Do you have a favorite holiday movie? Mine is "The Sound of Music"--which is not a Christmas movie but has always but in

[debm55]

Last edited Tue Dec 2, 2025, 07:58 PM - Edit history (2)

a happy and joyful spirit.

[SheltieLover]

1. Several, Deb

Sound of music, Elf, Christmas Story, Ernest Saves Christmas, Miracle on 34th St., It's a Wonderful Life, just to name a few.

[debm55]

16. Thank you very much, SheltieLover. Love them

[applegrove]

2. It usually was an Easter movie when I was growing up.

I no longer watch the whole thing through but will pause and watch a few scenes if I come across it on the tv.

[debm55]

4. Thank you applegrove, I now watch both times on my tablet.

[pandr32]

3. Joyeux Noel--a must watch.

It is well down and tells the story of the real Christmas truce of 1914. I'm not religious, but Christmas/Yule traditions used to and still can be about the important things: family, friends, sharing, and joy.

[debm55]

5. Thank you very much, pandr32.

[EYESORE 9001]

6. Trading Places

Dan Aykroyd wore a Santa suit, right?

[debm55]

17. Oh you, Thank you EYESORE 9001,

[Blue dot in KS]

51. Die hard

Is a Christmas movie

[debm55]

53. It is if you want it to be. I did not see it, So I can't answer that. Sorry, Blue dot in KS

[jmowreader]

119. Die Hard meets all the requirements to be a Christmas movie

1. A proper Christmas movie is set during the Christmas season. While there are a few films that are considered Christmas movies but are not set at Christmastime, like The Sound of Music, a Christmas movie is generally set during the season. Die Hard, and at least one of its sequels, is set during Christmastime.

2. The accoutrements of Christmas, like decorations and Christmas parties, should be present. Die Hard is the story of a Christmas movie gone extremely wrong.

3. There should be a family conflict that resolves itself by the end of the movie. In Die Hard, New York City Police officer John McClane's wife had moved to Los Angeles for work, and tensions are high in the McClane family because of it.

4. A character should have some personal demons he or she gets rid of by the end of the movie. Serving as the distant end of John's radio calls is Sergeant Al Powell, who works a desk because he shot a kid during an incident and can't bring himself to pull his gun when necessary.

5. There should be a villain. Die Hard has three: the declared villain Hans Gruber, the TV news guy Dick Thornburgh, and Deputy Chief Dwayne Robinson. Quite frankly, Hans Gruber is the least odious of the three.

6. There needs to be a situation that suspends belief. Die Hard has a few. First is PG&E's need to take out a huge block of the city's power grid to cut the lights in Nakatomi Tower. You mean they can't just go over there and pull the meter head? Second is the FBI's theory that if they cut power to Nakatomi Tower it'll kill the lights inside; any commercial building has emergency lights that are powered by batteries for just such an occasion. Third, the vault? Lemme ask you something: if you were going to break into a Super High Tech Vault like Nakatomi had, would you spend hours trying to defeat the "seven seals" that it has or would you just walk in with a firefighter's breaching saw and cut a hole in the door? Sometimes the most efficient solution is brute force and ignorance.

7. There should be a character placed for comic relief. Argyle the Limo Driver is the man of Condition 7.

[debm55]

120. Thank you jmowreader. You seem to have all bases covered.

[4TheArts]

7. A Christmas without Snow

Stars John Houseman and Michael Learned.
Try it, you'll like it.

[debm55]

18. I will, thank you very much, 4TheArts. I will try it.

[Bluestocking]

8. The Godfather

[debm55]

19. Thank you Bluestocking for sharing with us.

[debm55]

59. Thank you Bluestocking for sharing your selection.

[rsdsharp]

9. White Christmas.

[debm55]

26. Thank you very much, rsesharp. I love that song.

[justaprogressive]

10. HOLIDAY INN

Feel-good movie featuring Bing's voice and Fred's dancing with great humor,
and songs by Irving Berlin incl. The original performance of "White Christmas"

Unless you're military skip the movie "White Christmas" see Holiday Inn instead!

