25 Days of Christmas Movies
by: Steven McGee
What’s up C4S readers it's that time of year. That's right the Holiday season is upon us and it's time to turn off the Mariah Carey song and put on a movie! We at C4S are huge Christmas/Holiday movie fans and we are all putting together some kind of list. So buckle in, I'm going to share with you 25 movies that you can watch per day in December leading to the big day! A few notes here. I’ll probably stay away from the “given classics”. These are my personal 25 and are in order of the way I enjoyed them from 25-1 respectively. Also last note. I will not be doing sequels etc. Just pretend I love all of them equally like we do our children. Just kidding Santa, I don't wanna be on the naughty list.
25: The Polar Express (2004)
This is a really good family movie. A story where kids take a train to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. As a kid this would be a dream. I think this would be a good way for you to start your Holiday watch journey.
24. Office Christmas Party (2016)
Jason Bateman and Jennifer Anniston just work. I love their chemistry from The Switch to Horrible Bosses movies. This film was a whacky ride and I for one enjoyed it. Turn your brain off, get some eggnog, and put the kids to bed for this one.
23. Arthur Christmas (2011)
This was a very interesting movie. Does Santa have children? How does he have the time? Do the kids feel neglected because of all the love he has for the other children of the world? Only one way to find out. James McAvoy voices the clumsy Arthur, son of Mr. Clause himself.
22. Gremlins (1984)
What? Oh come on, use that memory of yours. When was the last time you actually watched this movie? Well, let me give you a small refresher. Gizmo was indeed a Christmas present given to Billy from his father. I win! Now go watch it.
21. Jack Frost (1998)
Michael Keaton deserves more flowers. Batman. Beetlejuice. Live-action Frosty the Snowman. What can't he do? This movie is about a father getting a second chance to be the father of the year. This is a good one for the entire family to enjoy.
20. The Best Man Holiday (2013)
This was a sequel I was excited for. The first movie had so much drama and I knew we would get more with just a dash of Christmas. It sits at 20 for me because I don't remember anything Christmas esc outside of the title.
19. Jingle Jangle (2020)
“Jingle Jangle” is the story of a tinkerer (Forest Whitaker) finding his joy in making toys thru his granddaughter after his inventions were stolen by a rival inventor (Keegan-Michael Key). This is our first musical on the list. I love musicals and this movie was just a lot of fun and a joy to watch. A good fantasy story for the family.
18. A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas (2011)
Are you ready to laugh? There is something about this franchise that is Legen (wait for it) ... dary. I know I know that's an entirely different franchise but it's still a line from one of the coolest actors in Hollywood that is Neil Patrick Harris. I mean any movie with him is worthy of a watch so get ya Christmas on and enjoy the laughs.
17. The Night Before (2015)
Three friends reunite every Christmas Eve to find the best Christmas party. Do I have to say anything else? Ok fine Seth Rogen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Anthony Mackie, enough said.
16. Christmas With the Kranks (2004)
You wanna get away? Some people wanna do things other than spend time with family. Then they change those plans and leave you scrambling. Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis are all over Christmas. Planning the perfect Christmas isn't all it's cracked up to be.
15. Trading Places (1983)
Yep! It's gonna be one of those lists! This movie counts as A holiday movie and you can't convince me otherwise. Hear me out. I know this is a comedy about a sinister bet to make an investor and con artist switch lives, but dig a little deeper. What do you see? Dan Akroyd in a Santa suit? Christmas trees in the city where Eddie Murphy is being chased. I mean SNOW!?!?! Gotta have snow…enjoy this holiday movie you're welcome!
14. A Muppets Christmas Carol (1992)
Look, I know we all love A Christmas Carol. But what if I told you that it could be better? How so you say? Well look no further the freaking Muppets have their own rendition and i must say nothing brings me more joy than to see Ms. Piggy go crazy.
13. Four Christmases (2008)
I absolutely love this movie. Vince Vaughn was on a real hot streak when this movie came out. His chemistry with Reese Witherspoon was pretty good as well. We follow a couple whose mom and dads have both divorced, hints why there are four Christmases. We see all the ups and downs that come with traveling during the Holidays.
12. Friday After Next (2002)
The end of the Friday trilogy is a holiday one. The movie literally starts with Santa breaking into a house and being beat with a Christmas Tree. If that doesn't sell you on this movie I don't know what will.
11. 8 Crazy Nights (2002)
Adam Sandler gives us an animated musical with Hanukkah culture. A 33-year-old stuck doing community service with an elderly referee. One thing about Sandler films they are a lot of fun and you get all of that in this holiday movie.
10. How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
Jim Carrey as the grinch is hysterical. He literally embodies this character and you will watch it again and again with the family.
9. Scrooged (1988)
Bill Murray is probably my personal favorite variation of a Christmas Carol. Probably one of the coolest human beings to walk earth playing Ebenezer Scrooge. What more could you want?
8. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
This is Halloween! Or it's Christmas? Look this is a cult classic given to us from the mind of Tim Burton. This is probably one of the most unique Christmas movies we have ever gotten. The two most money lucrative holidays are Christmas and Halloween. So why not make a movie that would be played from October until the end of the year. It's brilliant!
7. Bad Santa (2003)
Billy Bob Thornton was the comedic Santa that we never knew we needed. Santa not only has a naughty list. He is the reason for it in this movie. There are plenty of memorable lines from this movie from "Is granny spry?" to "Jumping around the board like Seabiscuit" I could not go a holiday season without watching this gem.
6. Elf (2003)
Will Ferrell has given us so many different films and this one right here was a doozy. A man being raised in the North Pole as an Elf without realizing he's "different". It's Chris' comedy at its finest.
5. The Santa ClausE (1994)
We have made it to the top 5. Here come the debates. Well let us begin, shall we...Tim Allen gives us our childhood. If you are a middle-aged man “The Santa Clause” franchise has been a staple in many homes during the Christmas season. Imagine hearing someone on your roof and you startling him. Then putting on his suit and boom now you're responsible for every kid’s happiness in the world. So wholesome.
4. Die Hard (1988)
Yippee ki yay! I am not here to debate. “DIE HARD” IS A CHRISTMAS MOVIE! Argue with yourself. Holiday party during Christmas Eve. Those are the only things that need to be annotated to allow us to put this on our list...
3. Jingle All The Way (1996)
"It's Turbo Time!!!" So personally this is my favorite movie. But I respect you readers more than my personal feelings. Arnold Schwarzenegger is a dad that decides to do some last-minute Christmas shopping for the most popular toy in America. Throw in the great comedian that is Sinbad and you have a classic. Surprisingly enough the two of them have really good chemistry on screen as well.
2. Home Alone (1990)
Now you can't go wrong with this as the number 1 movie and if you have it at 1 I will not argue with you. The Home Alone franchise is wildly successful and just so memorable. As kids, we all dreamed of playing tricks on the big bad burglars and how we would handle ourselves accordingly if this happened to us. Seeing a kid win was just everything we needed since we were being as good as we could be to not end up on the naughty list. If we only knew what we know now.
1. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
You can't do Christmas with Christmas vacation. It's just not possible. If “Home Alone” is every kid’s Christmas dream, this is most adults' Christmas reality. I mean no Christmas bonuses, and everything that can go wrong is going wrong in the Griswold household. Through it all nonetheless you have your family and you get through the obstacles. The true message of what Christmas is all about.
Well, that's the list. 25-holiday movies for you to watch. I know I know, some of you are upset with my choices. All I can say is Bah Humbug make your own list!