by Released : 2023-12-24
1. DIE Hard (1988)
The Best Christmas Movie and it’s not close. Although some like star Bruce Willis have argued it’s not a christmas movie the film is undoubtedly a christmas classic with a Christmas themed party, a ho ho ho Santa kill, and the song that opens and closes the film. Not only the best Christmas movie, but the best pure action movie of all time and a star-making turn for Bruce Willis, who had previously starred in the flop Blind Date (1987). This was the film that allowed him to become a movie star after being a tv star on Moonlighting.
2. A Christmas Story (1983)
Based on the 1966 book this christmas classic is one of the best known films about the holiday, although not a box office smash at the time of its release the film became a cult classic and spawned three sequels.
3. Batman Returns (1992)
Not what comes to mind when thinking of a Christmas film, but Batman Returns is in fact one and a superior film to 1989’s Batman. Danny Devito and Micheifle Pfierr are so good in this film that they overshadow Batman. Christopher Walken is also a great villain.
4. It's A Wonderful Life (1946)
The classic Christmas movie is a must watch for anyone who has not seen it and a staple of this genre. A timeless classic that still carries important relevant lessons in 2023.
5. Home Alone 1990
A Christmas classic perfect to watch with the family. Macaulay Culkin gives one of the best child performances of all time, Joe Pesci is great as a bumbling criminal the same year he won the oscar for Godfellas, and John Candy in limited screen time is hilarious. A rewatchable film that spawned a franchise.
6. Trading Places (1983)
A box office smash (120 million at box office against only a 15 million dollar budget) making fun of the greed on Wall Street and 1980s excess. One of Eddie Murphy’s best films, he would later use some of the same characters in Coming To America (1988). A surprisingly mean spirited Christmas film, before Pretty Women (1990) Jamie Lee Curtis played a hooker with a heart of gold.
7. Bad Santa (2003)
Bad Santa was the other 2003 Christmas movie classic released that year alongside Elf. However, it’s this mean spirited film that is superior. Billy Bob Thorton is perfect as the crude Santa. The Coene brothers came up with the concept and then hired writers to flesh it out. Bernie Mac’s best film and Lauren Graham has great chemistry with Thornton in one of the most hilarious sex scenes put to film. A classic Holiday film perfect to watch once the family is asleep.
8. Kiss Kiss bang bang (2005)
Shane Black loves to set his films on Christmas such as Long Kiss Goodnight and Iron man 3. Before Tropic Thunder this film was one of RDJ'S returns to acting and he credited this role for helping him gain credibility back in Holywood which would lead to him landing Iron Man. The film was a box office bomb making only 15.8 million to a 15 million dollar budget. However, has since gained a small passionate cult following. The film proves that Shane Black is the master of Private Eye films, a niche dead genre. The pairing of Kilmer and RDJ is genius; they have electric chemistry. The writing is sharp and Michelle Monaghan is also a great pair with RDJ. An unorthodox Christmas film perfect for the holidays.
9. Gremlins (1984)
More known maybe as a monster film than Christmas film, the film was marketed with a huge merchandise campaign unusual for a black comedy. The film made over 200 million and spawned one of the most beloved monsters in film history, as well as an underrated sequel.
10. Christmas Vacation (1989)
The best of the Vacation sequels and a holiday classic, the film was a box office smash making 73 million and is arguably more well known than the original film. The movie has inspired the theme for various Christmas lights and decoration displays over the years. Chevy Chase and Beverly D'angelo return for the sequel, with the kids being played by different actors in the first film Anthony Michael Hall played his son, but now is replaced by Johnny Galecki and Juliete Lewis plays the daughter. The film also stars Julia Lee Dreyfus as an obnoxious yuppie. In 2019 the cast reunited on the set of the today show to talk about the film's everlasting legacy.
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