Ah Christmas. Its the time of year that seems to bring out the best in people. People just seem to be a little bit nicer, a little bit warmer, and a little bit more happy, and nothing captures that more than the heartwarming Christmas movies & TV specials that come around.
Now don’t get me wrong. There are ALOT of terrible Christmas centered shows & movies. It seems like every year, you are bound to get at least 2 or 3 really bad slapstick Christmas movies in theaters. And even some of the TV specials are terrible. Even a television classic like “I Love Lucy” had a Christmas special that was so bad, Desi Arnaz didn’t want it to ever be rerun.
However, there are still those classics that live on forever in our fondest memories and perfectly capture the spirit of the holiday. Some of them are decades old and yet still as powerful as they were back then, maybe even more so now.
So here it is, a list of my 15 Favorite Christmas Movies & Specials:
- The Santa Clause (1994) = I am amazed at how much I still like this movie. With two sub par sequels and the mere fact that most family films don’t age well as one ages, I figured I wouldn’t enjoy this as much as I did when I was younger. However, I was wrong, as this Christmas Comedy starring Tim Allen still has the same charm & wonder that it did in my youth.
The story follows Scott Calvin who by a bizarre series of events, wind up having to fulfill Santa Claus’ duties on Christmas Eve. It turns out that Scott must actually become the new Santa Claus, which wrecks havoc on his life. As his appearance magically changes into the familiar look of Father Christmas, more and more people start to turn against him, and the problem is only amplified by his young son Charlie who was with Scott the night he first pulled Santa duty and completely believes his dad is Santa.
In some ways, this story is similar to “Miracle on 3th Street” as the idea of a man believing he’s Santa is a cause for public persecution. In this case, only the innocent children believe as even Scott himself is not 100% certain of what is going on. But in his slow transformation into Santa Claus, we also see Scott become a better person as he is able to strengthen the relationship with his son, mend broken fences with his ex-wife, and ultimately bring the joy of Christmas all over the world.
I also have to comment on how well the North Pole was designed in this movie. The place has alot of the wonder & mystique that Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory had, while also being easily recognizable as the North Pole. So much to my surprise, this movie still holds up and is a true Christmas classic (with some bad sequels).
- Merry Christmas Mr. Bean (1992) = I always saw Mr. Bean as being the British equivalent to Pee Wee Herman. What is he supposed to be exactly? Is he a child played by an adult? Is he a man child? I don’t really know. All I know is that he’s funny. Unlike Pee Wee, Mr. Bean doesn’t speak much and relies more of physical humor & visual gags, which really makes this Christmas special a memorable & funny one.
There isn’t much of a story. Its basically just Mr. Bean enjoying the Christmas season as he causes all kinds of chaos along the way. He causes havoc at the department store while doing his Christmas shopping, and all kinds of insanity ensues as he spends Christmas at his flat. Being an innocent character, he doesn’t mean any harm, but his clumsy nature just leads to one very wacky holiday for him & anyone around him. I’ll try my best not to spoil it for those who haven’t seen it, but the gags are great, including some classic bits with a Turkey & a Manger scene. It might not be the most uplifting or heartwarming Christmas special, but it delivers on the laughs, and sometimes, that is enough to leave us feeling good.
- The Big Bang Theory: The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis (2008) = This is a very recent one, but it was too good to leave off. The ending itself was so perfect & so hilarious that I had to put it on here. For those of you unfamiliar with the show, The Big Bang Theory is about two brilliant & socially inept roommates, Dr. Leonard Hofstadter & Dr. Sheldon Cooper who have their world turned upside down when Penny, a very outgoing & attractive young woman, befriends them. Throughout the show, we see Penny try to bring Leonard & Sheldon out of their shells & go out more, while the nerds introduce her into their world of comic books & science fiction. Its a very interesting dynamic that creates some very funny situations, and this format was perfect for a Christmas episode.
