25 Movies 'til Christmas

What are some of the essential movies to see leading up to the big holiday? We're glad you asked. Grab some hot chocolate and your remote and settle in to watch one of these movies every night before Christmas.

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)

All Clark wants is a quiet vacation, but when his dysfunctional extended family join the gathering, his sanity—and a few other things—go out the window.

Most Memorable Moment: Clark’s excessive Christmas lights blind the neighbors, and electrocute the cat, but those sights reignite his holiday spirit.

Home Alone (1990)

Feeling nostalgic? Who says you can't have fun when you're alone for the holidays? When Kevin gets left behind for the family vacation, he parties with makeshift mannequins, binges on junk food and shows two bumbling burglars who's boss.

Most Memorable Scene: Kevin slaps on a generous amount of aftershave and lets out his signature scream.

Billy Bob Thornton dishes out the naughtiness with raunch, booze and a plan to rob a mall’s safe. But he didn't count on a pudgy kid weighing on his conscience.

Love Actually (2003)

This hodgepodge of intertwining love stories—whether platonic, romantic, or unrequited—hits just the right amount of feel-good spots. Get ready for the warm fuzzies!

Best Quote: "I realized that Christmas is the time to be with the people you love."

A Christmas Story (1983)

The holidays wouldn't be the same without this perennial family favorite about a kid who just wants a BB gun under the tree. You'll shoot your eye out, kid!

Best Quote: "Fra-gee-lay. That must be Italian."

A company Christmas party goes from "Ho ho ho" to "Uh oh!" as Bruce Willis's attempted reunion with his estranged wife is sabotaged by terrorists who take over the building and corral the partygoers as hostages.

Best Quote: "Yippie Ki-Yay, ****** ******!"

In what might be the best Peanuts special ever, a disheartened Charlie and friends set out to find what the real meaning of Christmas is, besides all the cool presents and stuff. Now everyone calls limp little Christmas trees "Charlie Brown trees."

FYI: CBS has aired this special even more times than The Wizard of Oz.

Dr. Seuss's twist on Scrooge turns the miser into a grouchy green cave dweller who learns you can't keep a happy Who down.

Best Quote: "Then he slunk to the ice box. He took the Whos' feast. He took the who pudding, he took the roast beast. He emptied the ice box as quick as a flash. Why, the Grinch even took the last can of who hash."

Danny Boyle's little-seen gem tells the story of a good-hearted boy who finds a bag of English pounds right before the UK is to switch to Euros. What to do with the dough, which will be no good in mere days, brings out the best—and worst—in the people in his life.

Did You Know? The story takes place at Christmastime, but the film was released in the summer due to scheduling conflicts.

Rankin/Bass's stop-motion animated TV special about a tiny reindeer with a luminescent proboscis gives hope to anyone who's ever felt like they belonged in misfit land.

Did You Know? The special is the longest-running on TV, airing consecutively since it debuted.

Dysfunctional family Christmases are taken to all-new levels when a cat burglar (Denis Leary) takes a bickering couple hostage and ends up serving as a ref to resolve the quarreling between them and their son and in-laws and avoid being nabbed by the cops.

Best Quote:"Do you know what this family needs? A mute!"

Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

A macabre mood isn't usually juxtaposed with upbeat songs, but in Tim Burton's world, anything goes. Jack the Pumpkin King kidnaps Santa and takes over on Christmas Eve. We can't imagine why his gifts of shrunken heads weren't well received!

Did You Know? Danny Elfman did the singing for Jack.

Polar Express (2004)

A young boy takes an enchanted train ride on the Polar Express and keeps the magic of Christmas alive through his belief in Santa Claus.

Best Quote: "Just remember, the true spirit of Christmas lies in your heart."

The Santa Clause (1994)

Tim Allen is forced to take the place of Santa when he inadvertently kills him on Christmas Eve. He gains weight by craving milk and cookies, grows a beard instantaneously (since shaving has no effect) and can tell whether someone is naughty or nice.

Did You Know? Bill Murray and Chevy Chase were also considered for the role of Santa Claus.

Scrooged (1988)

Bill Murray's reunited with ghosts of a different kind who show the grinchy, ruthless TV exec the error of his ways and help him realize ratings aren't the most important things in life.

Best Quote: "GRACE! When I work late, YOU work late!"

Elf (2003)

Will Ferrell, in yellow tights and a full Santa’s helper getup, unleashes the antics of a sugar-high elf looking for his biological father in New York.

Best Quote: "I just like to smile! Smiling's my favorite."

Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

This vaguely subversive and sort of creepy film seems all bright and shiny on the surface, but what kind of cheer does it spread when Santa's committed to the loony bin? It takes a miracle in the form of a lawyer to spring Kris Kringle.

Best Quote: "Christmas isn't just a day, it's a frame of mind. "

It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

This Frank Capra twist on the A Christmas Carol theme always tops holiday classics lists, starring Jimmy Stewart as a frustrated businessman whom an angel shows what life would have been like if he never existed.

Most Memorable Moment: In the end George skips through the snow proclaiming his love for everyone.