Top 30 Movies to Watch at Christmas Part 1 (#30-16)

   Christmas time is here, full of wonder and cheer, and with it, we bring you a special collaborative article by myself, Joshua Glasscock, and Richard Hawkins, detailing the top 30 movies to watch to get you in the Christmas spirit. From the very start, I wanted to make this an expansive list with 30 films, and dang it we were going to get 30 films. Well, we found quickly there are not actually that many good Christmas films, so excuse us as we start off with some guilty pleasures for some people. Do not expect an in depth look at each of these films, but just a brief snippet as to why these are good films to watch during Christmas. That being said, feel free to comment on what films you think should be in the top 15 for this list, or what films you think should be left off/added. The top 15 will be posted tomorrow on Christmas Eve, but until then, enjoy the first part of our top 30 list!

#30. Deck the Halls

   Let us be frank; This is NOT a good movie by any stretch of the imagination. A critical and commercial flop, starring Mathew Broderick and Danny DeVito, this film (if you can call it that) is essentially about two neighboring fathers who battle each other over their Christmas decorations. Does this sound like a riveting film? No, oh, right, because it is not. Still, that being said, there are some people who enjoy this film, and honestly, the only reason it made this list is because we could not think of a movie to put in this spot and one of my friends threatened me to put it on (love you too Avalon!). I will give credit that it does have a "Christmas feel" to it, and this list is all about getting you in the Christmas mood, so that's good, right? Right?

-Braeden Orr

#29. Jingle All The Way

   Another guilty pleasure, this time being my own. Jingle All The Way stars Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sinbad (see where I'm going here?) as they try to find a Turbo Man action figure, the hottest toy of the season based on a popular TV show, for their kids. Jake Lloyd plays Schwarzenegger's son Jamie, pre-Star Wars destruction (okay, he wasn't THAT bad, but you get the idea). I will readily admit that this film is TERRIBLE, but there's something almost innocent about it, and its so bad you can get a few laughs out of it (plus there are one or two moments that are actually humorous in their own right, the end of the radio station scene for one). Maybe its because I grew up watching this film a lot as a young child, even owning my own Turbo Man action figure, but this is one film I watch every year, if just for nostalgia.

-Braeden Orr

#28. Ernest Saves Christmas

   The last "guilty pleasure" on this list, Ernest Saves Christmas is a Christmas-driven vehicle for Jim Varney's popular Ernest character. Ernest teams up with a runaway teen girl named Harmony Starr (appropriately in name played by Noelle Parker) to give Santa Claus (Douglas Seale) his magic sack back and eventually pass on the duties of Santa to Joe Carruthers (Oliver Clark). This was another childhood favorite of mine, and while it is not "good" per say, there is something likable about the innocence and naivety of Ernest, and his willingness to help out those in need. It is an innocent, harmless flick, that you're sure to get at least one or two laughs out of.

-Braeden Orr

#27. Olive the Other Reindeer

   Based on the children's book of the same name by Vivian Walsh, this film is all about mistaken identiy (though not to the extent of North by Northwest, though that would make a humorous Christmas film for sure). Rather, a young dog named Olive (Drew Barrymore) here's on the radio one of Santa's reindeer mention that the fate of Christmas, after one reindeer is mentioned, relies on "all of the other reindeer", which she mishears to mean "Olive the Other Reindeer". At this, she sets out for the North Pole, in hopes of not only saving Christmas, but also rekindling her owner Tim's (Jay Mohr) affection for her (again, through a misinterpretation). Along the way, she meets a whole cast of characters, voiced by a very well known cast in Dan Castellaneta, Peter MacNicol, Joe Pantoliano, Ed Asner, and Billy West. Its a light hearted affair, with very nice voices and is very enjoyable, especially for the younger audience it is intended for (but with enough adult humor to keep adults entertained as well).

-Braeden Orr

#26. The Polar Express

   I do not like this film Sam, I Am, but apparently a ton of other people do, so here it is at #26 on our list. The film is essentially about a boy (Daryl Sabara) going to the North Pole on a magical train, trying to figure out if he believes in Santa Claus. It really should be a light hearted affair, but is very melodramatic. Don't get me wrong, I like when a studio is willing to take a more serious approach to a film meant for children, but it clashes with some of the more over the top moments. Not to mention that most of Tom Hanks's characters (and he plays a lot of them) are not that likeable, except for maybe Santa Claus. That being said, the film is very good looking, if the character's faces aren't as expressive as one would like, and the soundtrack is excellent, even the musical numbers composed for the more over the top moments. It looks nice, sounds nice, and has a good message, plus is based on a classic Christmas book, making it well deserved of having a spot on our list.