In a lot of these Christmas specials, there is a character that just can not get into the spirit of the Holidays, whether it because of his own troubles & woes (Charlie Brown & George Bailey) or because he just hates the Holiday Season as a whole (Scrooge & The Grinch). Here, Sheldon is a character that is all brain, and very little heart, if any. He refuses to accept Christmas as anything more than illogical, frivolous, & an unnecessary interruption from his strict routine. When he discovers that Penny got him a Christmas Gift, he feels the need to go out and get one for her, not out of any kind of affection for her, but because he feels it is the social convention to do so (as he says “You haven’t given me a gift. You’ve given me an obligation”). In his mission to get Penny a gift, he treats the act like an equation that needs to be solved, believing that whatever he gets her must be in equal value to what she is giving him. What ensues is a hilarious series of events as Sheldon goes to the mall to buy a Christmas gift, something that he’s probably never done before.
There is another story going on here with Leonard trying to deal with his feelings for Penny & his jealously over her getting a new boyfriend. There is some fun stuff there as well as the relationship between Penny & Leonard grows stronger, but the real star of the show is Sheldon. The ending where Penny & Sheldon exchange gifts is nothing short of classic. I won’t dare ruin the surprise, but I will say that in the end, for one brief moment, Sheldon’s heart overrides his brain as he experiences the warmth of Christmas for the first time.
- The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) = Some will probably complain that I’m putting this so low on the list, but quite honestly, I always associated this movie more with Halloween than I do Christmas, but that’s just me. With so much Halloween & Christmas imagery, it works quite well as a double holiday film.
The story is interesting as Jack Skellington, the King of Halloween, becomes bored with delivering a frightening holiday every year and wants something new & different. When he stumbles out of “Halloween Town” and into “Christmas Town”, he witnesses the magic & joy of Christmas and wants that for himself & his people. He essentially takes over Christmas from Santa Claus and tries to run it himself. Jack is a well meaning character, but sort of works as the Anti Grinch. While the Grinch made Christmas better by trying to ruin it, Jack ruins Christmas by trying to make it better as his plans go awry. Of course everything turns out well in the end, and Jack finds a new appreciation for the life he’s always had (which sort of ties into “Its a Wonderful Life”)
For its dark atmosphere & monstrous characters, this is actually a very fun & enjoyable movie. The stop motion animation is what truly makes it as it seems like a great homage to the old Rankin Bass Christmas specials but done with a Tim Burton visualization. The movie looks fantastic and is a visual spectacle from start to finish. With the recent flux of CGI animated films, I can honestly say that they don’t make them like this anymore.
I also really like the songs & the music. Its one of those movies that once I see it, I’ll be humming the tunes for the next few days. “What’s This?” is my personal favorite as Jack experiences the magic of Christmas for the first time. Whatever aspect you look at, “Nightmare Before Christmas” is a truly enjoyable film, and whether you watch it on Halloween or Christmas, it is always guaranteed to entertain.
- Everybody Loves Raymond: The Toaster (1998) = Being a sitcom about insane family members & troubles with in laws, Everybody Loves Raymond almost always delivered when it came to the Holiday centered episodes. The Thanksgiving episodes in particular were fantastic and very funny. However, this Christmas episode was one for the ages.
I might be cheating a little bit here since a bulk of the story takes place the day after Christmas, but I think its a story most people can identify with. Throughout the series, Raymond struggled to find the perfect gift for his parents on every special occasion, but it always blows up in his face. Either they don’t like the gift (and they have no issues with expressing their dislike of the gifts) or something goes terribly wrong when Raymond actually gives it to them. Most fans of the show will recall Frank & Marie’s hatred towards Raymond enrolling them in the Fruit of the Month club which occurred in the very first episode and referenced many times after that. On this Christmas, Raymond feels like he’s hit a home run. He gets his parents a toaster, but with a very nice message from Ray’s family engraved on it.
However, Ray’s plan backfires as his parents actually return the toaster without ever opening it (citing that they actually wanted a new coffee pot). So they never saw the engraved message & returned Raymond’s gift, ruining yet another one of his thoughtful ideas. Raymond finally explodes and lets his parents have it for their thoughtlessness. Actually feeling guilt, Frank & Marie go back to the department store to get back Raymond’s toaster. This is where the episode really shines. Peter Boyle & Doris Roberts were perfect in the roles of Ray’s father & mother, and they really shined here as they raise all kinds of hell at the store just to get back their son’s gift. After all the chaos, Raymond & Debra get a call telling them that Ray’s parents have been detained in their attempt to steal back the Toaster. In a perfect ending, Raymond then realizes “They do care”.
