Fellas, we have to do better. As we are in the throes of the holiday season, I have become painfully aware of the disconnect between men and women regarding Christmas entertainment. As the days get shorter and the nights get colder, it makes sense to sit on the couch and watch a nice Christmas movie with some hot cocoa after a long day. However, I want a bit of action, like some Home Alone or some Die Hard. The women of my life want the Hallmark and Great American Family nonsense. As is the case, because I am home for the holidays, and I love my mother dearly, I have made it a point to spend some quality time with her and watch some movies that are actual snoozefest. That said, here is a list of Christmas movies you need to watch this season.
It is no secret that many of the Christmas movies of today appeal to women. We all know the standard tropes. You have the career-driven woman meeting the small-town man when she gets stuck driving through snow during the holidays. Or she’s on a work business trip and she happens to run into him at the airport. Or she’s helping at her father’s inn and he’s an undercover BnB reviewer. Or she’s a news reporter and he’s a prince. Or they’re in a bakeoff. I could name about 60 more plots that all have the depth of a singular sheet of notebook paper. But the women EAT IT UP. As men, we need to embrace this, not look at it as detrimental. If we become well-versed in the art of these movies, we can become that much closer to the women in our lives. They want us to appreciate spending time with them during the movie nights, not just tolerating it.
She also wants you to initiate some of this stuff dude. She wants you to say, “Hey, let’s watch that one where the girl is working at her father’s lumber mill and the dude comes back from overseas based on the Christmas letter he received from her when he was serving in the war” I’m being slightly facetious in that example, but the point rings true. Take the lead in setting up some of these movie nights. Below, I’ve got a list of some classics guaranteed to be hits. The kind of stuff that’s going to make you look sensitive and cultured. I’ve personally enjoyed all of the movies on this list myself. I’ve sprinkled in some Hallmark/GAF with the good oldies stuff. Shoot… even the Hallmark ones on this list are pretty good. Trust me, I’ve watched a LOT of duds in the process of creating this compilation 😉. It should get you through December with the special people in your life.
5 Star Christmas (2020)
This one is a good one to start with. It’s a Hallmark, but the plot is pretty decent. I won’t spoil the entire thing, but there’s a bit of good ol’ fashioned deception and shenanigans taking place at the Ralston Inn during the holidays.
USS Christmas (2020)
This one has a fairytale romance playing out on an aircraft carrier between a hardened, emotionally unavailable military man and the blonde news reporter. Of course, the man becomes more emotionally available as the movie progresses. The plot on this one has a few good twists as far as a Hallmark goes.
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (2008)
This movie holds the title of the “Best Hallmark Movie Ever” in the Howell House. This is what we call old Hallmark. Before it became mainstream cookie-cutter and woke. This one has the best plot and acting out of all the Hallmark movies I’ve ever watched. It also has Henry Winkler (The Fonz from Happy Days), which puts it in the Hall of Fame in my mind. He brings a comedic flair that many of these movies lack. Give this one a watch.
Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
Let’s shake things up a bit with a classic throwback. The 1947 version of this movie is 1000 times better than the 1994 version, (especially if you are watching it colorized). This is where the idea of class comes in fellas. Having knowledge and appreciation of some of these old movies adds a layer of depth to who you are. Too many guys don’t know any movies past Star Wars, Top Gun, and Rambo. Change that.
It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
Here is another classic that you need to have in your repertoire. Keep in mind, this is a long movie, so when you sit down to watch it you have to have to be committed. However, the message that James Stewart learns in this classic is just as applicable today as it was in 1946. It serves as a good reminder around the holidays about the importance of investing in people, rather than chasing material things.
Holiday Inn (1942)
This movie and the next in the list below are cut from the same cloth. Irving Berlin outdoes himself with these two. They’re musical/feel-good movies that’ll quickly become staples you watch year after year. In Holiday Inn, Bing Crosby teamed up with Fred Astaire to work a little Christmas magic at the Holiday Inn. I have a personal tradition of watching this one a week before Christmas Eve.
White Christmas (1954)
This is my personal FAVORITE Christmas movie of all time. I watch it every Christmas Eve without fail. I limit myself to only watching it once a year to keep the magic of it alive. If I had to pinpoint the singular best minute of the year, it is watching the opening credit of this movie on Christmas Eve and listening to Irving Berlin’s score. It is quintessentially Christmas. An all-star cast with an all-star music score. If you don’t watch any of the other movies on this list, watch this one.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
This special has aired on TV every single year since 1964. It’s another Irving Berlin classic that also happens to be the longest-running TV special in American history. It’s old and it’s good. It’s in my rotation for one of those nights during December when I want a little bit of Christmas, but I don’t have two hours to sit down and watch a super long movie like It’s a Wonderful Life.
A Christmas Story (1983)
Here’s the 80s movie that brought us the leg lamp, pink bunny suit, and the best pronunciation of “fragile” ever known to man. This movie is near and dear to me on account of it being my grandfather’s favorite. As a child, the witch in the mall scared me a bit, but I eventually grew out of it. And the ending scene at the Chinese restaurant genuinely makes me laugh every time. Fun fact: that scene wasn’t rehearsed. Those reactions were 100% real, which makes it that much better.
Home Alone (1990)
The absolute hilarity of Kevin McCallister’s home defense system never gets boring. This was one of my favorite movies to watch when I was younger. It’s action-packed and highlights some of the charms of Christmas in the 90s. The “get your ugly, yellow, no good kiester off my property” was quoted MANY times at my house during arguments between myself and my siblings.
The Lemon Drop Kid (1951)
I had no idea who Bob Hope was when I was perusing YouTube a few years ago looking for classic Christmas movies. I found this whole movie on YouTube for free! It’s since become one of the classics I rewatch every year. It’s right up there with Holiday Inn and White Christmas. Without this class comedy, we may have never had the song “Silver Bells“, as it was written specifically for this movie’s soundtrack. Go check it out!