[debm55]

24. Thank you very much, justaprogressive for sharing with us. I have seen both of them and I agree.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

11. A Christmas Carol (1938 version)

[debm55]

25. Thank you very much, That version is the best. TY 50 Shades Of Blue.

[JMCKUSICK]

12. I love Ernest Saves Christmas

[debm55]

23. Thank you ,John ,I don't think I have ever seen it before. I will need to go to YouTube and see if it is on there.

[Niagara]

37. Earnest Saves Christmas in on YouTube, Debbie

[debm55]

60. Thank you very much for sharing that with us. Niagara. You are the best.

[MustLoveBeagles]

13. White Christmas ⛄

It makes me tear up because it was also my late grandpa's favorite.

[debm55]

21. Thank you very much MustLoveBeagles. May the memories of your grandfather be a blessing to you.

[MustLoveBeagles]

22. Thank you

[hlthe2b]

14. "A Charlie Brown Christmas" I love Vince Guaraldi's music and especially all the kids ice skating scene...

(just a kid at heart, I guess)... The following is a composite of scenes but not the actual special:

[MustLoveBeagles]

15. Like this one too

[debm55]

20. Love it , Thank you very much. hithe2b.

[EarthAbides]

27. Die Hard?

I am surprised no one has mentioned this classic!

[Endlessmike56]

29. Now you did it!

Lots of opinions on that one lol

[debm55]

36. Thank you EarthAbides.

[Endlessmike56]

28. White Christmas is my favorite,

But I also like the Thin Man with William Powell and Myrna Loy. It takes place during the Christmas season.

[debm55]

61. Thank you very much for your selection. Endlessmike56.

[get the red out]

30. A Christmas Story

"You'll shoot your eye out kid". I am not the Holiday sentimental type. Bah Humbug!

[debm55]

66. We watch this every Christmas. Thank you very much for sharing get the red out.

[Raven123]

31. A Christmas Story, Bells of St. Mary's, The Man Who Came to Dinner

Darin McGavin and my late father could have been brothers. They shared many physical and personality characteristics.

My father introduced me to Bing Crosby. Bells of St. Mary’s is one of several holiday movies featuring him that we enjoyed together.

The Man Who Came to Dinner is a light hearted comedy starring Monty Woolley, who many do not know, and a cast of well known actors, some in small roles.

[debm55]

34. Thank you very much for sharing your selections. Raven123.

[Big Blue Marble]

32. A Christmas Carol

with George C. Scott who is the best Scrooge ever. I also love A Christmas Story, Miracle and
Christmas Vacation plus Christmas In Connecticut.

Edit to add: The Grinch.

[debm55]

33. Thank you very much for sharing with us, Big Blue Marble.

[choie]

35. A Christmas Carol from 1950

Alastair Sims is the definitive Scrooge!

[debm55]

70. Thank you very much for sharing with us. choie.

[terip64]

38. Moonstruck

I'm not sure how it happened, but we watch it every year.

[debm55]

62. Thank you very much, terip64

[CanonRay]

39. Miracle on 34th Street

[debm55]

71. Thank you very much, CanonRay. I have seen many times.

[Dear_Prudence]

82. Both versions!

I like the old one and the new one.

[Niagara]

40. MY favorites are the following:

The Holiday (2006)

A Christmas Story (1983)

The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus (2000)

Here on DU, we have adults that W-H-I-N-E about the movie but I happen to like the movie. That movie is:


Christmas with the Kranks (2004)

[beaglelover]

41. Eyes Wide Shut - great Christmas flick!

[debm55]

42. Can you explain to me in what way? Thank you very much beaglelover.

[beaglelover]

43. There's a Christmas tree in EVERY SINGLE scene. No shit, there really is!

[debm55]

86. Thank you. beaglelover.

[Xavier Breath]

109. A weak story in spots, but I love how that movie is lit.

Whatever its faults, it looks amazing.

[MuseRider]

44. I almost hate to say this but here goes....

Bad Santa

It is terribly funny and some of it makes me cringe, I usually would not choose this, the values are horrible then they end up saving a kid who had never had a chance at all.

Thurman Merman was able to see the good and it made me feel good inside. Also it was packed with good actors who just raised it up. Everyone else I know hates it and thinks it is disgusting and it is but sometimes you have to walk around all that to see and feel the good inside.

[debm55]

72. Thank you very much, MuseRider for sharing. And get better.

[MuseRider]

85. Thank you!

Going slowly but I hope better. Should know soon. Until then I will watch this dirty, snarky gross movie with a heart of gold as it ends.

