25 Great Christmas Films To Watch This December
Is there really a better feeling than coming together to watch a Christmas film?
Watching Christmas films has now become essential to getting you in the mood for the festive season and rightly so. This is the only time of year that you’re allowed to watch Christmas films so enjoy it.
But now we have a problem. Which films do we choose?
Here at Monopoly Buy Sell Rent, we love getting warm by the fire and settling down with a great Christmas flick. We love it so much that we’ve decided to list (in our opinion) the 25 greatest Christmas films for you and your family to enjoy at home this year.
We couldn’t decide how to rank the films (they’re all so good) so this list is in no particular order.
Elf (2003)
Age Rating: PG
We start this list off with a universally loved and hugely popular Christmas hit, Elf. The film stars Will Ferrell as Buddy the Elf in his search for his real father in New York City, getting into trouble everywhere he goes.
Elf is a family favourite and perfect for getting you in the Christmas spirit.
Home Alone (1990) & Home Alone 2: Lost In New York (1992)
Age Rating: PG
Next up on this list is Home Alone and its sequel Home Alone 2: Lost In New York. Home Alone tells the story of a young boy in a big family who gets accidentally left behind at Christmas as the family leave for their family trip to Paris. What follows is a crazy mixture of events for young Kevin (played by Macaulay Culkin), including fighting off two burglars.
The craziest part is that they somehow lose Kevin again in the sequel! Both films feature a great cast and a lot of laugh out loud moments.
Miracle On 34th Street (1994)
Age Rating: U
The 1994 remake of the classic Miracle On 34th Street is a classic in its own right. The film focuses around 6 year old Susan (Mara Wilson) who doesn’t quite believe in Santa, but ends up meeting a man who claims to be Kris Kringle. Is this man the real Santa Claus? Watch it to find out.
Love Actually (2003)
Age Rating: 12
Now let’s talk about one of the big ones. Love Actually boasts an impressive cast of British actors/actresses in this Christmas themed rom-com and follows the lives of multiple different people around the festive season. The cast list is too long for us to name in this list and there is plenty of laughs to be had throughout. If you haven’t seen this film yet, what are you waiting for?
It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)
Age Rating: U
It’s A Wonderful Life is generally considered one of the most critically acclaimed films ever and for good reason. George Bailey (James Stewart) is a man who is down in the dumps (to say the least) and has given up on life. But what happens when his guardian angel (Henry Travers) arrives on the scenes and shows him all of the lives he has touched?
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Age Rating: U
The ultimate debate on whether The Nightmare Before Christmas is a Christmas film or a Halloween film is a legendary one. We like to think it’s both!
This stop-motion animated film tells the tale of Jack Skellington (The Pumpkin King of Halloween Town) and his discovery of the neighbouring Christmastown. This sends Jack on a crazed quest to put on his own Christmas and what follows is unique to say the least.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
Age Rating: 12
The third instalment in the National Lampoon’s Vacation series, Christmas Vacation follows Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) in his effort to have the perfect family Christmas. However, things don’t go exactly to plan…
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
Age Rating: U
The Muppet’s take on the classic tale of A Christmas Carol is fun for all the family. Michael Caine takes up the role of Scrooge and Kermit and the gang make up the rest of the cast. We’re sure you know the plot of this film by now, so enjoy!
The Santa Clause (1994)
Age Rating: U
1994’s The Santa Clause sees unfortunate man, Scott Calvin (Tim Allen), have to take up the role of Santa after accidentally causing him to fall from his roof. Can this unlucky man pull it off and become Father Christmas? If you’re a fan of this film, it spawned two more sequels for you to enjoy in The Santa Clause 2 and The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause.
Jingle All The Way (1996)
Age Rating: PG
What happens when a busy father forgets to buy his son the hottest toy around (a.k.a a Turbo Man action figure) for Christmas? Well, find out when Howard Langston (Arnold Schwarzenegger) goes out on Christmas Eve and tries to get a hold of the perfect gift for his son.
The Polar Express (2004)
Age Rating: U
The Polar Express is a story about a young boy who has his doubts about how real Santa is and the magical journey he takes on The North Pole aboard the Polar Express. This animated film is very popular Christmas movie and stars Tom Hanks in various roles.
The Grinch (2000)
Age Rating: PG
The Grinch is a live action adaptation of the Dr Seuss story ‘How The Grinch Stole Christmas!’ and stars Jim Carrey in the lead role. The film tells the tale of a mean, old Grinch with a hatred of Christmas and the residents of Whoville and the lengths he will go to ruin it for everyone. Does he manage to pull it off?
