The Ten Best Christmas Movies of All-Time

Posted by Fat Guys at the Movies (fatguys@filmschoolrejects.com) on December 22, 2007

We know this is a bit of a cop-out, but it’s Christmas. A few weeks back, we railed Hollywood for the years of crappy Christmas movies (especially the past two years that gave us five contributions to the top ten). Why can’t we get in the holiday spirit by highlighting the good movies over the years.

So, keeping in mind peace on Earth and good will towards men, we present the ten best Christmas movies, as seen by the Fat Guys at the Movies.

Flame on!

10. The Santa Clause (1994)

Oh, the sequels sucked ass, but the original film with Tim Allen as the guy who would be Santa was a cute and lovable family flick.

9. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

Yeah, it’s true. The Muppets still made movies after they took Manhattan. And one of those films was their send-up of A Christmas Carol with Michael Caine as Scrooge and Kermit and Piggy as the Cratchets.

8. Gremlins (1984)

It’s not remembered as a Christmas movie, and it didn’t come out at Christmas, but it took place during Christmas with Hoyt Axton buying his son a mystical Mogwai as a present. And, any PG movie that features an animal (even if it’s an evil gremlin) blowing up in a microwave is okay by us. (Note: This film, along with Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom spurred the creation of the PG-13 rating.)

7. Home Alone (1990)

Back when Macauley Culkin was cute and funny – and before he was allegedly molested by Michael Jackson – he made his mark on the cinema with this film. The sequels never lived up to the original, but this is an annual favorite for slapstick and John Hughes fans.

6. Love, Actually (2003)

Fat Guy Neil Miller loves this movie. It makes him melt. A sweet movie that warms the heart, Love, Actually will be remembered as a holiday classic.

5. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Tim Burton’s stop-motion masterpiece is great for both Halloween and Christmas. And now thanks to digital 3D, it’s being released every year for an immersive experience.

4. A Christmas Story (1983)

Who cares if this movie is played more on cable during the holidays than any other flick, it’s still awesome. Whether you grew up in the 40s, like the main character, or you are a kid today, this film takes us back to what it was like to be a kid at Christmas.

3. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

Possibly the last time Chevy Chase was funny in a movie, Christmas Vacation is easily the most entertaining National Lampoon film since Animal House. It keeps us warm for the holidays but still taps into our dysfunctional nature.

2. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

It has endured the years and several crappy remakes, but this classic about Kris Kringle making a little girl believe in Santa will always be a holiday favorite.

1. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

Frank Capra was a genius. And with Jimmy Stewart, they were unstoppable. It used to be shown too much on the television during this season, but they’ve pulled back, letting us appreciate the film without getting sick of it. Even a cynical bastard like Fat Guy Kevin Carr admits he cries at the end.

HONORABLE MENTIONS
Scrooged (1988) – Fat Guy Kevin Carr disagrees, but Fat Guy Neil Miller says that anything with Bill Murray in it is fun, and this was a favorite of his as a child.

Black Christmas (1974) – No, not the crappy remake (see our other list [hyperlink to worst list] for that one). This early slasher film was a totally inappropriate and classic twisting of the holiday season… with a drunk Margot Kidder, no less!

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