Christmas: a time of family, presents and goodwill to man. And lots of shopping. But the holidays also bring something else: a wealth of movies that take advantage of the Christmas season. So to help you occupy your time with films after the relatives have left and you’ve grown bored of your Christmas presents, here are my Top 5 Christmas movies.
5. Elf: Let’s get this one out of the way, because it comes as no surprise to anyone. Probably the best Will Ferrell movie next to Anchorman, Elf is already a classic. Buddy, a human who was raised by Santa’s Elves, goes to New York City to find his real father. The movie never ceases to be funny, with some great performances from Will Ferrell as Buddy, James Caan as Buddy’s father, and Ed Asner as Santa
4. A Christmas Story: I’ve probably seen this one the most of any on the list, as it’s my parents’ favorite, which means I’ve seen it more times than I’d like to admit. The movie is the story of a boy named Ralphie who just wants a gun for Christmas. I can probably recite every line by memory, and the film is such a great period piece with so many memorable quotes.
3. A Charlie Brown Christmas: Another Christmas classic, this movie probably is the first Christmas movie everyone has seen. The members of “The Peanuts” search for the true meaning of Christmas, and the movie is told with such innocence and delicacy.
2. Die Hard: Yes, this movie tells the true meaning of Christmas: even on Christmas, you can’t escape Bruce Willis. For those of you who haven’t seen this movie (first off, you’re not a true American), the film follows Willis as he tries to save his wife from Alan Rickman after she is kidnapped on Christmas Eve. Brilliant.
1. It’s a Wonderful Life: THE Christmas classic. It’s hard to put into words how wonderful this movie is, as it’s one of the few that truly embodies the spirit of Christmas. The movie is about the life of George Bailey and his struggles as he contemplates suicide, and how an angel (played to perfection by Henry Travers) helps him see the importance of his life.
