My Favorite Christmas Movies

A favorite tradition of mine during the Christmas season is watching Christmas movies. Here is a list of my top 13 favorite Christmas movies (I was going to do 10, but I was having a very hard time narrowing it down):

#13

Bad Santa

Stonewall and I watched this on our first date. I've never been a big fan of ol' Billy Bob, but he did a pretty decent job this movie and Sling Blade.

#12

Home Alone

I know once you pass the age of, like, 8 this movie isn't supposed to be funny anymore, but I still love it.  I mean, seriously, as a kid, who didn't want to be Kevin McAllister taking on the bad guys?  Plus, Joe Pesci is one of my all time favorite actors.

#11

Elf

Will Ferrell in an elf costume eating spaghetti with maple syrup and pop tarts, skipping through NYC, and building the North Pole.  Unless smiling isn't your favorite, what's not to love about this movie?

#10

A Charlie Brown Christmas

This is one of the first Christmas movies I remember watching.  Even to this day, while picking out a tree and trying to determine if this one has enough needles or if that one is straight enough, I think, "Maybe it just needs a little love."  And in this day and age with the constant struggle between being a religious holiday and being just a day of gift giving, Linus's speech is a good reminder as to what Christmas really is all about.

#9

The Grinch Who Stole Christmas

The cartoon version (and the book) has been a favorite of mine since I was a little girl.  When Ron Howard and Jim Carrey made their version I was so excited! 

#8

A Christmas Carol

The thing about this movie is I'm fond of several versions.  First, you have just the plain ol' straight forward movie.  Then there's the Muppet version and Mickey Mouse's version (probably my favorite version).  Finally, there's the Jim Carrey version.  Okay, I'll admit I haven't seen the Jim Carrey version yet, but I desperately want to!

#7

Miracle on 34th Street
I know most people won't agree with me on this one, but I prefer the newer version with Richard Attenborough, Elizabeth Perkins, and Dylan McDermott. 

#6
Babes in Toyland
Always has been, always will be one of my all time favorites.  I could watch this anytime of the year. 

#5
The Santa Clause
This movie is one of my favorites because even at the age of 27, I still believe in Santa Claus. I love the message in this movie, "Seeing isn't believing.  Believing is seeing." 



#4
Christmas Vacation
I've seen this movie more times than I can count and it still makes me laugh like a little school girl. And who hasn't shouted (or, at least wanted to), "I want to look him straight in the eye and I want to tell him what a cheap, lying, no-good, rotten, four-flushing, low-life, snake-licking, dirt-eating, inbred, overstuffed, ignorant, blood-sucking, dog-kissing, brainless, dickless, hopeless, heartless, fat-ass, bug-eyed, stiff-legged, spotty-lipped, worm-headed sack of monkey shit he is! Hallelujah! Holy shit! Where's the Tylenol?" to at least one person during the holiday season?

#3
A Christmas Story
This movie doesn't even require an explanation as to why it's in the top 13.  We watch it every Christmas Eve as part of our Christmas tradition with our dad.

#2
Meet Me In St. Louis
I'm not 100% sure this counts as a Christmas movie because it does take place during the entire year, but it's always on TV around this time of year.  Plus, Judy Garland sings her famous version of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" in this movie.  So I say it counts and it's a very close second to my #1 favorite movie.

#1
Love Actually
Okay, I know that out of all the Christmas movies out there this one seems kind of new and not as classically Christmasy as some of the other movies.  However, I really love this one.  It's funny and sweet and while it does take place during Christmas, I think it's a great all-year-round movie.  It's about love and not just "falling in love", but also neighborly love and believing in miracles and having hope and having faith in people.


 
So those are the movies I enjoy watching most during this time of year.  What are your favorite Christmas/Holiday movies?