Not only is the episode very funny and considered to be one of the very best in this show’s nine season run, but it also a perfect example of one of the more stressful aspects of the Christmas Season. Everybody probably has that one family member that is really difficult to buy for because they are hard to please. Its one of those family problems that will always be there and we always have to deal with. According to series producer Phil Rosenthal, this episode was actually based on an incident that he had with his parents and even said that some of the dialogue came from his experience word for word. But in the end, as with most episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond, we learn that our family might drive us crazy and we may be frustrated with our parents, but deep down they love us. In a crazy world, that is at least a comforting thought to leave us with.
- South Park: Woodland Critter Christmas (2004) = South Park has been known for its Christmas Specials done in the spirit of The Peanuts & starring the rather bizarre character of Mr. Hankey, but I feel this is by far their strongest outing. Why? Well because Matt Stone & Trey Parker created a Christmas Special that contrasted with elements that nobody in their right mind would ever associate with Christmas. As far as I know, this is the only Christmas special to include Santa Claus with a Shotgun, AIDS, Devil Worship, Blood Orgies, Abortions, AND the Antichrist. The contrast is shocking & hilarious.
The story follows Stan as he is apparently taking part in his very own Christmas story with an all knowing & controlling Narrator that pushes him into action. In the course of the story, Stan winds up having to help some obnoxiously cute talking animals called “The Christmas Critters”. As the events unfold, Stan’s Christmas ends up getting worse and worse until eventually he has to prevent the Birth of the Antichrist and the end of Mankind.
I’m trying to spoil as little as possible because like I said, there are alot of shocking moments in this special, and it was hilarious to watch it all unfold. South Park has always been controversial, and this episode is no exception. In the end, we ended up getting a Christmas Special I know I’ll never forget.
- Scrooged (1988) = In a brilliant retooling of “A Christmas Carol”, self serving TV executive Frank Cross tries to produce a live broadcast of the famous Charles Dickens story in order to ensure a highly rated program for the Holiday Season. Ironically, he ends up having to live Scrooge’s tale himself as he is visited by three Christmas spirits trying to encourage him to change his ways while he’s trying to make sure the show goes well.
Obviously, the story is just “A Christmas Carol” in a modern setting, but it still has the same heart & endearing qualities of the classic tale. The movie is also hilarious. Who better than Bill Murray to play the lead role? Anybody who has seen one of my all time favorite movies “Groundhog Day” could tell you that he does a fantastic job of playing a sarcastic individual that is having an unnaturally bad holiday.
Its a funny movie. My favorite sequence is with The Ghost of Christmas Present, played expertly well by Carol Kane. Anybody who saw her in the sitcom “Taxi” could tell you how funny & charming she can be, and here she brings in some great physical comedy to her usual weird & perky self. But like Ebenezer Scrooge, Cross goes on a path of redemption as he is slowly brought into the spirit & joy of the holidays, concluding with a fantastic scene where he uses the live broadcast of his show to spread his message of good will to everyone watching.
Its not “A Christmas Carol” but its close enough, and just like Dickens’ original story, it leaves us feeling good.
- A Muppet Family Christmas (1987) = I’ll say it right here and now. I LOVE THE MUPPETS!!! The lovable puppet creations of Jim Henson will live on forever with lasting memories that will entertain future generations long after I’m gone. And I don’t you can find a better setting for The Muppets than Christmas. They bring about joy all year long, and to combine them with the spirit of Christmas only enhances the feeling even more.
Fozzie takes Kermit and the other Muppets to his Mother’s house for an unexpected Christmas visit (ruining her plans of a California vacation) We see the Muppets do all the standard Christmas traditions like making snowmen, putting up the decorations, and preparing the Christmas feast. All the while they are cracking their jokes, singing songs, and giving us the usual entertainment we expect out of them. A better name for this special probably should have been “A Jim Henson Family Christmas” as its not just the cast of characters from “The Muppet Show” but also characters from “Sesame Street” & “Fraggle Rock” as well, making it feel like one big massive party that Jim Henson is hosting and he invited everybody to.
