With the trusty Tomatometer as our guide, we’ve sifted through the most memorable Christmas classics to give you the very best that the season of giving has to offer.
Now that the Christmas season is upon us like a herd of mid-1990’s polyester pants-wearing parents wrestling over Tickle Me Elmo’s, there is no better time to pop in a classic to set the mood in between the Christmas ham you made (or perhaps, bought) and Aunt Becky’s famous eggnog.
Did your family favorite make the list? Will something finally dethrone the indie flick documenting when you tore open what you thought to be your SEGA Master System only to find a My Little Pony grooming kit? Looking for a new classic to replace that worn down VHS family heirloom that takes hours to find every year?
The Tomatometer provides something for everyone on this year’s list and you are guaranteed to find something that not only roasted our critics’ chestnuts, but something to warm your heart as well (yeah, we said it).
On Dancer, on Prancer, on Donner, and Vixen, the Tomatometer is here to repair Christmas movie lists that need fixing! Read on to discover a gaggle of the top Christmas movies of all time!
Widely considered the definitive film version of Charles Dickens’ timeless novel, the Brian Desmond Hurst-directed interpretation tells the familiar story of the legendary Ebeneezer Scrooge (Alastair Sim) being visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve. The ghosts take Scrooge on a journey through his past, present, and potentially morbid future to try to take some of that “Bah humbug!” out of his everyday and potentially change his ways.
James Berardinelli notes, “Sim is not just one of many actors to play the part – for everyone who has seen the crisply-made black-and-white production, he is the definitive Scrooge. Everyone else, from George C. Scott to Bill Murray, is an impostor,” fittingly matching the Carol with the Scrooge.
A (welcomed?) change of pace from the more recent lighthearted tellings of the classic novel, The New York Times’ Bosley Crowther gives a disclaimer that “‘A Christmas Carol‘ is mainly a story of ghosts-of nightmare conceits and shuddering horrors-and that’s what it is in this film… This one is spooky and somber, for the most part, except toward the end.”
For our cave-dwelling readers, we won’t spoil the end of this one.
In need a quick fix of holiday goodness and short on time? At under 90 minutes, A Christmas Carol provides near-instant Christmas gratification in a neat and tidy DVD package, what more could you ask for?
Ever wondered what life would be like growing up in the North Pole after being adopted by a family of elves?
No? Good. Read on, even if you did.
In “Elf,” Will Ferrell stars as Buddy, an orphan baby who crawled into Santa’s bag of toys only to be raised, appropriately, as an elf. As Buddy continues to grow beyond what the elf world (and doorways) will allow, he comes to the revelation that the North Pole may not be where he belongs, so it’s off to find his family in New York City! (in full elf attire, no less)
In a city that is a far cry from his former Christmas paradise, Buddy discovers that his Scrooge-like father (James Caan) holds a place on Santa’s “Naughty” list, while his half-brother (Daniel Tay) does not believe in Christmas, Santa, or inconveniently for Buddy, elves. Apart from internal family drama, Buddy takes on the epic responsibility of saving the holiday for the world by trying to restore peoples’ faith in Santa Claus, whose sleigh is powered by people believing in him.
Logical? Maybe not. But charming? Most critics seem to think so.
Roger Ebert praises, “This is one of those rare Christmas comedies that has a heart, a brain and a wicked sense of humor, and it charms the socks right off the mantelpiece.”
What could be the greatest compliment of all, John Anderson of Newsday says, “‘Elf’ possesses all the potential longevity of ‘A Christmas Carol ,’ ‘A Christmas Story ‘ or (dare we say it?) ‘It’s a Wonderful Life.'”
Really.
“You’ll shoot your eye out.”
Aside from its pervasive presence on cable television around the holidays, A Christmas Story has touched critics’ hearts around the holidays for years. For RT, it makes its mark on our countdown at #10.
Based on the book In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash by Jean Shepard, the film follows Ralphie (Peter Billingsley), a 9 year old boy growing up in Gary, Indiana during the 1940’s. A Christmas Story is filled with endearing memories of Ralphie’s caricature-like parents, classic “double dog dares,” and quite possibly the greatest lamp in the history of cinema. However, Ralphie’s ultimate mission is to find a Red Ryder BB gun under the tree on Christmas day.
TV Guide said of the film upon its release, “The laughs are nonstop if rarely subtle and the whole thing deserves to become a Christmastime classic.”
And over twenty years after its release, it is.
Our #9 pick answers the question, “Can one of the definitive cop ‘buddy movies’ of all time double as a holiday classic?”
Yes, it can.
Long before Will Smith and Martin Lawrence starred in Bad Boys, there was Mel Gibson and Danny Glover in Lethal Weapon. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, Gibson plays Martin Riggs, a Vietnam vet and certified “lethal weapon.” His counterpart Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) is a straight-shooting, devoted family man in this glorious odd couple of police action. As Rita Kempley of the Washington Post describes the duo – “Cosby meets Commando.”
