo team up against the billionaire brothers who treated them like guinea pigs: Randolph (Ralph Bellamy) and Mortimer Duke (Don Ameche).

Overboard (1987)

In Overboard, real-life couple Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell star as a spoiled, rotten socialite and the blue-collar handyman she cheats out of payment, respectfully. When he discovers she has fallen off her yacht and lost her memory, he convinces her she is his wife and shows her a taste of the blue-collar lifestyle.

A Little Princess (1995)

Alfonso Cuarón's sophomore directorial effort, A Little Princess, stars former child star Liesel Matthews as Sara Crewe, the daughter of a wealthy, widowed British Army officer who goes off to fight in World War I. Sara is then sent to a boarding school when, after her father is presumed dead, the cruel headmistress forces her to become a servant.

The Jerk (1979)

One of the best Steve Martin movies, The Jerk, starts off as a rags-to-riches story as the helplessly naive Navin Johnson achieves great success by inventing a device that prevents eyeglasses from slipping. Unfortunately, a flaw in the design forces him to pay millions of dollars in damages, leading him to a life on the streets.

A Civil Action (1998)

Based on a true story, A Civil Action stars John Travolta as a successful attorney seeking to bring a leather manufacturing company allegedly responsible for water contamination and, subsequently, poisoning several children to justice. The otherwise bold and honorable act ends up driving his law firm and himself into bankruptcy.

Goodfellas (1990)

One of Martin Scorsese's best movies, Goodfellas, is one of the most realistic depictions of the mafia lifestyle ever put on film. It is based on Nicholas Pileggi's non-fiction book, Wiseguy, which chronicles the rise and fall of mobster Henry Hill, as played by Ray Liotta in the film that also stars Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci in an Academy Award-winning performance.

Blue Jasmine (2013)

From writer and director Woody Allen, Blue Jasmine stars Cate Blanchett in an Academy Award-winning performance as a well-off Manhattan socialite who falls on hard times. As a result, she suffers a nervous breakdown and travels to San Francisco to move in with her sister, Ginger (Sally Hawkins).

Cyrano (2021)

Joe Wright's adaptation of Edmond Rostand's 1897 play, Cyrano de Bergerac, stars Peter Dinklage as a man who is reluctantly convinced to help another man named Chris (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) woo the woman whom he secretly loves, Roxanne (Haley Bennett). It is not until he is stricken with poverty and about to succumb to his battle wounds that he finally musters the courage to reveal his true feelings to her.

The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (1948)

One of the best Western movies of all time, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre is one of the most classic examples of characters coming across an unimaginable fortune, only to run into circumstances that cost them everything. The film stars Humphrey Bogart and Tim Holt as two desperate Americans who enlist the help of an old prospector (Walter Huston) to help them mine for gold in 1920s Mexico.

Arrested Development (2003-2019)

Jason Bateman leads the Arrested Development cast as a widowed father struggling to keep his grossly dysfunctional family together when his father's arrest causes them to lose it all. Despite universal acclaim when it first aired, the sitcom — also starring the likes of Portia de Rossi, Tony Hale, Will Arnott, and plenty more icons — was canceled by Fox after three seasons before Netflix revived it for two more about a decade later.

The Money Pit (1986)

From producer Steven Spielberg, The Money Pit stars Tom Hanks as a successful lawyer and Shelley Long as his musician girlfriend who think they have found their dream home. Unfortunately, it turns out to be a real fixer-upper that leads them directly to financial (and possibly romantic) ruin.

Quicksilver (1986)

Kevin Bacon stars in Quicksilver as a hotshot stock exchange share trader who ends up costing his company and himself all their savings. This leads him to start a new and, actually, more liberating career as a bike messenger and lead a new life that involves a romance with a young woman (Jami Gertz) whom he saves from a street gang.

Sullivan's Travels (1941)

Writer and director Preston Sturges' Sullivan's Travels stars Joel McCrea as a Hollywood filmmaker known best for comedies who longs to make a more dramatic and realistic social commentary. In order to gain the perspective he needs, he lives as a homeless person, during which he strikes up a relationship with an impoverished woman (Veronica Lake) who dreams of becoming an actress.

Mood Indigo (2013)

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind director Michel Gondry's surreal adaptation of Boris Vian's 1947 novel, L'écume des jours, is a fun and quirky romance... until it is not. Mood Indigo — as it is called in the States — takes a devastating turn when Chloé (Audrey Tatou) comes down with a strange illness and her wealthy inventor husband, Colin (Romain Duris), uses every last penny he has in search of a cure.

Maid to Order (1987)

Director Amy Holden Jones' Maid to Order is sort of like a modern-day retelling of Cinderella, but in reverse. It stars Ally Sheedy as a wealthy, out-of-control young woman who wakes up in a world in which she was never born, courtesy of her fairy godmother (Beverly D'Angelo), and must learn how to make a living on her own by becoming a maid.

Downhill (1927)

One of the earliest Alfred Hitchcock movies is the silent-era drama Downhill, in which a college rugby player (Ivor Novello) takes the rap for a false accusation against his friend (Robin Irvine) so he can avoid expulsion. That only leads to a series of circumstances that get increasingly worse for him, including having his inheritance exhausted by his two-timing wife. 

Dumb Money (2023)

Craig Gillespie directs a star-studded cast, including Paul Dano, Seth Rogen, and Pete Davidson, in what some might interpret as a modern Robin Hood tale. Dumb Money is inspired by the true story of people who literally gave Wall Street a run for its money after betting big at the stock market on video game retailer, Game Stop.

2 Broke Girls (2011-2017)

The title of CBS's 2 Broke Girls — a funny TV show about blue-collar characters — refers to diner servers and roommates Max (Kat Dennings) and Caroline (Beth Behrs). While Max has been broke for her entire life, it only recently happened to Caroline after her wealthy father (Steven Weber) was jailed for participating in a Ponzi scheme.

Triangle Of Sadness (2022)

Three Academy Award nominations — including Best Picture — went to writer and director Ruben Östlund's biting satire about the rich, Triangle of Sadness. It follows a group of conceited wealthy people, including a young couple of fashion models played by Harris Dickinson and the late Charlbi Dean, who end up struggling to survive when their luxury yacht (captained by Woody Harrelson) crashes on a deserted island.

Empire Of The Sun (1987)

J.G. Ballard's autobiographical novel, Empire of the Sun, was adapted into one of director Steven Spielberg’s best movies from the 1980s. A young Christian Bale leads the film as a privileged British boy forced to fend for himself after becoming separated from his parents in the midst of Japan's invasion of Shanghai during World War II.

Fun With Dick And Jane (1977)

Not to be confused with a famous educational children’s book, Fun with Dick and Jane stars George Segal and Jane Fonda as a married couple forced to turn to a life of crime to make ends meet after they suddenly find themselves unemployed and in heaps of debt. The comedy classic was later remade for more modern audiences with Jim Carrey and Téa Leoni assuming the title roles in 2005.

The House Bunny (2008)

In The House Bunny, Anna Faris plays a model named Shelley who wakes up the day after her 27th birthday to a note informing her that she is being kicked out of the famous Mansion. This leads her to become a house mother to a misfit college sorority, whom she teaches how to be confident and successful in the dating game.

The Railway Children (1970)

Jenny Agutter leads this British family film based on the novel by E. Nesbit. Set in 1904, The Railway Children chronicles the struggles of a family whose financially comfortable existence is upended when their bureaucrat father disappears.

Life Stinks (1991)

One of the more forgotten Mel Brooks movies, Life Stinks, is a rare example of a riches-to-rags story in which the protagonist voluntarily participates in the impoverished lifestyle. The legendary comedian, who also co-writes and directs the film, plays a successful businessman who makes a bet with a longtime competitor that he can survive life on the streets, only to discover he may be in over his head.

Arthur 2: On The Rocks (1988)

The classic 1981 comedy, Arthur, stars Dudley Moore as a British man-child who must choose between marrying a woman he does not love and keeping his enormous fortune or being with the woman he loves (Liza Minelli) and losing it all. In the sequel, Arthur 2: On the Rocks, he actually does end up losing it all, due to a vengeful scheme, which forces him to sober up and finally get a job.

Uptown Girls (2003)

The late Brittany Murphy stars in Uptown Girls as an irresponsible woman who loses her inheritance. Forced to find a job for the first time, she becomes a nanny to a precocious 8-year-old, played by a young Dakota Fanning.

Good Advice (2001)

In Good Advice, Charlie Sheen plays an arrogant stockbroker who makes a huge mistake that costs him his job and his equally conceited girlfriend (Denise Richards). In a plot to get back on track, he secretly takes over his ex's advice column, which helps him gain a deeper perspective on life that he had been missing.

Princess Protection Program (2009)

In the Disney Channel Original Movie, Princess Protection Program, Demi Lovato plays a young royal whose land is invaded by a neighboring country, forcing her to go into hiding. She is sent to live with a special agent (Tom Verica) and his teenage daughter (Selena Gomez) who introduce her to the simpler life.

Broke (2020)

This short-lived sitcom says it all in the title. Broke stars Jaime Camil as a man cut off by his rich daddy, forcing him to move in with the estranged sister (Pauly Perrette) of his wife.

Rocky V (1990)

While considered by many to be a sequel that never should have happened, Rocky V is noteworthy for how it changes the career trajectory of Sylvester Stallone's iconic title character. An injury forces Rocky Balboa to retire from boxing and, soon after,  he loses his fortune on the stock market, leading him to become a trainer for Tommy Gunn (Tommy Morrison).

Seeing people fall on hard times can be devastating, but the topic can also serve as the basis for some inspiring and even funny stories. 

Every movie could be considered an inspiration to somebody — perhaps in the sense that it influenced them to pursue a career in filmmaking or contained stylistic or thematic elements that they aspire to include their own stories. However, how many films can you say actually inspired you to make a change in your own life, make a difference in the world, or even just helped you see yourself or other people in a whole new light? The following are some inspirational movies that we believe could give just the boost of motivation you need to follow your dreams.

Rudy (1993)

A die-hard Notre Dame football fan (Sean Astin) sets out to achieve his life-long dream by earning himself a position on the team, despite his small stature.

Why it is a great inspirational movie: What makes Rudy one of the best sports movies of all time is that even people who have no interest in football can relate and react strongly to the true underdog story of Daniel E. “Rudy” Ruettiger, whose life inspired director David Anspaugh’s classic. 

Stream Rudy on Tubi.
Rent or buy Rudy on Amazon.

Glory (1989)

During the United States Civil War, the Black volunteers of a Union military troop struggle with prejudice at the hands of their battlefield enemies and their white comrades alike.

Why it is a great inspirational movie: One of best war movies of its (or any time) is Glory for the way it depicts one of the most divisive eras in American history through the eyes of soldiers given the chance to prove their worth in a country that treated them as inferiors and came out as heroes.

Rent or buy Glory on Amazon.

The Pursuit Of Happyness (2006)

A newly single father (Academy Award winner Will Smith) to a six-year-old boy (Jaden Smith) struggles to overcome poverty and homelessness and find a better career than selling bone density scanners in 1980s San Francisco.

Why it is a great inspirational movie: Easily one of the best Will Smith movies is (the intentionally misspelled) The Pursuit of Happyness, which is based on a memoir of the same name by Chris Gardner, who would go on to become a successful entrepreneur and motivational speaker — showing the importance of not giving up even in your darkest moments.

Stream The Pursuit Of Happyness on Peacock.
Rent or buy The Pursuit Of Happyness on Amazon.

Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

A young man (former Skins cast member Dev Patel) participating on India’s version of Who Wants to Be A Millionaire? finds that each of his increasingly difficult trivia questions reminds him of a key moment from his childhood in Mumbai.

Why it is a great inspirational movie: From director Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire — one of the best movies of the 2000s — is a film that cannot quite be defined by one genre but, at its core, is the story of a person who goes above and beyond for the love of his life (Frieda Pinto) — a kind of passion that everyone should aspire for.

Stream Slumdog Millionaire on Hulu.
Rent or buy Slumdog Millionaire on Amazon.