There are so many great moments to talk about here. There are fun musical numbers, some nice running gags, one liners, great build up for Piggy’s arrival, an appearance from the Muppet Babies (in puppet form…the right way), Kermit taking a trip to Fraggle Rock, and my favorite part, The Swedish Chef trying to cook Big Bird for Christmas Dinner. Its just purely classic, and like most projects with Jim Henson’s name on it, it leaves us entertained and feeling great, which is how we want to feel at Christmas time.
- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) = Oh this is the Christmas from hell!!! I talked about it a little bit with the Raymond episode, but families can really cause some major stress, and we see it here in full effect. In his attempt to give his family the perfect Christmas, Clark Griswald has all the in laws over to spend the holidays together, with disastrous results.
Everything from picking out the Christmas Tree, to decorating the house, to having Christmas dinner…its all ruined. We watch as everything just blows up in Clark’s face from a cat being electrocuted by the Christmas lights to a full on police raid storming his house at the very end. And of course, I think everybody who has seen this movie will remember the squirrel.
Its almost like watching a man slowly descend into madness as he tries to keep everybody happy while also fulfilling his plans for the perfect family Christmas. Now I grew up in a household where EVERYTHING had to be perfect at Christmas time. I can’t tell you how many hours of my youth were spent outside in the cold putting up Christmas lights and how everything just had to be picture perfect when the guests arrived. It was like there was some prerequisite for us to go through bitter hell before we could get to heaven. So having gone through most of this myself at a very young age, I could completely identify with this movie, and that only made it funnier. Clark’s insane outbursts, especially towards the end, are completely understandable & hilarious as well.
Like always with a Christmas special or movie, it all turns out well in the end and leaves the audience feeling good. There were other Vacation movies, including the original film which took The Griswalds to Wally World, but this movie is my personal favorite. The memories created by Clark’s Christmas purgatory will last forever.
- Home Alone (1990) = I already talked about the slapstick Christmas comedies that seem to be a requirement for theaters every year. Well the trend probably started with Home Alone, but this is a silly slapstick movie with a lot of heart.
After having a massive fight with his family, young Kevin expresses his wish that his family would disappear. He gets his wish when in the massive confusion in getting to the airport to catch the family flight to Paris, Kevin is left at home by mistake. This is probably most kids’ dream come true, especially those that come from a large family like Kevin’s. With parents that come down on him, & older siblings looking down on him, its understandable that he would want to have the house to himself. However, he learns to be more responsible in trying to take care of the house & even learns the value of having loved ones in his life. Even with the fights, they are his family and he grows to appreciate them, and by the end, they are reunited for a wonderful Christmas day.
Now of course one has to talk about the slapstick involving Kevin having to protect the house from the burglers Harry & Marv. Quite frankly, I think its hilarious. The movie’s heart comes from Kevin and his experiences in dealing with his family being missing, but the laughs come from the thieves getting destroyed by the kid & his various traps. Its amusing, and I can listen to Joe Pesci mumble in pain & anger all day.
One more aspect of this film I liked was Kevin’s mother her and journey back home to get back to her son. She goes to extreme lengths to get home & her trek is pretty hilarious, but also heartfelt as one can sense that she does want to get back to her son . She obviously realizes her mistake and wants to make up for it, but she is also greatly concerned for her son.
So with the laughs & the heart, Home Alone delivers one for the ages. This is another movie that has been attached to poor sequels, but the original stands alone & will always be a classic in my eyes.
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966) = (Before I begin, I am not going to talk about the remake with Jim Carrey as the Grinch.) What we have here is a true holiday classic in every sense. People still watch this special at Christmas time and it still has the same wonder to it that it did over 40 years ago.
Its about as basic as it can get. The Grinch hates Christmas (“…don’t ask why. Nobody quite knows the reason”) and he wants to steal it from the Whos in Whoville. In this wonderfully animated story, we see The Grinch literally steal Christmas as he breaks into all the Whos’ houses and steals everything Christmas related from them. And of course we are treated to the most Un-Christmasy Christmas song “You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch” which is a personal favorite of mine.
