THE LIST OF THE TOP CHRISTMAS MOVIES TONY THINKS YOU SHOULD NOT MISS

I covered the Christmas specials you should check out yesterday. Back in the day they were really all of the Christmas shows to see on TV other than series doing a holiday episode. “It’s A Wonderful Life” and “A Christmas Story” would make a showing as would “Miracle On 34th Street” for movies, but those were usually the most you would see. Since then several new movies have become classics that many must watch now with some being debatable as to whether they are really Christmas movies or just movies that happen around that time of year. I’ll admit, there are some movies I’ve never seen for one reason or another with the main reason being I just haven’t made the time to. I’m not going to lie and tell you to see them when I haven’t! Also, no Hallmark. And as the name of this list suggests they are ones you should not miss, not of “all time” so that’s why I don’t have the aforementioned Wonderful Life and Miracle on this list – I know you’ll watch them. Here’s my Top 10 15 Christmas movies you should watch every year with some old favorites and new ones that you will add to your list!

15. Trading Places – An 80s classic about switching two peoples’ lives to see if they succeed or fail. It happens during Christmas and the New Year more than being about Christmas. THERE’S PLENTY OF BEEF JERKY, YOU KNOW!

14. The Christmas Chronicles 1 and 2 – On Netflix, Kurt Russell plays Santa (or Hot Santa as some moms have deemed him) in these fun and touching movies about a family and tough times.

13. The Santa Claus movies – Tim Allen was a scrooge that put on Santa’s coat after he fell off his roof and the rest is history. 3 movies that are mostly enjoyable. There is even a show on Disney+ now that is merely OK.

12. Die Hard – The story of a man that just wants to celebrate Christmas, but first has to kill terrorist. Top 5 action movie, but not Top 10 Christmas movie because my list is a little more holly than hardcore. Yippe-ky-yay, Father Christmas!

11. The Family Man – This take on Scrooge is interesting as it places the main character in a different timeline where one decision changed everything. Which life makes him truly happy? Can he have both? Get ready for a gut punch.

10. A Christmas Story – I know there are folks that have this as the pinnacle of Christmas films, but I never watched it as a kid and never bought into the hype. It has it’s moments and I can’t deny its popularity, but it doesn’t do it for me.

9. Jingle All The Way – Ah-nuld as the dad who forgot to get the hottest toy of the year for his son and his exploits of trying to find one last minute was a very familiar feeling in the 90s. Filmed in St. Paul and surrounding Twin Cities communities!

8. Just Friends – The high school loser returns home by accident and tries to get back with his best friend/high school crush. It is a hilarious movie that has become a cult classic. It will have you saying “Dinkleman!”

7. Dr. Suess’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas – Jim Carrey is great as the Grinch and the live action version does the story justice. The added scenes that aren’t in the book give it more heft.

6. 8-Bit Christmas – This is an HBO made movie and it is fantastic! It is basically an updated version of A Christmas Story with Nintendo replacing the Red Rider. However, there is a message in this film and you will need a tissue by the end.

5. The Polar Express – The magic and majesty of the book’s illustrations are wonderfully captured in this movie and the sweeping score is Christmas encapsulated. TV cut out some scenes that would make a first time viewer confused, so I suggest you BluRay or stream it.

4. Scrooged – Bill Murray in the 80’s update that is the epitome of greed in that decade and how TV execs seemed to think back them. It will put a little love in your heart. I feel the new movie Violent Night was inspired by a scene in this movie.

3. Home Alone – Every kid’s worst nightmare and greatest wish wrapped up in one movie. There are so many moments of heart and comedy you can’t help but love it.

2. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation – Are you serious, Clark? Yes, at number 2 because it is the funniest Christmas movie and one of the great comedies of all time. It is highly quotable and we all know a character or two from the movie in real life.

1. Disney’s A Christmas Carol – Again Jim Carrey stars as the other renowned anti-Christmas figure, Ebeneezer Scrooge. The CGI movie is wonderful and it uses the original dialogue from the book with some added scenes that would look even better if you could see them in their original 3D release. Watch it in the highest definition possible.