White Christmas (1954)
Age Rating: U
White Christmas tells the story of two song and dance performers teaming up with a sister act to save a troubled inn with a Christmas show. This musical is a Christmas staple and features some fantastic music from Bing Crosby and co.
Scrooged (1988)
Age Rating: PG
Bill Murray stars as Frank Cross in this re-telling of A Christmas Carol. Frank Cross (the President of a television network) wants to stage a production of A Christmas Carol and isn’t exactly the nicest boss to work for. But when he is visited by three ghosts from his past, he goes on a life-changing journey.
Christmas With The Coopers (2015)
Age Rating: 12
One of the more recent additions to this list, Christmas With The Coopers follows the lives of different members of the Cooper family in the build up to Christmas. Throughout the film there is both laughter and heartbreak to be had, with a heart-warming story told of a family that don’t always get along.
It also boasts an impressive cast, with the likes of John Goodman, Diane Keaton, Alan Arkin and Marisa Tomei all involved, as well as the voice of Steve Martin.
Bad Santa (2003)
Age Rating: 15
Now let’s briefly look at a film aimed at the adults. Willie T. Stokes (Billy Bob Thornton) and Marcus Skidmore (Tony Cox) are Christmas conmen and pose as Santa and his elf in the local shopping mall. The film follows Willie as he falls off the rails and wonders if there is any hope left for him. This is one of the better films for adults at Christmas time.
The Holiday (2006)
Age Rating: 12
Two love troubled women (Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet) who live across the pond from each other swap houses at Christmas in a bid to clear their heads from their previous breakups. They didn’t plan on finding romance (with Jude Law and Jack Black) whilst away, but sometimes you can’t help it. What will happen to their newly found love when it’s time to return home?
Arthur Christmas (2011)
Age Rating: U
Arthur Christmas tells the tale of Santa’s youngest son Arthur (James McAvoy) and his attempt to save Christmas after Santa misses out one little girl. This animated flick features a great voice cast and tells a heart-warming story.
Christmas With The Kranks (2004)
Age Rating: PG
Luther and Nora Krank (Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis) decide when their daughter (Julie Gonzalo) leaves for Peru to not have a Christmas this year and to spend the money on a Caribbean cruise. But how do their Christmas obsessed neighbours feel about the Kranks’ lack of Christmas spirit?
The Snowman (1982)
Age Rating: U
Whilst not a full-length film, it wouldn’t be a Christmas list if we didn’t list The Snowman on here. This festive classic tells the story of a young boy who ends up making a snowman that comes to life. What follows is their adventure to the North Pole to meet Father Christmas himself. Be warned though, Aled Jones’ “Walking in the Air” will be stuck in your head for weeks.
Fred Claus (2007)
Age Rating: PG
Fred Claus (Vince Vaughn) isn’t exactly the role model of the family and has lived in younger brother Nick’s (Paul Giamatti) shadow for a long time. Unsurprising when your little brother is Father Christmas himself. When Fred finds himself in some trouble with the law, Nick saves him on the condition that he pays him back by helping out around the North Pole. Can Fred pull it off or will he end up ruining Christmas for everyone?
Nativity! (2009)
Age Rating: U
Paul Maddens (Martin Freeman) is a schoolteacher who’s always dreamed of being in show business. When he’s tasked with running the school’s nativity play, Paul must enlist the help of Hollywood producer/ex-girlfriend Jennifer (Ashley Jensen) to make sure they beat the rivalling school.
Four Christmases (2008)
Age Rating: 12
Happy unmarried couple Brad (Vince Vaughn) and Kate (Reese Witherspoon) have the task of visiting four separate Christmases, as both of their parents are divorced. You can imagine the chaos of four Christmases in one day…
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
Age Rating: U
We’re sure you’ve heard the tale of Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer plenty of times, but this 1964 TV special delves deeper into the history of everyone’s favourite reindeer. A Christmas treat to be enjoyed by everyone.
Daddy’s Home 2 (2017)
Age Rating: 12
The last addition to our list is the most recent. Daddy’s Home 2 (the sequel to 2015’s Daddy’s Home) is a film about two “co-dads” and their first “together Christmas”. Step-Dad Brad (Will Ferrell) and real Dad Dusty (Mark Wahlberg) have been getting along great since the end of the first film and decide to spend Christmas all together instead back and forth as usual.
This year however, Brad’s father (John Lithgow) and Dusty’s father (Mel Gibson) are coming to visit. Will Brad and Dusty’s newfound friendship last the Christmas holidays?
Summary
So there you have it, our list is complete. If you’re looking for a film to get you in the mood for Christmas, we’re sure you’ll enjoy at least a few of these.
Let us know what you think of our list and if we missed your favourite out.