Despite their differences, as is necessary in any police duo film, Riggs and Murtaugh come together to take on an international crime ring. In the midst of all the pistol-packing and crime fighting action, the chemistry between the odd couple is what makes the film successful to the point that it has since spawned three highly successful sequels.
For classic cop movie enthusiasts or those looking for some action to help cure that month-long holiday food coma, Kempley says of the two leads, “They’ve got the squad car camaraderie of Cagney and Lacey, and a tough-talking comic chemistry that’s a hybrid of Dirty Harry, the Barney Miller boys and the Keystone Cops.”
Action movie fans rejoice – Lethal Weapon proves that the holidays can bring more excitement than watching your grandma do “Souljah Boy” in her brand new reindeer-themed socks.
Long before Martha Stewart, Barbara Stanwyck played Elizabeth Lane, a newspaper columnist who writes housekeeping tips filled with recipes, homemaking, and child-raising tips in Christmas in Connecticut.
The twist in this 1945 classic? Lane cannot cook, doesn’t live on a farm in Connecticut, nor is she married (this would have clearly been more shocking in the context of time period when the film was created). Unbeknownst to her boss, Lane is a bona fide fraud.
In a publicity stunt for the newspaper, her boss (Sydney Greenstreet), invites himself over for Christmas and decides to bring a war hero along with him to make a good story. Because Lane cannot create any of the domestic greatness that she writes about, she calls upon helpers to try and carry out the holiday illusion. Of course, adding to the lighthearted drama, Lane falls in love with the visiting soldier (Dennis Morgan) and the holiday magic that is romance ensues.
In one of the lighter roles Stanwyck ever played in her illustrious Hollywood career, Christmas in Connecticut takes us back to simpler days of holiday deception in this lighthearted romantic comedy that the Tomatometer tells us is sure to please any holiday movie traditionalists.
If the image of Hollywood icon Jimmy Stewart running through the snow-covered streets of Bedford Falls in his manolos (ok, more likely loafers) isn’t already part of your mental database, it should be. The Frank Capra directed It’s a Wonderful Life could very well be the quintessential American Christmas film.
Jimmy Stewart plays George Bailey, a good man in his 30’s who feels like he has reached the end of his life in such a dire, multifaceted way that he contemplates suicide. To avoid ruining the holiday spirit of viewers and well, ending Bailey’s life, heaven sends down an angel named Clarence (Henry Travers) to show Bailey the value of his life that was mentally buried amidst all the turmoil that temporarily blinded him. Apart from the superficial and materialistic goods that have become such a large part of the modern day holiday season, Clarence shows George the reasons, however intangible, why his life is worth living and what the town of Bedford Falls would be missing without him.
Apart from the story and role that Jimmy Stewart referred to as his favorite of his illustrious career, the film features a score by Dimitri Tiomkin that has made the film all the more memorable for generations of viewers who have turned to the 1946 classic for its pure message and heartwarming storyline.
We can’t guarantee that you’ll go running out through the street in your mother’s terry cloth bathrobe exclaiming, “Merry Christmas!” to buildings and other inanimate objects, but we can’t guarantee that you won’t after spending a night with a true Christmas classic like Life.
With a whopping 96% on the Tomatometer, Stalag 17 could be one of the better reviewed movies that you’ve never seen. A lesser known fact about the film is that Director Billy Wilder’s adaptation of the Broadway hit set in a German prison camp during World War II was so successful in its risky, comedic approach to representing war that it spawned the television series Hogan’s Heroes.
Long considered to be one of the best combinations of drama and comedy in film (or dramedy, if we’re going to be hip today), Stalag 17 is not only considered to be funny yet heartfelt, but surprisingly accurate in its intelligent dialogue between internees who try to plan their escape. Though many of the film’s stars were considered character actors, Robert Strauss earned an Oscar nomination for his supporting role as Animal and William Holden won the Best Actor award for his portrayal of Sefton.
Just like Robert Altman blended humor and war together successfully in M*A*S*H, Wilder took a risk that was well-received by critics and audiences alike for its quick witted and well-balanced dialogue. Superbly acted and considered to be a gem by most critics and the Tomatometer, instead of spreading peace on earth, Stalag 17 makes war an appropriate and upbeat topic for the holidays.
Any Christmas movie list wouldn’t be complete without Miracle on 34th Street, which features a jolly Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) on the DVD cover of the 1947 film, which somehow manages to make the film even more essential to the holiday season.
Miracle tells the story of the actual Santa Claus being hired to play himself at a Macy’s department store in New York City (something is glorious about late 1940’s product placement). Appropriately, Kringle owns the role as the commercial Santa, spreading his magic and generosity to all who come in contact with the world’s most benevolent philanthropist. Representing the darker side of the holiday season, Kringle’s boss Doris Walker (Maureen O’Hara) and Macy’s management are more concerned with profits than spreading Christmas cheer.
Complicating what would otherwise be a Macy’s Employee of the Month performance by Kringle is the fact that he holds onto the truth that he is the actual Santa Claus. In modern American fashion with a 1940’s spin, the bearded one ends up in a courtroom trial defending his sanity, while some courtroom watchers hold onto the hope that they are in the presence of the most giving celebrity on earth. The film challenges us to think about Christmas beyond corporate greed, commercialism, and modern day Black Friday sales (if we took the film into the Internet age).
