We all do what is traditionally called a celebration of Christmas that includes decorating houses and churches, singing carols, cutting cakes, sharing gifts and of course making wishes to get amazing gifts from our very own Santa! But one thing that can make this eve even more jubilant is movies.
Christmas and movies have always run parallel in the history of popular culture. Christian mythology has loads to offer into the scripts of celluloid. Apart from cakes, carols, and cuisine, the festival can be fun filled in full ecstasy with the movies. Numerous films have been made with Christmas as a theme or Christmas as the backdrop.
Let us look at the 10 best movies that you should bang on to watch this festive season and make this Christmas even merrier and memorable.
Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
Directed by: George Seaton
This Christmas comedy is all you need! When Mary goes merry, she must make it merrier with movie and music. With the direction of George Seaton and cast of Maureen O’Hara and John Payne, this film revolves around the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Considered widely as a cult classic, this movie has been preserved by the Academy Film Archive of US, for its cultural and aesthetic significance. This should be the first on your watch list as you would visually experience Christmas throughout its timeline.
Why should you watch this: Because the movie is all about the real Santa!
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1998)
Directed by: William R. Kowalchuk
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This 1998 musical is about a red-nosed reindeer who is bullied by other reindeer and elves. However, his love is captured by the witch Stormella who also puts Santa out of business by making a storm. Will Rudolph be able to save his love without Santa?
Why should you watch this: Because it’s all about the spirit which must be re-lived through this movie.
It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
Directed by: Frank Capra
A Christmas drama which is fantasy! Based on a short story titled “The Greatest Gift”, this movie is a gift in itself. The film is about a man who has given up on everything and has decided to commit suicide on the Christmas eve itself but is interjected by another man who shows him his own life experiences.
Why should you watch this: Because there is always an Angel Guardian and most definitely if it’s Christmas.
Holiday Inn (1942)
Directed by: Mark Sandrich
The sun is shining, the grass is green
The orange and palm trees sway.
These famous lines of ‘White Spring’, written by Irving Berlin, first appeared in the 1942 film Holiday Inn. Starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire, this musical drama is about three performers who by some fate collide in their respective journeys of love and what ensues thereafter is worth watching this Christmas.
Why should you watch this: Because when it’s Christmas, it’s all about love!
A Christmas Story (1983)
Directed by: Bob Clark
Delightful, humorously dark, fun for kids and set in Christmas as the backdrop. What more you could want when it comes to watching a movie this Christmas! This movie is like a holiday perennial, and succinctly lives up to the spirit of the festive season
Why should you watch this: Santa and gifts! This movie is a child’s tale of his gift wish. Every child would be able to relate to this.
Home Alone (1990)
Directed by: Chris Columbus
Every 90s kid has seen this movie. When it comes to movies for kids, Chris Columbus never disappoints. This favourite director would later go on to also direct the first two Harry Potter movies. Set in Christmas, Kevin McCallister is left alone during vacations when his parents go to Paris. Initially sad, he has his time alone in the home.
Why should you watch this: People tend to think that Christmas is incomplete without others. But this movie proves otherwise.
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
Directed by: Brain Henson
Adaptation of the Dickens classic, The Christmas Carol, this movie features muppets singing carols. Imagine muppets and carols together! Wouldn’t that be too much fun to watch?
Why should you watch this: After all, it’s the muppets singing carols!
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Directed by: Henry Selick
Halloween feeling mixed with Christmas! Conceived from a poem written by Tim Burton, this is a magical musical stop animation picture which leaves you in a complete awe.
Why should you watch this: It’s about Halloween town to Christmas town!
Elf (2003)
Directed by: Jon Favreau
A Christmas comedy starring Will Ferrell, this film is about an elf of Santa and his endeavours to find his true identity as a human and in doing so making the places merrier wherever he goes.
Why should you watch this: The identity crisis shouldn’t make us existential. In fact, it’s cheerful to be identity-less.
Meet John Doe (1941)
Directed by: Frank Capra
Set on Christmas eve, a man writes a fake suicide note and a reporter searches for him. This film truly mesmerises you with its cinematography and well captured Christmas streets.
Why should you watch this: The Christmas spirit is relived through this film.