Hidden Figures (2016)

In its early years, NASA turns to three mathematically inclined Black women (played by Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe) for help to ensure that astronaut John Glenn (Glenn Powell) has a safe trip into the stars.

Why it is a great inspirational movie: A great movie to watch during Women’s History Month or to watch during Black History Month (or anytime) as well, is Hidden Figures, which depicts the previously untold story of how mathematicians Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, and Katherine Gobels Johnson overcame both racial and gender discrimination and played an essential role in the development of the United States Space Program.

Stream Hidden Figures on Disney+.
Rent or buy Hidden Figures on Amazon.

It's A Wonderful Life (1946)

After suffering a devastating financial loss, a banker and family man (Jimmy Stewart) is given the chance on Christmas Eve to see what the world would be like if he never existed, courtesy of his guardian angel (Henry Travers).

Why it is a great inspirational movie: Director Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life is justifiably recognized as one of the greatest Christmas movies ever made, but (in addition to its holiday setting not being particularly necessary), it is great to watch any time of the year for its valuable lessons in self-discovery and self-worth.

Stream It's A Wonderful Life on Amazon Prime.

Life Of Pi (2012)

An older Indian man (the late Irrfan Khan) recalls to a young writer (Rafe Spall) the unbelievable story of how, when he was a teen (played by Suraj Sharma), he formed a trusting bond with a Bengal Tiger in order to survive while adrift at sea.

Why it is a great inspirational movie: Directed to Academy Award-winning acclaim by Ang Lee and based on the novel by Yann Martel, the story of Life of Pi may seem to border on the impossible, but would give anyone who has seen it a reason to at least try to overcome whatever seemingly insurmountable circumstances come their way.

Rent or buy Life of Pi on Amazon.

Erin Brockovich (2000)

While working as a paralegal, a divorced single mother of three (Julia Roberts in her Oscar-winning role) uncovers a local water pollution scandal and almost single-handedly takes on the California corporation behind it.

Why it is a great inspirational movie: The world could use a lot more motivation to be an advocate for environmental activism and one potent source of inspiration would be director Steven Soderbergh’s Erin Brockovich, which is based on the life of one of the most famous environmental activists and, not to mention, a highly influential feminist icon.

Rent or buy Erin Brockovich on Amazon.

To Kill A Mockingbird (1962)

A widowed father and attorney (Gregory Peck) defends a Black man (Brock Peters) wrongfully accused of assaulting his female employer in 1930s Alabama.

Why it is a great inspirational movie: When the American Film Institute ranked cinema’s greatest heroes and villains, the choice for the Number One hero was Peck’s role as Atticus Finch in Robert Mulligan’s adaptation of Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, citing his staunch aversion to prejudice and crucial lessons in considering the perspective of others.

Rent or buy To Kill A Mockingbird on Amazon.

Good Will Hunting (1997)

A highly intelligent, but emotionally stunted, young Boston native (Matt Damon) forms a life-changing bond with a therapist (Academy Award winner Robin Williams) tasked with helping him reach his full potential.

Why it is a great inspirational movie: Confronting and overcoming harsh and uncomfortable truths about ourselves or our pasts in order to better understand our own self-worth is an essential theme of director Gus Van Sant’s Good WIll Hunting, which was also written by stars Damon and Ben Affleck, who earned Oscars for their screenplay.

Stream Good Will Hunting on Max.
Rent or buy Good Will Hunting on Amazon.

Forrest Gump (1994)

A man of below-average intelligence (Tom Hanks in his second Oscar-winning role) witnesses segregation, the Vietnam War, the Watergate Scandal, and just about every other significant moment in history during the mid-20th Century.

Why it is a great inspirational movie: From director Robert Zemeckis and based on the novel by Winston Groom, Best Picture Oscar winner Forrest Gump is a thoroughly amusing and endearing tale that celebrates how kindness and heart are more important than intelligence.

Stream Forrest Gump on Amazon Prime.
Stream Forrest Gump on Paramount+.

Legally Blonde (2001)

After being dumped by her boyfriend, a college student with a passion for fashion (Academy Award winner Reese Witherspoon) sets out to reinvent herself by getting accepted into Harvard Law School.

Why it is a great inspirational movie: Elle Woods’ goal at the beginning of Robert Luketic’s Legally Blonde is mainly to prove to her ex-boyfriend that there is more to her than her looks, but by the end, when she gives one of cinema’s most inspirational speeches, she ends up proving her worth to someone more important: herself. 

Stream Legally Blonde on Max.
Rent or buy Legally Blonde on Amazon.

Just by looking back at these classic movies, we feel more inspired already!

I know almost everyone has a holiday TV and movie ritual. There are some Christmas movies that some of us have to watch during the holidays. This could include Christmas classics such as Home Alone or The Santa Clause. Usually, it includes at least one of the best Christmas movies of all time. It doesn’t feel like this joyful season without watching these films. I have plenty of must-watch TV shows and movies from December to January. 

Some people start their holiday viewing traditions in November. Personally, that’s a little too early for me. Once December hits, I speed ahead by watching a few of my favorite holiday movies. Of course, that includes some great romantic Christmas movies and ones that were vital to my childhood around the holidays. 

Let’s discuss the movies and TV shows that make the holidays feel truly special.

A Christmas Story 

As I age, I can kind of see that A Christmas Story isn’t the most perfect movie of all time. There are issues. However, nothing will stop it from being one of my favorite movies ever. This is probably because it’s the film that I have seen most in my lifetime. I never grow bored of it. A Christmas Story is that classic tale of really wanting one thing and everyone denying you it.

You finally get it, and spoiler alert, you shoot your eye out. What a classic metaphor for life. I don’t think that there has ever been a Christmas since I can remember Christmases that I haven’t watched A Christmas Story. I really enjoyed A Christmas Story Christmas but I am not sure it’s earned its place yet in my Christmas tradition. I may rewatch it occasionally but I am not sure if I’ll still be watching it 30 years from now. I definitely will continue to watch A Christmas Story many decades into the future. 

While You Were Sleeping 

There are many holiday-based rom-coms that I love. I know some things about Love Actually didn’t age well, but I still sometimes rewatch it during the holidays. My holiday film tradition often includes holiday romantic comedies that I occasionally watch, but While You Were Sleeping has recently become a must-watch Christmas movie. I've always loved the movie. However, only in adulthood have I begun to make it part of my holiday custom.

Sandra Bullock is my favorite romantic comedy heroine and this film best exemplifies her on-screen charm. Additionally, the movie world failed us by not making Bill Pullman the romantic lead in more films. This film rectifies that error. While You Were Sleeping being a film set in Chicago also adds to its specialness. 

The Nightmare Before Christmas

The Nightmare Before Christmas is also one of those films that I have seen a million times and would watch a billion more. I don’t watch it every Christmas but I try to watch it almost every Christmas (or Halloween). 

It’s just a comfort film that also happens to be done really well. It is a film that I appreciate more as I age because I notice new elements. I find new things to admire, especially when it comes to  The Nightmare Before Christmas’s technical precision.

A Version Of A Christmas Carol 

There are a lot of great Christmas Carol films, so I have plenty of options. Scrooged happens to be one of my favorite versions of the story. Therefore, I often watch it. However, I also enjoy watching new takes on the Charles Dickens tale. And I enjoy watching favorites from my childhood, such as A Flintstones Christmas Carol. Recently, I even added another layer to my Christmas Carol yearly habit by listening to an audiobook production of it.

The story doesn’t get old. Therefore, if the world keeps making versions of this story, I’ll keep watching (or listening) to them. 

It’s A Wonderful Life 

Maybe I am misremembering, but I felt like every year, It’s A Wonderful Life used to air after the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. This would signify that the holiday season had begun. If I didn’t watch It’s A Wonderful Life, the holiday season wouldn’t officially begin. This still somewhat rings true.

The holidays don’t quite feel complete without at least one viewing of It’s A Wonderful Life. 

An Unconventional Christmas Movie 

This is a newer viewing tradition that started with adulthood. I love all the wonderful joyful Christmas movies. However, I have to watch at least one unconventional Christmas movie. For some, this could mean an action movie like Die Hard or Batman Returns. For me, this means some form of holiday horror film. Some of my favorites are Gremlins and Better Watch Out. I usually watch at least one of my favorite holiday horror movies or a new one each year.

This year, I have already knocked this off my holiday film checklist with It’s A Wonderful Knife. However, I could always go for more holiday horror, which likely means quite a few more holiday horror films before January.

A Claymation Classic 

I like to believe having classic claymation holiday films playing in the background on Christmas is a universal childhood thing for millennials and Gen X. This includes Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town, Jack Frost, and many other popular claymation Christmas films. I am a little too old to still enjoy the magic of them. However, I usually watch at least one of these films (if not several) during the holidays, just for nostalgia purposes and to remember the bills-free years.

A New Christmas Movie 

Netflix, Hallmark, Lifetime, and now Peacock, Prime Video, and other streaming services and networks are getting into the yearly Christmas movies market. So many of my favorite Christmas and holiday movies tie into childhood. However, I am always looking for a new addition to my holiday TV shows and film rotation. 

This means that if any new Christmas or holiday movie sounds interesting, I watch it. I have enjoyed a few of the new holiday films that I’ve watched in the last few years. However, I haven’t found any permanent ones yet, but I enjoy the search.

A Holiday Cooking Or Baking Series 

Cooking holiday meals has become part of my new tradition. Therefore, I enjoy watching holiday cooking shows for inspiration. Additionally, I just enjoy the simplicity of cooking and baking programs. Max has a wide catalog of this type of programming. Therefore, I don’t have a specific holiday cooking or baking show I watch every year, instead, I  just see what looks interesting on Max, Netflix, and similar streaming platforms. 

A big part of the magic of Christmas and other holidays is the traditions. For me, and many others, a major part of that involves Christmas movies. I just don’t completely immerse myself in the season without viewing the shows and movies mentioned above. I look forward to these annual holiday film and TV show marathons. 

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."

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

It’s a Wonderful Life is a timeless Christmas classic that tends to earn solid ratings for NBC every year. Part of this reputation comes from most people loving its warm and happy ending... but horror author Stephen King has a different view of Frank Capra’s film. The Shining author has shared his take on what he sees as a dark ending to the story of Jimmy Stewart's George Bailey.

If you remember the ending of It’s a Wonderful Life, George Bailey sees what his life would be like if he never existed and begs an angel who helped him to give him his life back. This allows him to return to his loving family and the townspeople after realizing it truly is a wonderful… you get the gist. After Stephen King was asked on Twitter if he would ever do a dark take on one of the best Christmas movies, the writer responded,

Well, great. Now, I can’t unsee that final shot! However, The Simpsons beat Stephen King to it in the episode "Natural Born Kissers" where Bart and Lisa dig up an unseen reel of an alternate ending to the Christmas film that involved a killing spree.

The Simpsons and King are certainly not the first to offer dark twists to jolly classics, and in 2022 we're seeing a number of them. This year gave us the action-comedy Christmas film Violent Night with season's beatings from a savage Santa after a family is held hostage in their home. There’s also the unauthorized slasher parody of How the Grinch Stole Christmas! called The Mean One premiering in theaters next week, with Terrifier’s David Howard Thornton playing the title role. Movies like this will make you pray to never end up on the naughty list.

As Stephen King has published dozens of novels and hundreds of short stories, Hollywood knows to turn to this established author for movie adaptation opportunities. This year alone, Hollywood put out two Stephen King adaptations. There was Firestarter starring Zac Efron about a father and his pyrokinetic daughter on the run from the government. Its critical reviews found the horror remake inferior to the 1984 film, as well as bland. There was also the haunting thriller release of Mr. Harrigan’s Phone about a teen who communicates with the ghost of an elderly billionaire through a mobile phone. The critical reception of that Netflix release wasn’t much better. It’s almost like filmmakers are struggling to capture the haunting mind of one of the best horror writers we have today.

