One of the greatest things about Christmas time is the selection of wonderful, feel-good movies that remind us of the love we have for the festive season. However, with such a big and growing collection of Christmas movies across different platforms, it can be difficult to choose the best ones to watch.
That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the 12 greatest Christmas movies to watch across the 12 days of Christmas…
Elf
‘The best way to spread Christmas cheer, is singing loud for all to hear’
What a better way to kick off this list than with Buddy the Elf. This is truly a Christmas classic and will be sure to get even the Scrooges of the world excited for the festive period. Will Ferrell is incredible and the film has something for all the family. It is funny and heart-warming with a sprinkle of Christmas romance, it will be sure to make you feel in the festive spirit and bring a smile to your face.
Last Christmas
‘I’m not going to heal my heart, and then give it to someone who is going to break it’
This movie released last year is a unique tale told in the Christmas period. Starring Emilia Clark and written by Emma Thompson it’s a funny, witty, heartfelt rollercoaster of emotions. The film follows Kate as she falls in love with the mysterious Tom (played by Henry Golding), but things aren’t all as they seem with Tom, as Kate finds out when he keeps disappearing. Accompanied by a soundtrack of George Michaels hits, it is a feel-good and wholesome Christmas movie telling the tale of a young woman learning to heal her heart.
The Grinch
‘What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas perhaps… means a little bit more…’
The Grinch is a family favourite across generations, with the latest animated Grinch coming out in 2018. Benedict Cumberbatch stars as the grinch in that instalment, however I think we all have a special place for Jim Carrey as the Grinch in the 2000 classic How The Grinch Stole Christmas. Whichever film you choose to watch though you will be sure to laugh out loud and smile along with the weird and wonderful world created by Dr Suess.
A Christmas Carol
‘Bah said Scrooge, Humbug!’
There have been many adaptations of this Dickens classic over the years seeing Scrooge played by the likes of Jim Carrey, Michael Caine and Patrick Stewart. A personal favourite Christmas Carol adaptation is The Man Who Invented Christmas, but I do also have a soft spot for the Muppets Christmas Carol. The story is sweet, familiar and feels like a slice of our childhood. It is always worth the watch over the festive period and is most definitely a Christmas classic.
Gremlins
‘No bright lights, no water, do not feed after midnight!’
Gremlins is the perfect Christmas movie for those who are still hanging on to Halloween. With a slight spooky twist on Christmas, this film is a nice break from the traditional Christmas movie. This one might not be the choice for a family movie night. But it is definitely one to put on alongside your late-night cheese and chocolate indulge over the festive period. There is no other movie quite like it, and it wouldn’t be Christmas without a little bit of Gizmo.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
‘Just because I cannot see it, doesn’t mean I can’t believe it’
From one spooky movie to another, the Nightmare Before Christmas is another one for the Halloween lovers at Christmas. When Jack Skellington from Halloween town finds Christmas town, he falls in love and begins on a spiral to kidnap Santa Claus. The soundtrack to this movie is incredible, and the fantastical mind of Tim Burton gorgeously unfolds throughout the film. It is truly magical and fantastical throughout. It’s perfect for all the family and for the film buffs out there, it is truly a masterpiece in stop motion animation.
Arthur Christmas
‘What do you get when you eat Christmas decorations…Tinselitis’
From his dorky laugh, to his love for the festive season, Arthur Christmas is an utterly loveable Christmas character. The film explores the family dynamic and shows a son striving for the approval from his father, whilst trying to deliver a gift to a girl who slipped through the present system. Despite this very much being a children’s film, there are plenty of laughs for the adults to enjoy and the story will bring happy smiles for the whole family.
Miracle On 34th Street
‘I believe, I believe… it’s silly but I believe’
This is 100% a Christmas day movie with its magical innocence and charming nature. Both the original from 1947 and the remake in 1994 are wonderful and great for the whole family. The original won 4 Oscars including best-supporting actor for Edmund Gwen playing Kris Kringle. This is a classic that doesn’t age and can bring a smile to your face, year after year.
The Polar Express
‘The thing about trains… It doesn’t matter where they’re going, what matters is deciding to get on.’
This masterpiece starring Tom Hanks is truly a nostalgic Christmas favourite. It is perfect for a cold Christmas eve snuggled in front of the fire. The film feels like every child’s dream and has the perfect mix of friendship, lessons learnt and magical mystery. The soundtrack to this film is beautiful and endearing, and with a hot chocolate in hand, you can’t get a festive feeling better than this movie.
Home Alone
‘Keep the change, ya filthy animal’
Home Alone has the perfect dose of fun, laughs, warmth, and Christmas spirit. When Kevin’s family forget to take him on holiday over the Christmas period, he is left to defend the house against neighbourhood robbers. Despite being released in 1990, this film doesn’t age one bit. Macaulay Culkin is absolutely incredible and Kevin’s cunning schemes and plots are hilarious. The film will have you laughing throughout, but packs a punch at the end leaving you feeling warm inside. You can’t help but smile at this tale of unlikely friendship, family love and Christmas comedy.
The Christmas Chronicles
‘Time stands still here in the North Pole’
Sometimes it’s hard to branch out from our favourite Christmas classics through the festive season. But if you are looking for a new Christmas film, the 2018 Netflix released The Christmas Chronicles won’t disappoint. It follows siblings who are planning to capture Santa on Christmas eve, but when the plan goes wrong, the pair team up with Mr Claus to try and save Christmas. It’s a jolly movie with Kurt Russell as an unforgettable Santa Claus. A perfect addition to the Christmas favourites, with The Christmas Chronicles 2 being recently released on UK Netflix in time for the festive season.
Love Actually
‘If you look for it, I’ve got a sneaky feeling you’ll find that love actually is all around.’
In my opinion, Love Actually is the perfect romantic comedy and Christmas is certainly not complete without this film. It follows 8 couples around the festive period, each struggling with their own problems and trying to work things out. It’s heart wrenching, funny, with truthful characters and depictions of down to earth and relatable issues. Not to mention the fantastic all-star cast with Hugh Grant playing the Prime Minister. It is very much a British tale, with wit and humour throughout, and it will be sure to leave you with a tear in your eye and the Christmas spirit in your bones.
That concludes the list of 12 movies to watch across the 12 days of Christmas, but this list only touches the surface – with hundreds of great Christmas movies out there to give you the festive feels. Nothing is nicer than a Christmas movie to relax and enjoy a much-needed break after the chaotic year of 2020, so with that, I wish you a Merry Christmas ya filthy animal!
If you enjoyed this article, check out our movie section for lots more Christmas lists!