If you’re looking for a break from online shopping and long lines filled with scam-artists at retail customer service desks, you might not have to look any further than 34th Street to be reminded of the true spirit behind the holidays.
Though no one ever said that a movie wasn’t allowed to have massive amounts of destruction just because it was set around Christmastime, few seem to take that idea as far as director John McTiernan did with Die Hard.
Not a Christmas movie in the traditional sense, Die Hard introduces viewers to hard luck hero John McClane (Bruce Willis), who crosses paths with the film’s villain Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman), after Gruber takes Takagi Corporation’s Christmas party hostage in search of millions. Unfortunately for Gruber, but fortunately for everyone held inside, McClane takes on the role of reluctant, consciously flawed, but over the top hero in one of the top action movies of the 1980’s.
Despite its seemingly never-ending inventory of one-liners and incredible action sequences, critics embrace the movie for what it is – action of the non-stop, pulse-pounding, heart-wrenching brand. James Rocchi of Netflix writes, “Die Hard is good in so many ways, so perfectly entertaining, and so full of powerful emotion to match the thrilling action that you’ll be captivated, enthralled and entertained the second its knockout premise kicks in and the countdown begins. Die Hard is a great action film, sure, but it’s also a great film, period.”
Want to trade stockings for shotguns? Look no further than Die Hard.
Jimmy Stewart makes his second appearance on our list in a romantic comedy set in Budapest (for some mysterious reason) that is considered to be Producer/Director Ernst Lubitsch’s finest work.
Stewart stars as Alfred Kralik, a young store manager of a leather goods store who has fallen in love via snail mail with a pen pal (a la the more modern You’ve Got Mail). However, Alfred and his handwritten love Klara (Margaret Sullavan) have been signing off with pen names since the beginning of their relationship. Through a Hollywood twist of fate, Klara applies for a job at Alfred’s store, only to find that the two cannot stand each other in real life, all while they continue to be in love with each other’s respective written personas.
Steven D. Greydanus writes of the film, “Lubitsch scratches the surface of ordinary characters and circumstances and reveals the reality behind the deceptive appearances – the substance and doubts beneath the vain posturing, the false heart behind the smiling face, the poetic soul behind the prosaic demeanor – and serves all of it up with soufflé-like lightness.”
The Shop Around the Corner acted as inspiration for numerous other pen pal love stories and in this case, according to the Tomatometer, it appears that the critics agree that there is nothing better than the original. Score some points and spread some yuletide cheer by bringing home a classic Hollywood romance this Christmas.
Offering up some song and dance courtesy of Hollywood icons in Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire respectively, Holiday Inn and its spotless Tomatometer rating take the runner-up spot on our list of top Christmas flicks.
Perhaps best known for its inclusion of Bing Crosby’s first performance of “White Christmas,” Holiday Inn brings more than its share of entertainment to the table through its double-love triangle storyline and memorable song and dance numbers to the timeless tunes of Irving Berlin. When Jim Hardy’s (Crosby) Connecticut farm transforms into a dinner theatre on all major holidays, there is a song and dance number for any holiday year-round, including a fireworks-accompanied Independence Day tap dance by Astaire that is stuff of Hollywood legend.
With Crosby playing the gentle crooner and Astaire playing the shallow, superficial dancer, the film is hailed by critics as a visual and auditory delight of musical descent. The film gives viewers the perfect opportunity to see two of Hollywood’s best in two of their most memorable roles.
Our pick for the top Christmas movie of all time represents the perfect marriage of the most unlikely pairing of holidays – Halloween and Christmas – in Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Really, the movie is so well-received by critics that it could potentially top off lists for both respective holidays. For now, we’ll appropriately stick with Christmas.
The stop-motion masterpiece features the Pumpkin King of Halloweentown Jack Skellington (Chris Sarandon speaking, Danny Elfman singing) as a well-intentioned, but misguided superfan of the Christmas season. While Jack tries to put his own spin on Christmas after kidnapping Santa Claus himself, he cannot tear himself from his Halloween roots and unbeknownst to him and his well-intentioned heart, terrifies children with his choice of gifts (Christmas tree devouring snakes and shrunken heads in place of Barbie Dolls and house-trained Corgis).
Critics agree that what makes Nightmare unique could be just that, its originality and ability to be anything but just another animated film. Rolling Stone’s Peter Travers praises the film’s originality in saying, “There’s not a trace of podlike conformity in Burton’s vision, Elfman’s score, or Caroline Thompson’s script.” Almost universally, critics agree that the film’s originality lies its charm.
Eleven years of thought and three years of production went into this modern day animated classic and the Tomatometer and the film’s Certfied Fresh rating proves that it was worth the wait.
On any holiday, Tim Burton’s masterpiece will continue to stand the test of time as one of the top reviewed holiday movies of all time. This year, it tops out our 12 Days of Christmas Movies list and deservedly so.
Happy holidays!