As mentioned before, Hollywood still has plenty of Stephen King works to choose from for upcoming years. We have Salem’s Lot to look forward to, which follows a writer as he returns to his hometown, only to see it slowly taken over by vampires. Fans shouldn't fret the possibility of being given a crummy adaptation, as one of the film’s stars says the adaptation is faithful to the book and didn’t want to do the Bram Stoker Award-winner dirty. With the upcoming horror movie having an official R rating for “bloody violence and language,” I’d like to believe this is a movie that takes risks in its horror elements. There’s also The Boogeyman, which is set to be adapted by Stranger Things producer Shawn Levy. So, let’s cross our fingers that 2023 will be the year for successful Stephen King movies.

In the eyes of Stephen King, It’s a Wonderful Life’s George Bailey just might be a murderous lunatic. Why doesn't that surprise me?  You can currently watch It’s a Wonderful Life via broadcast on NBC, Plex and with your Amazon Prime subscription.

In the past, CinemaBlend has partnered with Plex to talk about the free streaming service’s offerings from romantic movies to Oscar-nominated films, and just about anything and everything in between. In honor of the holiday season, we’ve teamed up with the platform once again, but this time to talk about some of the Christmas movies streaming free on Plex, including It’s a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Carol, Bridget Jones’s Diary, and so much more. Below is a quick breakdown of just a few of the options available on Plex’s Holiday Merrython hub worth checking out…

It's A Wonderful Life (1946)

Some would argue that Frank Capra’s 1946 holiday classic It’s a Wonderful Life isn’t technically a Christmas movie, but the iconic fantasy film following George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) as he is taken on a journey of self-discovery just before he can jump off a bridge will forever go down as one of the best titles to enjoy with the family each year. The brilliant story and powerful message found in the movie is one that can technically be enjoyed at any time of the year, but the Christmastime setting makes it a must watch each holiday season.

Stream It’s a Wonderful Life on Plex.

Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)

If you are looking for a modern-day adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice that partially takes place during Christmas, Bridget Jones’s Diary is the way to go. This 2001 romantic comedy centers on Bridget Jones (Renée Zellweger), a 32-year-old single woman living in London who decides to start keeping a diary in hopes to take control of her life at the start of the new year. Over the course of the year, Bridget’s journaling brings many changes to her life, including romance with not one, but two desirable men — Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) and Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant) — which only brings more complications to her already chaotic life.

Stream Bridget Jones’s Diary on Plex.

A Christmas Carol (1984)

Charles Dickens’ beloved classic A Christmas Carol has received countless adaptations and reimaginings over the years with one of the best being the 1984 CBS film starring George C. Scott as the bitter and greedy Ebenezer Scrooge. Largely faithful to the source material, Clive Donner’s made-for-TV movie does a fantastic job of telling the story of Scrooge’s Christmas Eve journey through the past, present, and future of Christmas as three ghosts attempt to show him the fault in his ways before it’s too late to reignite the flame in his cold heart.

Stream A Christmas Carol on Plex.
Also try Scrooge on Plex.

Noel (2004)

The 2004 romantic Christmas movie Noel follows a group of strangers whose personal lives become intertwined over the holidays. First, there’s Rose Collins (Susan Sarandon), a divorcee who spends most of her time caring for her mother who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. Then there is Michael “Mike” Riley (Paul Walker), a New York City police officer whose issues with jealousy could bring a premature end to his relationship with Nina Vasquez (Penélope Cruz). The movie also introduces Artin Venizelos (Alan Arkin) a widower convinced Mike is his reincarnated wife. And finally there is Jules Calvert (Marcus Thomas), a man trying to relive the year he spent Christmas in the emergency room. Oh, Robin Williams, Billy Porter, and Carmen Ejogo also show up.

Stream Noel on Plex.

Elliot The Littlest Reindeer (2018)

The 2018 animated Christmas movie Elliot the Littlest Reindeer follows a young miniature horse named Elliot (Josh Hutcherson) as he races to the North Pole to prove his worth and try out to take the place of the soon-to-be-retired Blitzen (Martin Short) who’s stepping down from leading Santa’s sleigh. The star-studded cast also includes Full Frontal host Samantha Bee, Deadpool star Morena Baccarin, and the incomparable John Cleese, who provides the voice of Donner.

Stream Elliot the Littlest Reindeer on Plex.

Christmas Proposal (2021)

Following a heated argument with his girlfriend, Jason (Joshua T. Shipman) tells his commanding officer in the military he wants to be “shipped off” far away, and ends up getting transferred to Japan. Not that bad, right? Wrong! Not long after he and Carla (Lily Nicole) reconcile and put the argument in the past, Jason learns his transfer has gone through, but his girlfriend won’t be able to join him on the 15-year assignment in Japan unless they’re married by Christmas. Start the ticking clock, family drama, and decisions to make in Christmas Proposal.

Stream Christmas Proposal on Plex.

A Child's Christmas (2008)

Part live-action, part animation, A Child’s Christmas follows an old man and young boy as they take a trip down memory lane to Christmas past. Over the course of this 2008 special, the two bond over stories of the old man’s previous experiences on Christmas as well as what he has learned about the holiday throughout his life. Charming, uplifting, and not all too long, A Child’s Christmas is a delightful treat for the holidays.

Stream A Child’s Christmas on Plex.

A Midnight Clear (1992)

The 1992 military drama A Midnight Clear is not the typical Christmas movie but its story does touch on several of the themes and traditions of the holiday. Set near the end of World War II in December 1944, the movie follows a group of U.S. soldiers who come in contact with a platoon of German soldiers who wish to surrender as part of a Christmas truce. Briefly, the young men from opposite sides share a brief moment of peace, but the reality of war soon brings the party crashing down. Ethan Hawke, Gary Sinise, and Frank Whaley star in this moving drama.

Stream A Midnight Clear on Plex.

Bernard And The Genie (1991)

The 1991 made-for-TV movie Bernard and the Genie (written by Richard Curtis who would go on to write and direct Love Actually) centers on Bernard Bottle (Alan Cumming), an art dealer who awakens a genie named Josephus (Lenny Henry) after being fired from his job at a prestigious gallery ahead of Christmas. The all-powerful genie gives Bernard several wishes, including one to have the Mona Lisa in his apartment, a decision that brings drama (and the police) to the hero’s apartment.

Stream Bernard and the Genie on Plex.

Each of these Christmas movies captures the holiday spirit in their own way. If you want even more options, check out all the great Christmas movies streaming free on Plex’s Holiday Merrython hub.

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!

Have a holly, jolly holiday season with this holiday movie collection! Four lucky winners will each receive the entire collection. Complete our survey below for your chance to win all of these films (all Blu-ray unless otherwise noted): It's A Wonderful Life 4K UHD, Scrooged, Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Trading Places, Office Christmas Party, Sonic The Hedgehog Giftset, and The Godfather, Coda: Death of Michael Corleone. The giveaway ends on December 14th at 11:59 p.m. CT.

Official Rules: Just fill out the survey above. The sweepstakes ends at 11:59 pm CT on December 14th, 2020. The winners are chosen at random and will be notified via email. Only U.S. residents over the age of 18 may apply. No purchase necessary. Participants can be disqualified for any reason. Failure to comply with the rules will result in disqualification and subsequent mockery. Any shipping issues are not the responsibility of CinemaBlend. Good luck!

If there's one Christmas movie that you're guaranteed to watch during every consecutive winter holiday season, it's Frank Capra's It's A Wonderful Life. The holiday favorite is considered one merely one of the best movies of its genre but one of the best movies of all-time, featuring an outstanding lead performance from Oscar-nominated James Stewart and one of the most compassionate and memorable explorations of the reason for the season. It's a tender and beautiful look at the undervalued joys of humanity and the power of the human spirit. There's a reason why it's one of the most rewatched Christmas movies in film history, and the behind-the-scenes stories about the making of this fine film and its very turbulent road to success only make it easier to appreciate this timeless tale.

Here are just a few behind-the-scenes facts about 1946's all-time Christmas classic, It's A Wonderful Life.

It’s A Wonderful Life Initially Bombed At The Box Office

Given its reputation as being, you know, the biggest and best Christmas movie of all-time, you might think that 1946's It's A Wonderful Life would've made a killing at the box office. Alas, that wasn't the case. Far from it, in fact. When Frank Capra's melancholy Christmas movie first came out, it garnered mixed reviews from critics and didn't make much of an impression with audiences. It underperformed rather significantly. Actually, it flat-out bombed at the box office, failing to recoup the $6.3 million it would need to break even.

For years after its release, It's A Wonderful Life was considered something of a disappointment by both audiences and the people who made it — even though it went on to receive five Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor. It was only when the movie became a syndication mainstay that it finally earned its reputation as a Christmas masterpiece. But we'll discuss that more a bit later.

It’s A Wonderful Life Is Based On A Short Story For A Christmas Card

Based on the short story "The Greatest Gift" written by Philip Van Doren, It's A Wonderful Life had a curious method of reaching the silver screen. Inspired by a dream he had, the writer initially sought out publishers for his 21-page tale. But when he was turned down, he opted to turn his story into a Christmas card that was sent to 200 friends and family. Evidently, this worked out well, as one of these cards reached producer David Hempstead of RKO Pictures, who sought the rights to the story and eventually helped turn it into the movie we know and love today. It's a fascinating turn of events.

The Script Was Initially Considered Too ‘Racy’

While the movie deals with dark themes related to indecency, suicidal idealization, and financial instability, It's A Wonderful Life is a broadly accessible movie, one that has become a staple of holiday watches for a reason. While it's a mature film, it's one that teaches the foundations of an honest living, and it's a story that can resonate with audiences both young and old. And yet, when the script came to pass back in the mid-1940s, it was considered a bit controversial as it was deemed too "racy."

According to a letter unearthed by The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, as it was reported by The Huffington Post, some of the language used in the original screenplay was considered inappropriate, including a few phrases that said the Lord's name in vain. The screenplay was retooled with these notes in mind, though the standards of what was considered taboo in this era were certainly different than what we consider inappropriate now.

Robert J. Anderson, Who Played Young George Bailey, Was Actually Slapped, Resulting In His Ear Bleeding

More often than not, when you see violence portrayed in a film, it's all make-believe. Hopefully, nobody gets hurt and any danger is reserved solely for the characters portrayed in the film. But when it comes to the scene in It's A Wonderful Life where Mr. Gower (H.B. Warner) and a young George Bailey (Robert J. Anderson) wherein the child gets smacked, it was unfortunately not a fake incident. As Anderson admitted late in life in an interview, he was actually slapped, and it was so intense that his ear started to bleed. Therefore, his tears during that moment were sadly real. Warner was so sad about it that he hugged the boy after filming was over.

Here's what Anderson told the L.A. Times:

Donna Reed Actually Threw The Rock Through The Window On The First Try

During the scene where Mary Hatch (Donna Reed) and George Bailey (James Stewart) walk past an abandoned house and start throwing stones, there was a marksman hired by Frank Capra to knock a window out on cue in case the actress wasn't able to reach the glass. But that help wasn't needed, as Reed was able to knock the window out on her first try, resulting in the take we see in the final film. She played baseball in high school, which likely aided in her throwing hand.

Bedford Falls Was Once One of The Longest Sets Ever Made For A Movie

One of the keys to the ever-continuing success of It's a Wonderful Life is making Bedford Falls feel not merely like a giant set but an actual smalltown, filled to the brim with good-natured, hard-working people hoping to make a difference and help out their fellow man in his time of need. Practically like a snowglobe come to life, Bedford Falls inhabits an idealistic cinematic view of a seasonal setting, one that fits snugly with the immersive-but-humble feelings found in Frank Capra's beloved Christmas classic. While it feels appropriately homey and quaint in the movie, the truth is that this set was the result of a lot of hard work from the production crew. At the time, in fact, it was considered one of the longest sets ever made for a movie. Certainly, as we see the town quite often throughout the movie, it's safe to assume that they got their money's worth from this process.

The Snow Was Made Of Cornflakes

Throughout the course of film history, there have been many creative (and occasionally unethical) means of making snow in movie history. Whether it involves styrofoam in Superman, potato flakes in Home Alone, recycled paper, CG trickery, as deployed by a number of recent films, or asbestos, as seen in The Wizard of Oz, production crews have found many creative means of making the snowfall in their cinematic winter wonderlands. When it comes to It's A Wonderful Life, though, the trick was created using cornflakes that were spray-painted white. Ultimately, the illusion worked out well.

