The ULTIMATE List of Must Watch Christmas Movies

It's almost December! One of my favorite things to do during the month is watch all of my favorite holiday movies. The awesome thing about Christmas movies is there are plenty of amazing ones that I can watch them all, year after year and I still love them just as much as the first time. If you start on Friday, you can watch one movie every day from now until Christmas Day. And there may even be a few bonus movies at the end of the list to help get you to New Years!

So, here are 25+ of my favorite Christmas movies. I'm sure that you've probably heard of and watched a lot of them yourself, but I'm betting I have a few you've forgotten about or maybe have never seen, but need to! If you think there is one I've forgotten, let me know in the comments below!


1. White Christmas
It's a tradition with my mom to watch this during the first snowfall of the season. Since we don't have snow here in Southern California, I opt for the first rain of the holiday season. It's working beautifully! 

2. Christmas Vacation
My dad is Clark Griswold. No joke. It takes him weeks to craft the amazing display that is his Christmas lights extravaganza. The best part is he's the about the only house out on his rural county road that decorates, so the effect is even more amazing.

3. Elf
Still my favorite Christmas movie! I can watch this every day and not get tired of it. My ring tone still says, "Buddy the Elf, what's your favorite color?" Funny, quirky, clean and quotable - the best kind of family movie!

 

4. A Charlie Brown Christmas
Who doesn't love Charlie Brown and his sad little Christmas tree?  I still tear up when Linus tells everyone what Christmas is all about.

5. The Muppet Christmas Carol
"After all, there's only one more sleep til Christmas!" I grew up with the Muppets, so their quirky humor and antics make me laugh. This is a fun twist on Dickens' A Christmas Carol. With Gonzo and his pet rat as the narrators - how could it not be?

6. Nightmare Before Christmas
The thing I love about this movie is that it is kosher to watch it October-December, and with the great music it's another that could watch every day. It's quirky and dark, but my kids love it and so do I!

7. A Christmas Story
"You'll shoot your eye out!" is a phrase I never get tired of trying to work into conversations with JT. It's tradition to watch this on Christmas day during the marathon showing on TNT.

8. Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas
Not to be confused with Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas (although I do like that one too), Twice Upon a Christmas has all my favorite characters in story lines that are imaginative and keep he kids engaged in the lessons to be learned. For instance, you can't buy your way onto the Nice list, just ask Uncle Scrooge.

9. How the Grinch Stole Christmas
It just wouldn't be Christmas without a little Dr. Seuss and his lovable characters

The Grinch and Little Cindy Lou Who (who was no more than two).

10. Arthur Christmas
This is a relatively new Christmas movie we've added to our repertoire. It's actually one that my husband enjoys too, so it's fun to watch together and see how every child counts and technology isn't always the best solution.

11. Mickey's Christmas Carol

With the adorable Giant as the Ghost of Christmas Present, how could this movie not worm it's way into your heart? And let's not forget about Goofy as the ghost of Scrooge's departed partner, Marley.

Disney always does it right and this is not exception.

12. Babes in Toyland (1961)
BAM! Did I just blow your mind? Was this movie on your list?

I mean who can forget Tom and Mary's love story in Mother Good Village??!!

If you haven't seen this adorable movie, then you need to!

It's a classic 1960s film musical with fun songs and choreographed group numbers.

13. Home Alone

This is just a classic. Who didn't want to be Macaulay Culkin and get to play rad tricks on bumbling burglars? I bet you saw this movie and had a master plan drawn up depicting what you'd do if you ever found yourself in this situation.

14. Christmas with the Kranks

After I read Skipping Christmas for a book club years ago, I knew I would have to see this movie. It's silly and crazy and captures the essence of the book. If you've ever wanted to skip Christmas, I suggest you watch this to see what the repercussions could be.

15. Prep and Landing

This is another new movie we've added to our repertoire in the last few years. It teaches the lesson that someone much bigger than you know what you need better than you ever could.

16. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

"There's always tomorrow for dreams to come true . . ." Clarice hit it right on the head.

17. Santa Claus is Comin' to Town

"Yo-yos? I love yo-yos!!!!" and I love the name Burgermeister Meisterburger. This is another stop animation classic that you have to watch with the kids.

18. Deck the Halls with Wacky Walls

"And they've got to find out what that Star is about! They've got to find out what Christmas is!" When the leader of the alien Wacky Wall Walkers has to find out what the Christmas Star is all about he sends a team of Wall Walkers to Earth to find out what Christmas is all about. This was a childhood favorite Christmas special, so hopefully you can find a copy!

19. A Snow White Christmas

I had almost forgotten about this childhood favorite until I saw it being show on TV last Christmas season. This story follows the daughter of the original Snow White in her quest to save her town from the Wicked Queen with the help of the Seven Friendly Giants - cousins to the Seven Dwarfs.

20. The Santa Clause

Even when I was a teen I thought the premise of this movie was clever. And who wouldn't freak out if they were gaining 10-20 lbs a day and growing a full beard by evening? Freaky! and hilarious!

21. The Preacher's Wife

As his congregation struggles and membership declines, Rev. Henry Biggs doubts his abilities as a preacher. When Henry prays for help for his small Baptist church help comes in the form of Dudley - a witty and debonair angel. It's a really sweet remake of the original The Bishop's Wife and it has the musical talent of Whitney Houston!

22. The Family Man

When high-powered Wall Street executive, Jack Campbell stumbles in on a grocery store hold up, he wakes up the next morning in a life that might have been. It's kind of a like A Wonderful Life meets A Christmas Carol and shows it's never too late to have a change of heart.

The next few movies aren't necessarily all about Christmas, but they do take

place during the Christmas season and warm my cockles whenever I think of them.

23. Sleepless in Seattle

Horses! Horses! Horses! Horses! Hee, hee. I love this classic love story and I love it takes place during Christmas.

24. Gremlins

Who didn't want their dad to come home with Gizmo for Christmas? Heck, as a kid, I would have been happy with a stuffed Gizmo!

25. Little Women

Meg, Jo, Laurie, Amy, Marmee - this story will grab tears when you least expect it. Plus, it's got Christian Bale in it, so you can't go wrong!

26. While You Were Sleeping

"These mashed potatoes are so creamy!" Who hasn't had awkward family dinners that leave you shaking your head? I adore this movie with it's leaning, split pants, and pregnancy rumors. Heart-warming and adorable!

27. You've Got Mail

Twinkle lights and twirling, that's all it takes to make Christmastime magical.

So there you have it! My list of  25+ favorite Christmas movies to watch during the holidays.
Did I leave one of your favorites off? What is it?
Two that are still on my "To-Watch" list are Scrooged. I've never seen it, but I've heard I need to
and the other is Mixed Nuts. Anyone up for a movie night??