I might be a cotton-headed ninny-muggins for saying so, but “Elf” is a perpetual smile. (And smiling’s my favorite.) Emmet Otter is an inspired choice, too. Also on my “Nice” list? “Miracle on 34th Street,” the “Sisters” number in “White Christmas,” the irreverence of “Scrooged,” the iconic Alistair Sim and the ever-hummable “Snow Miser/Heat Miser” tune.
Christmas Vacation. Even when it’s on cable in August… I have to watch it. It’s wonderful, but Home Alone is usually when I start celebrating Christmas.
Then there’s the all-time Capra great which I think still plays every Christmas Eve.
Danny Boyle’s Millions
and Batman Returns.
I’m a huge sucker for Christmas movies
Christmas Vacation
A Christmas Story
Charlie Brown Christmas
The Muppet Christmas Carol
Scrooged
Emmet Otters Jug Band Christmas
Elf
Mickey’s Christmas Carol
Mister Magoo’s Christmas Carol
Christmas In July
Home Alone
Gremlins
The Nightmare Before Christmas
It’s a Wonderful Life
thanksgiving: home for the holidays (the one jodie foster directed….)
hannukah: eight crazy nights
christmas: elf, the ref (required watching per my mother), big trouble in little china (bizarre family tradition, don’t ask)
new years: any movie that’s post-apocolyptic
Batman Returns for sure!
The Snowman (Dianne Jackson based on the book by Raymond Briggs)
and the Norms, Home Alone, Charlie Brown Christmas, a Christmas Story, It’s a Wonderful Life etc.
Scrooged every time.
I’ve just got hold of Black Christmas… wish me luck.
No one has mentioned THE BISHOP’S WIFE…
There is the beautiful Christmas sequence in GRAND ILLUSION…(“Lotte hat blaue Augen.”)
I forgot Keith Gordon’s “A Midnight Clear.” Quietly powerful, that one.
I know it’s a cliche, but if I don’t see ’It’s a Wonderful Life’ on the big screen during the holidays then it just isn’t Christmas.
I’ve loved the version of SCROOGE with Albert Finney since I was a kid.
And … IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, more than ever
Channel 13 KTRK in Houston broadcast ‘Alien’ for their midnight movie one Christmas Eve. It was strange, because it was just me and mom. I guess the festivities ended early that year which is unusual for us. Anyway, Mom doesn’t dig on sci-fi or horror. She must’ve been too toasty to move, but it was great to share one of my favorites with her. I’ve watched it one million times, but around the holidays, I love to relive that memory in the darkened den lit by a pile of embers in the fireplace and the white/blue glow of the television at Christmas.
Christmas Vacation, Jingle All the Way, Scrooged, Home Alone, Die Hard, Santa’s Slay, Earnest Saves Christmas, The Ref, and MST3K Santa Clause Conquers the Martians.
Scrooged. It was when Bill Murray could still be funny instead of playing the old guy taking up space.
Die hard.
Fanny and Alexander
I always watch A Christmas Carol every year. My favorite Christmas movie.
Not exactly a Christmas movie, but there’s something about The Night of the Hunter which makes me revisit it during the holidays.
Yes, FANNY AND ALEXANDER. Also, THE LION IN WINTER takes place on Christmas Day. Other “holiday” movies would include New Year’s fare: LOVE AFFAIR, AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER, HOLIDAY, MEET JOHN DOE, MY NIGHT AT MAUD’S.
Oh, and of course: MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS…
Not all of these films are about the holidays, but all of them are evocative of them for me (some of them I remember seeing x-mas day if they opened on it):
Umbrellas of Cherbourg
The Ref
Royal Tenenbaums
Jackie Brown
Charlie Brown Christmas
Scrooged
Batman Returns & Nightmare Before Christmas (go hand in hand—but I have had my fill of them for the next few years I think)
Lost in Translation
Brokeback Mountain
Edward Scissorhands could also be added to the “Tim Burton’s holiday extravaganza/I’ve seen these films far too many times to watch again any time soon” triple feature x-mas pack
THE BELLS OF ST. MARY’S
“Remember the Night.” It is directed by Mitchell Leisen from a Preston Sturges script. It will be showing at Film Forum shortly as part of a Sturges festival.
A ridiculously neglected film.
A Christmas Story
It’s a family tradition…in between the football games and halftime shows and all the holiday cooking, we switch to the Cristmas Story marathon and catch a few minutes here and there. Rarely do we ever catch the whole thing in one sitting, but that’s OK.
Also love watching The Nightmare Before Christmas and Home Alone during the holidays to get in the spirit (Elf usually gets some playtime too, as its a favorite of my cousins), as well as the classic TV specials Charlie Brown Chirstmas and How the Grinch Stole Chirstmas (but NOT the live-action movie).
A Christamas Story
White Christmas
Miracle on 34th Street
The Bells St. Marys
Nightmare Before Christmas
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Scrooged
the passion of the Christ (duh)
Just kidding,
I second the first three die hards.
I honestly don’t think there are a number of great holiday movies. But, whenever this time of year comes, I always fee like watching two movies- The Royal Tenenbaums and Quiz show.
I have no idea why this is.
Christmas with the Kranks
Number 6
’Tis the season.
DIEHARD
GREMLINS
THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS
EMMET OTTER’S JUG BAND CHRISTMAS
and A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS on tv, are a few of mine.
What puts you in the spirit?