Best Christmas Movies of All Time

A man loses track of what's important in life and loses hope. Thanks to his guardian angel, he discovers that he has everything he's ever wanted and more.

James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, Henry Travers, Beulah Bondi, Frank Faylen, Ward Bond, Gloria Grahame, H.B. Warner, Todd Karns, Samuel S. Hinds, Frank Capra, Albert Hackett, Frances Goodrich, Jo Swerling, Michael Wilson, Philip Van Doren Stern: Movies & TV

This hilarious Christmas film tells the tale of a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa's bag of gifts on Christmas Eve and is transported back to the North Pole and raised as an elf. Years later Buddy learns he is not really an elf and goes on a journey to New York City to find his true identity.

Discover the magic of the Mean One this holiday season! Oscar-winning director Ron Howard and Oscar-winning producer Brian Grazer bring Christmas' best-loved grump to life with the help of the irrepressible Jim Carrey as The Grinch. The Grinch is a celebration of the holiday spirit no home should be without! Why is The Grinch (Carrey) such a grouch? No one seems to know, until little Cindy Lou Who (Taylor Momsen) takes matters into her own hands and turns both Whoville and The Grinch's world upside down, inside out… and funny side up in her search for the true meaning of Christmas.

This iconic Christmas movie is one that'll make you laugh out loud. I watch it every year just for the squirrel scene. It's slapstick but also heartwarming, too.

Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Randy Quaid

When a man accidentally kills Santa on Christmas Eve, he finds himself magically recruited to take his place. The sudden big white beard and weight gain are the least of his problems. Directed by John Pasquin. With Tim Allen, Judge Reinhold, Wendy Crewson, Eric Lloyd.

In Nancy Meyers' The Holiday, a romantic comedy from the director of Something's Gotta Give and What Women Want, two women trade homes only to find that a change of address can change their lives. Iris (Winslet) is in love with a man who is about to marry another woman. Across the globe, Amanda (Diaz), realizes the man she lives with has been unfaithful. Two women who have never met and live 6000 miles apart, find themselves in the exact same place. They meet online at a home exchange website and impulsively switch homes for the holiday. Iris moves into Amanda's L.A. house in sunny California as Amanda arrives in the snow covered English countryside. Shortly after arriving at their destinations, both women find the last thing either wants or expects: a new romance. Amanda is charmed by Iris' handsome brother Graham (Law) and Iris, with inspiration provided by legendary screenwriter Arthur (Wallach), mends her heart when she meets film composer Miles (Black).

Jude Law, Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Eli Wallach, Edward Burns, Rufus Sewell, Jack Black, Nancy Meyers, Bruce A. Block, Columbia Pictures: Movies & TV

While it's not a kids' Christmas movie, it is one of our favorites to watch each year. Bruce Willis ends up trapped for the holidays, saving the day, yet again.

Starring: Bruce Willis, Reginald VelJohnson, Bonnie Bedelia, Alexander Godunov, Alan Rickman, William Atherton, De'voreaux White, Paul Gleason, Hart Bochner, Dennis Hayden, Clarence Gilyard Jr., Bruno Doyon, Andreas Wisniewski, James Shigeta, Robert Davi, Grand L. Bush, Matt Landers, Anthony Peck, Lorenzo Caccialanza, Joey Plewa, Al Leong, Gary Roberts, Hans Buhringer, Wilhelm von Homburg, Gérard Bonn, David Ursin, Mary Ellen Trainor, Bill Marcus, Rick Ducommun, Carmine Zozzora: Movies & TV

The Polar Express is an enchanting holiday tale of a young boy who doubts that Santa Claus truly exists. On one special Christmas Eve, as the boy skeptically waits for the sound of sleigh bells, a magical train appears outside his home and the conductor invites him aboard. What lies ahead is an extraordinary adventure of self-discovery through which the young boy learns that for those who believe, the wonders of life never fade. This beautifully made film, based on the book by Chris Van Allsburg, will become a holiday tradition your family will enjoy for generations.

