I love Christmas movies, and usually on Christmas day, we sit around watching movies and relaxing. Sometimes we stick with the theme of Christmas movies, and sometimes we watch other things, like all the Star Wars movies or all the Indiana Jones movies… because when else do you get a chance to sit and watch them all?
In no particular order, my favorite actual holiday movies…
1. Christmas in Connecticut (1945)- It’s funny, it’s touching, it’s romantic. This movie has everything, and if you’ve never seen it, you should. They don’t have it on Netflix but they do on Amazon instant video. For $2 to rent, it’s worth it.
2. White Christmas (1954)- It’s classic for a reason. Yes, it’s got a lot of singing, but it’s not so much that you just wish they’d stop. Plus, Bing Crosby has a wonderful voice.
3. We’re No Angels (1955)- Three convicts show up intending to rob a very nice family, and instead they stick around and help one another out. Again, it’s not available on Netflix, but you can get it on Amazon instant video. I looked EVERYWHERE until I found a used DVD version of this to buy.
4. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)- I’m a Jimmy Stewart fan, and this is probably one of my favorite movies ever. None of us realize the impact we have on others, and the hole we’d leave if we weren’t there. Great, great movie.
5. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)- There are a few versions of this, but I prefer the original. In my mind, Maureen O’Hara and Natalie Wood can’t be beat.
6. Scrooged (1988)- So funny! Based on Charles Dickens’s “Christmas Carol,” it’s a great reminder of what the season is about, and what’s really important. And how, with the best intentions, we can leave our true selves behind.
7. How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)- I like the cartoon version of this one. Maybe it makes me think of my childhood… or it could just be that I’m not a Jim Carrey fan. Either way, great movie.
8. Die Hard (1988)- It takes place at Christmas, and it’s a story of love and redemption. That means it counts!
9. Lethal Weapon (1987)- This movie is a classic in it’s own right. I love the mix of action and the great characters. There are many classic lines that come from this movie.
10. Edward Scissorhands (1990)- It was a Christmas movie, wasn’t it? I loved Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder in this movie. It’s such a sweet, sad, story.
I deliberately left off A Christmas Story (1983) and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation(1983). While I’ve watched them and liked them, they’re not my favorites. I’m just not a fan of comedies!
Doree Weller 