Christmas films haven’t always had the best reputation, and there are plenty of festive turkeys (of the movie kind) out there. However, here we have a quick guide to some of the best Christmas movies ever made, which make for some essential festive viewing, and which are perfect for getting you in the Christmas spirit.
It’s A Wonderful Life
No list of the best Christmas movies can be complete without mentioning the iconic Christmas classic, It’s A Wonderful Life. This enchanting film, first released in 1946, has charmed generations, and is in many respects the ultimate Christmas film. This movie has everything a good Christmas movie should have, including plenty of laughs, a great moral tale that reminds us what Christmas is really about, and, of course, plenty of heart too.
Die Hard
Whilst this one might come as a bit of a surprise, and isn’t technically a Christmas movie per se, the 1988 action thriller Die Hard, which tells the tale of a New York cop battling a gang of armed robbers on Christmas eve, is still worthy of a place on this list.
Love Actually
The 2003 romantic-comedy Love Actually is another beloved Christmas movie, and is a true festive heart warmer. This ensemble comedy- drama, starring the likes of Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson and Rowan Atkinson, to name but a few, has plenty of laughs, and includes some standout comic performance from the likes of Bill Nighy.
Home Alone
A favourite among adults and children alike, Home Alone, starring Macaulay Culkin as the delightfully resourceful kid who’s forced to defend his home against a pair of bumbling burglars, is a real treat. This film really is lots of fun, and is also able to convey important Christmas messages too, such as the importance of family.
Elf
Another comic entry to this list is the hilarious 2003 film Elf, which stars Will Ferrell as Santa’s rather overgrown helper. This is the kind of film that can be watched over and over again, and is the perfect mixture of old-fashioned sentiment and modern sensibilities. The film also employs plenty of comic genius too, and introduces us to what is quite simply one of the most adorable movie characters ever created.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
The Nightmare Before Christmas is another great Christmas classic that puts its own unique spin on the Christmas movie. This beautifully crafted stop-motion animation, based on a story by Tim Burton, is a delightfully ghoulish holiday film that is truly endearing in its own unique way, and it serves as a great cautionary tale too.
Scrooge
Another old classic on this list is the 1951 film Scrooge; an adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic novel A Christmas Carol. The film tells the tale of a bitter older gentleman, Ebenezer Scrooge, who’s visited on Christmas eve by three ghosts who offer him the chance of redemption. This much-loved film is a genuinely affecting melodrama, and will leave you with a renewed sense of festive good will.
Miracle on 34th Street
Both the original 1947 version and the 1994 remake of this timeless classic are worthy of a place on this list, and are more than capable of delivering a heart-warming holiday message. Both these films are also genuinely emotional, and might just get you believing in the spirit of Christmas too.
Bad Santa
Billy Bob Thornton’s foul-mouthed, drunken, self-loathing, store robbing Santa is the perfect antidote to all the sugar-sweet sentimentality of some of the more traditional Christmas films. Yet it still manages to sneak in plenty of heart behind all the laughs too.
The Snowman
No film illustrates the magic of Christmas quite like the animated classic that is the Snowman. This 30 minute classic, which is entirely wordless, save for its haunting soundtrack, is in many respects as much of a necessity at Christmas time as mince pies and Christmas puddings are. The animation in this film is truly breathtaking, and its heartfelt storyline has the power to bring even the most hardened cynics among us to tears.
Hopefully, this selection will have inspired you to check out some of these classic Christmas movies for yourself. Here at Electronic World, we have a great selection of cheap TVs that are perfect for discovering these great films for yourself. So if you’re looking for a cheap TV, please do not hesitate to contact us today.