25. Black Christmas (1974)
This iconic horror film, known for the popular line “The call is coming from inside the house!”, features a scene where a victim is stabbed with a glass ornament while carolers drown out her screams. Director Bob Clark, known for his charming film A Christmas Story (1983), showcases two contrasting sides of the holiday season.
24. Remember the Night (1939)
This movie, written by Preston Sturges, follows a journey where Barbara Stanwyck plays a thief who is rescued from spending Christmas in jail by a compassionate district attorney (Fred MacMurray). He posts her bail and welcomes her into his home.
23. Le pupille (2022)
Alice Rohrwacher’s nostalgic 39-minute comedy set during wartime follows the story of a delicious pudding that arrives at an Italian boarding school for orphans. This heartwarming film features angels, a charming nun with a mustache, and a lively soundtrack by the Cleaning Women, who use household objects as instruments.
22. Female Trouble (1974)
John Waters’ chaotic film begins with a rebellious teenager named Dawn Davenport (played by Divine) having a meltdown when her parents don’t give her the cha-cha heels she desired. She angrily destroys her presents and knocks down the Christmas tree while shouting, “Screw you both, you terrible parents! … I despise Christmas!”
21. A Christmas Tale (2008)
During a festive gathering, the Vuillard family exchanges insults and harbors long-standing grudges. While it may not be enjoyable for them, it is certainly entertaining for us. The tension between a mother battling cancer (Catherine Deneuve) and her bitter, alcoholic son (Mathieu Amalric) is a guilty pleasure: “Do you finally love me?” “I never have.”
20. Christmas in Connecticut (1945)
Barbara Stanwyck once again takes on the role of a Manhattan-based food journalist who pretends to be a down-to-earth mother from Connecticut in her writing. However, when her editor (Sydney Greenstreet) requests that she host a Christmas dinner for a courageous marine (Dennis Morgan), she must quickly make her fake persona a true one. This leads to unexpected and comedic complications.
19. Gasman (1998)
Lynne Ramsay’s heart-wrenching short film depicts two children in 1970s Glasgow who encounter their hidden step-siblings at a noisy holiday party, causing them to shed tears before bedtime. The characters of Santa and Slade play a significant role in this bleak portrayal of Christmas on screen.
18. Christmas Holiday (1944)
Trapped in New Orleans and abandoned by his betrothed on Christmas Eve, an unfortunate lieutenant (Dean Harens) crosses paths with a sultry singer (Deanna Durbin) who has her own story of love gone wrong: her significant other (a hauntingly eerie Gene Kelly) is behind bars for a crime he may not have committed.
17. Christmas Evil/You Better Watch Out (1980)
Based on the premise of I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, this chilling holiday story explores the aftermath of the child in the song as they grow up. Working at the Jolly Dream toy factory, Harry (portrayed by musician Fiona Apple’s father, Brandon Maggart) dresses as Santa, maintains a naughty list, and donates gifts to the nearby hospital. However, at midnight mass, he brutally murders his colleagues. The dance choreography is done by Meryl Streep’s brother, and the story ends with a sleigh ride that will leave Rudolph in awe.
The film “Kings and Desperate Men” was released in 1981.
Alexis Kanner, who wrote, directed, and starred in this fast-paced thriller about terrorists taking over a Canadian radio talkshow on Christmas Eve, filed a lawsuit against the creators of Die Hard, claiming it was a blatant copy of his film. However, he ultimately lost the case because the two movies, although both excellent, only share similarities in terms of hostages, explosives, and the holiday season.
15. Die Hard (1988)
Bruce Willis portrays the character of John McClane, a fatherly figure with a relaxed holiday spirit, who becomes involved in stopping a group of terrorists (led by the delectable Alan Rickman) who have taken over the office building in Los Angeles where his wife (Bonnie Bedelia) is attending a Christmas party. And what is his wife’s name? Holly, naturally.
14. The Shop Around the Corner (1940)
Ernst Lubitsch’s romantic comedy follows the story of two coworkers in Budapest who constantly argue, portrayed by James Stewart and Margaret Sullavan. They begin a happy exchange of letters, unaware of each other’s true identity. In 1998, the film was remade with less charm as You’ve Got Mail.
13. Brazil (1985)
Terry Gilliam’s dystopian Christmas horror story opens with the sound of sleigh bells and a young girl asking her mother how Santa can enter their home without a chimney. Suddenly, a Swat team crashes through the ceiling and takes her father away, leaving her mother with a receipt and tears in the now destroyed living room. Is there a more poignant holiday lesson than “always keep your proof of purchase”?
12. Fanny and Alexander (1982)
While crafting his novel about a family in the early 1900s, which is as complex and indulgent as a fruit cake soaked in alcohol, Ingmar Bergman drew inspiration from both ETA Hoffmann’s The Nutcracker and Charles Dickens. His writing was also influenced by his sense of relief upon the dismissal of a lengthy tax evasion case. In his own words, he felt suddenly liberated. The festive Christmas celebrations are quickly overshadowed by themes of spirits and sorrow.
