Happy December everyone! Christmas season is finally upon us, which means we get to watch all the Christmas movies and all the Christmas songs that we want to until December 25th. As you may know from my Disney+ post, I’m the type of person that waits until after Thanksgiving before truly getting in the Christmas spirit. Now that Thanksgiving is over, I can’t wait to watch all of my favorite Christmas movies, as well as watch some cheesy Hallmark movies on TV. I realize writing this post that I really like watching movies and TV shows. Ok, maybe I’ve always known that, but I’m realizing now that I’ve already made two other posts about what I’m watching (Fall and Disney+ watchlists, in case you were curious), which wasn’t that long ago, but what can I say, I like to be entertained?? I love watching movies and being engrossed in stories and analyzing. I’ve kind of become a movie snob I guess you could say. But anyways, putting my obsession with movies aside, I’d love to share my favorite Christmas movies that I watch every year! These are the movies I grew up on, as well as some that I only watched for the first time a couple of years ago!
- Elf (2003)
Ok, let’s get the most obvious one out of the way first! Elf is a classic and a must see every year for everyone, maybe even multiple times throughout the holiday season. This is one of the most quote worthy movies ever made, and my family and I try to quote it as much as possible year round.
2. Christmas Vacation (1989)
Once again, another quote worthy movie that my family has to watch every single year. We would watch it Thanksgiving night growing up to really kick off the Christmas spirit! Clark Griswald just really knows how to have the “hap hap happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby…” well you know the rest.
3. Jingle All the Way (1996)
I’d like to thank Arnold Schwarzenegger for allowing me to remember all of Santa’s reindeer in case I’m ever quizzed on that important fact. If this movie isn’t a reminder to get ahead of your Christmas shopping, I don’t know what is.
4. White Christmas (1954)
I actually never watched this movie until a couple of years ago, but once I first watched it, it easily became one of my all time favorite Christmas movies. I love it so much! It’s crazy to think that I went so long without ever seeing it, but now that I have, I can’t go a year without Bing Crosby and George Clooney’s aunt, Rosemary Clooney, as well as singing “Sisters” whenever possible.
5. Miracle on 34thStreet (1994)
Ok, so I may have accidentally fell asleep during the original Miracle on 34th Street when we watched it last year, but I really do love the remake of this movie. The part where Santa signs with the little girl gets me every time, it’s one of my all time favorite scenes!!!
6. Arthur Christmas (2011)
This has got to be one of my favorite animated movies ever. I remember I stayed up late to watch it a couple of years ago because I had never seen it, and once I finished it, I had to go out and buy it on DVD to make my brother watch it too! British accents, need I say more?
7. The Preacher’s Wife (1996)
Whitney Houston and Denzel Washington, what more of a cast could you possibly need?? I know I’ve said I love a lot of movies on this list, but I LOVE this movie. I love every single time Whitney Houston sings “I believe in You and Me” and “I Love the Lord,” she was so unbelievably talented. If you’ve never seen this movie, you really have to see it!
8. Christmas with the Kranks (2004)
“As odd as it sounds, I didn’t think to ask the butcher where the chocolate was!!!” As you could probably guess, this is another very quotable movie. Every time it rains outside and we are ill prepared and get wet, someone has to bust out the “You know why I don’t want one of your stupid umbrellas? Because I couldn’t…get…any wetter!!!!” I remember seeing this movie in theaters when it first came out, and I always remember the theater accidentally started playing The Incredibles instead, so we had to sit through another round of commercials in order to actually watch Christmas with the Kranks. No matter how many times I watch this movie, I laugh every. Single. Time.
9. The Polar Express (2004)
This is also another movie that I vaguely remember watching in theaters way back when, and it’s one of my Dad’s top favorites. Tom Hanks can do no wrong. I even remember my librarian in elementary school reading this to us during the Christmas season!!
10. While You Were Sleeping (1995)
Although this movie is centered around Christmas, it’s not solely about Christmas, meaning that I could watch this year round, which, I’ve done! The first time I watched this movie it was in July, and I watched it 3 more times that same week because I loved it so much. This is definitely one of my top favorite Sandra Bullock movies of all time. When I think of this movie, one line always sticks out to me, “It’s just…I never met anyone I could laugh with. You know?”
11. Last Holiday (2006)
This is another movie that takes place around the holidays, but isn’t about the holiday itself. I flipping love Queen Latifah in this movie, it’s hilarious!! It makes me want to travel the world and cook delicious meals.
12. The Original How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)
Although the remake with Jim Carrey is the classic that most people watch, I grew up watching the original every Christmas Eve before we went to bed. It’s much shorter, but every time I watch it I feel like a little kid again.
13. Home Alone (1990) and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
Of course Home Alone has to make it on this list! Who knew fending off burglars could look so fun and humorous as a kid? Also, getting lost in New York always seemed kinda cool to me, I’ve always wanted to go there!
14. The Christmas List (1997)
I don’t know if anyone remembers this movie, but it’s one that I grew up watching every single year with my family. It stars Mimi Rogers, where she makes a Christmas list (hence the name) and everything on that list starts magically coming true. This movie used to come on ABC Family all the time in the 00’s I feel, but it’s one that never gets old!!!
And that wraps up this long list, thanks for stopping by today! Of course there are so many other great Christmas movies, but these are the ones I want to watch the most every year! I could go on about all the extra cheesy Christmas movies I also like to watch, but I’m afraid that would’ve made this post about a million pages too long. This is my favorite time of the year though, snuggling up under blankets in the cold and watching Christmas movies. Although it never really snows in the south ever, you can at least live through the Christmas movies!