A subjective dive into the genre’s best films, specials
By Jennifer Duncan-Rankin
There’s nothing like a good Christmas movie to put you in the holiday spirit. Whether you’re a Grinch, a jolly elf or something in between, there is a film out there to fit the taste of just about anyone. And while Hallmark may have found their target audience, I mainly prefer to stick to the classics. The following is my combined list of the 15 best Christmas flicks and specials of all time, presented in descending order and devoid of any mention (other than this one) of “Die Hard,” which is not a Christmas movie. “Gremlins” is, however, but it didn’t make my list. And that’s just the way it is.
15. “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (1965 TV special)
Who doesn’t remember curling up in front of the television, popcorn in hand, to watch what may be the most beloved and timeless special of the season? In an age of crass commercialism and consumerism, Black Friday shopping and Amazon Prime flash deals, this simple, earnest reminder that the spirit of Christmas is more important that any of the stuff under the tree is a most welcome message.
14. “The Muppet Christmas Carol”
Like they were for so many of my fellow ‘80s kids, the Muppets were like training wheels for a rock ‘n’ roll adolescence. From the wild Animal to the mild Fozzie, the cast offered a personality type that everyone could relate to, which made them the perfect crew to act out this classic Dickens tale in a way only Gonzo, Kermit, Miss Piggy and the rest of the gang could. Only the Muppets can be tender and poignant AND wacky and funny all at the same time and still make it work.
13. “A Christmas Story”
I own two Daisy Red Ryder BB guns, and I still have both my eyes in spite of that fact. While some aspects of the film haven’t aged as well as others, there’s a good reason why this movie is so ubiquitous this time of year.
12. “Home Alone”
Who goes to France for Christmas? Despite its many structural flaws and cartoonish grasp of science, this movie speaks to the inner kid in all of us. It’s a little late this year, but for a double dip of yuletide goodness, make watching “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” – another John Hughes holiday classic – a regular part of your Thanksgiving weekend before settling down for this one.
11. “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”
The best family movie of the bunch, in my opinion. My cousins Kirk, Paul and J.R. can quote every line of this movie. And they do … every year … without fail. I like to have this one playing in the background as I put up the tree.
10. “Bad Santa”
Truth be told, I’ve always had a soft spot for ol’ Billy Bob, and I’m a sucker for a diamond in the rough story. It’s a good Christmas movie for those that hate cute but still harbor a bit of nostalgia for the holiday.
9. “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” (1974 TV special)
There usually was a slew of specials on the tube when I was a kid, but this one always stood out as one of my favorites for some reason, though I’m not sure why. A smarty-pants mouse that thinks he knows everything? Almost ruins Christmas for everyone? Then has to get back into Santa’s good graces at the last minute? Nope, can’t relate at all …
8. “Ernest Saves Christmas”
Jim Varney’s Ernest is the purest, kindest character to ever come out of the ‘80s. We all could stand to be a little more like him and carry the wonder of the holiday season and the joy of childhood along with us as we grow into adulthood.
7. “A Claymation Christmas Celebration” (1987 TV special)
It’s a real shame that Will Vinton’s stop-motion special hasn’t become an institution like so many other lesser programs. This one was – no fooling – like an acid trip for 5th graders, but almost all the content is ageless and timeless (save maybe for the inclusion of Vinton’s California Raisins, a definite product of the time period). There’s ice-skating rhinos, doo-wopping camels and, my favorite, the “Carol of the Bells” where the animated characters knock themselves in their own noggins with hammers. Featuring some other really excellent musical numbers to boot, this truly is an unheralded holiday masterpiece.
6. “Home Alone 2”
Why is this one higher than the original? I mean, what’s worse than going to Paris for Christmas? Planning another out-of-town trip after forgetting a family member last time around, with the destination for this one being Florida – that is totally worse. But in this sequel, I think the tricks and spills are better, the storyline involving FAO Schwarz is more engaging and the sweet friendship Kevin fosters with the homeless lady in Central Park is more touching that the one about the supposedly mean neighbor in the original. And the score is better. There, I said it.
5. “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (1964 TV special)
To me growing up, the night of Rudolph airing signaled the real start of the Christmas season. This animated film seemed incredibly long when I was a kid, and the Abominable Snowman was so scary! In actuality, the runtime is just 47 minutes, and the Abominable is kind of sad from an adult perspective. What remains the same is that few movies make me feel more warm, nestled and ready to peruse my Sears Wishbook while wearing cuddly pajamas than this one right here.
4. “Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas” (1977 TV special)
It’s kind of like the best possible outcome of the Muppets doing an episode of “Hee-Haw” with a taut storyline. But even better than that, featuring awesome music and with such beautiful, tender moments that you’ll need to watch it equipped with a box of tissues.
3. “Santa Claus: The Movie” I think this may be the most underappreciated Christmas movie out there. I always have to differentiate between this one and the Tim Allen vehicle by saying, “You know, the one with Dudley Moore?” It has orphans, a reluctant Santa trainee, rich girls, an evil John Lithgow and the fantasy of what Santa’s workshop may look like. It is definitely a feel-good movie without being too corny.
2. “Scrooged”
There are a lot of ‘80s movies on this list because, well, I was born in 1979, so these are what stuck out. But I think that out of all the movies on here hailing from that decade, this is the most ‘80s of them all. Taking the framework of Dickens’ classic and attacking the soulless greed and excess of the era, the film celebrates the simple pleasures of the holiday season, which I love. I also love to see heartless corporate rats come around in the end to show that you can be successful and have a heart, too. And who doesn’t love Bill Murray?
1. “A Smoky Mountain Christmas” (1986 TV movie)
IT HAS DOLLY! What kind of East Tennessean can’t get behind this story of a humble but burned-out country singer sick and tired of the Los Angeles music machine that’s trying to convert her into a pop star? Needing to take a break, she escapes to a cabin in the heart of the Smoky Mountains, where she encounters a bunch of orphans. And there’s a creepy sheriff. And paparazzi. And a WITCH. And the Six Million Dollar Man as a backwoods lawyer. And John Ritter as a sassy judge. This movie was directed by the Fonz, and it truly is everything you could possibly want in a film. And if you don’t like it, I’m not sure that we can be friends.
