I know that everyone who reads Not the Bee always looks forward to our lists that give you the definitive non-opinion-based rankings of things like music, movies, and food.
So in the spirit of the holidays, I want to give you a definitive list of all the Christmas movies worth watching.
I won't rank them in any particular order (although there is one movie that is THE best) but just know, if it's on my list it's a keeper.
And if it's not on my list, well, there are better uses of your time.
Without further adieu, the best Christmas movies of all time.
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Okay, after this they are in no particular order. But there is no doubt in my mind that the funniest, most enjoyable, and best Christmas movie of all time is from the rowdy bunch at the Griswold house.
Here's a small sample, my favorite moment of the movie:
If you can only watch one Christmas movie, make it this one.
If you have time for more, there are lots of good ones.
It's a Wonderful Life
If you want a warm, encouraging, hope-filled Christmas movie that has heart you can't find any better than the 1946 Frank Capra classic.
It's a Wonderful Life is one of the best films ever made and it was very close to the top of my list.
How can you not get choked up when the whole town comes out to support and save George Bailey?
Also, it spawned one of the funniest SNL parodies of all time.
You can't beat Dana Carvey-era SNL.
A Christmas Story
There's nothing not to love about A Christmas Story. It's outrageously funny with the leg lamp, Bumpus hounds, "you'll shoot your eye out," and, of course, Chinese turkey.
It's a snapshot of a simpler time and all the chaos that went with it. The narration coming from the imagination of a young boy who only wants a BB gun for Christmas is one of a kind charm.
Miracle on 34th Street
Now, I'm talking about the original black-and-white one. The one with Natalie Wood.
It's fun, it's cute, and it's heartwarming. It's got everything you could ever want in a Christmas movie.
The Santa Clause
The original Tim Allen Santa Clause is maybe one of the most clever and unique Christmas movies of all time.
A random guy off the street suddenly finds himself in the position of being Santa Claus because the real Santa fell off his roof? It's such a unique and clever premise and it features Tim Allen at the height of his comedic powers.
It's a classic that I look forward to every year.
Home Alone AND Home Alone 2
Just the original two, with Kevin McAllister, played by Macaulay Culkin. Miss me with those later sequels.
The first movie is great and it's got awesome comedy from Joe Pesci and David Stern as the bumbling criminals, but there's heart in these movies too.
In both movies, Kevin defeats the bad guys but also learns a lesson. People who think the entire movie is just hi-jinks and booby traps haven't paid attention to the movies.
And where else will you see your favorite president in a Christmas movie?
Daddy's Home 2
You can skip the first movie and go straight to the sequel.
It's stupid funny. John Lithgow, Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, and Mel Gibson (and a little bit of John Cena) all clashing against one another in a Christmas movie.
It's the holiday movie you didn't know you were missing.
If you haven't seen it, put it on the list.
A Muppet Christmas Carol
There are lots and lots of versions of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, but if I had to watch only one it would be The Muppets' version.
Sure, you get the fun muppet goodness but you also get an EXCELLENT Ebenezer Scrooge performance from the one and only Michael Caine.
It takes the classic Christmas story and makes it a wonderful musical.
White Christmas
What can you say about an undeniable classic like White Christmas.
Bing Crosby. Danny Kaye. What more could you ask for?
Next, there's a whole slew of animated Christmas classics that I think are necessary to watch:
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Charlie Brown Christmas, and Frosty the Snowman are all indispensable.
I love watching some obscure '80s television specials as well, like Garfield and Friends' Christmas Special, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and Muppet Family Christmas.
Spending Christmas with family and enjoying these classics all together is a big part of Christmas for us.
But no matter what you watch with your family, enjoy spending time together and remember the reason for the season.
Merry Christmas, everyone!
Editor's Note: Harris failed to include the actual best Christmas movie of all time, "Die Hard," and will be summarily disciplined for this egregious oversight that endangers his mortal soul. However, we will keep him around because he had this to say when questioned by the council:
It's an honorary non-Christmas movie because it transcends the genre. Die Hard is a greatest of all time movie, it would be a disservice to Christmas movies to live in its shadow.
