- Miracle on 34th Street takes the number one spot. The move, which was released in 1947 and stars Maureen O’Hara and John Payne, tells the story of a single (somewhat bitter) mother who is raising her daughter to think of the world in practical terms—which means not believing in Santa. The mother’s task becomes harder when she learns the Santa that Claus she hired to work in the Macy’s Day Parade believes that he is actually Santa. The man, who calls himself Kris Kringle, is soon forced into a mental institution and forced to fight for his freedom in a public trial. The movie is sweet and successfully portrays the innocence of youth that we all wish we could return to. It will have you believing (or at least wishing you still believed) in Santa Clause.
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the version released in 2000 and starring Jim Carrey, takes the second spot on the list. Although you could argue that the movie was too sparkly and overdone to be considered a heartwarming classic, it has become a holiday classic for the generation that grew up with this version of the movie, rather than the animated 1966 version.
- The Santa Claus takes the third spot on the list. The movie tells the story of a less-than-generous toy agent who begins to appreciate Christmas and his family after he becomes Santa Claus.
- Elf takes the fourth place on our list. The movie was solid, funny, and heartwarming. However, the occasional cheap laugh (Buddy eating gum off of the sidewalk and Buddy thinking a pint-sized story writer was an elf) weakens the overall effect of the movie. Junior Katelyn Margraff describes Elf as her holiday choice, “I think that my favorite holiday movie would have to be Elf because it’s hilarious and I love Will Ferrell’s tights.”
- The Muppet Christmas Carol makes a solid appearance on our list. This take on the classic Charles Dickens’ story is entertaining, but still in line with the message of the original story. Personally, I wasn’t a fan of the occasional breaking out into song and dance, but you can draw your own opinion there.
- Home Alone 2: Lost in New York also makes it onto our list. The movie tells the story of a young boy who gets separated from his family during the holidays and lands in New York, where he tricks inept burglars, makes friends, and eventually gets reunited with his family. The movie features slapstick comedy, so the fact that I first saw it when I was six years old may explain why it made our list.
- I’ll Be Home for Christmas is also featured on our list. After having seen this movie three times over the course of two days during one family road trip, I can say that it is a movie that does not get old. The movie describes Jake Wilkinson, a college student whose parents agree to give him the family Porsche if he comes home for Christmas. His plans are complicated when angry classmates glue a beard to his face, dress him up in a Santa costume, and abandon him in the middle of the desert, leaving Jake in an all-mighty rush to get home for the holidays.
- I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa was also a solid movie. The movie, starring the Sprouse twins, describes a young boy who, after seeing his mom kiss Santa (his father dressed up in a red suit and beard), becomes naughty, in an attempt to protect his parents’ marriage. It’s a cute movie that reminds us of how strongly we believed in Santa and how adorably misguided children can be.
- The Ultimate Christmas Present takes the ninth spot on our list. The movie tells the story of a young girl who steals Santa’s weather machine and creates a massive blizzard that throws Southern California into complete chaos. The movie is not unique in describing the true meaning of Christmas, Santa’s kindness, and the advent of good over evil (especially during the holiday season). However, it nicely captured the awkwardness of the teen years and aptly explained why we all need some snow days.
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas is making its second appearance on this list. The 1966 movie is a classic, even if it does take a backseat to the more recent version that was released in 2000.
Top 10 Holiday Movies
December 20, 2010
Photo courtesy of Amazon