The Bank Kiss Was Impulsive And Not In The Script

Oftentimes, the best movie moments happen at the moment. A spontaneous decision happens, something that wasn't written or planned, and it's sealed on film and made an everlasting part of cinema history. That's the magic of the movies, and there are millions of examples to be found. One such example is in It's a Wonderful Life.

During the scene where the bank threatens to shut down Building & Loan on George and Mary's wedding day, one character makes a modest loan of $17.50. An overjoyed George Bailey impulsively kisses her, and apparently, this decision wasn't made prior to shooting. Or, at least, Ellen Corby, the actress playing this loan-seeking bank resident, didn't know that was the plan. Therefore, the characters' surprised reactions was the real deal. Nothing phony about it.

Jimmy Stewart Was Actually Crying During His Prayer Scene

When it comes to George Bailey's tears during his meaningful prayer sequence, that wasn't just committed acting on James Stewart's part. As he later admitted, the actor was actually consumed with sadness when he said his meaningful prayer, and he found himself genuinely crying, consumed by the meaning of what he was saying. Here's how Stewart recounted the moment, as reported by The Independent.

The Set Was Sometimes 90 Degrees, Which Is Why Jimmy Stewart Sweats During George Bailey’s Suicide Attempt

While Bedford Falls is presented as a winter wonderland — of sorts — throughout It's A Wonderful Life's narrative, the truth is that the set for this Christmas favorite was a balmy affair. Filmed during the summertime, production for this Christmas movie was actually super warm. In fact, at times, the set would be nearly 90 degrees, which is why you can sometimes see characters sweating amid the snow. That was certainly the case for one pivotal scene, though it actually worked in its favor.

During George Bailey's suicide attempt, you made notice beads of sweat dripping down Jimmy Stewart's worried face. The reason is that the set was nearly 100 degrees and the actor was wearing a snug coat, which made it very hot. Certainly, Stewart's sweaty face as he stares down the water, trying to decide whether or not to end his life was actually pretty fitting — even as snow falls beside his sweat.

The Movie Became A Christmas Classic Due To A Copyright Lapse

It's funny how things work out sometimes. One would be hard-pressed to deem Frank Capra's seasonal classic as anything other than that: a classic. Yet, if it weren't for a lapse in the movie's copyright, we might not remember the movie as fondly as we do today. Apparently, a clerical error prevented the copyright owner of the film to renew it in 1974, resulting in the movie becoming public domain and playing on loop throughout the holiday season.

As Wonderful Life became a regular favorite during Christmas television habits, more people became accustomed to the tale of George Bailey and his desire to do good on the most joyful time of the year. As its television presence grew, so too did its audience. It swiftly grew in fandom from there, becoming not only a holiday favorite but one of the most revered movies of all-time. Perhaps it's fitting that It's A Wonderful Life won't learn its value until late in its own lifetime.

Frank Capra Considered It’s A Wonderful Life To Be His Favorite Film Of His Own Filmography

An esteemed filmmaker behind some of the most celebrated movies of the 1930s and 1940s, Frank Capra certainly left a great legacy behind, notably as the director behind It Happened One Night, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, You Can't Take It With You, Mr. Deeds Comes To Town, and more. But Capra later claimed that It's A Wonderful Life was ultimately his favorite film of his. While this flop didn't earn the most loving reception upon release, and eventually found its success almost by accident, he believes his finest hour was in this adored Christmas classic.

Certainly, in the years to follow, Wonderful Life would be beloved by many. But considering the tough road to success that this movie found over time, it warms to heart to know that Frank Capra came around and cherished his own (eventually) beloved film. He would also screen it for his own family every Christmas season, a seasonal tradition that continues with viewers everywhere.

In addition to these notable behind-the-scenes facts, it's also worth noting that the FBI considered the movie to be "communist propaganda," its Christmas movie status sorta came about accidentally, Uncle Billy's drunken fall was the result of a crew member's mishap and improvisation, and Jimmy Stewart went to Congress to denounce the colorization of B&W films, including his claims that the color version of this movie made him "feel sick."

Is It's A Wonderful Life a holiday tradition in your household? Let us know in the comment section below!

For as much as I enjoy watching great Christmas movies, my annual cinematic traditions might be a little different from yours. For instance, my personal favorite Christmas movie is Die Hard, which is widely regarded as the greatest action movie of all time but only considered by some (save star Bruce Willis himself) to be a genuine holiday film even though it takes place on Christmas Eve.

As far as I am concerned, that is the only requirement necessary to determine if a film is worthy of holiday viewing, and furthermore, I believe movies that do not depend on seasonal tropes or even involve the holiday as a main focal point are some of the most entertaining Christmas movies ever. Perhaps you might find yourself adopting a new tradition when you take a look at these movies (most of which are available on some of the best streaming services to subscribe to) that are anything but traditional but still deserve to be considered Christmas movies for one reason or another.

The Holiday (2006)

Director: Nancy Meyers

Starring: Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Jack Black

What it’s about: Looking to get away from their respective romantic troubles for the holidays, an L.A. movie trailer editor and an English journalist agree to trade homes.

Why it is a great non-traditional Christmas movie: Also one of the best movies on Amazon Prime at the moment, The Holiday is one of the best romantic-comedy movies that just barely pays any reference to the fact that it is set during the Christmas season.

How to watch The Holiday

• Stream The Holiday on Amazon Prime
• Buy The Holiday on Blu-ray on Amazon

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)

Director: Shane Black

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Val Kilmer, Michelle Monaghan

What it’s about: After accidentally walking into a detective movie audition and winning the role, a thief is sent to L.A. to shadow a private investigator for research.

Why it is a great non-traditional Christmas movie: The modern film noir classic Kiss Kiss Bang Bang – inspired by Brett Halliday’s novel Bodies Are Where You Find Them – is one of several films on this list of “sort of” Christmas movies from filmmaker Shane Black.

How to watch Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

• Rent or buy Kiss Kiss Bang Bang on Amazon
• Buy Kiss Kiss Bang Bang on Blu-ray on Amazon

Inside (2007)

Director: Alexandre Bustillo, Julien Maury

Starring: Alysson Paradis, Béatrice Dalle

What it’s about: A pregnant widow becomes embroiled in a deadly cat-and-mouse game with a mysterious woman who has broken into her home on Christmas Eve.

Why it's one of the best Christmas Horror Movies: One of the most brutal entries to the French New Extremity movement, Inside should also be recognized as a holiday classic as it involves a woman who wants to give herself the ultimate holiday gift (the main character’s unborn child) by any means necessary.

How to watch Inside

• Stream Inside on Tubi
• Buy Inside on DVD on Amazon

Die Hard (1988)

Director: John McTiernan

Starring: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia, Reginald VelJohnson

What it’s about: New York cop John McClane must single-handedly take on a gang of deadly European thieves when they take over an L.A. high-rise on the night of his estranged wife’s company Christmas party.

Why it is a great non-traditional Christmas movie: If you disregard the violence, excessive language, and brief nudity, we can easily settle the debate over Die Hard being a Christmas movie by its use of classic holiday tunes, romance, and concluding “snowfall.”

How to watch Die Hard

• Stream Die Hard on Amazon Prime
• Stream Die Hard on Hulu
• Buy Die Hard on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Ice Harvest (2005)

Director: Harold Ramis

Starring: John Cusack, Billy Bob Thornton, Connie Nielsen

What it’s about: Looking to run away with a beautiful strip club manager after embezzling millions from a local mobster, Kansas lawyer Charlie Arglist’s unusual holiday plans get ruined by his partner in crime, his drinking buddy, and some suspicious cops.

Why it is a great non-traditional Christmas movie: Another crime thriller about a man whose plan to spend Christmas Eve with the woman he loves is interrupted by violence is the underrated dark comedy, The Ice Harvest.

How to watch The Ice Harvest

• Rent or buy The Ice Harvest on Amazon
• Buy The Ice Harvest on Blu-ray on Amazon

Shazam! (2019)

Director: David F. Sandberg

Starring: Zachary Levi, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, Mark Strong

What it’s about: A teenager looks for help from his superhero-obsessed foster brother when he is granted powers that temporarily turn him into a grown-up costumed vigilante.

Why it is a great non-traditional Christmas movie: One of a few great superhero movies set around Christmas is the equally funny and exciting Shazam!, which ends with an exhilarating battle at a public holiday celebration.

How to watch Shazam!

• Stream Shazam! on Max
• Rent or buy Shazam! on Amazon
• Buy Shazam! on Blu-ray on Amazon

Love Actually (2003)

Director: Richard Curtis

Starring: Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Liam Neeson, Laura Linney

What it’s about: A collection of interwoven love stories set in London around Christmastime.

Why it is a great non-traditional Christmas movie: Despite some subject matter that feels more suited for Valentine’s Day, Love Actually is a charming anthology-style rom-com that has become a holiday season tradition for many (save some of its own cast members, however).

How to watch Love Actually

• Stream Love Actually on Amazon Prime
• Buy Love Actually on Blu-ray on Amazon

Just Friends (2005)

Director: Roger Kumble

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Amy Smart, Anna Faris, Chris Klein

What it’s about: A music executive is forced to re-confront his unrequited love for his childhood friend while visiting his hometown.

Why it is a great non-traditional Christmas movie: Just Friends is another rom-com that happens to take place during Christmas but takes advantage of its holiday setting in many key moments, such as when a vengeful Samantha James turns a decorative display into an elaborate death trap for a group of carolers.

How to watch Just Friends

• Stream Just Friends on Hulu
• Rent or buy Just Friends on Amazon
• Buy Just Friends on DVD on Amazon

Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

Director: Stanley Kubrick

Starring: Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman

What it’s about: A man’s curious participation in a bizarre and erotic masquerade ends up putting him and his family in danger.

Why it is a great non-traditional Christmas movie: No Stanely Kubrick movie screams holiday cheer quite like his final film, Eyes Wide Shut, considering how its inciting incident takes place at a Christmas party and William and Alice Harford are seen holiday shopping with their daughter near the end.

How to watch Eyes Wide Shut

• Stream Eyes Wide Shut on Paramount+
• Rent or buy Eyes Wide Shut on Amazon
• Buy Eyes Wide Shut on Blu-ray on Amazon

Batman Returns (1992)

Director: Tim Burton

Starring: Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Michelle Pfeiffer

What it’s about: Bruce Wayne struggles to focus on investigating a bird-like politician when he finds himself falling for a woman who dresses like a cat at night.

Why it is a great non-traditional Christmas movie: One of the most unique live-action Batman movies, Batman Returns, is full of seasonal references – including Batman and Catwoman’s “kiss” under the mistletoe, Penguin releasing his goons in a giant green box with a red bow, and the snow that always covers Gotham City.

How to watch Batman Returns

• Stream Batman Returns on Max
• Rent or buy Batman Returns on Amazon
• Buy Batman Returns on Blu-ray on Amazon

Black Christmas (1974)

Director: Bob Clark

Starring: Olivia Hussey, Margot Kidder

What it’s about: A group of college students spending their winter break in a sorority house are stalked by a murderous stranger.

Why it is a great non-traditional Christmas movie: One of the first and most definitive Christmas horror movies, Black Christmas, comes from a filmmaker who certainly knows a thing or two about the holiday as he would later helm A Christmas Story.

How to watch Black Christmas

• Stream Black Christmas on Amazon Prime
• Stream Black Christmas on Tubi
• Stream Black Christmas on Peacock
• Buy Black Christmas on Blu-ray on Amazon

Gremlins (1984)

Director: Joe Dante

Starring: Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates

What it’s about: A young man accidentally breaks three important rules that come with his new Christmas gift – a unique, furry creature called a Mogwai – putting his entire town in danger.

Why it's one of the best Christmas Horror Movies: From executive producer Steven Spielberg and writer Chris Columbus, Gremlins may be PG but it is a pretty terrifying and funny creature feature with more green and red than some Christmas lovers may be able to handle.