[marble falls]

45. Casablanca, followed by the Third Man, Citizen Kane, and Holiday ...

?si=H4IR4oiLHqh7NQY2

[debm55]

74. Thank you marble falls. excellent choices. I remember reading that Cary Grant was member of the circus in England.

[LogDog75]

46. Gremlins

https://www.sideshow.com/cdn-cgi/image/height=850,quality=90,f=auto/

[debm55]

76. My sick sense of humor, but I enjoyed it, Thank you LogDog75

[NNadir]

47. The Ref.

It has Dennis Leary, Judy Davis, and Kevin Spacey.

It's terrible who Spacey turned out to be, but he was a great actor, and he's at his best in this irreverent film.

The Ref.

[debm55]

50. Thank you very much for sharing NNadir.

[mvd]

48. A Christmas Carol (Alastair Sim version)

It’s just uplifting to see the change in Scrooge. Fits the holiday very well.

Hi Deb! Hope you and Rich are having a good holiday season. I’m still around - just posting less and more in the political forums. Used to love to have fun in the Lounge and hope to more.

[debm55]

49. Glad to see you Matt. It's been a long time. The political forum make me nervous. Your version on Scrooge is the best.

[Tanuki]

78. We watched that on tv the year I had just turned 4.

My parents loved it (so do I, now) but at the time it scared the bejabbers out of me, especially the part when the doorknocker turns into the spectral image of Jacob Marley!
😱👻

[redstatebluegirl]

52. A Christmas Carol 1938, White Christrmas, Preachers Wife

[debm55]

69. Thank you very much for your selections, redstatebluegirl.

[no_hypocrisy]

54. Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol

Hands down.

[debm55]

68. I watched that version every year as a kid. It sort of disappeared. Thank you no_hypocrisy.

[DingleBerryNW]

56. The Bishop's Wife

Cary Grant, Loretta Young, David Niven

[debm55]

65. Thank you very much, You took me back to watching as a child.

[CBHagman]

57. Since no one has mentioned The Lion in Winter...

...I will. I'd watch it any time of year and have, but it is a Christmas movie and a family Christmas movie to boot.

And that's only the first of my lengthy list of favorite holiday movies. But it's one of my favorite movies, period.

[debm55]

63. Thank you CBHagman. Excellent movie.

[FalloutShelter]

58. Love actually.

[debm55]

64. Thank you FalloutShelter.

[FalloutShelter]

67. Welcome Deb.

[waterwatcher123]

73. Elf is my favorite holiday movie.

Enjoy a good holiday toast too - you deserve it!

[debm55]

75. I love it too. Thank you very much waterwatcher123.

[The Roux Comes First]

77. I Don't Even Think of it as "Christmas Music," But "The Sound of Music" Wrestled It's Way Into My Mental

Soundtrack last week, right on-season, I guess.

It started with "how do you solve a problem like Maria" but the next thing I knew (OK, after diversion into West Side Story: "almost like praying&quot my hills were alive, and laughing like a brook.

A great musical indeed!

[debm55]

79. Thank you very much, The Roux Comes First. I absolutely love that opening scene of Maria sing the title song. I first

Premiered in Pittsburgh with the Girl Scouts. and have not missed a year.

[Rizen]

80. Muppet Christmas Carol

Best xmas movie of all time.

[debm55]

81. When my son was very young we would watch that together. Thank you so much for bringing it up. Rizen

[Dear_Prudence]

83. Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer

Burl Ives singing "Silver and Gold" is warming. I also watch A Christmas Carol, several versions, and Miracle on 34th Street. And Die Hard because then I can get my husband and adult son to join me for awhile. 🎅

[debm55]

84. My number two favorite. Thank you Dear_Prudence., Love you,deb

[electric_blue68]

87. Alistair Sim's Christmas Carol, and I love Bill Murray's Scrooge

Not a real big fan of his, but he's really good, and funny in this. Alot of other good acting in it.

There one more vaguely remembered ( not sure at all why Tom Arnold come to mind) , but I think I'll have to look a long list of movies - though maybe from the '90s onward. 🤔

Off I go to look 😄
ETA
It might be T8m Allen's The Santa Clause
Only 6/10, and 73% but I'm liked it.
And I forgot Carey's - How The Grinch Stole Christmas.

