Every week at SiftPop.com, we challenge our writers to choose what they think is the best movie under a certain topic related to a recent release. So this week, seeing as Christmas is just two days away, we’re counting down our favorite Christmas movies! Let us know @SiftPop what your ranking is!
What is the most classic way to celebrate the holiday season? Sitting back, turning on the TV, and enjoying a good, old-fashioned Rankin and Bass animated classic. There are quite a few to choose from, but the story of Santa Claus’ origins is the perfect film to get you into the Christmas spirit. From a little red-headed baby, Santa grows up to be the magical being we all love today. Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town finds screen legend Fred Astaire as a kind mailman who knows the ins and outs of the story (and luckily, he is willing to share the tale). Mickey Rooney (another screen legend) portrays the titular Kris Kringle in this little musical romp into the Yuletide season. We see Kris fall in love with the lovely Jessica, help the iconic Winter Warlock learn to walk again (with a show-stopping musical number), and outsmart the evil Burgermeister Meisterburger to bring joy to all the little boys and girls. This is a joyful little flick, and an an essential piece to the Christmas experience. (Shane Conto)
Christmas films are usually tailored to be viewed only around the Holiday Season. Elf,directed by Jon Favreau and starring Will Ferrell, can be enjoyed all year round. Ferrell plays Buddy the Elf, who has always seemed to be out of place due to his enormous stature in comparison to his peers in the North Pole. When he finds out that his biological father resides in New York City, he makes the arduous journey to meet him. Elf is full of laughs, and brings plenty of heartwarming holiday moments with the greatest of ease. This is due to the eccentric and jovial Buddy; while he can be obnoxious, he is so wholesome and hilarious with his fish-out-of-water antics. His performance, coupled with the late James Cann, who plays his father Walter, provides a ton of laughs due to their stark difference in demeanor. The direction and interesting meshing of art direction is fantastic, from classic stop motion reminiscent of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, to the festive imagining of the North Pole, to the more handheld camera work done in various scenes in New York. Elf is the gift that keeps on giving, and is a great film to pop in if you need your day brightened up. (Joe Vargas)
A Christmas Story is a collection of seemingly small, perfect vignettes that each on their own stand as holiday classics: the visit by Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) and his little brother to a department store Santa Claus, whose helpers deposit terrified children down a slide to keep the line moving; a triple-dog-dare-induced tongue frozen to a lamp post; the disillusionment that settles in Ralphie’s soul when his Little Orphan Annie secret decoder ring finally arrives, but only successfully decodes a crummy Ovaltine commercial. There’s Ralphie’s Old Man (Darren McGavin) winning a major award, and a lamp in the shape of a fishnet stockinged woman’s leg — the soft glow of electric sex gleaming in the window. There is even something as momentous as “the Scut Farkus affair,” which it came to be known, that sees Ralphie’s tormentor (Zack Ward) receive his comeuppance in truly satisfying fashion. Based on the memoirs of Jean Shepherd, who lends his voice to the narration of the 1983 film, A Christmas Story can boast something no other holiday film can: tradition so ingrained in the heart of America that it has been aired for 24-hours straight, starting on Christmas Eve, for the last 25 years and counting. And the heartfelt bow that beautifully ties the entire story together is Ralphie’s unwavering desire for the ultimate Christmas gift: the Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle, despite repeated crushing warnings of, “You’ll shoot your eye out.” If you’re a fan of Christmas movies that employ childlike nostalgia, this Story is required holiday viewing. (Jonathan Fedee)
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is one of those Christmas movies that I watched every year growing up. The characters were each their own ornaments on the Christmas tree, and it’s a family favorite, so it’s ingrained in the idea of Christmas for me. While it’s obviously iconic, it has a wholesome message of belonging, with the Island of Misfit Toys, which is also inherently Christmassy. The Rankin and Bass stop-motion has barely aged a day, and Rudolph carries with it a timelessness that has allowed a movie about a reindeer with a shiny red nose to last for almost 60 years. (Robert Bouffard)