How to watch Gremlins

• Stream Gremlins on Max
• Rent or buy Gremlins on Amazon
• Buy Gremlins on Blu-ray on Amazon

Home Alone (1992)

Director: Chris Columbus

Starring: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, Catherine O’Hara

What it’s about: A 10-year-old must single-handedly protect his home from a pair of thieves he is accidentally abandoned by his vacationing family around the holidays.

Why it is a great non-traditional Christmas movie: Home Alone (which bears a plot eerily similar to Die Hard) is an undisputed Christmas classic, despite a plot that does not necessarily require its holiday setting, as the McCallisters could have taken their Paris vacation in the summer, for instance.

How to watch Home Alone

• Stream Home Alone on Disney+
• Rent or buy Home Alone on Amazon
• Buy Home Alone on Blu-ray on Amazon

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

Director: Frank Capra

Starring: Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed, Henry Travers

What it’s about: On one disastrous Christmas Eve, a businessman and family man is shown by his guardian angel an alternate reality in which he had never been born.

Why it is a great non-traditional Christmas movie: It’s a Wonderful Life is another cinematic Christmas tradition that has no real practical use for its holiday setting but it does make its timeless themes of self-worth especially powerful.

How to watch It’s a Wonderful Life

• Stream It’s a Wonderful Life on Amazon Prime
• Stream It’s a Wonderful Life on Plex
• Buy It’s a Wonderful Life on Blu-ray on Amazon

Iron Man 3 (2013)

Director: Shane Black

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle

What it’s about: Tony Stark suffers an identity crisis around Christmastime as he takes on his most threatening enemy yet.

Why it is a great non-traditional Christmas movie: Even Disney+ agrees that Iron Man 3 is a Christmas movie, as evidenced by Stark becoming stuck in a more wintry setting and, of course, Shane Black at the helm.

How to watch Iron Man 3

• Stream Iron Man 3 on Disney+
• Buy Iron Man 3 on Amazon
• Buy Iron Man 3 on Blu-ray on Amazon

Lethal Weapon (1987)

Director: Richard Donner

Starring: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover

What it’s about: Thrown together as partners, a veteran LA detective and a younger loose cannon set aside their differences to catch a gang of drug smugglers in time for Christmas.

Why it is a great non-traditional Christmas movie: Written by Shane Black, Lethal Weapon is a buddy cop movie favorite that, like Die Hard, producer Joel Silver fought to assure it would become a Christmas movie classic.

How to watch Lethal Weapon

• Rent or buy Lethal Weapon on Amazon
• Buy Lethal Weapon on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)

Director: Renny Harlin

Starring: Geena Davis, Samuel L. Jackson

What it’s about: When her past as a government assassin begins to surface, an amnesia-stricken suburban mother teams up with a detective to fight off her old enemies.

Why it is a great non-traditional Christmas movie: Written by Shane Black, The Long Kiss Goodnight is another action thriller that checks plenty of Christmas movie boxes, such as a holiday parade and a main character suffering an identity crisis around the season, much like It’s A Wonderful Life and Iron Man 3.

How to watch The Long Kiss Goodnight

• Stream The Long Kiss Goodnight on Paramount+
• Rent or buy The Long Kiss Goodnight on Amazon
• Buy The Long Kiss Goodnight on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Director: Henry Sellick

Starring: Chris Sarandon, Catherine O’Hara

What it’s about: After discovering a world engulfed by the spirit of Christmas, a man from a world engulfed by the spirit of Halloween tries to introduce its traditions to his fellow citizens, inadvertently threatening the sanctity of the season.

Why it is a great non-traditional Christmas movie: From producer Tim Burton, stop-motion classic The Nightmare Before Christmas is an undeniable holiday classic that is also a perfect horror movie for kids to watch on Halloween… or any time of the year.

How to watch The Nightmare Before Christmas

• Stream The Nightmare Before Christmas on Disney+
• Rent or buy The Nightmare Before Christmas on Amazon
• Buy The Nightmare Before Christmas on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Ref (1994)

Director: Ted Demme

Starring: Denis Leary, Judy Davis, Kevin Spacey

What it’s about: Abandoned by his partner during a Christmas Eve crime spree, a burglar randomly takes a married couple hostage in their home, acting as the reluctant moderator to their incessant bickering.

Why it is a great non-traditional Christmas movie: Released in March, The Ref is the kind of Christmas movie that trades joyful spirits for bitter cynicism, while managing to be boldly hilarious all the way through.

How to watch The Ref

• Rent or buy The Ref on Amazon
• Buy The Ref on DVD on Amazon

Trading Places (1983)

Director: John Landis

Starring: Dan Aykroyd, Eddie Murphy, Jamie Lee Curtis

What it’s about: A stockbroker and a poor street hustler take a walk in each other’s shoes, unwittingly being used as pawns in a wager between two billionaire brothers.

Why it is a great non-traditional Christmas movie: One of the best riches-to-rags movies (which also counts as a rags-to-riches movie) is Trading Places, which reaches the peak of its holiday appeal when Dan Aykroyd’s Louis Winthorpe eats a stolen fish through his dirty Santa beard in front of disgusted city bus passengers.

How to watch Trading Places

• Rent or buy Trading Places on Amazon
• Buy Trading Places on Blu-ray on Amazon

Unless you still have your reservations over whether or not you can confidently call these films Christmas movies, perhaps you have some refreshing prospects to add to your traditional holiday viewing. To that I say, you are welcome and Happy Holidays!

Every family has its own unique traditions when the holidays roll around, but watching a Christmas movie is one of the most universally-beloved elements of the most wonderful time of the year. From How The Grinch Stole Christmas to Home Alone to Die Hard to Lethal Weapon (yes, it's a Christmas movie), there's seemingly no shortage of holiday classics to help you get in a festive state of mind. However, one of the most enduring and iconic Christmas movies of the bunch is Frank Capra's It's A Wonderful Life, and it looks like the 71-year-old movie once again proved its iconography by drawing in a massive audience for NBC this year.

Now that the numbers have started to roll in, it's becoming increasingly clear that It's A Wonderful Life once again brought in a massive viewership over at NBC just in time for the holidays. The network aired the film on Christmas Eve (the most fitting time to play it), and the broadcast generated a total viewership of 4.7 million viewers. It's A Wonderful Life was already a relatively popular Christmas tradition for many households, but this number seems to show a 3% increase over the 2016 broadcast of the film.

Beyond the sheer strength of It's A Wonderful Life's numbers, it also looks like the film has become NBC's most-watched movie in over a year. This comes after last year's airing of Dolly Parton's Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love, which brought in roughly 11.6 million viewers during its time slot when it aired on November 30, 2016.

It's not hard to understand why It's A Wonderful Life has developed such a sterling holiday reputation. In fact, it's arguably the go-to holiday movie for many families all around the world. The film centers on George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart), a man who wishes that he had never been born on Christmas Eve, before considering taking his own life. From there, he finds himself visited by a guardian angel (Henry Travers) who shows him how the world would be different if he had never been around to influence the lives of those around him.

It's A Wonderful Life may have become a significant holiday boom for NBC, but there's still plenty of new content coming to the small screen over the course of the next few months. To keep yourself up-to-date on all of these properties, make sure to take a look at CinemaBlend's fall TV premiere guide, as well as our midseason premiere guide.

Aside from that, you can also listen to the most recent episode of The Cord Cutter Podcast to hear what we have to say about the latest and greatest streaming content from all of your favorite platforms!

While they're always entertaining, Doctor Who Christmas specials aren't always known for being happy. For many years, fans of the series have tuned in on the holiday either to be delighted or saddened by the adventures of The Doctor. Thankfully, it sounds like this year's special isn't too sad, as one star has said that it's like a certain Christmas Classic in some key ways. David Bradley, who will play the First Doctor, explained how the much-anticipated holiday special is similar to the holiday classic It's A Wonderful Life:

Considering It's A Wonderful Life is one of the most beloved and critically acclaimed holiday films out there, that's some high praise from David Bradley! Granted, not everyone would say the tale of a man who is talked down from suicide on Christmas Eve is necessarily heartwarming, but the drama mixed with the end result make it a classic story for all ages. Apparently, that's the same type of tale Doctor Who will shoot for in its Christmas special, which features the two Doctors and a WW1 army captain stuck at the South Pole.

Bradley may be a bit biased to judge how good the Doctor Who Christmas special is though, as he tells Comicbook.com he was thrilled to be joining the cast to play the First Doctor. Previous to his appearance in "The Doctor Falls," David Bradley had portrayed the Doctor before, but it was in a docudrama in which he played the actual actor of the First Doctor (William Hartnell). While Bradley obviously couldn't spill the beans too much about what puts the episode "Twice Upon A Time" on the same level as It's A Wonderful Life, he did indicate all the pieces are there for it certainly to be an iconic episode in the show's history.

Doctor Who will air its Christmas Special on BBC America in Monday, December 25 at 9:00 p.m. ET. For other shows that can be seen this December, Christmas-related or otherwise, be sure to visit our fall premiere guide as there are still many shows worth watching in 2017. Those wishing to skip ahead and see what all is scheduled for 2018 can certainly do so by visiting our midseason premiere guide. Those unable to find the show they're looking for in that guide might find it instead in our cancellation guide, as 2017 was none to kind to a healthy heap of shows.

November is almost over. There's a chill in the air and we've turned our clocks back one hour, so you know what that means: holiday movie season is finally upon us! Inside you'll find information on when you can hunker down to watch all the holiday movies television has to offer this year. We've compiled a schedule of returning holiday favorites and new made-for-TV movies that will help you get into the spirit of this most festive time of year. So, grab some hot cocoa and your favorite blanket and prepare to binge your butt off!

Remember, all times are in Eastern Standard Time unless otherwise noted. Also, many of these movies will air at additional times, but we've only included the premiere date and time of those movies, so check your local listings for repeat airings. Be sure to bookmark this schedule, since we'll be adding to it as information becomes available. Now, on to the good stuff!

Friday, November 24

7:30 a.m. - Arthur Christmas - Freeform

8 a.m. - A Christmas Story 2 - CMT

Noon - Love Actually - CMT

3 p.m. - The Holiday - CMT

5 p.m. - The Perfect Christmas Present - Hallmark Movies

8 p.m. - Finding Santa - Hallmark

8 p.m. - Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town - ABC

8 p.m. - Frosty the Snowman - CBS

8 p.m. - How the Grinch Stole Christmas - NBC

8:30 p.m. - Frosty Returns - CBS

8:30 p.m. - Trolls Holiday Special - NBC

9 p.m. - A Bramble House Christmas - Hallmark Movies

Saturday, November 25

8 a.m. - A Nutcracker Christmas - Hallmark Movies

6 p.m. - Christmas with the Kranks - Lifetime

8 p.m. - The Christmas Train - Hallmark

8 p.m. - Robbie the Reindeer: Hooves of Fire - CBS

8 p.m. - Wrapped Up In Christmas - Lifetime

8:30 p.m. Robbie the Reindeer: Legend of the Lost Tribe - CBS

9 p.m. The Story of Santa Claus - CBS

Sunday, November 26

7 a.m. - Engaging Father Christmas - Hallmark Movies

9 a.m. - Holiday Road Trip - ION

11 a.m. - A Golden Christmas - ION

1 p.m. - Home for Christmas Day - Hallmark Movies

1 p.m. - A Golden Christmas 2 - ION

3 p.m. - Golden Christmas 3 - ION

5 p.m. - All I Want for Christmas - ION

7 p.m. - A Cinderella Christmas - ION

8 p.m. - Switched for Christmas - Hallmark

8 p.m. - A Very Merry Toy Store - Lifetime

9 p.m. - A Joyous Christmas - Hallmark Movies

9 p.m. -- Snowmance - ION

11 p.m. - A Christmas Kiss II - ION

Monday, November 27

1 a.m. - A Perfect Christmas List - ION

7 a.m. - Home Alone - Freeform

9 p.m. - Angry Angel - Freeform

Tuesday, November 28

7:30 a.m. - Home Alone: The Holiday Heist - Freeform

12:30 p.m. - Snowglobe - Freeform

2:35 p.m. - The Mistle-Tones - Freeform

6:45 p.m. - National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - Freeform

