12 Iconic Christmas Movies
Christmas movies are a fun way to get into the holiday spirit. They mix laughter, family moments, and lessons about kindness that never get old. Here are 12 iconic films from IMDb’s Top 100 Christmas Movies of All Time list that bring the magic of Christmas to life!
1). It’s a Wonderful Life
An angel is sent from Heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman see the value of his own life.
1946 | 2h 10m | PG
Rating: ⭐ 8.6/10
Director: Frank Capra
Writers: Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, Frank Capra
Stars: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore
Tags: Feel-Good Romance, Holiday Family, Holiday Romance, Psychological Drama, Supernatural Fantasy, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Holiday, Romance
2). Home Alone
An eight-year-old troublemaker, mistakenly left home alone, must defend his home against a pair of burglars on Christmas Eve.
1990 | 1h 43m | PG
Rating: ⭐ 7.7/10
Director: Chris Columbus
Writer: John Hughes
Stars: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern
3). Die Hard
A New York City cop, John McClane, tries to save his estranged wife and several others taken hostage by terrorists during a Christmas Eve party at the Nakatomi Plaza Skyscraper in Los Angeles, California.
1946 | 2h 12m | R
Rating: ⭐ 8.2/10
Director: John McTiernan
Writers: Roderick Thorp, Jeb Stuart, Steven E. de Souza
Stars: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia
4). A Christmas Carol
Ebenezer Scrooge, a curmudgeonly, miserly businessman, has no time for sentimentality and largely views Christmas as a waste of time. However, this Christmas Eve, he will be visited by three spirits who will show him the error of his ways.
1951 | 1h 26m | Approved
Rating: ⭐ 8.1/10
Director: Brian Desmond Hurst
Writers: Charles Dickens, Noel Langley
Stars: Alastair Sim, Jack Warner, Kathleen Harrison
5). Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
A young reindeer Rudolph lives at the North Pole. His father is one of Santa’s reindeer and it is expected that Rudolph will eventually be one too. However, he has a feature which is a setback and causes him to be ostracized: his red nose.
1964 | 47m | Approved
Rating: ⭐ 8.0/10
Director: Larry Roemer
Writers: Romeo Muller, Robert May, Johnny Marks
Stars: Billie Mae Richards, Burl Ives, Larry D. Mann
6). National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
The Griswold family’s plans for a big family Christmas predictably turn into a big disaster.
1989 | 1h 37m | PG-13
Rating: ⭐ 7.5/10
The Griswold family’s plans for a big family Christmas predictably turn into a big disaster.
Director: Jeremiah S. Chechik
Writer: John Hughes
Stars: Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Juliette Lewis
7). Elf
Raised as an oversized elf, Buddy travels from the North Pole to New York City to meet his biological father, Walter Hobbs, who doesn’t know he exists and is in desperate need of some Christmas spirit.
2003 | 1h 37m | PG
Rating: ⭐ 7.1/10
Director: Jon Favreau
Writer: David Berenbaum
Stars: Will Ferrell, James Caan, Bob Newhart
8). A Christmas Story
In the 1940s, a young boy named Ralphie Parker attempts to convince his parents, teacher, and Santa Claus that a Red Ryder Range 200 Shot BB gun really is the perfect Christmas gift.
1983 | 1h 33m | PG
Rating: ⭐ 7.9/10
Director: Bob Clark
Writers: Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown, Bob Clark
Stars: Peter Billingsley, Melinda Dillon, Darren McGavin
9). Miracle on 34th Street
After a divorced New York mother hires a nice old man to play Santa Claus at Macy’s, she is startled by his claim to be the genuine article. When his sanity is questioned, a lawyer defends him in court by arguing that he’s not mistaken.
1947 | 1h 36m | Approved
Rating: ⭐ 7.9/10
Director: George Seaton
Writers: George Seaton, Valentine Davies
Stars: Edmund Gwenn, Maureen O’Hara, John Payne
10). Gremlins
After receiving an exotic small animal as a Christmas gift, a young man inadvertently breaks three important rules concerning his new pet, which unleashes a horde of malevolently mischievous creatures on a small town.
1984 | 1h 46m | PG
Rating: ⭐ 7.3/10
Director: Joe Dante
Writer: Chris Columbus
Stars: Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Hoyt Axton
11). The Polar Express
On Christmas Eve, a young boy embarks on a magical adventure to the North Pole on the Polar Express, while learning about friendship, bravery, and the spirit of Christmas.
2004 | 1h 40m | G
Rating: ⭐ 6.6/10
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Writers: Chris Van Allsburg, Robert Zemeckis, William Broyles Jr.
Stars: Tom Hanks, Chris Coppola, Michael Jeter
12). Bad Santa
A miserable conman and his partner pose as Santa and his Little Helper to rob department stores on Christmas Eve. But they run into problems when the conman befriends a troubled kid.
2003 | 1h 32m | R
Rating: ⭐ 7.0/10
Director: Terry Zwigoff
Writers: Glenn Ficarra, John Requa
Stars: Billy Bob Thornton, Bernie Mac, Lauren Graham
Bonus!: Edward Scissorhands
The solitary life of an artificial man with scissors for hands is upended when he is taken in by a suburban family.
1990 | 1h 45m | PG-13
Rating: ⭐ 7.8/10
Director: Tim Burton
Writers: Tim Burton, Caroline Thompson
Stars: Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Dianne Wiest
These movies show different sides of the holiday season, from heartwarming classics to hilarious adventures. Together, they help remind us why Christmas and the holiday season is about joy, loved ones, and hope. Watching them is the perfect way to wrap up the year with holiday cheer! Tune in for more holiday related articles.
Sources:
- Descriptions of Movies, Other Information, and Images directly from:
