It’s the most wonderful time of the year
Calling all Christmas lovers! I need your input.
Since I’m going to be laid up for the week of Christmas due to a pending ACL reconstruction, I decided to save all of my Christmas movies in order to watch them that week while I’m bored out of my mind. Or comatose. Whatever the case may be.
I was rattling off a list of my favorites to a friend of mine. She smiled politely while I talked about my love of the following:
1. White Christmas
Oh to have a big, ice blue feather fan for Christmas. That would come in handy during spontaneous outburst of “Sisters” when I’m in the kitchen with my own sister. Of course, we’ll have to find some tinsel or sequins to dress up the crutches a bit, but that’s fine.
2. Christmas Vacation
This show has some of the funniest one-liners that we repeat during the entire month of December. And I love how Aunt Bethany sweetly recites the Pledge of Allegiance at the dinner table.
Adorable.
3. The Grinch
Jim Carey at his absolute finest. It might be my opinion, but it’s true.
4. A Christmas Story
Ohhhhh fuuuuuuudddddgggggee. (Only I didn’t say fudge…)
I could have gone on and on for days: Miracle on 34th Street, Charlie Brown Christmas, The Santa Clause (parts 1 and 2. Part 3? Not so much.) It’s a Wonderful Life and the original Grinch that plays 24-hours on TBS when A Christmas Story isn’t playing 24-hours on TBS.
My friend then offered a few of her own that just floored me:
Love Actually and Home Alone.
Dear reader…never in my years of owning BOTH of these movies has it occurred to me to watch them during CHRISTMASTIME. Which makes perfect sense because THEY ARE SET AT CHRISTMASTIME.
Are there any others that I’m blatantly missing? It’s going to be eight hours a day in the bendy machine. And traditionally (remember…I’ve been down this road twice before) my body refuses to sleep in the bendy machine. So I’m going to need movies to watch to keep my mind off of the evil bendy machine.
Before you mention Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, please note that claymation sort of freaks me out. And the sound that Rudolph’s nose makes when it lights up is like scratching a chalkboard to me. I don’t know. I’m weird.
OK. Sound off in the comment section. I’m totally stoked about the possibilities of new holiday movie-watching traditions!
My sister and I watch Little Women (Winona Ryder – Susan Sarandon – Christian Bale edition) at Christmastime.
I thought of one on the way home tonight… early 90′s with Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen- “On the way to Grandmothers House We go”. My sister and I would watch that everytime it came on tv.
Just watched Four Christmases on the plane, it was actually pretty good, and would mix nicely with all the other recommendations.
While you were sleeping.
Kristi!!!! I love love love a very Brady Christmas!!!!!!
I can’t believe that no one has mentioned “Santa Claus: The Movie”! Hello! John Lithgow as the swarmy, greedy businessman and Dudley Moore as Patch the Christmas Elf? The Super Dooper Looper? It’s a classic!
So Christmas always brings back such nostalgia for my childhood. Does anyone remember:
The Christmas Toy (a Jim Henson made-for-tv movie in the 80′s)
One Magic Christmas (with Mary Steenburgen and a snow globe?)
Good stuff!!!
I agree with everyone above. So many great movies to watch at Christmas! When I was a kid I remember watching Pollyanna with Hayley Mills on TV—–pure bliss.
ahhh one magic christmas is a good one!!!
The Ref is a good one as is Mixed Nuts. I usually watch them when I do Christmas in July…
Ohhhh…wait! I just thought of another one. Does anybody remember “The Trouble with Angels” starring Hailey Mills? Lindsey, if you get to reading this far down, I can bet that you would love that one!!
#92, Sara–I was going to suggest “The Nutcracker” . . . I think there was a TV movie for it (and according to IMDB, it came out in ’93)–I remember seeing it years ago and enjoying it. . . .
Best wishes on a speedy recovery, Lincee!!
How about “The Best Christmas Pagaent Ever?” It’s a super cute book and movie- I remember watching it when I was a kid, and now my 5th grade classes read it every year before the holidays!
I love “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”!!!!!!
#55–Ryce–I love “Nestor, the Long Eared Christmas Donkey too”! I have it on VHS, and fear that it’s probably not going to make it to DVD.
Lincee, you’ve got lots of great reader suggestions!! Wishing you a complication free surgery and speedy recovery. Take care.
Christmas in Connecticut with Miss Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray. Super hoky, but good. Saw in on Turner Movie Classics and it is available on DVD.
Haven’t read all the comments to see if it’s been mentioned, but one of my favorites is Serendipity!