8 p.m. - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - CBS

8:55 p.m. - Four Christmases - Freeform

Wednesday, November 29

7:30 a.m. - Jack Frost (1998) - Freeform

11 a.m. - Snow Day - Freeform

1 p.m. - Hook - Freeform

Thursday, November 30

2:15 p.m. - Eloise at Christmastime (2003) - Freeform

4:20 p.m. - The Nightmare Before Christmas - Freeform

8 p.m. - A Charlie Brown Christmas - ABC

8:30 p.m. - Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory - Freeform

Friday, December 1

12 a.m. - Snow - Freeform

3:35 p.m. - The Year Without a Santa Claus - Freeform

7 p.m. - The Christmas Calendar - UP

8 p.m. - Grandma Got Ran Over by a Reindeer - The CW

9 p.m. - Love for Christmas - UP

9:15 p.m. - Elf - Freeform

Saturday, December 2

11 a.m. - A Christmas Tree Miracle - UP

12 a.m. - Bush Christmas (1947) - TCM

9 a.m. - Mickey's Christmas Carol - Freeform

9:30 a.m. - Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas - Freeform

1 p.m. - Angels in the Snow - UP

3 p.m. - A Baby for Christmas - UP

5 p.m. - Merry Christmas, Baby! - UP

7 p.m. - The Preacher's Wife - UP

8 p.m. - Christmas in Evergreen - Hallmark

8 p.m. - Four Christmases and A Wedding - Lifetime

9 p.m. - I'll Be Home for Christmas - CMT

9 p.m. - Christmas In Angel Falls - Hallmark Movies

9:10 p.m. - Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas - Freeform

11:50 p.m. - The Polar Express - Freeform

Sunday, December 3

12 a.m. - My One Christmas Wish - UP

9 a.m. - How Sarah Got Her Wings - ION

9 a.m. - A Dennis the Menace Christmas - Freeform

11 a.m. - Christmas Mail - ION

11 a.m. - A Puppy for Christmas - UP

11:05 a.m. - Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups - Freeform

1 p.m. - Second Chance Christmas - UP

3 p.m. - A Very Country Christmas - UP

5 p.m. - Christmas Solo- UP

5 p.m. - A Christmas Kiss - ION

7 p.m. - 12 Days of Giving - UP

7 p.m. - A Christmas Reunion - ION

8 p.m. - Christmas at Holly Lodge - Hallmark

8 p.m. - My Christmas Prince - Lifetime

8:45 p.m. - The Santa Clause - Freeform

9 p.m. - The March Sisters at Christmas - UP

9 p.m. - Unbridled Love - Hallmark Movies

9 p.m. - The Spruces & The Pines - ION

10:50 p.m. - The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause - Freeform

Monday, December 4

11 a.m. - Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas - Freeform

9 p.m. - All I Want for Christmas - UP

Thursday, December 7

8 p.m. - Shrek the Halls - ABC

8:30 p.m. - Toy Story That Time Forgot - ABC

Friday, December 8

7 a.m. - The Little Drummer Boy - Freeform

7 p.m. - The Tree That Saved Christmas - UP

8 p.m. - A Christmas Carol (1951) - TCM

9:45 p.m. - Scrooge (1935) - TCM

Saturday, December 9

5 p.m. - Merry Kissmas - ION

7 p.m. - A Firehouse Christmas - ION

8 p.m. - It's a Wonderful Life - NBC

8 p.m. - Christmas Shop - Hallmark

8 p.m. - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - CBS

8 p.m. - Christmas in Mississippi - Lifetime

9 p.m. - When God Winks - Hallmark Movies

9 p.m. - Runaway Christmas Bride - ION

9 p.m. - Girlfriends of Christmas Past - UP

9 p.m. - Frosty the Snowman - CBS

9:30 p.m. - Frosty Returns - CBS

11 p.m. - Back to Christmas - ION

11 p.m. - Naughty & Nice - UP

Sunday, December 10

1 a.m. - Defending Santa - ION

9 a.m. - A Star for Christmas - ION

9 a.m. - Paper Angels - UP

Noon - Holiday Affair (1949) - TCM

1:45 p.m. - Meet Me in St. Louis - TCM

3 p.m. - Season's Greetings - UP

7 p.m. - Christmas Belle - ION

7 p.m. - Christmas Princess - UP

8 p.m. - Christmas Encore - Hallmark

8 p.m. - A Christmas Reunion - Lifetime

9 p.m. - The Christmas Cottage - Hallmark Movies

9 p.m. - A Perfect Christmas - UP

9 p.m. - A Royal Christmas Ball - ION

11 p.m. - A Prince for Christmas - ION

Monday, December 11

1 a.m. - A Christmas in Vermont - ION

Tuesday, December 12

7 a.m. - Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey - Freeform

Wednesday, December 13

9 p.m. - The Christmas Wish - getTV

Thursday, December 14

11:30 a.m. - Christmas Cupid - Freeform

Noon - Falling for Christmas - UP

8:30 p.m. - Disney's Prep & Landing - ABC

Friday, December 15

7 p.m. - Married by Christmas - UP

8 p.m. - The Shop Around the Corner - TCM

Saturday, December 16

11 a.m. - 3 Holiday Tails - UP

12:15 p.m. - A Christmas Carol (1938) - TCM

7 p.m. - A Husband for Christmas - ION

8 p.m. - I Want a Dog For Christmas, Charlie Brown - ABC

8 p.m. - Christmas Shuttle - Hallmark

8 p.m. - Snowed-Inn Christmas - Lifetime

9 p.m. - A Christmas Cruise - ION

9 p.m. - Karen Kingsbury's Maggie's Christmas Miracle - Hallmark Movies

Sunday, December 17

9 a.m. - A Christmas Mystery - ION

11 a.m. - Marry Me for Christmas - UP

12:15 p.m. - Christmas in Connecticut (1945) - TCM

1 p.m. - Marry Us for Christmas - UP

2:15 p.m. - The Bishop's Wife (1947) - TCM

3 p.m. - Disney's Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice - Freeform

7 p.m. - A Christmas Story Live - Fox

8 p.m. - Father Christmas - Hallmark

8 p.m. - A Perfect Christmas List- Lifetime

9 p.m. - The Magical Christmas Ornaments - Hallmark Movies

Monday, December 18

1 a.m. - Christmas with the Andersons - ION

7 a.m. - Beverly Hills Christmas - UP

11 a.m. - Stealing Christmas - UP

3 p.m. - Guess Who's Coming To Christmas - UP

Thursday, December 21

7 a.m. - The Christmas Box - UP

12:35 p.m. - Holiday in Handcuffs - Freeform

Friday, December 22

7 a.m. - Homecoming: A Christmas Story - UP

10 p.m. - Remember the Night - TCM

Saturday, December 23

6 a.m. - The Nativity Story - AMC

8 a.m. - Miracle on 34th Street (1947) - AMC

10:15 a.m. - White Christmas - AMC

1 p.m. - Miracle on 34th Street (1994) - AMC

3:30 p.m. - Deck the Halls - AMC

5 p.m. - King of Kings (1961) - TCM

5:30 p.m. - This Christmas - AMC

8 p.m. - Scrooged - AMC

8 p.m. - Christmas Getaway - Hallmark

10 p.m. - A Christmas Carol (1984) - AMC

Sunday, December 24

7:30 a.m. - Prancer - AMC

10 a.m. - Santa Claus: The Movie - AMC

5:30 p.m. - Ernest Saves Christmas - AMC

8 p.m. - A Christmas Story (24-hour marathon) - TBS

8 p.m. - It's a Wonderful Life - NBC

11 p.m. - The Rooftop Christmas Tree - UP

Monday, December 25

4 a.m. - Scoot & Kassie's Christmas Adventure - AMC

9 a.m. - Babes in Toyland - TCM

7 p.m. - Winter Wedding - UP

8 p.m. - When Calls the Heart: The Christmas Wishing Tree - Hallmark

Tuesday, December 26

8 p.m. - Happy New Year, Charlie Brown - ABC

9 p.m. - Rudolph's Shiny New Year - ABC

Saturday, December 30

8 p.m. - New Year's Gala - Hallmark

Sunday, December 31

11:15 a.m. - Holiday - TCM

For more on what you can watch in the coming months, check out our fall TV premiere guide, midseason premiere guide and be sure to follow The Cord Cutter Podcast on iTunes, right here, for all our news on streaming entertainment. If you're wondering whether or not your favorite show will be back soon, you can also see every series that ended this year with our cancellation guide.

 It's the most wonderful time of the year! And by that I mean it's the time to light a fire, wrap some presents and watch George Bailey figure out that he's had a bigger impact on his community than he ever could have imagined. When does one of the best Christmas movies of all time  air on TV this year? And how can you watch It’s a Wonderful Life streaming? We have the answers!

"Now you listen to me, I don't want any plastics and I don't want any ground floors! And I don't want to get married ever, to anyone!"

Oh, George Bailey. I'll love you till the day I die. It's a Wonderful Life truly is a movie with plenty of lessons to teach us and is a film that must be watched at least once during the holiday season. Once upon a time, you could just about turn on the TV at any point in December and find it airing, but times have changed, and its actual availability on the small screen is somewhat limited. That said, we're in the age of digital streaming, so if you're looking for a way to watch the movie without actually having to leave the house (though that is an option as well), here are your options. 

 How To Watch It’s A Wonderful Life Streaming

If you want to watch Frank Capra’s 1946 Christmastime classic It’s a Wonderful Life streaming, you don’t have to imagine a world in which you don’t exist, as the Jimmy Stewart movie is currently streaming on two different platforms. The easiest way to watch George Bailey’s sentimental and sometimes terrifying journey unfold is to use your Amazon subscription to stream the movie on Prime Video. But if you have yet to sign up for the service, or you want to save your pennies this holiday season, you can also watch It’s a Wonderful Life streaming for free on Plex, which is also home to a massive library of classics and modern gems.

Stream It’s a Wonderful Life on Prime Video.
Stream It’s a Wonderful Life on Plex.

How To Watch It’s A Wonderful Life On TV

For more than a quarter of a century, NBC has been the exclusive broadcast TV home to It’s a Wonderful Life, and the movie has become a staple of the Christmas movie schedule. And just like in previous years, the movie will once again be broadcast this year on NBC at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 24th. So, if you want to share the movie with your kids for the first time (or the first time this year), Christmas Eve is going to be the perfect opportunity.

Also, anyone with a Peacock Premium subscription will be able to watch It’s a Wonderful Life, as the streaming platform launched its live feed of local NBC channels in late November 2022.

How To Watch It’s A Wonderful Life In Theaters 

But those who want to see the movie based on the short story “The Greatest Gift” come to life like people did more than 75 years ago can do just that as Fathom Events is hosting a two-night only theatrical run at theaters across the country. 

On Sunday, December 18th and Wednesday, December 21st, It’s a Wonderful Life will have at least one showing (some will host both matinee and evening screenings) at locations found on this list.

This year there are multiple ways to keep alive the tradition of watching It’s a Wonderful Life, whether that means you will watch it streaming, on the small screen, or the silver screen with your nearest and dearest of friends and family. But if you want to know what other titles you can watch in theaters (and streaming), check out what’s left of our 2022 movie schedule.

Holidays and movies really go hand-in-hand. From the filmmaker's perspective, holidays are all about bringing people together -- and that togetherness can be a perfect recipe for conflict, drama and/or comedy. For audiences, movies are perfect entertainment when you're trying to find something that your family and friends will enjoy. Of course, some films are better for some holidays than others -- which is why we've created this list.

Going through the calendar, we've pulled out the 11 biggest holidays in the United States, and determined what is the best movie to watch -- based on both the spirit and themes of the day as well as content and tone of the feature. Read on to see our choices, and hit the comments section with your own personal picks!

New Year's Day -- The Hangover

Through a certain lens, New Year's Day can been seen as a day of renewal -- as many make resolutions to change themselves in some kind of significant way over the next 365 days. In another lens, though, it's National Hangover Day, which is why we're calling this one for Todd Phillips' The Hangover. Unlike many of the other titles featured on this list, it doesn't actually feature a celebration of its assigned holiday, but people will surely be able to relate to the lead characters who find themselves regretting a night of partying just a little too hard.