My name is Charles Dickens and I know the story of The Muppet Christmas Carol like the back of my hand! Okay fine, I’m not actually Charles Dickens, nor am I Gonzo the Great, but I do know Muppet Christmas Carol like the back of my hand (for the record, I also have a scar on my wrist). To start, this movie is endlessly quotable, with some of the funniest lines in not only Muppet history, but also movie history: “Come in, and know me better man.” I remember first seeing it in theaters 30 years ago, and it has become a tradition in our house to watch it every Christmas Eve before bed. We sing along to the songs, fall asleep during “When Love is Found,” drift in and out of consciousness during the Ghost of Christmas Present, and wake up in time to see Gonzo and Rizzo flying off the balcony after Scrooge has been reformed! “Come in! And know me better man! Umm… did I already say that?” Muppet Christmas Carol is the best adaptation of the source of all time. Michael Caine is perfectly cast as Scrooge. Miles Goodman’s music is also memorable and charming, and still manages to bring a tear to my eye from not only the nostalgia, but the sincerity. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like Muppet Christmas Carol. I mean, you would have to be pretty odious, stingy, wicked, and unfeeling, and badly dressed, to not consider it a Christmas movie GOAT! (Nick Ferro)
I try to be careful when talking about new films and calling them classics because it takes time for any movie to become a classic, let alone a Christmas one. But no matter how hard I am wracking my brain, I can’t think of a better, more touching Christmas film from the last 15 years plus than Klaus. The fact the animation is just unique enough for Klaus to stand out is an added bonus. I can easily see this film becoming a classic, as it’s a simple story told beautifully. Ithas everything going for it, from stunning animation and perfect voice acting, to a story that hits you hard. But it also has much-needed moments of levity. Also, the way this film goes from comedy to drama is flawless. That is another selling point: Even when it’s funny, it’s never crazy, over-the-top funny, as we’ve gotten used to from animated movies of the past years. Klaus always feels grounded and believable, and that factor is what you need in your Christmas film. I can’t wait to re-watch it this year, and I would strongly recommend the same to you if you have not seen it yet. And as much as I enjoy Toy Story 4, it was Klaus I rooted to get that Best Animated Oscar because that is the movie I loved. If you are looking for a new Christmas film to fall in love with, I can’t think of a better one than Klaus. (Luke Burian)
Screw it. I was trying not to say this, but to quote every old geezer ever, “they don’t make them like this anymore.” In the nearly 80 years since Miracle on 34th Street’s release in 1947, few Christmas movies have come close to matching the earnestness it has. Seeing the joy and kindness behind the performances of the stars makes the movie incredibly enjoyable. Plus, it has that kind of zany pre-1960s dialogue where everyone is funny smart, without it feeling like a quip-off. Although there have been some stiff competitors over the years, this story deserves its place in the pantheon of Christmas movies. (Sam Nichols)
Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas pairs two of the best holidays: Halloween and Christmas. It follows Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town. He’s tired of celebrating the spooky holiday, and longs for something different. One day, Jack gets lost and finds Christmas Town, filled with snow, cheer, and joy. Jack, inspired by all this, kidnaps the town’s leader, Santa Claus (or Sandy Claws as he calls him), to bring Christmas to Halloween Town. But, it doesn’t go as he hopes. Holiday mischief and mayhem from Lock, Shock, and Barrel, and the evil Oogie Boogie get in the way of his plans. While all this happens, we see a beautiful love story develop between Jack Skellington and the sweet Sally Stitches, the rag doll creation of the mad Dr. Finkelstein. Burton’s idea, combined with Henry Selick’s direction, and Danny Elfman’s iconic tunes, like “What’s This?” and “This is Halloween,” make this one of the best Christmas films. But it wasn’t always that way. The Nightmare Before Christmas was actually a flop when it premiered in 1993. Thankfully, it gained a cult following in the ‘00s and became the beloved film we know today. (Diana Gebbia)
