Get into the festive spirit with our list of the 5 best Christmas movies for families
5. Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas
That small-hearted villain from Mt. Crumpit goes down to Whoville for some seasonal spoiling—only to discover that Christmas cheer can never be stolen. Spooky thespian Boris Karloff is the inspired narrator for this delightful TV special, a faithful rendition of the rhyming classic that will have everyone singing “Da hoo doray.”
4. A Christmas Carol
Humbug! Deliciously malevolent Alastair Sim plays Ebenezer Scrooge, the grouchy miser who endures various visions of Christmases Past, Present and Future during one marathon night of soul searching. Film Noir lighting gives visual flair to Charles Dickens’s yuletide yarn, but the film still leaves enough merriment to make this the ultimate holiday ghost story.
3. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964), Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town (1970) and The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974) all came from Rankin/Bass, the genius stop-motion company behind the Island of Misfit Toys, the Burgermeister Meisterburger, and sibling rivals Snow Miser and Heat Miser. Their funky riffs on holiday myths are irresistibly witty fun and a must-see during the Christmas season.
2. Home Alone
Macaulay Culkin holds down the fort against bumbling burglars while his family accidentally flies to Paris without him in this massive hit that’s every kid’s fantasy—and nightmare. While his Rube Goldberg booby traps and Edvard Munch–inspired visage deliver the laughs, it’s the warmer moments with negligent parents (as well as a mysterious shut-in neighbor) that give heart to this comic evergreen.
1. It’s a Wonderful Life
The reigning king of Christmas movies, Frank Capra’s poignant fable stars Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey, a man with big ambitions (and a bigger heart) who defers his dream of leaving small-town Bedford Falls, but makes personal sacrifices that create a staggering ripple effect of inspirational goodwill on earth—a great message for young viewers watching at home. He even helps an angel get his wings.
Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year!!!