I like Nicole’s list (#70), but don’t forget Trading Places.
tvguide.com has a “Holiday TV Calendar” section under their TV listings tab. Included is the TV Guide Network’s 12-hour marathon of “Dirty Dancing.”
Who knew that counted as a Christmas movie?
I suggest you set your DVR for all the movies on Hallmark channel, Lifetime, Family Channel, and don’t forget AMC. You can always fast forward the commercials or just delete if it gets too bad.
Another suggestion is on FLN (Fine Living Network). I have just recently found a 30 minute show called Three Sheets…..this guy goes around the world trying out the local drink, partying with the locals, etc. What a great job!!! He is cheesy sometimes but it is hilarious. It’s channel 225 on comcast or go to Fancast on comcast.com and you can watch on your computer. That will take care of your holiday “cheer”! LOL!
Take care of that knee…you only have two of them.
)
Has anyone mentioned Emmit Otter’s Jugband Christmas yet???? That’s a Jim Henson Muppet kind of movie – it’s adorable.
Love Actually has been said many times, but it bears repeating. My FAVORITE movie ever, and even better at Christmas!
I know I’m a sick person, but I love Bad Santa. It’s sick and twisted but so, so, so funny. If you can stand Billy Bob Thornton, check it out.
Have a safe surgery and a speedy recovery, Lincee!
I just found out that “Wonderful Christmas Time” aka WORST HOLIDAY SONG IN HISTORY is performed by none other than Sir Paul McCartney.
So maybe we can all agree now that the Beatles were no-talent hacks, and the KCVO honors from the British Royal family is a dubious honor at best.
I am usually not this bitter – I just got this absolute monstrosity of a song stuck in my head last night.
I agree, sgt cole. wonderful christmas time is the worst christmas song ever! I’ve heard versions that weren’t by sir paul mccartney, and its still the worst song ever!
Sheesh, finally someone verbally agrees that the Beatles are not the most wondrous band on the planet. I had an employer once tell me “You’re an idiot” because I voiced that very sentiment. I haven’t heard that song, nor do I care to!
Has anyone but me seen “The Night That Saved Christmas”? When that company is going to blow up North Pole City with dynomite and the kids save the day?! Anyone, anyone??
East Texas Girl, YES! My family and I started watching that when I was a kid and we continue to watch it every year when we all get together. No one else has ever heard of it! I told my fiance about it and he looked at me like I was crazy! So glad you mentioned it!!
Ha! I was just discussing the other day on FB how the Beatles were completely over-rated. I got a lot of crap for it. Oh well, I still think they’re sub par with elementary melodies and mediocre lyrics.
Ah, Christmas Vacation. Inevitably I’m up beyond midnight on Christmas Eve wrapping last-minute Christmas gifts with toothpicks holding my eyelids open and watching Christmas Vacation on repeat. LOVE IT! We (including my son) love the Polar Express, the Nativity Story, GOTTA HAVE ELF! We can almost quote it completely, it’s got a cheese factor, but Will Ferrel does the trick in those tights and one-liners. Must be that 10-yr-old boy humor we like at our house.
I am so proud to have spawned a Beatles-bashing! They were the Backstreet Boys of the 1960s! I wouldn’t have gone off so harshly if that song hadn’t got stuck in my head. It is worse than “Mmm…Bop.”
My awesome sister will soon be blasting her way through Afghanistan as a Kiowa Warrior helicopter pilot!
I’m hoping Lincee will profile her when she goes overseas. She is smart, pretty, and a great cook, so she probably won’t need any pimping assistance.
Thanks SGT Cole, now I have that awful song going through my head!
hey now, lets leave the backstreet boys and hanson out of this.
Elf with Jim Carey. Definitely one of my favorites…well, my second actually. Right behind Christmas Vacation.
My sister and I also have the tradition of watching White Christmas every year, by far my favorite. But if you haven’t seen New in Town (one of Harry Connick and Rene Z.’s latest) I recommend it. I thought it was really cute, not too Christmas-y but all the snow could help you feel like its winter especially with the lack of winter in Houston usually.
The Family Stone
The best one!!! You need to find MRS. SANTA CLAUS
Oops, #138 continued…you would love MRS. SANTA CLAUS which is a Christmas musical with Angela Lansbury from 1996. It has every aspect of what you love! We have it on VHS and I will be trying to find it on DVD this year. Merry Christmas and happy healing!
Serendipity, The Holiday and Santa Claus are all a must!
I am also surprised you didn’t have Love Actually on your list. It’s probably the only movie I’ve ever bought for myself to watch each year – at Christmas-time. And I watch a lot of movies.
Enjoy your down-time and I hope the recovery goes smoothly!