Given the fact that It’s a Wonderful Life is a certified Christmas GOAT, it’s understandable, perhaps, that The Shop Around the Corner can get overshadowed this time of year. Jimmy Stewart plays a store manager who butts heads with the new holiday rush hire, Klara (Margaret Sullivan), without realizing she’s the same person he’s fallen in love with as anonymous pen pals. I didn’t watch this one until very recently, after I’d seen a production of the musical based on the same story, She Loves Me. Though I admittedly missed the music, there’s still plenty of charm in this classic formula. No matter if it’s spoken, sung, or if the anonymous letters aren’t even analog, it’s a tried-and-true story that’s sure to put a smile on your face. (Jake Bourgeois)
I’m not going to lie. I was super late to the It’s a Wonderful Life fan club. There was something about the movie that I had heard a lot about, but I just didn’t have the time (and to be honest, desire) to watch it. Is it possible that this movie, for all the praise and fandom it receives, can be that good? Is it possible for a movie to embody what the spirit of Christmas is, while also saying amazing things about what it means to be kind, and how other people view significance within others? It turns out the answer to both these questions is yes. It’s a Wonderful Life stands alone as a Christmas movie that knows how to truly tug at your heartstrings, while also teaching invaluable lessons, even in the most dire of situations. This is on a list of movies that I’m one day looking forward to sharing with my family, and look forward to watching each year. It’s a Wonderful Life is not just the best Christmas movie ever, it’s also one of the greatest films of all time. (Mike Hilty)
White Christmas
Christmas movies, more than any other genre, are largely reliant on family tradition as far as what becomes part of your personal annual rotation. As one of my mother’s absolute favorites, White Christmas is certainly one of those for our family. (It may or may not have been watched this year before Thanksgiving dinner had even had time to cool.) The story follows a famous duo act who met in the army (Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye), who end up spending the holidays in Vermont after connecting with a sister act (Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen), and as a result trying to save the ski resort of their former general (Dean Jagger). The song and dance work here is immaculate, and it’s really not the titular tune that steals the show. The reprise of “Sisters” is the true highlight. The song is catchy, and it’s the comedic highlight of the film. It never fails to put a smile on my face, and is a great shout if you’re looking to get in the holiday groove. (Jake Bourgeois)
The Year Without a Santa Claus
“Just believe in Santa Claus like you believe in love,” Santa says in “The Year Without a Santa Claus. This simple yet effective sentence gets at the film’s heart: that Christmas is important because of the spirit of giving and uplifting others. It’s demonstrated throughout the film, all the way to the kids of Southtown sending presents to Santa to bring his spirits up. Listen, I could continue on about this movie’s heart and why what it has to say about Christmas is important, but at the end of the day, it has a character named Ignatius Thistlewhite, a reindeer gets sent to the pound because she is mistaken for a dog while wearing socks on her ears and horns, and Mother Nature exists and has two sons named Heat Miser and Snow Miser, who sing frustratingly catchy songs that can rival just about any Disney villain’s. It’s great stuff all around. (Robert Bouffard)
Home Alone
As Wednesday continues to rack up record viewership numbers for Netflix, there is no better way to celebrate Christmas than to enjoy another sardonic youth icon with Kevin McCallister in the hilarious and heartwarming holiday classic Home Alone. Macaulay Culkin turns in an all-time great child actor performance with his immense charm and delightful dry wit. The story concept is both brilliantly simple and simply brilliant, as it explores how a child would respond to getting his wish and having his family disappear. That they manage to believably pull off this conceit makes it even greater. Director Chris Columbus and writer John Hughes also excel at blending tones and genres, as the movie shines as a fish-out-of-water comedy with Kevin learning to live on his own, before shifting into drama as he reflects on driving his family away, then ultimately boomeranging to become a slapstick comedy loaded with physical gags. Each is executed to perfection. The set pieces at the end are almost like a reverse heist, as Kevin elaborately schemes to prevent a robbery. Getting a crime movie legend in Joe Pesci to play half of the Wet Bandits as Harry is wonderful casting, and Daniel Stern is a great counterpoint to his straight man as Marv. John Williams provides an outstanding score that pulls off being touching and menacing, all while maintaining a true Christmas vibe. Any of these factors individually make it worth watching, and combined, they make it the funniest and sweetest Christmas movie. (Jason Mack)
