Christmas movies: Once more, it’s Christmastime, and people are returning home for the season with their family and friends.
Even though there are many things to do together during the day, what better way to wind it down than to relax and watch some Christmas movies?
Here, we examine some of the top films to see with close friends and family.
In no particular order
Klaus (2019)
Klaus is an animated Netflix movie that explores the origins of Santa Claus and is one of the most contemporary Christmas movies available.
Oscar-winner JK Simmons plays the jovial, toy-making titular character in Klaus.
He has no interest in kids, however.
Jason Schwartzman voices a postal worker, and Rashida Jones voices a cynical instructor.
A nomination for Best Animated Feature went to Klaus because it features one of the most unique animations.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, the third Vacation movie from the National Lampoon magazine, celebrates the holiday season.
Chevy Chase, a comedy legend, reprises his role as Clark Griswold, who wants to have the ideal Christmas with his wife and kids.
However, Clark’s employers fail to pay him the holiday bonus he was expecting, and his cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid) and his family crash the celebration.
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
Without this Muppets classic, what good is a collection of Christmas movies?
The iconic actor Michael Caine plays Ebenezer Scrooge in The Muppet Christmas Carol.
While Kermit the Frog portrays Bob Cratchit, Gonzo the Great fills in as Charles Dickens.
Even though it features Muppets, this unique adaptation of a well-known Christmas story is one of the most faithful to the original.
Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
In this 1947 Christmas film starring Edmund Gwenn, Kris Kringle plays Santa Claus in a parade on Thanksgiving.
Kringle’s portrayal of the jolly Christmas figure is a success, and he goes on to frequent Macy’s while dressed as Santa Claus.
He begins shocking people by asserting that he is actually Santa.
The next step is for Kris Kringle to appear in court so that they can evaluate his mental state and authenticity.
A Christmas Story (1983)
Unexpectedly, A Christmas Story became a popular holiday film.
Young Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley), the protagonist of the movie, spends his holiday running away from a bully (Zack Ward) and daydreaming of a Red Ryer air rifle.
A Christmas Story uses vignettes that center on the Parker family during Parker’s daydreams.
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Bad Santa (2003)
Billy Bob Thornton and Tony Cox play a couple of con artists in the adult-oriented comedy Bad Santa.
For their latest plan, they pretend to be a mall Santa and his elf while robbing stores on Christmas Eve.
However, Thornton’s character is a depressive alcoholic with problematic behavior, drawing the attention of security.
Thornton begins to question whether there is still hope after making friends with a young boy.
Die Hard (1988)
It would be wrong to leave Die Hard off a list of Christmas movies, despite being an action movie.
In a skyscraper that terrorists have taken over, NYC cop John McClane (Bruce Willis) experiences one of the worst Christmas Eves ever.
And everything happened just as he reconciled with his estranged wife.
Home Alone (1990)
The night before a family trip to Paris, Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) finds himself in trouble in a movie that many millennials certainly dreamed would actually happen to them.
His mother punishes him by making him spend the night in the attic.
However, Kevin wakes up convinced that his dream to be alone has come true and makes the most of his isolation.
The anticipation is curbed by con artists (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern) who scheme to loot the McCallister house.
Kevin must repel the burglars and guard his home.
Elf (2003)
Will Ferrell’s career as a great comedian was launched with the help of the Christmas movie Elf in the early 2000s.
In the film, he plays Buddy, a human who was unintentionally transported to the North Pole and then adopted by Santa’s elves.
Buddy, who feels alienated, goes to New York searching for his biological father, the cynical businessman Walter Hobbs (James Caan).
When the DNA test results show they are related, Walter seeks to get in touch with his long-lost son.
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It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
It’s a Wonderful Life is the pinnacle of holiday films.
James Stewart, who played George Bailey in the movie, felt a connection to the role, especially because it was created soon after World War II.
Bailey, the protagonist of the film, is so stressed out by his troubles that he considers taking his own life on Christmas.
Bailey is sent Clarence Odbody (Henry Travers), who watches over him after guardian angels hear prayers for him.
The movie depicts George’s life, in which he prioritizes the needs of others over his own.
Clarence also depicts for George the world that might have existed in his absence.
The timeless film It’s a Wonderful Life never fails to make people cry.
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