[debm55]

98. Thank you very much for sharing you Christmas selections., electric_blue68,

[Wiz Imp]

88. Not movies, but the Rankin-Bass TV Specials

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
The Year Without A Santa Claus

And the 1/2 hour animated cartoons:
A Charlie Brown Christmas
How The Grinch Stole Christmas
Frosty The Snowman
Twas The Night Before Christmas

[Coventina]

97. The Year Without a Santa Claus is so awesome!!

[debm55]

100. Thank you very much, for sharing with us, Coventina. Perfect.

[debm55]

99. Thank you very much for sharing. Wiz Imp. Those are my favorites too.

[Wiz Imp]

89. Meet Me In St. Louis

Not strictly a Christmas Movie, but the Christmas scene where Judy Garland sings "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" is incredible.

[debm55]

94. Thank you very much Wiz Imp. Yes, Judy and the song were beautiful

[RazorbackExpat]

90. Most of my favorites are from my childhood, so mostly animated cartoons

Charlie Brown, Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol, the Rankin-Bass cartoons, and the Grinch.

I remember when the Grinch premiered-- December 18, 1966. I was really looking forward to it because I had the book and I loved that book. Earlier in that day, I had to sing in a church Christmas pageant, and I got very sick as a result. So, when I got home I was given some medicine and sent straight to bed. My bedroom was next to the TV room, so I could hear it, but I couldn't see it. I was so disappointed

[debm55]

95. I am so sorry. RazorbackExpat. Back then you had to wait a whole year to see it again. Bummer.

[RazorbackExpat]

115. Back then, years lasted longer than they do now

So it was a looong wait

[Wiz Imp]

91. 2 more I haven't seen mentioned

Christmas in Connecticut with Barbara Stanwyck & The Lemon Drop Kid with Bob Hope.

[debm55]

96. thank you very much, Wiz Imp for sharing with us.

[Emile]

92. Bad Santa - 2003 - Comedy/Drama ‧

[debm55]

116. Thank you so much for sharing with us Emile.

[KitFox]

93. I like so many of these mentioned here! I love "The Snowman" which is an animated short film based on Raymond Briggs'

picture book. It does not have dialog but is set to the most wonderful music. It is delightful and poignant. Another was a made for TV special called “The House Without A Christmas Tree” with Jason Robards and Mildred Natwick. One I discovered a few years ago is “This is Christmas” a British film that is really touching. I loved reading all the posts and was reminded of some I had forgotten about. And Deb, I love me a “Sound of Music” fix anytime! 😊🩷

[debm55]

101. Thank you very much KitFox. for sharing. PS "the hills are alive with the sound of music."

[Tiny Tabby]

102. Remember the Night

Barbara Stanwick and Fred MacMurray.

Written by Preston Sturges. A heartwarming story with strong supporting cast like Sterling Holloway.

[debm55]

105. Thank you very much. Tiny Tabby.for sharing with us. I will have to see if it is on my Tablet to stream.

[Sneederbunk]

103. The tv movie A House Without a Christmas Tree.

[debm55]

107. Thank you very much , Sneederbunk. I will make a check for it on my tablet.

[avebury]

104. I met the real Maria Von Trapp many years ago at the

Cafe/Gift Shop on their Stowe, VT property. She was short, very nice.

[debm55]

106. Oh wow. That you very much for sharing that with us, avebury

[subterranean]

108. The House Without a Christmas Tree

It's a made-for-TV Christmas movie that I remember from my childhood. Starring Jason Robards.
Worth watching if you've never seen it, or re-watching if you have.

[debm55]

111. Thank you very much, subterranean. I will take a look for it.

[subterranean]

112. It's available on two different Youtube channels, but...

in one of them, the video is reversed, presumably to avoid a copyright strike.
The one I linked to is the original, non-reversed version.

The story takes place in the 1940s, and is about a girl and her father, who has refused to have a Christmas tree in the house ever since his wife (the girl's mother) died in childbirth around Christmastime. Don't worry, it has a happy ending!

[debm55]

113. Thank you. subterranean for sharing with us.

[Xavier Breath]

110. Christmas Vacation.

More fun than a one-year subscription to the Jelly-of-the-month club.

[debm55]

117. Thank you very much Xavier Breath. That sounds like fun. I have never seen it.

[boonecreek]

114. Two comedies.

"The Man who Came to Dinner" with Bette Davis, Monty Woolley, Ann Sheridan and Jimmy Durante.

"Christmas in Connecticut" with Barbara Stanwyck and Dennis Morgan.

[debm55]

118. They will be on my to watch list--I love musicals and comedies. Thank you boonecreek.