We’re No Angels
Every once in a while, a new Christmas movie comes to your attention. It’s a rare phenomenon, but one I was able to experience last year while visiting family in the relative paradise of Arizona — at least when compared to the frozen Iowa landscape that I left. We’re No Angels provided the perfect distraction needed while the Christmas brisket smoked. It tells the tale of three escaped convicts (Humphrey Bogart, Aldo Ray, and Peter Ustinov), who make their way to a French colonial town, where they stumble upon a family-owned store. They initially plan to swindle the owners, before the Christmas spirit gets the better of them. Though the story in its broad strokes holds few surprises, it’s filled with so much charm and humor, particularly thanks to our three leads and one escaped snake. It also doesn’t hurt that it’s helmed by the man behind White Christmas, Michael Curtiz. It put a smile on my face throughout, and if you’re looking to try something new to run alongside your tried-and-true holiday favorites, it’s worth giving these scoundrels a chance. (Jake Bourgeois)
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is a holiday classic. It’s the story of one father trying to give his family the perfect Christmas. Of course, everything goes awry, and an hour-plus of mishaps and hilarious disasters ensue. In between all of the nutty characters and sarcastic lines is a really nice message: Very few things unite us more than Christmas time, and when we’re together, we’ll put up with just about anything to spend it with the ones we love. That’s why I love this movie. Not only is it one of the funniest movies I’ve ever seen, but it gets at a deeper message about what the holidays mean to us. This movie is one that I watch every year, and it never lets me down. (Kaleb Wolters)
Love Actually
I think the mark of a great Christmas movie is the indication of not only being able to watch it around Christmas, but in fact you can enjoy it any time of the year, and Love Actually is one of those movies that can be enjoyed any time! Comprised of an absolutely stellar cast of British and American actors which include, but are not limited to Liam Neeson, Laura Linney, the late Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant, and Colin Firth, just to name a few, Love Actually is not only about Christmas, but about love in its many, many forms. Every story intertwines with one another expertly, and is the original example for every movie since that has tried and often failed to copy the “intertwining love stories” schtick. From new love to marital love, and from puppy love to love lost, there is something for everyone viewer to relate to and see themselves in. The score is as iconic as the movie itself, and when you hear this score underneath the scene of young Sam (Thomas Sangster) running through Heathrow Airport to tell his school crush that he loves her, the music swells and you find yourself cheering this boy on. Every performance is commendable, and each individual story is told perfectly on screen. All of these factors together make it a rewatchable and heartwarming movie that can be watched on the coldest of Christmas Eves, or even the warmest of summers! (Jeff Alan)
Anna and the Apocalypse
Are you a fan of musicals? How about Christmas adventure films? What about zombies? Well, it’s time for you to take on the somehow underseen Anna and The Apocalypse! Follow along as Anna (Ella Hunt) and friends, as well as reluctant acquaintances, must fight their way to their friends after a zombie apocalypse breaks out the night of the school Christmas variety show. All the while, their parents are being threatened by not only zombies, but also the psychotic evil Assistant Principal Savage (Paul Kaye). The charming cast also brings together a fantastic soundtrack that is full of ear worms. So make some hot chocolate, grab your candy cane, and get ready for a hilarious time that will be in the Christmas rotation forever. (Matt Lawson)
The Santa Clause
When I was young, I wondered many times how Santa Claus could continue to deliver gifts for children around the world for so long. Could it be an immortal being, or succession? Luckily, I wasn’t the only one who thought this, as the film The Santa Clause answered it for me in a great and beautiful way. It really captures the imagination of what would happen when one Santa meets an untimely end, and how a new Santa (Tim Allen) would come into being. Specifically, Bernard (David Krumholtz) the Elf was a favorite of mine as a kid. Even to this day, I look back fondly at the first, and in my opinion, best movie of the series. (Joseph Davis)
Scrooged