-Braeden Orr

#25. The Toy That Saved Christmas

"I will devour your soul..."

   Unless you are a VeggieTales fan, you may not know of this one, unless you happened to see it on TV in 1998 (with additional footage to fill in the timeslot). For those not familiar with VeggieTales, it is a video series that relates Bible stories (usually from the Old Testament) in a humorous fashion with vegetables. Obviously non-Christians probably will not enjoy these as much (though there is something that should be funny to anyone about the soliders of Jericho pelting the Israelites with Slurpees, but I digress), but I DARE you not to find this Silly Song with Larry (a filler segment to split up the two lalves of the story, usually for cliffhanging purposes) to be absolutely hysterical.

Or since this IS about Christmas movies, how about this Silly Song that is featured as part of this movie?

   The plot of this special is that the three main characters, Bob the Tomato, Larry the Cucumber, and Junior, are trying to find out the true meaning of Christmas, and make their town realize that toys like "Buzz-saw Louie" is not the reason why Christmas is celebrated. Its sort of like Jingle All the Way with its message against Christmas being all about getting presents, but with a more religious message, likable characters, and pretty clever writing.

-Braeden Orr

#24. Mickey's Once Upon Christmas

   This Disney special is an amazing collection of three tales of holiday joy and sorrow. The story is broken up into three small segments, each focusing on classic Disney characters. Huey, Dewey and Louie are the focus of the first segment, Goofy and his son Max take the second, and the last segment is a poignant retelling of the Gift of the Magi with Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Each of these segments are well done, this probably has my favorite version of the Gift of the Magi. To me, the one segment that holds the most heart and meaning is the one focusing on Goofy. It seems odd, thinking that a Goofy cartoon has the most meaning, but the reason for this is quite simple. Goofy’s story is a simple, personal tale. His son Max has stopped believing in Santa; Goofy tries to convince his son that Santa is real. It is a simple story of a father trying to keep hope and belief in magic alive in his son. This is made all the more poignant when the tables are turned and Max must try to convince a heartbroken Goofy that Santa is real. This one segment alone is worth watching this Christmas special.

-Richard Hawkins

   As a side note, this is one per franchise, so its sequel, Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas, is not on this list. However, I would recommend, despite being inferior to this film, it is a very good special in its own right, and one of the few Disney films with its original characters animated in CG.

-Braeden Orr

#23. Little Drummer Boy

   The Little Drummer Boy is a movie that was inspired by a song of the same name about a boy who let out his frustrations on a little drum. In the movie, which was made for TV in 1968, the boy is named Aaron and he grows to hate humanity after he sees his parents get killed. His only friends are a lamb named Baabaa, a camel named Joshua, and a donkey named Samson. He ends up being stuck in a traveling troupe of performers and his animal friend Joshua is sold to three wise men who are traveling to Bethlehem. The young boy follows them and eventually ends up playing his drum for baby Jesus the night the three wise men visit him. The movie has a lot of influence from religion, but it is a nice movie all the same. It was made with stop motion animation that may be aged now, but is still fairly decent. One nice thing about this is that is does bring Christmas back to its origins. While it may not appeal to everyone, it is certainly a touching movie that is well made and can be appreciated by many people.

-Joshua Glasscock

#22. Frosty the Snowman

   This movie is definitely geared more towards kids than it is adults. It is an animated movie based off the song "Frosty the Snowman" and is narrated by Jimmy Durante. The plot is about a snowman made by a group of kids that comes to life after they put a magic hat on it that used to belong to a failed magician. His best friend is a young girl named Karen who travels with him as they try to get to the North Pole so that Frosty has a place to stay year round. The movie has some nice animation and music to it, especially the scene where the characters walk through town singing the song the movie was based off of. Jimmy Durante does a good job with the narration making this an overall enjoyable film for kids. It’s considered a classic by many and I am sure that it is a childhood favorite of many people.