A Christmas Story is a Christmas classic on DVD that tells the story of nine-year-old Ralphie (Peter Billingsley). In the movie, Ralphie wants only one thing: a Red Ryder Range 200-Shot BB gun. When he mentions it at the dinner table, his mother's immediate reaction is that he'll put his eye out. He then decides it's the perfect theme for a report for his teacher, but her reaction is like his mother's. He fantasizes about what it would be like to be Red Ryder and catch the bad guys. When the big day arrives he gets lots of presents under the tree including a lovely gift from his aunt that his mother just adores. But what about the BB gun?

Fred Claus, Santa's bitter, little known, older brother, returns to the North Pole and hilarity ensues. He nearly destroys Christmas, but then.... you'll have to watch to see. With Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti, Elizabeth Banks, John Michael Higgins.

I don't know why this is one of my favorite Christmas movies, other than Vince Vaughn's transformation throughout the movie.

The Nightmare Before Christmas: Chris Sarandon, Danny Elfman, Catherine O'Hara, William Hickey, Glenn Shadix, Paul Reubens, Ken Page, Ed Ivory, Susan McBride, Debi Durst, Greg Proops, Kerry Katz, Randy Crenshaw, Sherwood Ball, Carmen Twillie, Henry Selick, Based On A Story And Characters By Tim Burton, Screenplay By Caroline Thompson: Movies & TV

Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye team up to enliven a winter resort inn. The Irving Berlin musical score sparkles with some great tunes, including the magical title track.

Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Mary Wickes, Vera-Ellen, Dean Jagger: Movies & TV

Several interwoven stories make this a major favorite. (It is R rated, so not a kid Christmas movie.) Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Laura Linney, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Keira Knightley, Rowan Atkinson, Andrew Lincoln, Rory MacGregor, Heike Makatsch, Kris Marshall, Frank Moorey, Bill Nighy, Joanna Page, Lulu Popplewell, Nina Sosanya: Movies & TV

When their only daughter Blair leaves the family nest, Luther and Nora Krank (Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis) decide to book an island cruise to beat the yuletide blues and just skip the holidays. But their decision to boycott tradition has the whole neighborhood in an uproar, and when Blair callson Christmas Eve to announce a surprise visit with her new fiancée, the Kranks have just twelve hours to perform a miracle and pull themselves and their neighbors together to throw the best celebration ever! With fast-paced energy and support from Dan Aykroyd, Cheech Marin, Jake Busey and M. EmmetWalsh, this hilarious adaptation of John Grisham's best-selling novel, "Skipping Christmas" has become "an instant family classic!" (Gorman Woodfin, CBN)

An adwoman's lawyer boyfriend proves Macy's Santa Claus is the real thing. Edmund Gwenn, Maureen O'Hara, John Payne, Gene Lockhart, Natalie Wood, Porter Hall, William Frawley, Jerome Cowan, Philip Tonge, Sheryl Deauville, Jack Albertson, Harry Antrim, Charles G. Clarke, Lloyd Ahern Sr., George Seaton, Robert L. Simpson, William Perlberg, Valentine Davies

Accidentally left behind when his parents rush off on their Christmas vacation, eight-year-old Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) embarks on a hilarious, madcap mission to defend the family home when two bumbling burglars (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern) try to break in and find themselves tangled in Kevin s bewildering battery of booby traps! Daniel Stern, Joe Pesci, Roberts Blossom, John Heard, Macaulay Culkin, Chris Columbus

How CAN Santa deliver billions of presents to the whole world in just one night? With an army of one million combat-style Field Elves and a vast, state-of-the-art control center under the ice of the North Pole! So how could this incredible operation have MISSED one child?! To Santa’s young son, Arthur, it threatens to end the magic of Christmas. With retired Grandsanta, a rebellious young elf, an old sleigh and some untrained reindeer, Arthur sets out in a crazy mission to deliver the last present! Deck the halls with excitement, fun and wonder in this new Christmas classic!

Christmastime is here. Happiness and cheer. And for Peanuts fans everywhere, it just wouldn't be Christmas without this classic holiday delight. Christmas lights may be twinkling red and green, but Charlie Brown has the Yuletide blues. To get in the holiday spirit, he takes Lucy's advice and directs the Christmas play. And what's a Christmas play without a Christmas tree? But everyone makes fun of the short, spindly nevergreen Charlie Brown brings back – until the real meaning of Christmas works its magic once again in this Remastered Deluxe Edition with Improved Picture and Audio.