Valentine's Day - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Unless you're both real cinefiles, Michel Gondry's Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind might not be the best Valentine's Day choice for those just starting a relationship, but for everyone else it should be a tradition. Driven by both Gondry's incredible auteur style and beautiful performances from Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet, the movie is deeply open and honest about what it means to be in a relationship with someone you truly care for - and while most of the story unfolds after a breakup, it ultimately demonstrates with great poetry and emotion the incredible amount of power that love has over us.

St. Patrick's Day -- Waking Ned Devine

For St. Patrick's Day, the obvious key is finding a movie that is both dyed-in-the-wool Irish, and can be enjoyed while having a few too many drinks. Unfortunately a lot of Irish films are terrifically depressing, like Hunger or In The Name of the Father, but director Kirk Jones' Waking Ned Devine really hits all the marks for the holiday. It's an incredibly silly comedy with a bit of darkness to it, following a village in Ireland that conspires to pretend a dead man is alive to accept lottery winnings, and it's even more fun after a few green beers.

Mother's Day - The Sound Of Music

Cinema history is filled with amazing mothers, but in picking the perfect movie for Mother's Day, I figured it best to make a choice that most film-lovers can actually watch with their moms (sorry, Aliens). Robert Wise's The Sound Of Music was ultimately my choice for the holiday because it is fits the bill for the latter and features the former. Julie Andrews' Maria Rainer isn't a mother in the traditional sense, as she is actually a prospective nun taking care of a widower's seven children, but she is a wonderful maternal figure, and your own mom will love you for watching it with her.

Memorial Day - Saving Private Ryan

Memorial Day is the holiday we spend thinking about and commemorating those who gave their lives in times of battle, and while there are certainly many movies that feature this, Steven Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan goes as far as to actually open with the act of remembering fallen soldiers. Epic and often brutal, the movie is all about the sacrifices that are made in war and individuals tragically dying for what they truly believe in, and it serves as a powerful tribute that is incredibly fitting for an importance day of remembran

Father's Day - To Kill A Mockingbird

Fictional fathers don't get more legendary than Atticus Finch from To Kill A Mockingbird - and while Harper Lee's book is where the character was created, many will long associate the character with Gregory Peck's performance in director Robert Mulligan's 1962 adaptation of the classic novel. Much like the selection for mother's day, this is very much a movie that you want to sit down and watch with your dad -- with the option of making his day by explaining all the ways that Atticus reminds you of him.

Independence Day -- Independence Day

There are many great movies about the Revolutionary War and the events that actually led up to us having an Independence Day, but July 4th happens to land right smack dab in the middle of the summer blockbuster season, which is why we give the edge to Roland Emmerich's epic 1996 film Independence Day. On beyond having the best Independence Day-related speech in cinema history, it's also a blast from end to end, led by a star-making performance from Will Smith, and the awesomeness of Jeff Goldblum. Is it silly beyond words? Absolutely. But it's also an authentic summer classic.

Halloween - Halloween

That's right -- two entries in a row named after the holiday that the movie celebrates. I didn't plan it that way, it's just happening. In 1978, director John Carpenter unleashed an incredibly straight-forward horror film about a masked serial killer who murders a lot of people on the haunted last day of October, and it's a true masterpiece. Simplistic as it may be, it also has a tremendous number of legitimate scares, and really helped define the slasher subgenre that lives on to this day. Plus, it also happens to have one of the best scores ever, and just playing the main theme makes All Hallows Eve that much creepier.

Veterans Day - The Longest Day

While Memorial Day is a time for mourning the loss of our fallen soldiers, Veterans Day is the time that we celebrate the many brave men and women who fight for freedom and defense of our country, and I can't think of a movie that does this on a grander scale than 1962's The Longest Day. A film so epic it took a team of three directors - Ken Annakin, Andrew Marton and Bernhard Wicki - the adaptation of Cornelius Ryan's book of the same name is an epic cinematic portrayal of the D-Day landings at Normandy during World War II, and an incredible vision of one of the nation's greatest strategic victories.

Thanksgiving - Planes, Trains and Automobiles

On beyond being set around Thanksgiving, John Landis' Planes, Trains, and Automobiles isn't exactly a typical turkey day movie, as it saves the big family gathering and dinner for the very, very end, but what makes it a perfect holiday treat is the fact that it genuinely hits on all of the key and celebrated themes: patience, gratefulness, forgiveness and family. Perhaps most importantly, though, it's all wrapped into a ridiculous and fun road trip adventure that can be watched by the entire family as everyone is unbuttoning their pants and digesting.

Christmas - It's A Wonderful Life

It's fitting that Christmas is the last holiday on this list, because it is certainly the most challenging holiday to assign the perfect piece of cinema -- thanks to the fact that there are hundreds, if not thousands, of films about the yuletide. A big part of me wants to pick Die Hard or almost any title from Shane Black, and A Christmas Story was a close runner up, but I had to choose Frank Capra's It's A Wonderful Life. It's the true Christmas classic for a reason, as George Bailey is the ultimate everyman who learns the ultimate lesson of the season. Families will be watching It's A Wonderful Life for generations, and that's because there's no better Christmas movie.

Many would consider Christmas Vacation to be a holiday classic. But does it rank up there with It’s a Wonderful Life? Some may think so, but Chevy Chase isn’t among them. In fact, he doesn’t seem to see the sense in comparing the two films.

Rolling Stone recently ran an oral history of Jeremiah Chechik’s 1989 comedy Christmas Vacation. It’s full of interesting facts about the production of the film, and leads into the cast's thoughts on the reaction to the movie in the years that have followed its release. Chevy Chase apparently finds it silly that anyone would compare the movie to Frank Capra’s beloved It’s A Wonderful Life.

Chase’s modesty is nice, as is his appreciation for It’s A Wonderful Life. He says it all with "James Stewart, my God!"

Still, it’s been twenty-five years since Christmas Vacation arrived in theaters. I think it’s fair to file it under Christmas classic. And it that respect, it can be put on a shelf next to It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, A Christmas Story and the other holiday-themed movies that we watch every year around Christmas, right? Christmas Vacation just happens to be one that seeks to make us laugh, and it succeeds year after year.

And if we want to dig a bit deeper, we could compare plots and note that Clark Griswold is a loving husband and father who wants the best for everyone he cares about, just as George Bailey does. But both characters have their breaking points. Except instead of getting into a bar fight and pondering suicide, Clark Griswold throws an epic Christmas fit.

George Bailey had Clarence to bring his life into proper perspective. Clark Griswold’s guardian angel turned out to be Eddie, whose heart, as Clark notes, is bigger than his brain. ("Appreciate that, Clark.")

Now let’s all take a moment to imagine what It’s A Wonderful Life might have been like if, instead of showing George what the world would’ve been like without George Bailey, Clarence dragged Potter back to the Bailey house bound and gagged, and forced him to admit he took the money.

Ok, that probably goes against the spirit of It’s A Wonderful Life, but in all seriousness, and with all due respect to Chevy Chase, I don’t think it’s silly to compare the two movies if we're talking about movies that have stood the test of time. Both tap into the best of the holiday spirit, both treasure the value of family, and both are must-watch movies during the holidays.

In the words of Eddie, "Merry Christmas. Shitter was full."

The festive period is now well and truly upon us. And to get into the spirit of the season, the good people of Great Britain have decided to figure out the greatest Christmas movies of all time. But what came out on top in their poll? Well none other than Will Ferrell’s delightful romp, Elf.

According to Back to the Movies, who worked alongside Watchshop to create the poll, those crazy Brits managed to compile a list that embraced Christmas movies from a variety of generations. Elf just beat It’s A Wonderful Life to the top spot, while the rest of the list was rounded off by Miracle On 34th Street, Home Alone, White Christmas, The Grinch, Love Actually, The Muppets Christmas Carol, The Snowman and Polar Express. In fact, just looking at those films has already got me making a list and checking it twice in order to find out who’s naughty and nice.

But were there any glaring omissions that the English, Scottish, Welsh, and Northern Irish should feel ashamed at missing out on? Not really. Maybe The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Santa Clause or 1951’s Scrooge should have been included. But since it’s Christmas I’m prepared to give those who voted the benefit of the doubt for overlooking them. Meanwhile Jingle All The Way and Bad Santa, both of which are sometimes cited as bona-fide holiday classics, are more cult commodities in the United Kingdom. As are A Christmas Story, The Shop Around the Corner and Scrooged, too. Plus it wouldn’t have been right to have two Home Alone films in the top 10, which is why I’m sure the inhabitants of Great Britain banded together to make sure that the superior original film was voted higher than its 1992 follow-up. Or maybe it was just luck.

Either way, despite the fact that the comedy is only just over ten years old, you can’t really argue with the assessment that Elf is the greatest Christmas film of all time. Will Ferrell is perfectly cast as the loveably naïve Buddy the Elf who goes on the hunt for his biological father after learning that as an orphan he crawled into Santa Claus’ sack of toys and was then raised at the North Pole. The entire film glistens with festive joy and you can’t help but be warmed by its sheer exuberance and sense of wonderment. Plus it also features the best cinematic snowball fight in the history of celluloid.

Who knew that watching children get hit by a barrage of snowballs could be so much fun? I don’t know about you, but I’m incredibly tempted to now sit down for the next twenty or so hours, watch every single film on this list in a row, and then wait for the feeling of Christmas joy to swell inside me. If you think this sounds like a ho-ho-horrific way to spend the next 24 hours then you’re worse than Ebenezer.

With 30 Christmases behind me, an outsider would have good odds on betting I’d at least once in my life experienced a full sitting of Frank Capra’s seminal 1946 Christmas classic It’s a Wonderful Life. But like several similarly cherished films of yesteryear – none of which I’ll name here, to my wife’s dismay – I just never put my mind to watching it, having somehow skirted around it as a kid, and the rampant outpouring of pubescent cynicism held it at bay for the next 18 years. Though my immaturity still knows few bounds, I am a few years into being a family man whose edges have softened with bigger and brighter holidays looming in my future. So why not bite the bullet, or jump off a bridge as it were and find the true Christmas spirit.

Instead, I just got depressed for 130 minutes or so. I say that hyperbolically, but I didn’t realize how little I understood about what this film was about; passively reading about it for all these years taught me zilch. Knowing it was something of an angelic homage to Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, I figured the entire film would be geared towards that narrative format instead of only coming to it in the latter third. I didn’t expect to know George Bailey from the ground up, and definitely didn’t think that I’d completely understand why the man was contemplating suicide. How on Earth did this become a film that people wanted to watch year after year?

There’s no denying how strong the film plays, however, and it packs a lot of story into those two hours, utilizing more than enough comedy and charisma to make one forget the dreariness lurking behind every scene. As a child, I doubt I would have recognized or related to the myriad of ways in which George’s life is such a crumbled mess, not to mention the world around him. The same goes for Requiem For a Dream, a walk in the park compared to this movie. (Kidding.)

As well, a childhood viewing would have seen me at an age when religion still mattered, and I might have felt something more for that part of the story. I can still appreciate an angel trying to get his wings, don’t get me wrong, but I would be lying if I said the lengthy conversation between the two angelic balls of light in the beginning didn’t make me feel like I was getting pranked in some way. But while I kept thinking to myself there were better ways Capra could have tackled that point, I also kept wishing the more non sequiturs like that popped up throughout the film.

Our first impressions of George involve him getting deafened by cold water in a heroic effort to save his brother, followed by him calling a girl brainless for not liking coconuts, just before he realizes his pharmacist boss is depressed that his son died and stops him from accidentally poisoning a child. That’s some heavy shit. He grows up and shoves his dreams under the rug after being forced to run a modest but necessary Building and Loan office, because of course his father dies and there’s no one else to do it. (His brother does get married, so… yay for him, I guess.) And then goddamned Uncle Billy loses all the bank’s money and George’s maintainable lifestyle takes a nosedive when it’s assumed he’s stolen it. With nowhere else to go, and no one to whom he can turn – since his wife and four kids certainly don’t have that kind of cash – George decides that suicide is the answer.

