Jade’s Top Ten Christmas Films
10. The Nightmare Before Christmas
Now Halloween is officially over its time for the next holiday: Christmas! And what better way to transition into the festive season than by watching this claymated classic. When the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, Jack Skellington, becomes disillusioned with Halloween, he takes matters into his own hands. After stumbling upon Christmas Town, he decides to take over festivities for the year and thus spooky chaos ensues. With stunning visuals and catchy songs, this is the perfect first watch of the season!
9. Love Actually
If romance is what you're after, then look no further! Following the lives of an all-star cast, we see how all their stories intertwine and how love is truly all around us at Christmas. Including the iconic stories of the man who’s in love with his best friend’s wife, a guy whose wife just died and so is helping his stepson find love, and a man cheating on his wife with his secretary. (Wait, are we sure this is a rom-com?)
8. Home Alone
After realising that he has been left home alone (see what they did there) from the family Christmas holiday, Kevin finds himself the man of the house as he defends it from burglars. Learning to fend for himself all while setting wild booby traps for the intruders, this family comedy is sure to get you into the Christmas spirit.
7. Elf
This slapstick comedy never fails to get me feeling festive. After discovering that he is in fact a human and not an elf, Buddy travels to New York in search of his real family. However, trouble begins as he finds out that not only is his dad is on the naughty list, but that Christmas itself is in danger from a lack of Christmas spirit.
6. Die Hard
If action is more your speed, then I’ve got the perfect movie for you. After a Christmas party is infiltrated by terrorists, New York cop John McClane must save the hostages, including his estranged wife, by taking them out one by one. This is also a great movie to watch following Love Actually (if you know, you know). Oh, and if there’s any hill that I will die on, its this one. YES! IT IS A CHRISTMAS MOVIE!
5. Arthur Christmas
A devastatingly underrated animated comedy starring the voice talents of James McAvoy and Bill Nighy. After a child accidentally does not receive a present from Santa, his son Arthur decides to deliver it instead. Festive chaos follows as he sets off on an adorable adventure around the world to ensure that no child feels left out on Christmas day.
4. Nativity!
In order to impress an old friend, a primary school teacher lies that his nativity is going to be turned into a Hollywood movie. When the rumour gets out of hand, he has no choice but to put on the best Nativity the world has ever seen. With a whole host of absolutely banging tunes, this movie is certain to get you singing along and even shed a happy tear or two.
3. The Snowman
The beautiful, heartwarming classic of a young boy whose snowman comes to life on Christmas eve. Together they adventure to the north pole to party with other snowmen and finally get to meet the man of the hour himself, Father Christmas! Gorgeously animated with a stunning soundtrack to match, its no wonder this movie has stayed a firm favourite over the years.
2. Gremlins
If horror is your thing, then this is the perfect spooky movie for you. After being gifted Gizmo the Mogwai for Christmas with only three simple rules to follow, which are inevitably all broken, chaos embroils a small town as the troublesome gremlins take over. Perfectly combining horror, gore, and comedy, this is a hilarious way to celebrate the festive season if you’re still slightly longing for Halloween!
1. Muppets Christmas Carol
A hysterical Muppet adaptation of Charles Dickens’ Christmas Carol. Need I say more? Michael Caine gives a stellar performance as a man auditioning for Shakespeare but accidentally got dropped off at a puppet show and just went with it. Gonzo shines as author and narrator Dickens, alongside his trusty companion and my personal favourite Muppet, Rizzo the Rat. Is this a perfect movie? Who’s to say? Me. I’m to say. It is.
If you want to hear more of Jade Drever’s top notch film chat (and more!), catch her on her radio show ‘No Guilty Pleasures’ (now on Spotify) and follow on Letterboxd so you can be told how you to feel about films without needing to form your own opinion. Hooray!