Holiday Inn, Christmas Carol, and Elf
You should watch them in order of them being made – it will tell you a lot about Americans’ views of Christmas and add all the others in that you can manage
1942 – Holiday Inn – Where White Christmas was first sang on screen
1944 – Going My Way – lead to the making of The Bells of St. Mary
1945 – The Bells of St. Mary – Bing as a priest – need I say more but there is more Ingrid Bergman as a sister
1945 – Christmas in Connecticut – dated but charming
1946 – It’s a Wonderful Life – Angel Wings & Zu zu’s petals – if you don’t love this movie you don’t embrace life
1947 – It Happened on 5th Avenue – Frank Capra was suppose to direct but he was doing the movie just mentioned
1947 – Miracle on 34th Street – Natalie Wood, Maureen O’Hara and Edmund Gwenn
1954 – White Christmas – Bing back for more
1956 – All Mine to Give
1957 – Desk Set – getting laid off for Christmas with Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy
1959 – Rally Around the Flag Boys – Paul Newman and Joann Woodward – not Christmas but July 4th for a break from the Christmas stuff
1960 – The Apartment – Jack and Shirley
1961 – Pocketful of Miracles – Bette Davis as a homeless woman – I think of Christmas while watching
1965 – A Charlie Brown Christmas –
1969 – Angel in my pocket – Another movie that will having you thinking of Christmas
1971 – The Homecoming – The Waltons was based on this I believe
1978 – The Gift of Love – with Marie Osmond – the story is better than the movie but it’s precious
1978 – The Gift of Magi – with Debby Boone – and Jm Backus
1980 – Mr. Krueger’s Christmas
1983 – The Best Christmas Pageant Ever – Loretta Swit – story better than movie but still love it
1986 – Christmas Eve – with Loretta Young
1988 – Scrooged – Bill Murray before he was nominated for an Oscar
1995 – The Christmas Box – Richard Thomas
1995 – While You Were Sleeping (can you believe it’s this old?)
2007 – Christmas is Here Again – Andy Griffith is the voice of Santa Claus
Ok, I totally LOVE Home Alone, as well, but let me remind you of a couple more Holiday FAVES:
Just Friends (Ryan Reynolds, too adorably hilarious)
Elf (oh, come on!)
The Nightmare Before Christmas DOES have an overwhelming Christmas theme
Edward Scissorhands
Batman Returns (With Catwoman and the Penguin) Hello, SWEET!
Good luck with your Robo-Knees!
Anyone mentioned “Earnest Saves Christmas”?
Love Actually is my favorite movie of all time. I watch it every Christmas, but I typically watch it at least once during the months between Christmases, too. It truly restores my faith in love, relationships, and humanity. The part where Mark (Andrew Lincoln) is outside of Juliet’s (Keira Knightley) door, holding up pieces of poster board that say, “For now let me say, without hope or agenda, just because it’s Christmas, and at Christmas you tell the truth. To me you are perfect, and my wasted heart will love you until you look like this” (with a picture of a mummy)? Gets me every time. Also, the part where Daniel (Liam Neeson) tells Sam (his son) to tell his crush that he loves her. He says, “You’ve got nothing to lose and you’ll always regret it if you don’t. I never told your mom enough. I should have told her every day, because she was perfect every day.” Ugh. I get chills just typing it!!! So yeah. Clearly I’m a bit obsessed with this movie. But for reals. If any of you haven’t seen it, please do! It’s such a heartwarming film.
I also like Elf and Christmas Vacation, for their humor, and Miracle on 34th Street and It’s a Wonderful Life for their nostalgia. I am inspired to go home and watch one tonight, in fact. After SYTYCD, of course
I vote for Love Actually…
Where are you comments on the new bachelorettes for Jake!!
The first time I saw Love Actually- right when it was released on DVD- I HATED it. I’m not sure why. But reading here how much everyone loved it, I thought it might just be me. So I watched it on demand the other day, LOVED it, and promptly ordered my own copy. Thanks IHGB readers and Lincee for giving me a new movie to love!
Love. Actually is definitely one of my favorite Christmas movies. the other one I like is The Holiday with Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law and Jack Black. It is the one where they switch houses for the holidays. It is great I think. Enjoy!
I absolutely love White Christmas. But, another oldie is Holiday Inn. Pretty much covers all of the holidays. But, Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire are awesome in it. And, another one set at Christmas – the original Lethal Weapon.
Just watched Holiday in Handcuffs for the very first time… with Mario Lopez and Melissa Joan Hart. It was much better than expected, and you get to look at Mario….I am in the only girl in a house full of guys and they were all laughing too.