The Best Christmas Movies Of All Time – TOP TEN Festive Films!

The Best Christmas Movies Of All Time – TOP TEN Festive Films!

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If you go through the holidays without watching at least one of these films, you might just be the Grinch…

One of the best parts of the holidays for me, is snuggling up on the sofa with my big fluffy grey throw, a Hot Chocolate and cosying up for a proper Christmas movie marathon. Don’t waste your precious festive time channel surfing or digging through streaming sites—just bookmark this page with the “The Best Christmas Movies Of All Time – TOP TEN Festive Films!” instead.

From the heartwarming classics like Miracle on 34th Street to Christmas-movie-legend Home Alone, here is the list of my absolute favourites of the best Christmas movies that I re-run and watch religiously and traditionally every year.

Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

The Grinch and his loyal dog, Max, live a solitary existence inside a cave on Mount Crumpet. Jim Carrey was the perfect choice to play the Grinch in this Christmas flick, delivering a well rounded physical comedic performance. I developed real empathy for him after the first watch of him being ridiculed by the residents of Whoville — whose prosthetic noses are, actually, way creepier than the Grinch could ever be. The 2018 reboot was also well received by critics, but let’s stick with the classic 2000’s film.

Miracle On 34th Street (1994)

I grew up watching this with mum, it’s ‘our’ movie. I still cry when it get’s to this scene – “If this court finds that Mr. Kringle is not who he says he is, that there is no Santa, I ask the court to judge which is worse: A lie that draws a smile or a truth that draws a tear.”

Absolute tearjerker, need I say more?

Love Actually (2003)

The overriding message is that the holidays are better when you spend them with the people who care about you and that’s good enough for me. Love Actually proves that true love doesn’t always have to be romantic. Some of the film’s most powerful storylines involve platonic love – including Billy Mack and his manager, Daniel and his son and Sarah and her ill brother. The film deals primarily with love in all its forms and, at the end of the day, isn’t that what everyone wants for Christmas?

Featuring some of the biggest names in UK film, including Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman (RIP) and Liam Neeson. I can’t deny Hugh Grant cutting shapes in 10 Downing Street, make it a real joy to watch. The film also boasts the perfect Christmas soundtrack with hits from The Sugababes, Joni Mitchell, Dido, Kelly Clarkson, Norah Jones & more.

The Holiday (2006)

Everybody needs a bit of cheese from time to time, and The Holiday has it in bucket loads. Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz star in the 2006 romcom, playing two women who swap their (very fancy) homes for the holidays, leaving everything behind – and meeting someone new. A drunk Jude Law and Jack Black star as their respective fancy men. Grab the gin, get the girls over and stick it on, it’s called “getting into the Christmas spirit” (or something).

Elf (2003)

‘Elf’ was made in the early 2000s, but at least for me, it feels like it could’ve been made today. I’m not distracted by anything when watching this, except perhaps my niece Scarlett, her continuous laughter just makes me laugh even more. Yes, I still laugh at Buddy tackling the Christmas tree.

Buddy the Elf and his love for Christmas and everyone shows us the importance of kindness, joy, acceptance and forgiveness, something we could all be reminded of at Christmas whilst with our families and friends <3

Home Alone (1990)

Only one film can claim the title of the number 1 and that film is Home Alone, which is undoubtedly and without question the singular Best Christmas Movie of All Time. How anyone can get through the holidays without putting Home Alone on, and spending the 12 days of Christmas, before and after screaming ‘keep the change ya filthy animal’ is beyond me. If you’ve put Macaulay Culkin’s first encounter with Danny Devito on you might as well stick on Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. You know to complete the evening…

Nativity! (2009)

Nativity! is Christmas comedy gold. It stars Martin Freeman as sad, almost-Scrooge-like primary school teacher Paul Maddens, (due to his girlfriend leaving him on Christmas day), who is asked to put on the annual school Nativity play. Nativity is arguably one of the best Christmas films that Britain has to offer and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Whether it is the chaotic nature of Mr Poppy or the uptight being that is Mr Maddens, it’s a perfect symphony of a movie. But there is one question in each Nativity film that resonates with us all:

How on EARTH was Mr Poppy allowed to be a teaching assistant for so long?

Both the Nativity and it’s sequel are fun watches and I can’t help but laugh more when my family are in fits of laughter at Mr Poppy’s aloofness and we all remember that actually, this is how the nativity goes down in a British primary school… minus the death slide and trips to America… oh dear. I can’t breathe.

Gremlins (1984)

Don’t get him wet, keep him out of bright light, and never – ever – feed him after midnight.

Christmas/Horror – Doesn’t really go together but, somehow Gremlins works? Gremlins gets at the darkness that many of us feel at Christmas time while counteracting it with the cutie pie that is Gizmo! The story follows a struggling inventor who gives his son a strange gift from Chinatown, a mogwai…

Bridget Jones’ Diary (2001)

If the film contains a Christmas scene, it counts as a Christmas movie. The first of the Bridget Jones Diary instalments features one of the best and most relatable. The ugly Christmas jumper scene reminds us all of the dreaded ‘Christmas Jumper Day’. In a way, I suppose, this film is a testament to us single women, as and when we are most like her, in December… Yeah I’m just going to go open the wine and cry with my box of quality street. let me watch and wail in peace. Thanks Bridge <3

The Ultimate Harry Potter Movie Marathon

While the Harry Potter franchise is not traditionally associated with Christmas, the movies are actually a great fit for the holiday season! There’s something for everyone in the magical world of Hogwarts: mystery, crime, adventure, coming of age, romance, and war. Yet there’s something festive and joyful even amid the darkness of these films.

Perhaps it’s the presence of magic, but it’s also that almost every film includes a Christmas sequence, and most of them were released around November. Whether it’s a snow-laden Hogwarts, dinner with the Weasleys, or opening presents in the Gryffindor common room, each film has a touch of Christmas spirit.

I don’t have to actually have a reason to watch a Harry Potter film, I am an obsessed fan #Always. If ever there was a perfect time to be able to watch all the movies in chronological order, it would be now, I would advise a few festive November/December evenings, blankets at the ready, Hot Chocolate stocked and popcorn on the go.

You know what, this movie night needs more, if we’re having the ULTIMATE HP Movie Marathon let’s get the nachos out with all the sides, a cheeky hot dog with the bun and mustard will do, perhaps some mulled wine to get through The Goblet Of Fire?

Actually, we need more.

To get right in the Potter Christmas Spirit I may just have to take a trip to Kings Cross for some Chocolate Frogs… hmmm, do you guys want anything?

 A little Christmas cheer can be just the thing to lighten any type of load you’re carrying whether that be work, home, health.

Christmas is all about cosying up with friends and family. After a year’s worth of work, the holidays seem like a well deserved break and a breath of fresh air for many of us. I believe we all deserve one or two Christmas-y drinks and a good old Christmas movie marathon. No, seriously, we need any boost of happiness we can get after so much ongoing uncertainty. Holiday cheer plays a crucial role in sustaining our motivation until the end of the year, and in renewing our energies for the next one to come. 

Oh wait, 123 Movies link? I got you RIGHT HERE.

Enjoy yourself, be a little bit silly and watch a good old Christmas film 🙂

Stay safe and take care,

Sammi xx

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