12 Must-See Christmas Movies for a Home Cinema Christmas Experience

No. 1 – It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

• • Synopsis: This heartwarming classic, directed by Frank Capra, follows George Bailey, a man who has given up his dreams to help others. On Christmas Eve, faced with the threat of bankruptcy and arrest, he contemplates suicide. An angel named Clarence intervenes, showing George how different the lives of his loved ones and community would be if he had never been born. This journey renews George’s spirit and demonstrates the impact one life can have on many.
  • Movie trivia: This was James Stewart’s first movie after serving in World War II. Many of the snow-covered street scenes were actually filmed in mid-July.

No. 2 –  Scrooge (1970)

• • Synopsis: In this musical retelling of Charles Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol,” Albert Finney stars as Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly old man who despises Christmas. On Christmas Eve, he is visited by the ghost of his former business partner and the Spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. These visits reveal to Scrooge the error of his ways, his missed opportunities, the joy of human compassion, and what the future might hold if he doesn’t change.
  • Trivia: Albert Finney was only 34 when he played the elderly Scrooge.

No. 3 – Elf (2003)

• • Synopsis: Raised as an elf in the North Pole, Buddy discovers he is actually a human and sets off to New York City to find his biological father. This comical journey into the human world brings Buddy into various humorous and touching encounters as he tries to fit in. His childlike enthusiasm for Christmas and life profoundly impacts the lives of those he meets, including his cynical father.
  • Trivia: The design for Santa’s workshop and the elf uniforms come from the original 1964 “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” TV special. Will Ferrell turned down $29 million to be in a sequel in late 2014

No. 4 – Home Alone (1990)

• • Synopsis: Kevin McCallister, an eight-year-old boy, is mistakenly left behind when his family flies to Paris for Christmas. At first, Kevin enjoys his freedom, but he soon has to defend his home against two bumbling burglars, Harry and Marv. Using his wits and an array of booby traps, Kevin attempts to thwart their plans, resulting in a hilarious battle of wits.
  • Trivia: Joe Pesci kept forgetting it was a family movie and dropped the ‘F-bomb’ during his character’s tirades.

No. 5 – A Christmas Carol (2009 Disney)

• • Synopsis: An animated adaptation of Charles Dickens’s classic tale, with Jim Carrey voicing Ebenezer Scrooge and the three ghosts. On Christmas Eve, the miserly Scrooge, who loathes Christmas, is visited by the spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. Through a series of spectral visions, Scrooge is led to a profound transformation, understanding the true meaning of Christmas and changing his ways.
  • Trivia: Jim Carrey voiced not only Scrooge but all three ghosts who visited him.

No. 6 –  Die Hard (1988)

• • Synopsis: Set on Christmas Eve, NYPD officer John McClane visits his estranged wife, Holly, in Los Angeles to reconcile. During a Christmas party at her workplace in Nakatomi Plaza, terrorists led by Hans Gruber take the partygoers hostage. McClane, who escapes capture, stealthily moves around the building, trying to outsmart and overpower the terrorists to save the hostages, including his wife.
  • Trivia: Alan Rickman, who played the villain, was performing in his first feature film role.

No. 7 – Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

• • Synopsis: This beloved holiday classic begins with the real Kris Kringle being indignant at the portrayal of Santa Claus in the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. He gets hired as the store’s Santa and soon becomes popular, spreading a wave of love throughout New York City. However, when he claims to be the real Santa Claus, he is institutionalized as insane, leading to a court case that tests everyone’s beliefs.
  • Trivia: Natalie Wood, who played Susan, believed Edmund Gwenn was actually Santa Claus during filming.

No. 8 – The Snowman (1982)

• • Synopsis: A heartwarming animated short film where a young boy builds a snowman, which comes to life. Together, they embark on a magical adventure, exploring the boy’s home and flying through the winter sky. The film reaches its climax with a visit to a snowman party and a meeting with Father Christmas. Known for its beautiful animation and the iconic song “Walking in the Air,” “The Snowman” captures the magic of childhood and the transient nature of dreams.
  • Trivia: The song “Walking in the Air” was performed by St Paul’s Cathedral choirboy Peter Auty, not Aled Jones, who popularized it later by being the first to release the song as a single.

No. 9 – The Polar Express (2004)

• • Synopsis: On Christmas Eve, a young boy boards the magical Polar Express train to the North Pole. Doubtful about Santa’s existence, the boy embarks on a journey of self-discovery and adventure, meeting a variety of characters and learning about bravery, friendship, and the spirit of Christmas.
  • Trivia: Tom Hanks plays multiple roles in the film, including the boy’s father, the train conductor, the hobo, Scrooge, Santa Claus, and the narrator.

No. 10 – Last Christmas (2019)

• • Synopsis: Kate, a disillusioned Christmas store worker, meets Tom, a mysterious and cheerful man who helps her rediscover the joys of Christmas and life. Their growing bond and a series of surprising revelations lead Kate to a new understanding of life, love, and the holiday spirit.
  • Trivia: Written, produced and fabulously starring Dame Emma Thompson, the movie is set in 2017 (even though it was filmed in 2018-19). From that context, “last Christmas” would mean December 25, 2016. This is the same day that musician George Michael died.

No. 11 – A Christmas Story (1983)

• • Synopsis: This nostalgic film, set in the 1940s, follows young Ralphie Parker in his quest to get a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. The story captures the holiday season through a child’s eyes, including dealing with a school bully, a grumpy department store Santa, and the infamous leg lamp, culminating in a heartwarming family Christmas.
  • Trivia: The movie’s exterior house scenes were filmed in Cleveland, Ohio, and the house is now a museum.

No. 12 – National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

• • Synopsis: The third instalment in the National Lampoon’s “Vacation” film series follows Clark Griswold’s attempts to have a perfect family Christmas. Despite his best efforts, everything that can go wrong does, leading to comedic mishaps and ultimately bringing the family closer together in this iconic holiday comedy.
  • Trivia: Chevy Chase suffered a minor back injury while filming the attic scene.

In the comfort of your home cinema, these movies become more than just entertainment; they are shared experiences that bond families and create lasting memories. This Christmas, we invite you to relive these timeless stories, each a masterpiece in its own right, and find the joy and wonder they bring.