Our Favorite Family Christmas Movies
Whether it’s on the days leading up to Christmas or on Christmas day itself, after the presents have been open and everyone is stuffed full, happy and needing a good laze on the sofa, one tradition my family loves to do is to watch a Christmas film.
Here are our favourites:
1. It’s a Wonderful Life – No need for introductions here, who doesn’t know the Jimmy Stewart classic that makes me and my husband cry, no fail, every Christmas. Our kids have so far been a little young for this, but this year we’ll be trying it out on Nat (who’s 7 in February).
2. Miracle on 34th Street – This was one of my favourites growing up, and while I think the new version (with the fellow from the Practice) isn’t bad at all, the classic film with Natalie Wood is still the best.
3. The Grinch – My kids like the Jim Carey film and actually watch it all year round, but I prefer the old cartoon – obviously because it’s what I grew up with, and also because the cartoon Grinch is much more charmingly evil than Jim Carey with all that weird makeup.
4. Scrooge – We love musicals, and so this rendition of “A Christmas Carol” is something the kids enjoy too. Lovely old-fashioned songs, the classic Dickens tale, a film we can’t miss watching every year.
5. The Santa Clause (1, 2,3) – Tim Allen makes us all laugh in this household, and the festive effects in all 3 films are pretty wonderful. The modern twist is also fun to watch – and makes my kids wish it would happen to their Dad!
6. A Christmas Story – I love coming-of-age films, and this one is a firm favorite – just the thought of the “leg” lamp in the “fragile” package makes me laugh out loud! Letting the kids see the “olden”, simpler days of the 50′s is also good.
7. A Charlie Brown Christmas – Ok, so my husband who’s not so big on cartoons won’t join us for this one (also because he’s English, so Charlie Brown isn’t really something he grew up with), but I love watching this with the kids for its quiet, jazzy music, old-style humour (you blockhead!) and nostalgic feel. Perfect!
From my family to yours, Merry Christmas!!
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December 29th, 2008 at 2:23 am
all the listed movies you have on this post are very high ranking on my list as well – awesome post!
Happy New Year
January 5th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
Great list you have there.
Of course, I’m surprise that the movie ‘Home Alone’ didn’t include your favorites, it’s has it’s lighter tone to the tear-jerking movies you got there.
Anyhow, still, great list!
Happy New Year!!
January 14th, 2009 at 2:16 am
A Christmas Story is a favorite at our house as well. This year, we also added…ELF, which our kids absolutely love!
January 15th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Yes you are right, Home Alone is a good one! I guess I just overlooked it because my daughter watches it all year round
For some strange reason, we haven’t seen Elf yet…but will now definitely check it out!