The real treat in this special is The Grinch himself. He’s like Scrooge times ten! And he is perfectly voiced by Boris Karloff, a personal favorite actor of mine. I mean my God, the man was the Frankenstein Monster!!! And to have that awesomely creepy voice coming out of The Grinch was spectacular. And of course I have to talk about the style of the Grinch. Because this was a Chuck Jones’ directed project, the facial expressions on The Grinch was simply amazing. Overall, The Grinch is just a wonderfully constructed character.
And, as usual, its all capped off with a big happy ending as The Grinch realizes that he really can’t steal Christmas. By removing the commercial aspect of Christmas, it only made the true heart & spirit of the holiday becomes more obvious. In realizing the spiritual & meaningful side of the holiday, The Grinch becomes a better person & decides to celebrate Christmas rather than destroy it. Its an uplifting & heartwarming ending to a timeless Christmas special.
- The Small One (1978) = This is an often overlooked gem of the Holiday season. Made by Disney under the direction of Don Bluth (responsible for animated classics like “The Secret of NIMH”, “The Land Before Time”, & “An American Tale”), this story tells the tale of a young boy & his friendship with a donkey named simply “Small One”. When Small One becomes too old to do the work he used to, the boy has to take him into the town of Nazareth (hint hint) to sell him. However, the only one willing to buy him is the tanner who wants to use Small One’s coat to make leather. Everyone else mocks the donkey & the boy for trying to sell such a pathetic creature. Despite the boy’s protests that Small One is “fit for a King’s stable” (double hint hint), he is still met with jeers from potential sellers.
When all hope of selling the donkey seems lost, they go back to the tanner’s place and have a tearful goodbye, knowing what is to become of Small One. However, they get an offer from a kind man who needs a donkey to take his wife to Bethlehem (Ok if you haven’t figured it out by now, then shame on you), and gladly takes ownership of Small One.
Its a really poignant story. Even as a broken down old donkey, Small One is loyal & has a heart of gold, which is exemplified in his closeness to the boy. Those qualities alone make him truly fit for a King’s Stable. Tying this into the religious aspect of Christmas, I find it very touching that this animal would be chosen to be the one that carried Mary to Bethlehem. Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, had humble beginnings himself, and it only felt fitting that humble characters would play a role in his birth. Even if you aren’t religious, this is still very touching that because of his big heart, Small One is rewarded greatly, and it makes for a wonderful story.
The true heart comes out of the relationship of the boy & Small One. At the start, the loyalty & friendship is obvious. When his father tells him that Small One must be sold, I remember thinking that the boy would try running away with the donkey, but he doesn’t. He obeys his father, but makes sure he does Small One right by finding him a good home. In the end, he gets his reward in a good home for his friend, and is ultimately rewarded for his loyalty.
I don’t expect many people reading this have seen it before, but I highly recommend it. It looks good, the music is great, and the story is wonderful in its simplicity. Those of you worried of the religious aspect, I can tell you right now, its not overly preachy at all. Its not long either (about 1/2 hour)Its just a basic story that is sure to warm alot of hearts, and I think its definitely worth a look.
- It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) = You want to talk about a movie that has withstood the test of time, look no further than this classic. It actually bombed when it came out to theaters initially, but as the decades have passed, it has gained new life and is considered by many to be one of if not the greatest Christmas film of all time.
We all basically know the story. Even the few people who haven’t seen it at least have a vague idea what its about. We see Angels in heaven discussing the life George Baily and we see his life unfold before our eyes. We see that George is a kind man who puts others in front of himself, often sacrificing his dreams & ambitions to help out others. We then come to a point where his business is in financial ruin with threat of him being sent to jail. When he contemplates suicide (on Christmas Eve of all times) and even wishes he had never been born, the Guardian Angel Clarence (trying to earn his wings) steps in and show George what life would be like if he had never been born.
