It's genuinely Die Hard. Calling it a Christmas movie used to be something I said for fun, but somewhere along the line, watching it at Christmas has become an actual tradition that I look forward to
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Absolutely in the same boat as you. Used to be home alone (1&2) but the past 5 years or so the first Christmas movie I put on is Die Hard and I can’t imagine that changing anytime in the future.
Home alone is a great choice too. Love those ones. Such great comedy, so many good memories of watching it with my family.
The Muppet Christmas Carol
Honestly it's one of the few Christmas movies I still really look forward to watching. Not only have I always loved the muppets, but it's just a really good movie. Micheal Caine is gives it 100% and the story adaptation is really well done. And having Gonzo narrating as Dickens plus Rizzo for breaking tension was pulled off so well.
It's my pick too. I've never seen another rendition I liked any better and it's actually pretty loyal to the book. Caine's Scrooge is actually very sympathetic and his character growth is really satisfying. It's funny and wholesome and nicely grounded in what the holiday means to me personally. I'm an atheist but I love Christmas because of the reminder to share our appreciation and gratitude to the ones we love, and come together to share our good fortune or commiserate over bad. Plus the songs are so catchy.
I have such fond memories of this film. Going to see it at our local small-town cinema when it came out and I was like 8 or 9 years old. Me and my little brother used to get dropped off there every Saturday morning with a couple packets of sweets up our sleeves and just left to watch whatever was on while our parents did mysterious grownup errands.
Anyway I remembered it being great but was worried it was just a nostalgia thing. Saw it again a couple years ago and nope! Still holds up! It's a genuinely great film and anyone who hasn't seen it should do so immediately.
I’m surprised no one has mentioned Home Alone.
That's my favorite. Also Home Alone 2, mostly for the scene where Marv becomes a skeleton.
Hogfather. Based on the Terry Pratchett book of the same name. The hogfather (santa) is missing so Death has to fill in.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
What's this?
Tim Burton masterpiece
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Nightmare_Before_Christmas
Thank you for the answer, however I was making a reference from the movie myself :)
OH! Obviously I completely missed that.
For me it has to be National Lampoons Christmas Vacation, along with other seasonal offerings, Groundhog day, Trading Places, Love Actually, & The Family Stone..
A Christmas Story! It always runs 24/7 on some channel come the holidays. It's also just one of my favorite movies. Nothing overstays, all the actors are great, the little daydream scenes, I love it all.
Since it is well established that Die Hard qualifies, by the same criterion so does Gilliam's Brazil from 1985, and that would be mine, for its gloriously nightmarish dystopia - closely followed by Klaus (2019), which is a far more conventional seasonal tale: an animation with a beautiful style of artwork and a great story.
The Grinch (2000). Jim Carrey's tortured performance slays me.
Followed by White Christmas (1954) because I love Danny Kaye and Vera-Ellen.
I love that Arnold is so famous in Western culture that no one has to say his last name. He is the only Arnold that matters and it will be a great sadness to the hemisphere the day he leaves us.
A Muppet Family Christmas
It has everything, muppets, sesame street, fraggle rock, songs, jokes, swedish chef. It was my favorite as a kid and still makes me laugh every year.
Bad Santa. It’s cynical and hilarious and still ends up weirdly heartwarming.
Shit happens when you party naked.
Hear me out: Ernest Saves Christmas
Been quoting lines from this movie for years:
- Every time we see Santa at the mall: (lean it to the wife) "His real name is 'Santos'"
- Everytime we see a sleigh decoration: "'Slay'! Not 'Sleigh'"
- "Call it a fifth sense. Call it extra sensory perspiration."
- "Right as rain sugar. Pork's my meat!"
- "It's all dem movie people want. Poison!"
- "Having walked from the airport, I'll be dead soon"
- ... and much much more
For me it’s Wonderful Life from Frank Capra!
Can't believe I don't see Gremlins anywhere here! The first one is inarguably a Christmas movie.
Alien (1979). When the cryogenic sleep pods open at the beginning it reminds me of those dioramas people do of Baby J, the three wise men etc. The alien is like one of the animals, although a little more aggressive.
Home Alone 2 for me! There is something super cozy about the snowy New York City setting. Especially when I was younger I really appreciated those vibes.
Home alone 2 and gta 4 are the reasons I feel nostalgia whenever I see pictures of NYC. I'm not even from the US and I was a 1 year old the last time I was in New York so I remember nothing
I don't think there's any topping It's A Wonderful Life, but it almost feels like cheating.
Die hard. It's the the only one that comes to mind.
Home Alone. For me, only the first one. The soundtrack is also a legit good Christmas album.
Muppet Christmas Carol. Michael Caine with the straightman performance of the century sharing screentime with Rizzo the rat. Masterpiece from start to finish.
scrooged
die hard
Emmett Otter's Jugband Christmas
Excellent music, a wholesome story, and a Snake that plays Bass.
What's not to love?
Classic: A Christmas Carol, the 1951 version with Alastair Sim. Sim's giddy portrayal of Scrooge on Christmas morning is one of my favorite performances of any actor.
Modern: A Christmas Story, and Elf.
Arthur Christmas (no, not THAT Arthur)
It's a computer animated film from Aardman Animations, the studio that makes Wallace & Gromit, Chicken Run, etc. I watch it at least once a year, and every time I do I laugh hysterically, I cry, and I get wrapped up in the action. And, the story has four main characters with four really good arcs.
Eight crazy nights is a staple in our family, no kids yet so that will probably change if we ever have those lol
It’s the “Christmas in the Car” episode of Bob’s Burgers. Yeah, sure it’s not a movie but it’s the most Christmassy feeling thing I’ve watched since I left home and it inspired my new favorite Christmas morning dish (a Dutch Baby) and I just love the scene when they’re cowering in their car in the forest and the car’s off and it starts to snow because it really captures how it feels to be out in the dark that’s not really dark because there’s snow everywhere.
If you haven’t made a dutch baby, it’s incredibly easy and extremely delicious and a good reason to buy a cast iron skillet if you haven’t already.
Happiest Season felt surprisingly new as a family, love tragedy christmas movie and I really like it. It isn't an older movie but since it came out, it is a must watch every christmas season.
Before this, it definitely was The Long Kiss Goodnight (and funny thing, the german title translates to "deadly christmas")
Just friends
Also Klaus is good
Ever notice how Arnold is always punching random animals, from deer to the camels in Conan the barbarian's tribe to I think a horse in one of the other movies? Wondering if that's a thing he asks for, like in every movie he asks "can I punch an animal in a part of the movie".
But anyways, I know Die Hard sounds cliché and like a dead meme at this point to choose, but aside from Elf, all the Christmas movies are so gimmicky in none of the good ways. In Die Hard, it's not trying too hard, which is exactly why I choose it even though it also makes it exempt from Christmas movie status to a lot of people.