11. The Silent Partner (1978)
Christopher Plummer, dressed as Santa, plays a ruthless bank robber who reveals his true nature in The Sound of Music. This movie may turn viewers away from fish tanks (which are featured in a particularly unpleasant scene) and even Christmas itself. However, the payoff is worth it for the sheer brilliance of this thriller, reminiscent of Hitchcock’s best works. The script was written by Curtis Hanson, who also explored holiday crime in LA Confidential.
10. The Dead (1987)
On January 6, 1904 (the day after Twelfth Night), John Huston’s final film, based on James Joyce’s flawless short story, takes place on the Feast of the Epiphany. While it is not explicitly set during Christmas, the festive atmosphere and the depiction of snow “falling faintly through the universe and faintly falling” (as described by Joyce) makes it a worthy addition to any list of holiday movie marvels.
9. Elf (2003)
A large number of Christmas movies include a significant amount of sadness. However, this is not the case for Elf. This lively and bubbly comedy features Will Ferrell at his most cheerful as Buddy, a human who was raised as an elf and embarks on a journey to find his unknowing father (played by James Caan, who has never been gruffer). It would take someone with a lack of common sense to not enjoy this film.
8. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
Frank Capra’s ambiguous tale, where George Bailey (played by James Stewart), a despondent do-gooder, is enlightened on how disastrous the world would have been sans his existence, was not intended to be a jolly holiday delight. Its initial debut date in January was moved up due to another RKO film not being ready. The Telegraph anticipated that Capra’s film would have a short-lived run like a Christmas tree overloaded with candy and firecrackers. However, it gained longevity after losing copyright protection in 1974, allowing television networks to broadcast it at no cost.
“The Long Kiss Goodnight” was released in 1996.
Shane Black has a tendency for choosing Christmas as the setting for his movies (also evident in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and Lethal Weapon). The action-packed movie from the 90s, written by Black, showcases the holiday season with perfection: ice-skating, a joyful parade, and a clever finale involving fairy lights. Playing the role of an ex-assassin turned homemaker, Geena Davis excellently portrays frustration when her daughter falls on the ice. “Life is full of pain,” she remarks. “You have to accept it.” There’s nothing more Christmassy than a parent at their wit’s end.
“Let’s rendezvous in St. Louis” (1944)
The holiday-themed episode takes center stage and affects every aspect of this story about a family in Missouri. While facing the daunting prospect of moving to New York, Judy Garland performs “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” a song with mixed feelings about the holiday season (“We’ll have to make it through somehow…”). Meanwhile, her younger sister Tootie (played by Margaret O’Brien) bursts into tears and destroys the snowmen in the garden.
5. Carol (2015)
In 1950s New York, Carol (Cate Blanchett) experiences tumultuous celebrations as she leaves her husband, battles for her daughter’s custody, and develops feelings for Therese (Rooney Mara) who works at a toy counter in a department store wearing a charming Santa hat. Todd Haynes’s adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s novel, The Price of Salt, is a captivating and gradual love story. Can there be a more fitting pair for a holiday love affair than Christmas Carol and Christmas Therese?
4. Gremlins (1984)
Joe Dante’s wild horror-comedy, penned by Chris Columbus (known for directing Home Alone), turns gift-giving into a triggering event for chaos: the innocent-looking present, a cute fluffy pet, multiplies into a horde of destructive offspring. As if the movie’s mixed feelings about the holiday season weren’t obvious, even Santa becomes a victim to the rampaging creatures, getting tangled up in Christmas lights. Meanwhile, Phoebe Cates delivers a haunting monologue about a traumatic Christmas from her past.
3. The Apartment (1960)
“It was the evening before Christmas, and throughout the house, not a single being was moving. Nothing. No movement. Boring.” Billy Wilder’s poignant comedy gracefully balances on the brink of loneliness as it follows the story of an office worker (Jack Lemmon) who lends his apartment to his sleazy bosses for their affairs and the elevator attendant (Shirley MacLaine) who is contemplating suicide after being rejected by her employer. With a glimmer of hope amidst the despair, it’s a true Christmas miracle on West 67th Street.
2. Tangerine (2015)
“Merry Christmas Eve, bitch!” With an opening line like that, nobody could mistake this lively comedy about transgender sex workers for It’s a Wonderful Life. Look closely, though, and you will find the festive spirit thriving in Sean Baker’s whirlwind of attitude, colour and resourcefulness, which was shot on three iPhones with an $8 app. It may be a sun-scorched Christmas on Santa Monica Boulevard, but the dreamy white dots from a bar-room glitterball provide the illusion of snowfall.
1. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
Gonzo, masquerading as Charles Dickens, suggests reading the book if you enjoy this film. And who wouldn’t enjoy it? This is not only the best Christmas movie ever made, but also the top Muppet film and one of the most magnificent adaptations of Dickens’ work. Michael Caine brilliantly portrays the cold-hearted Ebenezer Scrooge, making his eventual transformation a heartwarming sight. The movie is full of memorable quotes (“Light the lamp, not the rat!”) and every song by the talented Paul Williams, known for his work on “Phantom of the Paradise”, is exceptional. The opening number, introducing Scrooge as “the undisputed master of / The underhanded deed”, is particularly stirring. Bless us all, Muppets included.
Source: theguardian.com
