If you watched every Christmas film back to back, you’d find yourself face to face with another Christmas before you were even halfway through.
With so much choice when it comes to Christmas movies these days; from animation that the whole family will love to Christmas horror films that make you sweat more than a turkey seeing the Halloween decorations taken down, it’s surprising that there is still a collection of films we can’t resist watching each and every year. Here are some of our favourites:
The Muppets Christmas Carol
A divisive Christmas choice from those who can’t stand puppets, but this classic retelling of the Charles Dickins novel about a miserly Victorian businessman swayed into appreciating the message of Christmas through ghostly apparitions is made all the more enjoyable when it is portrayed by Kermit the Frog & Co. Gonzo is still, to this day, the finest narrator of a classic Victorian novel there has ever been.
Home Alone 1 & 2
Some prefer the first film, some prefer the second; no Christmas is complete without a debate over which Home Alone film is best. But Christmas is a time for indulging, so we say – just watch both. They’re both right up there with some of the most enjoyable Christmas films ever made. Because what says Happy Christmas more than a home invasion and child neglect? The second outing ups the ante with a New York setting and the inclusion of Tim Rice. But it does have a cameo from Donald Trump so, you know, swings and roundabouts.
Elf
Just as people were saying that no good Christmas films were made anymore, out came Elf. Will Ferrell may divide some fans, but few can complain that he isn’t absolutely perfect as a bewildered Christmas elf in the big city of Manhattan. No matter what age, there’s something in this film that you can relate to; whether it is the gluttonous sweet tooth, love for family or the drinking of heavy spirits during a work shift, everyone can admit this film has cemented itself amongst Christmas TV royalty.
The Grinch
In one of Jim Carrey’s most memorable roles and by far the most meme-able Christmas film to ever be produced, The Grinch has evolved into the epitome of, not just Christmas, but modern life as a whole: we’re miserable, hate to leave the house, hate everyone including ourselves and just want to stay at home with our dogs. What could be more Christmassy than that?