Every who down in Who-ville likes Christmas a lot, but the Grinch who lived just north of Who-ville did NOT! So the cuddly as a cactus Grinch (with termites in his smile and garlic in his soul) tries to wipe out Christmas for the cheerful Who-villains, only to discover: maybe Christmas, he thought doesn't come from as store. Maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more! Magnificently narrated by Boris Karloff and animated by cartoon legend Chuck Jones, it's an award-winning Who-roast-beast-feast of a holiday classic!

Matthew Broderick and Danny DeVito are hilarious as two neighbors trying to put the "win" in "winter" in one of the year's funniest comedies!Determined to unseat Steve Finch's (Broderick) reign as the town's holiday season king, Buddy Hall (DeVito) plasters his house with so many decorative lights that it'll be visible from space! When their wives (Kristin Davis and Kristin Chenoweth) bond, and their kids follow suit, the two men only escalate their rivalry- and their decorating.It's anybody's guess whether the holidays will wind up jolly or jostled in this wild and woolly laugh-fest that the whole family will love!

Matthew Broderick, Danny DeVito, Kristin Chenoweth, Kristin Davis, Alia Shawkat, Dylan Blue, Kelly Aldridge, Sabrina Aldridge, Jorge Garcia, Fred Armisen, Gillian Vigman, Ryan Devlin, John Whitesell, Arnon Milchan, Jeremiah Samuels, Michael Costigan, Chris Ord, Don Rhymer, Matt Corman: Movies & TV

Voices of Jerry Nelson, Frank Oz. Jim Henson and songwriter Paul Williams bring Russell Hoban's lively storybook to life with this TV special about Emmet and Ma Otter of Frogtown Hollow, who each enter a talent contest before Christmas with hopes of winning money to buy presents for the other.

From Walt Disney Pictures comes the magical retelling of Charles Dickens’ beloved tale — Disney’s A Christmas Carol, the high-flying, heartwarming adventure for the whole family, starring Jim Carrey. When three ghosts take penny-pinching Scrooge on an eye-opening journey, he discovers the true meaning of Christmas -- but he must act on it before it’s too late. Complete with spirited bonus features, this exhilarating and touching Disney classic is destined to be part of your holiday tradition, adding sparkle and heart to all your Christmases yet to come.

Every Christmas happily unmarried Brad and Kate escape divorced parents and exasperating relatives by getting on a plane. This year a fog rolls in, the airport shuts down and the couple is forced to celebrate four family Christmases in one hectic, hilarious day. Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon lead an all-star cast in a comedy brimming with good cheer and great laughs -- as well as the answer to the question: Can Brad and Kate's relationship survive Four Christmases?

High-spirited high jinks on Christmas Eve put Frank Cross (Bill Murray) in a ghostly time warp in this hilarious take-off of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” Cross, who has made the meteoric rise from the depths of the mailroom to TV network president, is mean, nasty, uncaring, unforgiving and has a sadistic sense of humor - perfect qualities for a modern-day Scrooge. Before the night is over, he’ll be visited by a maniacal New York cab driver from the past, a present-day fairy who’s into pratfalls and, finally, a ghoulish, seven-foot headless messenger from the future.

Scrooge was designed as a follow-up to 1968's Oliver, the Oscar-winning musicalization of Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist. The umpteenth musical version of Dickens' 1843 novelette A Christmas Carol, Scrooge is blessed with several sprightly Leslie Bricusse songs, including the bonafide hit Thank You Very Much. Once more buried under mounds of latex, Albert Finney is perfection itself as Ebeneezer Scrooge, proving as effective as a young (un-made up) man as the old skinflint we've grown to love. The Three Ghosts who turn the miserly Scrooge's life around on Christmas Eve are portrayed by Edith Evans (Past), Kenneth More (Present) and Paddy Stone (Yet to Come). Our favorite among the huge, predominantly British supporting cast is Sir Alec Guinness as a fussy, slightly effeminate Marley's Ghost. Best of all, Finney performs his many songs "live" and not lip-synched to a pre-recording. Though it is overproduced to the hilt, and its Technicolor photography tends to induce eyestrain, Scrooge is more than satisfactory Yuletide entertainment.