Top 10 Christmas Movies

The most wonderful time of the year is finally here! Whose ready to light some festive candles, eat their body weight in chocolate and pigs in blankets, and get warm and cosy to watch some Christmas movies, I know I certainly am!

Over my 24 years I have watched my fair share of Christmas films, from the classics to the modern day tales, so I thought it only fitting to bring you a list of my favourite Top 10 Christmas Movies that you must watch this December.

1. The Polar Express (2004)

The Polar Express is one film which never fails to get me excited for Christmas. On Christmas Eve, a young boy spots a mysterious train appear at the front of his house, bound for the North Pole. The boy boards the train and is greeted by plenty of other children, who are heading to see Santa Claus. This movie is filled with exciting twists and turns from the get go, and features Tom Hanks as the voice of the conductor. If you did not already know, this film is based off of the 1985 novel of the same name by Chris Van Allsburg.

2. Home Alone (1990)

No Christmas is complete without watching Home Alone. This hilarious slap-stick comedy will have you laughing out loud for its entirity. Starring child star Macaulay Culkin as the very cheeky Kevin McCallister, and Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern as the Wet Bandits. Kevin and his family are due to go on a family vacation to Paris, when a nightime power cut causes their alarm clocks to reset and the family to oversleep. In the morning rush to get to the airport on time, Kevin’s parents mistakenly leave him behind! As the story unfolds, Kevin finds himself home alone, with the difficult job of fighting off a pair of burglars! Kevin creates all sorts of crazy, and hilarious, contraptions to defend his home!

3. The Holiday (2006)

If you love a good Rom-Com, then this movie is definitely for you. In London, Irene (Kate Winslet), a writer for the Telegraph newspaper, is left in emotional termoil after her workplace crush seeks romance with another woman. Meanwhile, in LA, Amanda (Cameron Diaz) trades her glamourous lifestyle with Irene, for a quaint cottage in the English countryside, after discovering her boyfriend was cheating. Upon arriving in wintery England, Amanda is left feeling lonely, but her mood is soon brightened by a drunk Graham (Jude Law) on her doorstep. This movie is pretty much 2-in-1, with both stories of lust and love coming together into this light-hearted festive delight.

4. Miracle on 34th Street (1994)

After the Department Store, Coles, fires their Santa Claus for drinking on the job, right before a Thanksgiving Parade, Cole’s events director spots an elderly man, who is soon her replacement Santa. The man introduces himself as Kris Kringle, and plays the part of St Nick so well, he is hired immediately as Cole’s main Santa for the holiday period. Later on in the movie, Kris is arrested for supposedly assulting a man (the former drunken Santa Claus). It becomes abundantley clear that in order for Kris to be aquitted of this crime, his defence team must prove that he is, in fact, the real Father Christmas. Miracle on 34th Street is a Christmas film like no other and should be on your movie watch list this year!

5. ELF (2003)

I couldn’t put together a list of Christmas movies without including ELF. One Christmas Eve, a baby boy crawls into Santa’s toy sack at an orphanage, and is unknowingly transported to the North Pole. When the baby is discoverd by the elves in Santa’s workshop, Papa Elf decides to adopt the child and raise him as his own, giving him the name Buddy. Many years later, Buddy, now a full-sized adult, after out growing his fellow elves, overhears in the workshop that he is not an elf afterall, but a human! Papa Elf explains to Buddy that he was put up for adoption by his parents. Buddy then travels to New York on a quest to find his father. I have watched this movie countless times, and it still turns me into fits of giggles.

6. Deck The Halls (2006)

Deck the Halls, starring Danny DeVito as Buddy Hall and Matthew Broderick as Steve Finch, is another classic Christmas film filled with plenty of laugh out loud moments. Buddy and his family (twin daughters and wife) move into their new home ahead of the festive period, living opposite Steve. Over the coming days, Buddy decides he wants to decorate his house for Christmas BUT his aim is to have his Christmas lights visible from Space. Steve and Buddy’s rivalry soon begins, when Buddy’s lights and special effects become an annoyance. Deck the Halls is one of those terrible Christmas Movies that you just cannot help but watch every year.

7. Jingle All The Way (1996)

If you like cheesy movies, then Jingle All the Way is something you will enjoy. Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as Howard Langston, a workaholic business man who has left it until Christmas Eve to get his son the must-have toy of the season Turbo Man. In desperation to find Turbo Man, Howard becomes enthralled in a battle with new nemesis Myron (played by Sinbad), by taking on the role of Turbo Man himself. Jingle All the Way is a stupidly good film, that combines every parents nightmare into a comedic delight.

8. A Christmas Carol (2009)

A Christmas Carol is a Disney reimagined version of the classic Charles Dickens novel. Featuring Jim Carrey as the voice actor of Scrooge and the three ghosts who haunt Scrooge. You all of course know the famous story of Ebenezer Scrooge so I won’t go into much detail. However, this version of A Christmas Carol is incredible, the animation is impeccable and the story always puts me in a festive mood. If you haven’t already watched this movie, then you definitely should this Christmas.

9. The Santa Clause

Tim Allen is the star of the show as Santa Claus, in The Santa Clause. Originally a normal guy, Scott (Tim Allen) accidently causes the real Santa to fall from his roof. Scott must become the new Santa and finish off the Christmas gift deliveries. I am obsessed with this movie, and I am so glad I can stream it from Disney+. The Santa Clause has two sequel movies, so I plan to have a Santa Clause movie marathon at some point in December!

10. The Christmas Chronicles

This movie is the most recent film I am going to mention. Airing on Netflix in 2018, The Christmas Chronicles is a festive comedy which is sure to get you excited for Christmas. Staring Kurt Russel as Santa Claus, the story follows two children who jump into Santa’s sleigh after spotting him in their home on Christmas Eve. The sleigh tragically malfunctions and it is up to the children to help Santa save Christmas. I really enjoyed this movie and since its release Netflix have created a second movie, which is available to stream now. I am yet to watch the second installment to this Christmassy tale, so I will definitely be settling down with a mug of hot chocolate this December to transport myself into some Christmas magic.

I had so much fun putting together a list of my top 10 Christmas movies. I loved watching the trailers, it’s really got me in the festive spirit. Although Christmas won’t be the same in 2020 for a lot of people, let’s make it super festive and watch some amazing Christmas movies. Have I mentioned any of your fave films? What are you favourite Christmas movies?

I have a similar post up for my top 10 horror movies, if scary movies are more your thing.

Until Another Day x