I watched most of this movie also thinking about it from that dastardly Mr. Potter’s point of view, given Scrooge’s input was a lot of how Dickens’ tale was told. The way I’m looking at it, he wants to run Bedford Falls, but I’m pretty sure he doesn’t want to run it into the ground and destroy it, thus giving himself nothing to run and make money from. Who’s to say by George existing in the first place that Potter wasn’t a different man from the guy who wanted nothing but titty bars and nightclubs? Sure, he commits the heinous act of stealing the money from absent-minded Uncle Billy, but what if George is the real tool for not selling out and making his family happy, on the off-chance that Potter is going to do something good with Bedford Falls? I think maybe I’m still reeling from Breaking Bad being off the air.

In any case, things only get worse once Clarence shows up and shows George what life would be like had he not existed, and nearly everyone George knew is now miserable in Pottersville, despite all the debauchery. And he somehow learns that by living his arguably shitty life, as compared to the one he always wanted for himself, he truly has a wonderful life. To me, he should just realize how dependent everyone is on him, and the pressure of all that should drive him back to jumping. Plus, I’m not sure if donation money can rightfully cover up money that someone is accused of stealing.

It’s a Wonderful Life, to my surprise, definitely stands up strong more than 65 years later, and is a fine example of how mature the material was in family films of old. Somehow I don’t think Free Birds will see 1/55 the holiday film shelf life. It’s nearly impossible to dislike James Stewart or Donna Reed in any performance, and they sell the troubled turn their lives take. While news of a proposed remake already made me sick without having watched it, that feeling is doubled now. And though I didn't walk away from it with oodles of good feelings exuding from my pores, I now know why the film has touched so many people's hearts for all these years. Maybe I'll be a little more inspired by it the next time I see it. Or the next time. Or the next time.

Does anyone else out there see this movie like I do, or do you guys think the uplifting parts are more prominent? For each comment you guys put, one of Clarence’s compadres gets his or her wings.

For the seasoned holiday celebrator, there are many vital Christmas lessons that will eventually be learned over the years. Like not to wait until Christmas Eve to do your shopping, remember to keep the tree watered and if you have a cat, put the shiniest and most delicate ornaments out of paw’s reach, if possible. Also avoid tinsel. If you have a cat, you know why. As it happens, movies are also chock full of learning lessons, especially Christmas movies (and in some cases, movies with memorable Christmas scenes), which is where this list comes in, complete with helpful gif illustrations...

We'll start with basics that apply to life as much as to Christmas...

It's ok to turn down a dare once in a while. You don't want to be the kid standing out in the cold.

Don't take rides from strangers...

...or fruit spray...

Sometimes you get a gift you don't want. Wear it with pride. Someone loves you...

Ornaments hurt a lot more on the floor than they do on the tree...

Candy cane grams are a fair indication of social status (You go Glen Coco!)...

Egg nog may lead to mildly destructive behavior...

Make sure you have enough to eat...

...especially if you plan on drinking heavily during tense family gatherings...

A good song can be wrecked with a bad Christmas cover...

But good dance moves never go out of style...

Just be sure to watch where you're going...

Don't assume that just because it's Christmas, you stand a chance against Arnold...

Unless you're the Big Show...

Watch out for that escalator, it's a doozy...

And is better ridden standing up...

Don't underestimate the resourcefulness of children...

Or the pissed off cop sneaking through your air ducts and elevator shafts...

Be sure to clean out the car once in a while...

...and empty the shitter.

On the subject of Santas, it's crucial to recognize the difference between real Santa and fake Santa...

Real Santa...

Fake Santa...

Real Santa...

Drunk Santa...

Mean Santa...

Bad Santa...

As for Christmas ghosts...

If you find yourself getting visited by spirits, Dickens-style, they might try to fool you into thinking that the Ghost of Christmas Present is the friendly one...

But check which version you're in! Sometimes he is really, seriously creepy...

Or he's a she, and she's really violent...

She's rough but she means well...

Things can get crazy around the holidays...

Emotions are running high...

Family tension can erupt...

And for some people, the holiday triggers sad memories...

Also in rare cases, horrible memories about dad dying in a chimney...

Some people are just going through a rough patch...

So try to keep in mind what really matters...

The music...

The smiles...

Ok, fine, the presents too...

And the food...

But also family...

Laughter and good friends...

Expressions of love...

And the squirrels...

Merry Christmas to all! And to all a good, safe and happy holiday season...

A spokesperson for Paramount Pictures tells EW.com that the studio would fight any effort to mount a sequel to Frank Capra’s treasured It’s a Wonderful Life, meaning it’s probably Christmas come early for film buffs who don’t want to see the memory of George Bailey tarnished just so a producer can make a quick buck.

In a statement, Paramount explained:

These "individuals" referred to in the memo are the creative folks at Star Partners and Hummingbird Productions, who recently told Variety of a plan to mount a sequel to the classic holiday film that would focus on the "unlikeable" grandson of George Bailey (played, of course, by the legendary Jimmy Stewart in Capra’s original film). The trade goes on to say that Karolyn Grimes, who played Zuzu in the first film, would come back as an angel who – get this – would show this grouchy grandson what his life would be like if he wasn’t around.

Uh, that sounds exactly like the original.

The original story points out that Bob Farnsworth and Martha Bolton have written a script for the sequel, but hopefully this latest update crushes any forward progress on a film that should never happen. Far too often has Hollywood made the mistake of trying to make sequels to extremely popular films many years after the originals charmed audiences (I’m looking at you, Beetlejuice 2) They fail far too often.

So are we safely able to breathe a sigh of relief and chalk this up as a dodged bullet? Will Paramount repeatedly deny and block any progress on a Wonderful Life sequel? If there’s a Movie God, the answer is yes. We don’t need a follow up. We don’t need a modern version of the Wonderful Life story. We have Bill Murray in Scrooged. It won’t get better than that.

We’ll just go ahead and rip the bandage off: It’s A Wonderful Life is getting a sequel. And not a made-for-TV Hallmark-Lifetime-ABC Family-style sequel, but an actual feature film that follows up on the 1946 Frank Capra classic, which will focus on George Bailey’s unlikable grandson. Karolyn Grimes, who played Zuzu in the original film, will appear in the sequel, taking what sounds like the Clarence role.

Variety says this project is a collaboration from Star Partners and Hummingbird Prods, and it will be titled It’s A Wonderful Life: The Rest of the Story. The goal is to get the movie into theaters in time for the 2015 holiday season.

The original film starred Jimmy Stewart as a man who spends his life dreaming of the day he can leave the small town of Bedford Falls and see the world, but life keeps throwing obstacles in his path. Being the good man that he is, he repeatedly sets aside his own goals in order to be there for his friends, his family and the people of Bedford Falls. When it seems like he’s about to lose everything, he considers suicide, which is when an angel named Clarence steps in and shows him what things would be like had he never been born.

From what Variety reports about the sequel, it sounds like The Rest of the Story will flip that twist around on Bailey’s grandson, as Grimes’ character will show him how much better off the world would have been had he never been born. That sounds like it could be kind of depressing in a Ghost-of-Christmas-Yet-To-Come guilt-factor kind of way. Or maybe I’m just having a really hard time practicing my usual optimism here, as a major fan of Capra’s film. On the bright side — I’ll almost always find one — it’s not a remake. And who knows? Maybe the new film will capture some of the magic that made the original movie a beloved holiday classic.

Producer Bob Farnsworth and Martha Bolton wrote the screenplay for the sequel, and Farnsworth’s quoted as saying, "The storyline of the new film retains the spirit of the original – every life is important as long as you have friends." That sounds somewhat similar to Clarence’s parting words to George Bailey, "Remember, no man is a failure who has friends."

Casting for the grandson won’t happen until February, and Variety says producers are in talks to bring back some of the original cast members in addition to Grimes. Among the names mentioned were Jimmy Hawkins (Tommy Bailey) and Carol Coombs (Janie Bailey). Bringing Grimes in to play the angel is a nice tie-in to the original movie, in which she played Zuzu, George’s adorable daughter, who caught a cold trying not to crush her prize flower on her way home from school. Part of George’s breakdown involves yelling at Zuzu’s teacher over the ordeal, which leads to George later getting punched in the mouth by the teacher’s husband, causing George’s lip to bleed. It’s a chain of events that leads George to the bridge, and into the care of Clarence. And later, Zuzu’s petals and George’s bleeding lip turn out to be cause for celebration.

Just the other day, we shared the news that NBC has set the dates for their two airings of the classic film. It’s A Wonderful Life will air on NBC December 14 and again on Christmas Eve. And now it looks like we have a sequel to anticipate.

It’s a time-honored tradition in many homes to watch It’s a Wonderful Life around the holidays. And even though many of us who love this film probably own it on DVD or Blu-ray, but there’s still something to be said for seeing the film when it airs on TV, which only happens twice during the holiday season, believe or not. NBC has the dates set up for the 2013 airings. This year, It’s A Wonderful Life will air Saturday, December 14 (8-11 p.m. ET) and Tuesday, December 24 (Christmas Eve - 8-11 p.m. ET).

UPDATE: Looks like NBC has bumped the first broadcast in order to air an encore of The Sound of Music Live:

For those of you who’ve never seen it (or have never sat down and watched it all the way through), Frank Capra’s 1946 classic stars Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed, and tells the story of a selfless man who reaches the end of his rope. All George Bailey ever wanted to do was leave Bedford Falls to explore the world, but every chance he got to do it, something happened and he set the dream aside to be there for his friends, his family and his town when they needed him. When he finds himself in a financial crisis involving the Savings and Loan business he runs, he basically loses it, and all of the pent up disappointment and frustration leads him to consider suicide. It takes an angel-in-training named Clarence to save him and show him what all of the choices he made did for the people of Bedford Falls, by revealing what the town would’ve been like had he never been born. I won’t spoil the ending for those who haven’t seen it, but it truly is an inspirational story about the impact one person’s choices can have on the people around them.

It took me until near adulthood to develop an appreciation for the movie. Growing up, I would’ve much rather watched one of the more colorful and cheery Christmas movies, rather than this black and white film that seemed to air in a constant loop during the holidays — though I did always love the scene where the gymnasium floor opens up while Mary and George are dancing…

When I actually sat down and watched It’s a Wonderful Life I fell in love with it, and it’s on the short list of movies I have to watch around the holidays. I wouldn’t mind a Christmas Eve marathon on cable somewhere, much in the way TBS does with A Christmas Story every year. Alas, NBC’s approach makes the two broadcasts all the more special, for people who like to watch it on TV.

If you’re looking to fill in your holiday TV schedule, find the ABC Family 25 Days of Christmas schedule here.

Some might argue that It's A Wonderful Life is an overplayed and/or overrated Christmas movie, while others consider it a must-watch for the holiday season. I consider myself of the latter group, and I'll admit to often enthusiastically encouraging people to check it out, especially if they've only seen it in parts, which seems to be a frequent thing for this film. NBC aired the movie earlier this week and the viewership numbers are up a bit from last year.

NBC played It's A Wonderful Life this Christmas Eve, airing it at 8:00 p.m. on Monday night, which marks the network's 34th primetime run of the classic 1946 Frank Capra film. The network reports that the film ranked #1 for the night among ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in adults 18-49, bringing in a 1.5/6 in 18-49 and 5.6 million viewers. The broadcast earned the biggest overall audience for the movie since Saturday, December 10, 2005. Last year's broadcast, which also aired on December 24, took in 4.8 million viewers.

Starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed, It's A Wonderful Life tells the story of a man who dreams of leaving his cozy small town and traveling around the world. Of course, life has other plans for him and his dreams are repeatedly put on hold. A big part of the appeal of the film comes from the lesson George Bailey eventually learns about the impact his life and his choices have made on his family, his town and on a grander scale, the world.

As mentioned, It's a Wonderful Life is a staple of the holidays for many an American. But I'd argue that it's barely a Christmas movie, falling more along the lines of Gremlins, Die Hard and other great movies with a Christmas setting that don't actually focus on the holidays all that much. Regardless, it's a really is a wonderful movie with an inspirational story and well worth checking out if you're among the many who've only seen bits and pieces of it.