They are everywhere: the Hallmark Channel, Lifetime, Netflix, Disney +, Amazon and others. Christmas movie season is in full swing and so is the debate about the best ones.

Actually it’s not a debate that can be won because it’s just a matter of opinion.  With that said here are my ten favorites from bottom to top and for the purpose of this list I have not included “Die Hard” or any animated films like “Polar Express” which I really like.

10. (Tie) The Holiday, Prancer and Bad Santa which is bad and funny
9. The Family Stone- Great cast with Diane Keaton, Sarah Jessica Parker, Claire Danes, Luke Wilson and more which should resonate with anyone part of a family that is tough on outsiders. Both funny and sad.
8. Home Alone- No holiday season is complete without watching this one from start to finish. It’s also when Macaulay Culkin was cute.
7. A Christmas Story- It’s now 37 years and counting as Ralphie seeks the Red Rider BB gun.  This classic also includes one of the most famous holiday movie lines of all time, ”you’ll shoot your eye out.”
6. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation- Might be hard to compare with some of the classics but it belongs on the list as we can all relate to poor Clark Griswold who just wants to have the best lights display around
5. It’s A Wonderful Life- Considered by many as #1 on their list this 1946 gemwith Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey will always be on the list.
4. White Christmas- Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen star in this 1954 musical set in Vermont.
3. Miracle on 34th Street-The 1947 original of course starring Edmund Gwen as Kris Kringle, Maureen O’Hara and featuring 8-year old Natalie Wood.
2. Elf-Maybe Will Ferrell’s best role ever as “Buddy the Elf” and James Caan is perfect as his biological father.  Simply a great holiday film.
1. Love Actually- I admit to being a sap for movies like this which is more like an R rated Hallmark movie starring Hugh Grant and a bunch of English actors. We watch it every year on Thanksgiving night and I’m okay with being the only person in the world who has it at #1 on their list.

By the way I am not ashamed to admit that I have an obsession with the Hallmark Christmas movies, now celebrating their 11th anniversary of simple and hokey family films that keep “C-list” actors employed.

 

 

More From 92.7 WOBM