Our Favorite Christmas Movies 2021

Tis the season for Holiday films! December is certainly our favorite time of the year! Nothing gets us more in the Christmas spirit than watching movies. Here is the top 10 list of my personal favorite movies to watch around the holidays.

I think I have watched Home Alone at least 20 times over the course of my life. It’s become a Christmas staple. It came out a few years after I was born and I think I’ve owned it on every format imaginable, all the way from VHS to 4K Blu-Ray. It’s such a classic at this point, I am sure it’s on many people’s lists. Culkin is unforgettable as Kevin, the little kid who was left home alone for the holidays. He must defend himself and his home, from burglars Harry and Marv, until his parents get back from vacation. This was a scenario I always wondered about as a young boy watching the movie. I asked myself if I would be able to do the same with whatever resources I had in the house. It’s an interesting thing to think about, especially at that age.

My parents owned a movie store in the early 1990’s, so I had access to this movie, and pretty much any other. But I also played all the latest video games. Believe it or not, Home Alone had its own video game for the NES, which I played quite a lot. Needless to say, I hold this movie close to my heart and I can’t wait to show it to my own kids one day and let them enjoy it as I did. It’s an enduring classic that is loved by millions.

The rest of my top five are obviously important to me, too. Christmas Vacation is another classic I enjoy every year. I first saw it at a young age and I certainly did not get every joke until I was a little older. There are so many classic quotable lines that still hold up today and are funnier than ever. Elf is more of a modern classic now and it’s another one of those movies that is full of Christmas spirit as we see Buddy the Elf visit NYC and attempt to get accustomed to normal every day life. It makes me laugh every time I watch, but it’s also very family friendly so pretty much anyone can watch it. The Polar Express is just simply magical. It’s not the most deep or well-acted films, but the magic, music and atmosphere make it a true holiday favorite. The visuals are beautiful in my opinion, even though many say it just looks weird. It used video game-style motion tracking for its animation, which was considered rare for the time. I think this film captures the essence of Christmas better than any other holiday movie and that is something that I can appreciate. The Santa Clause is one that solidified my belief in Santa as a child. I thought this was how the Santa Claus thing worked and how the North Pole operated. My parents even went as far as to write a letter to me from the Bernard character and I totally bought into it, only to be tragically let down years later when I found out it was all a sham. It was fun while it lasted!

I am thankful for Christmas movies, as they add so much joy and fun to the holidays. They are still being made, but it seems like the best ones are usually a little older. Maybe a new one will make its way into my list one day. With that being said, there are a few relatively new ones on there, like Arthur Christmas and The Man Who Invented Christmas. Check out the full list here. Until next post, Merry Christmas ya filthy animal…and a Happy New Year!

Do you agree with my list? What would yours look like? Sound off in the comments!

– Wade Williams