Now that we’re really settling into the Christmas month and hitting the final stretch before the big day, you’ll probably be flipping over to the family Christmas channels on your tuner.
No matter how many times you watch classic Christmas movies, they never get old. Every year, these movies are shown countless times across the networks. Maybe you even own a few on DVD.
This week, my top movie pick is It’s a Wonderful Life. If I were to choose a favorite holiday movie, it would win, hands down.
When it was first released to audiences in 1946, It’s a Wonderful Life didn’t take over the box office. The film was directed by Frank Capra and was nominated for five Oscars, but failed to win even one. It is now on the AFI’s top 100 movies list. 1
This is the movie I’ll be watching this week. It’s a great movie for the family as well.
What will you watch?
Honestly, I’d like to hear what your favorite Christmas movie is because I’m a sucker for favorite lists. Will you be watching a new movie? Will you stick with the classics? Or, will you just let fate determine it (or your kids)?
One other movie I always find myself watching this time of the year (though not strictly a Christmas movie) is Serendipity with John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale.
If you’re not watching anything or haven’t seen It’s a Wonderful Life, then it’s the movie for you this holiday season.
- Source: It’s a Wonderful Life on Wikipedia.
i’m a fan of animated movies. my favorite X’mas movie is The Polar Express, though many people might find it very dull. do you have any other animated X’mas movie to recommend, which will run about 90 mins. i am thinking of showing such a movie to my students.
If you’re looking for a good animated Christmas show, then you should check A Charlie Brown Christmas, but it’s not a film. Maybe find A Christmas Carol, which runs 72 mins. (there are many adaptations of this). I guess what to choose would depend on the age of your students.
Every year (in Denmark) at Christmas day The Sound of Music is playing, and I almost never miss it
The Sound of Music is another good one that’s always playing around Christmas here in the U.S. too.
It’s a Wonderful Life is great I probably watched it so many times I can recite most of it. But I have also been watching it longer than you have been around.
We like to watch White Christmas on DVD every Christmas eve. It has that “feel good” holiday appeal and takes you back to a time that will never come back. Hey with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Bob Wallace, Rosemary Clooney, Betty Haynes you can’t go wrong…
Happy Holidays!
For whatever reason, Bad Santa has become a tradition for me. I always get misty at the end when all he wants to do is give the kid his pink elephant.
My wife and I do a “Month of Christmas” thing where we watch 1 Christmas movie per day from Thanksgiving (usually ‘Home for the Holidays’ on turkey day itself) … we throw in all the classics, like ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ and ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’, as well as “dubious” Christmas movies, like ‘Lethal Weapon’ and ‘Die Hard’ and ‘The Long Kiss Goodnight’. We run the gamut, even watching cheesy films like ‘Santa Baby’ and the whole slate of ABC Family stuff.
But my favorite thing to watch each year is Ziggy’s Gift.
Every Christmas I make sure to watch:
1. The whole Rankin/Bass Christmas catalog: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rankin/Bass
2. A Christmas Story
3. The Grinch Who Stole Christmas (animated)
4. It’s a Wonderful Life
5. A Charlie Brown Christmas
6. Miracle on 34th Street
7. Elf (my more recent guilty pleasure)
Love Actually is on the slate this week
I completely forgot about Love Actually. Now, I’ll have to put that on my to-watch list.
I rather like the second Die Hard film actually. Not quite sure why, but I continue to associate it with Christmas. I’m also a big fan of Love Actually. A great film.
Cool to have a fellow Dane commenting here. I’ve also watched Sound of Music previous years but this year I went to London to see the play and it kinda changed how I now view the movie. The play was great so if you’re ever in London go see it
Are you meant to actually like George Bailey? It’s a great film but I can’t stand him.
I always catch the Rudolph cartoon. I have loved Yukon Cornelius since I was a kid, it would not be Christmas without him.
I’m fan of animated movies.
I think u can watch
1. Madagascar 1, 2
2. Finding Nemo
3. Wall-E
4. Happy Feet
5. Car
6. Flashed Away