-Joshua Glasscock

#21. Santa Claus is Coming to Town

   This film is a Christmas classic. For as long as I can remember, my family has watched this special every year. It is definitely one of the best Rankin Bass specials. The stop motion is not spectacular by any length; it pales in comparison to The Nightmare Before Christmas. The things that makes this special good is Mickey Rooney’s portrayal of Santa, a role he we reprise over the years, and Fred Astaire’s wonderful narration. This film is an interesting interpretation of the classic tales of Santa Claus.

-Richard Hawkins

#20. Home Alone

   While not the best Christmas movie out there, Home Alone is definitely one of the most entertaining. It is a comedy about a kid named Kevin McCallister who is left home after his family leaves to go spend Christmas in Paris. His family is so large that his mother does not even realize that he got left behind until they get to Paris. Two thieves are also trying to break into the house while the family is gone and Kevin has to defend his house from the robbers by setting a series of traps. Most of the humor in the film involves the over the top reactions from the characters, the ridiculous traps Kevin sets, and the pratfalls the thieves go through. The movie is pretty funny, even if the humor is a little childish at times. Despite the childish feeling that parts of the film have, there are some really nice scenes involving Kevin and his family, making this movie a family friendly Christmas film that anyone can enjoy easily earning this movie a spot on our list.

-Joshua Glasscock

#19. The Muppet Christmas Carol

   Let it be known, that this is my second favorite Christmas movie of all time and I am saddened that it is only at number 19 on this list. Still, it is a great film and one that can be watched over and over. Combine the classic tale by Charles Dickens and throw in the master style, humor, wit, and musical accompaniment found in Muppets films, and you have the perfect combination for a great Christmas film that truly is timeless. The Muppets are great as always, and Michael Caine makes a terrific Scrooge that may be bested by just one other (but more on him later). If you want a class tale re-imagined in a clever, but hilarious way, this movie is the way to go. Plus, you get to see Beaker flip off Caine!

-Braeden Orr

#18. We're No Angels

   We’re No Angels is an odd movie. It is a comedy starring one of the greatest actors of all time, Humphrey Bogart. The thing that makes this festive film odd is the fact that Bogie rarely stared in comedies. This film proves that to be a shame. Bogey is one of three convicts with hearts of gold, out for a Christmas caper. These three are not the best people, but they prove that you do not need wings and a halo to be an angel. They start out as three hardened killers on the run, they take refuge at a failing store, with the intent of robbing it. The family who owns the store are kind to the convicts, even though they know the convicts are robbing them blind. The families goodwill slowly breaks down the convicts ill manner. The convicts decide to use their “unique” talents to aid the family and their store. The convicts slowly become more altruistic, yet are able to justify nearly every helpful action as being part of their plan to rob the store. We’re No Angels exemplifies the spirit of giving that ins synonymous with the holiday season.

-Richard Hawkins

#17. Scrooged


Scrooged is a fun retelling of the classic Christmas story A Christmas Carol, set in contemporary times and starring the hilarious Bill Murray in a remarkable update of the classic miser Ebenezer Scrooge. In this version of the tale, Scrooge is television network executive named Frank Cross, his personality matching his name. Cross is charged with producing a live broadcast of A Christmas Carol. Unfortunately, he finds his life beginning to mirror the story he is producing when he encounters ghosts that warn him to change his ways. A Christmas Carol has been retold countless times since the first time it was put on film. This is arguably the best version of it set in a modern time. Bill Murray plays the cynic perfectly for this, he is a perfect example of a modern Scrooge.

-Richard Hawkins

#16. White Christmas

   White Christmas is the type of movie that best exemplifies the holiday spirit. Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye both star in this hilarious romp about two ex GI’s who make a killing in show business and fall in love with a pair of singing and dancing sisters. Together the four try to save the failing inn of the boys former general from WWII. This movie is about the Christmas spirit and combines it with the post WWII patriotism that America was known for.This is a movie that most likely could not be made today, as the idealism and patriotism that went into this film does not match the hardened tastes of modern America. This film is best viewed with a sense of nostalgia of what some view as a simpler time, and certainly one of a more united America. Regardless of when you watch it, you will most certainly enjoy this timeless, Christmas classic.

-Richard Hawkins

And that's numbers 30 - 16! Join us tomorrow night as we present the other half of the list, with the 15 best movies to watch at Christmas!