Amidst all the adaptations of A Christmas Carol, Scrooge attempts to retell the story in a modern-day setting. Frank Cross (Bill Murray) is a selfish, unkind, and often ruthless television studio executive. He makes his staff work on a live show on Christmas Eve, promoting broadcasts with scary imagery and sending cheap Christmas presents to all his family. But when his deceased former boss, Lew Hayward (John Forsythe), visits him and tells him he must mend his ways, Frank starts to act strange to everything around him, as three ghosts visit him. What I like about this retelling is that they aren’t afraid to take a lot of liberty with how they tell the story. There is a period between each ghost visiting Frank where he returns to his life, showing a more gradual progression to the change in him, and more of a horror element to Frank’s experience. The spirits also have much more distinct personalities than the ones in the Dickens novel, and I love the practical effects on Lew as a ghost. Murray, of course, had already proven that he could be masterful in comedies involving ghosts, and he gives another standout performance here, using a lot of improvs, which adds to the strangeness of the whole experience for Frank. I wish there were more modern-day takes on this story because it is timeless. The story of a heartless person changing their ways can work in any setting. (John Tillyard)
The Night Before
One of the newer entries on this list, The Night Before has already become a staple in my household. After a family tragedy, Christmas Eve is a difficult day for Ethan (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), so he and his friends, Isaac (Seth Rogen) and Chris (Anthony Mackie), spend every Christmas Eve together. Now adults, they each have different paths, and this year will likely be their last one together, so they plan to celebrate big and reach the most coveted covert event, the Nutcracker Ball. It’s filled with hijinks, laughs, and definitely drugs, because, after all, this is a 2013 Seth Rogen movie. With supporting roles and cameos from Michael Shannon, Mindy Kaling, Lizzy Caplan, Jillian Bell, James Franco, Randall Park, Jason Mantzoukas, Tracy Morgan, Nathan Fielder, and Miley Cyrus, The Night Before is sure to leave you with plenty of laughs, a few heartwarming moments, and a rejuvenated Christmas spirit. (Aaron Schweitzer)
The Polar Express
Christmas movies are some of the most heartwarming films available, and there are plenty of them this year. I was finally able to watch Robert Zemeckis’ Polar Express. This movie tells the story of Hero Boy (Tom Hanks, Daryl Sabara, and Josh Hutcherson), who is on the verge of no longer believing in Santa Claus. On Christmas Eve, the Polar Express shows up outside his house to take him to the North Pole. This film is based on the book by Chris Van Allsburg, and is the first all-digital capture film. Every actor is in motion capture suits, and none more so than Hanks, who plays adult Hero Boy, Father, Conductor, Hobo, Scrooge Puppet, and Santa Claus. Hanks definitely should have gotten all the awards for his performance here. I recently saw a behind the scenes video of him performing, and he goes above and beyond to deliver a truly remarkable performance. Back in 2006, motion capture was still very much in its infancy, but this film still holds up decently well in 2022. It is truly heartwarming, and reminds us all to still believe this Christmas. (Austen Terry)
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
How the Grinch Stole Christmas has been a Christmas staple for years. In 2000, Ron Howard directed a live action, modern twist on the iconic holiday story. In this retelling of the classic, Jim Carrey loses himself in a green furry suit and makeup, and gives us a hilarious rendition of the infamous recluse. It’s the familiar tale of the Grinch disliking Christmas and finding a way to ruin the holiday for the Whos. Along with the original story intact, the movie explores the Grinch’s past and his reason for despising Christmas. Also, the Grinch has a love interest. The understanding of the Grinch’s disdain for being bullied as a child is solidified, but after everything he’s been through, the Grinch still finds a way to grasp the true meaning of Christmas. The gifts don’t matter. It’s about love and being together for the holidays. Of course, his heart grows three sizes, and with the help from Cindy Lou Who, they bring the holiday cheer to Whoville before the Grinch gets the girl. The performance of Carrey as the Grinch still holds up, along with the innuendos throughout the movie. How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a film for everyone and will be loved by families to come. (Chantal Ashford)
Also See: The Man Who Invented Christmas, Holiday Inn, A Christmas Carol, 8-Bit Christmas, Christmas in Connecticut, The Bishop’s Wife