Top 10 Favorite Holiday Movies

     I thought about posting this earlier in the month but I'm glad that I waited until now to post this list. It's been a while since I posted a Top 10 list but given the time of year, I feel like it's appropriate.

     We all love the holidays and every season that passes, Hollywood releases a Christmas-themed movie or a movie that takes place during the holiday (A recent example would be Iron Man 3). Most holiday movies are drama themed about families coming together again after living their own lives, finding love during the holidays, or finding the importance of living your life.

     Here is my Top 10 Favorite Holiday Movies.

   

1)  It's A Wonderful Life - This 1946 classic has withstood the test of time, not getting lost in the shuffle of holiday movies. This feel good fable stars James Stewart as George Bailey, a deeply-troubled businessman who goes to commit suicide but is stopped by an angel (Henry Travers) trying to get his wings. To show him the value and impact of  an individual life, he places George in a world where he never existed. 

   

2) A Christmas Story - Everyone's favorite holiday movie, no matter how young or old you are. Nine-year-old Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) tries to convince his parents, his teacher, and even Santa himself that a Red Ryder B.B. Gun is the perfect present for him. If you have never seen this movie, you must take the time out to see it this season. I'm sure some channel will have a marathon before Christmas. Don't forget: Don't stick your tongue onto a cold metal pole outside and don't get a Red Ryder B.B. Gun because "you'll shoot your eye out, kid!"

   


   

3) Home Alone - If you were born in the 1990's, you watched these movies at one point or another. As with all film series, the first is always the best and the benchmark for all the other films following it. Eight-year-old Kevin (Macaulay Culkin), a misunderstood child by his family, is accidentally left behind by them when they fly to France for Christmas and Kevin is left to defend his house from burglars (Joe Pesci and David Stern).

   



   

4) Love Actually - This holiday-themed movie has become a new Christmas classic and should definitely be seen at least once. This film follows the lives of eight different couples in dealing with their relationships in loosely and interrelated tales. This film is all set during the month of December all culminating at Christmas in London, England. The romantic comedy has an all-star lineup, featuring Liam Nesson, Hugh Grant, Alan Rickman, Bill Nighy, Emma Thompson, and a then-unknown Andrew Lincoln.

   


   

5) Home Alone 2: Lost in New York - The sequel to the first Home Alone is just as enjoyable as the first. One year after his battle against the Wet Bandits, Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) finds himself separated from his family again with them going to Miami and Kevin going to New York. While he is in the big city alone with his father's wallet, the bandits (Joe Pesci and David Stern) are not far behind their nemesis.

   



   

6) Die Hard - I know it's an action film but it still takes place during Christmas so it counts! Terrorists, a young Bruce Willis, and full on action; what more could you want for Christmas?!  John McClaine (Bruce Willis), an NYPD cop, tries to save his estranged wife Holly Gennaro and several others that are taken hostage by German terrorist Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) during a Christmas party at Nakatomi Plaza in Los Angeles. Like Home Alone, the first movie of this series is the standard for the other films.

   

7) Elf - This story about one of Santa's helpers certainly helped solidify Will Ferrell as one of Hollywood's leading funny men. Will Ferrell plays Buddy Hobbs, an unusually large elf in the North Pole, discovers his true identity and travels to New York City to meet his biological father and spread Christmas cheer to the cynics of the city.

   

8) Gremlins - One of the movies that my father introduced to me one holiday season and I've never forgotten it, despite the fact that it scared the hell out of me the first time I watched it. The film follows a young man (Zach Galligan) who is given a mogwai as a pet but when he breaks three important rules for taking care of it, he unleashes a small army of destructive, mischievous creatures on his small town. Remember, follow the three rules and this won't happen to your town!

   



   

9) Scrooged - Ah, Bill Murray. This Murray classic is a modern-day take on the Charles Dickens' novel A Christmas Carol. Frank Cross (Bill Murray) is a successful but cynical television executive. He gets haunted and scared straight by three spirits that bear lessons for him on Christmas Eve. There are many versions of Dickens' novel that have been re-done by Hollywood and I'm more partial to Patrick Stewart's portrayal but this one is well done.

   

10) The Nightmare Before Christmas - A double holiday strike brings this movie to my top 10. You can watch this movie on both Halloween and Christmas. This creative animated film follows Jack Skellington (Chris Saradon), king of Halloweentown, who opens a portal to Christmastown and decides to celebrate the holiday but not without consequences. This film is a hilarious and enjoyable fantasy for kids and adults alike.






     Happy Holidays!!!