It is very touching to see how one man can touch so many lives. George’s selflessness helped so many people, that without him, his whole town sort of ends up in hell. When George realizes that his life is good, he wishes for Clarence to change it back so that he does exist. What we get is probably one of the greatest happy endings to any film ever as all the people that George had ever helped out lend their money to save George from financial despair. Its a touching sight to see so many people willing to help George showing that even though he gave up many of his dreams to help them, they are more than willing to do the same for him. In the end we get a massive Christmas party and, for George at least, a celebration of his life. One of my favorite lines is at the tail end as Clarence gives George a book with the inscription “Remember, George: no man is a failure who has friends” and that pretty sums up the movie for me.
When people talk about movies that are “feel good”, this definitely has to be on the list. Like I said, I can’t think of another movie that has a more satisfying & touching happy ending than this.
- A Christmas Story (1983) = I’m sure this one is very high on just about everybody’s list. Has anybody not seen this movie? Most people are introduced to it at a young age, which is perfect since this movie is all about being young at Christmas time. For adults, we can sit back & enjoy it because we remember all the little things about being a kid at Christmas time with the build up and the preparation.
Unlike Christmas Vacation, this movie doesn’t focus on the negative aspects of having to prepare for the Holidays. Its rather focuses on the simpler things that we all recognize, but probably take for granted. Everybody remembers wanting that one awesome gift for Christmas every year and the great lengths a kid would go to get it. Its the innocent & somewhat selfish side of being a child that is endearing and memorable to all of us.
And of course, the movie is hilarious. How many of those moments are just classic? The funny narrator. The kid eating like a pig at dinner. The kid getting his tongue stuck on a pole. The leg lamp. The bunny pajamas. The soap (Oh FUUUUUUUUUUDGE!). The daydreams. And my personal favorite, Christmas dinner at the Chinese Restaurant. Its all just so funny & charming that it is impossible to resist.
I’m not sure what else I can say about this film that hasn’t already been said. Its timeless. Its classic, and it’ll probably last forever. Its one of the best for sure.
- A Christmas Carol = Which version? I don’t know. Pick one. I haven’t seen the new version recently released by Disney, but there are probably hundreds of different versions of the classic Charles Dickens’ story that are out there, and most of the ones I have seen very well made.
I think this story probably has more remakes & versions than any other film in history. The only thing that really keeps it from being a cheap cliche is that its really a wonderful story that I never get sick of. Its classic!
We see miserable miser Ebenezer Scrooge show open distaste for Christmas until three ghosts visit him in order to show him the error of his ways. Its a nice story of redemption as Scrooge slowly learns how he can make, not only his own life better, but the lives of many other people around him as well. Its very simple & basic, yet always so powerful, sad at times, and capped off with a wonderful happy ending (I’m beginning to see a pattern with these Christmas stories)
So which versions are my favorites? Well…
- I already displayed my undying love for The Muppets, so I have to mention their take on the story. It was great, heartfelt, and filled with great humor & music as only the Muppets can provide. And hey Michael Cain was Scrooge, nuff said. It was also the first major Muppets project after the passing of Jim Henson, so it wasn’t only a great version of the story, but it felt like a lovely tribute to Henson as well.
- “Mickey’s Christmas Carol” is also worthy of mention. Using classic Disney characters to fill the roles in this brief 1/2 hour special, this version does a terrific job of getting the most out of the least by capturing the spirit of the story and doing it with that Disney magic we all know so well.
- Going into the “real” versions, for lack of a better word, there were many great actors that played Scrooge over the years, but my personal favorite was George C. Scott. He was just perfect in the role, and ultimately, his the version that includes him is probably my favorite. His performance was so good, and he was born to play Scrooge. I mean the man played Patten for goodness sake. How more hard-nosed can you get?
- And then of course I have to say READ THE BOOK!!! Its a quick read (my version is a little over 90pgs) and it is a very well written and worthy of its long lasting legacy.
So that’s my list. I’m sure some might be upset that I left off a Peanuts special or the classic “Miracle on 34th Street” but you gotta give me credit for not sinking ot the lowest common denominator and choosing “Die Hard” lol.
Merry Christmas, and as Tiny Tim would say, God Bless Us Everyone!!!