A Christmas Prince (Trilogy)
I wasn’t too crazy about the last two movies in this trilogy, but the first is pretty good with its acting and production quality. This is gonna be one of those movies you watch for the woman in your life. This isn’t one of those you go at solo fellas. It’s a bit sappy, but she’ll love it, so it’s a good one to keep in your back pocket for holiday movie night.
Santa Clause (Trilogy)
The only other trilogy in this list is the early 2000s Santa Clause movies with Tim Allen. These are genuinely good movies, and I’d recommend them for a lazy Saturday when you are wrapping presents at the house or something. You have to soldier through it, but watching all three of them on the same day is an experience you need to have once in your life if possible.
Little Women (2019)
I’m a sucker for period movies. (I get it from my Dad of all people!) Little Women is hands-down the best movie of 2019, and, in my house, it’s become a Christmas movie in its own right. There are a few scenes that take place at Christmas time, but the general theme of the movie, revolving around sacrifice and families, is very much in line with the spirit of the season. Plus, you’re bound to have a good movie when you get powerhouse actresses like Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Eliza Scanlen, and Florence Pugh together!
Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)
Judy Garland introduced us to the now-classic song “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” in this movie. It’s a little bit of a slower-paced movie, but it makes up for it with character and good acting. This is one that I like to have playing in the background. The plot is a bit hard to follow at times, but the songs and the general gaiety of the movie make up for it. It is a herald back to simpler times and simpler days, and I love that.
Christmas with Holly (2012)
This was a basic TV movie that never really took off in the mainstream, but I kept it in my rotation. The plot revolves around 3 brothers keeping up with their niece after the passing of her mom, along with the help of a local toy store owner. This is another Hallmarky movie, but the plot is a bit deeper than most. Maybe that’s because it was made in 2012 or maybe it’s because they got a Tom Cruise knockoff to play the lead male. I’m not sure. Worth a watch though.
Just in Time For Christmas (2015)
Keeping the theme of Eloise Mumford going just a bit longer, we have Just in Time for Christmas. Once again, another Hallmark TV movie, but the plot is good. It pulls a Back to the Future bit where she moves forward in time to see how her life could have been. I have a thing for those types of plotlines. Plus, who doesn’t want to see a psychology professor and local coffee shop owner fall in love?
All I Want For Christmas (1991)
Full disclosure: I had a crush on Amy Oberer until I was 11 and I think my love of diner food originated with the diner scenes in this movie. I always envied Ethan O’Fallon’s ability to just move through the streets of NYC and do whatever he wanted as a kid. Then I grew up and realized movies were just movies. Still, this movie has a bit of it all. The mischievous capers, oldies music, the smushy-gushy love stuff. Just an all-around good contender for holiday movie nights.
Elf (2003)
Not gonna lie to ya’ll, I kind of despise this movie. However, my sister loves it, so I’ve watched it many times over the years. It has its unique charm, but I’m just not a big Will Ferrell fan. Still, it’s gotten to the point now that I feel like I’ve missed out on a Christmas tradition if I haven’t seen Buddy perched on a communal bathroom sink crooning to Jovie in the shower, so I’ve included it here.
A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
My apartment doesn’t have enough room for a tree, so I have a little Charlie Brown Christmas tree that I keep plugged up and lit up throughout the Christmas season. This 30-minute TV special is a staple every year. It has the best message of any of the movies on this entire list. Charlie makes a good point. It’s way too easy to get caught up in the commercialism of Christmas and forget the real reason for the season, Jesus.
The Polar Express (2004)
Up until White Christmas took over as my Christmas Eve tradition, this would be the movie that my family and I watched every Christmas Eve. When we were children, Mom would make us hot chocolate and bring it out during the scene where they were serving hot chocolate on the Polar Express. Good times and good memories.
Eloise at Christmastime (2003)
This was the quintessential Christmas movie that we watched every year at my Grandma’s house, back when she and Grandaddy lived in a parsonage in Latta, SC. My grandma was a big Julie Andrews fan, and she passed that on to me. Christmas at The Plaza always seemed so magical. Of course, back then I had no idea of the concept of money 😁. Still, this is a good film.
A Christmas Carol (1984)
This was my Papa’s favorite Christmas movie, and he made it one of mine. It scared me as a child, but now every time I watch it it brings back fond memories of him. Every Christmas season, I’ll sit down and watch it one time, and then I’ll make it a “background” movie for the rest of the season. There have been many iterations of this movie over the years (Bah Humduck anyone?) but George C. Scott’s is the best BY FAR.
Christmas in Connecticut (1945)
As I write this article, I actually have this movie playing in the background. It’s another classic that is worth watching every year. The antics of Elizabeth Lane and Uncle Felix always bring a smile to my face, and I’m a big fan of the soundtrack on this one. To not watch this movie during the holiday season would be, as Uncle Felix would say, “absolutely catastrof”.
The Christmas Card (2006)
As I’ve said before, the old Hallmarks were WAY better than the new ones. This one is a bit cheesy but in a feel-good way. There’s one scene where she’s supposed to be yelling a response to someone far away and she’s talking at normal room volume. You just have to take the good with the bad I guess with this one. Other than that, the acting is on point.
So.. there it is boys. Get well-versed in these movies. Trust me, run-of-the-mill men don’t usually take the time to do their research on this kind of stuff. The whole point of this is to provide an activity in which you can spend time with the people you love. As a bonus, if you drop your email below, I’ll shoot you a calendar layout for the optimal days to get through these movies so you can tackle them all during the Christmas season. Take some initiative dude. Plan a date night or two 😉.
