Holiday Must-Sees each year
by BatStarIndyFreak | created - 16 Dec 2011 | updated - 16 Dec 2011 | Public- Instant Watch Options
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1. A Christmas Carol (1984 TV Movie)
PG | 100 min | Drama, Family, Fantasy
A bitter old miser who rationalizes his uncaring nature learns real compassion when three spirits visit him on Christmas Eve.
Director: Clive Donner | Stars: George C. Scott, Frank Finlay, Angela Pleasence, Edward Woodward
Votes: 18,330
2. 'Twas the Night Before Christmas (1974 TV Movie)
TV-G | 25 min | Animation, Comedy, Family
When a town learns that Santa Claus has struck it off his delivery schedule due to an insulting letter, a way must be found to change his mind.
Directors: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr. | Stars: Joel Grey, Tammy Grimes, John McGiver, George Gobel
Votes: 3,784
3. It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
PG | 130 min | Drama, Family, Fantasy
An angel is sent from Heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed.
Director: Frank Capra | Stars: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell
Votes: 498,706
4. The Santa Clause (1994)
PG | 97 min | Comedy, Drama, Family
When a man inadvertently makes Santa fall off his roof on Christmas Eve, he finds himself magically recruited to take his place.
Director: John Pasquin | Stars: Tim Allen, Judge Reinhold, Wendy Crewson, Eric Lloyd
Votes: 133,368 | Gross: $144.83M
5. The Santa Clause 2 (2002)
G | 104 min | Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Scott Calvin has been a humble Santa Claus for eight years, but it might come to an end if he doesn't find a Mrs. Claus.
Director: Michael Lembeck | Stars: Tim Allen, Spencer Breslin, Elizabeth Mitchell, Eric Lloyd
Votes: 63,882 | Gross: $139.24M
6. The Polar Express (2004)
G | 100 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
On Christmas Eve, a young boy embarks on a magical adventure to the North Pole on the Polar Express, while learning about friendship, bravery, and the spirit of Christmas.
Director: Robert Zemeckis | Stars: Tom Hanks, Chris Coppola, Michael Jeter, Leslie Zemeckis
Votes: 241,106 | Gross: $183.37M
7. A Christmas Carol (1951)
TV-PG | 86 min | Drama, Family, Fantasy
Ebenezer Scrooge, a curmudgeonly, miserly businessman, has no time for sentimentality and largely views Christmas as a waste of time. However, this Christmas Eve, he will be visited by three spirits who will show him the error of his ways.
Director: Brian Desmond Hurst | Stars: Alastair Sim, Jack Warner, Kathleen Harrison, Mervyn Johns
Votes: 25,721
8. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965 TV Movie)
TV-G | 25 min | Animation, Comedy, Drama
Depressed at the commercialism he sees around him, Charlie Brown tries to find a deeper meaning to Christmas.
Director: Bill Melendez | Stars: Ann Altieri, Chris Doran, Sally Dryer, Bill Melendez
Votes: 44,069
9. Christmas Unwrapped: The History of Christmas (1997 TV Movie)
50 min | Documentary
The history of Christmas and the traditions that make the holidays the most wonderful time of the year.
Stars: Harry Smith, Forrest Church, A.W. Purdue, Elaine Pagels
Votes: 140
10. Biography (1987– )
TV-14 | 60 min | Documentary, Biography, History
The life stories of various historical figures and celebrities are told.
Stars: Jack Perkins, Peter Graves, Harry Smith, Robert J. Thompson
Votes: 2,087
Santa's biography to be exact.
11. Holiday Inn (1942)
Passed | 100 min | Comedy, Drama, Music
At an inn which is open only on holidays, a crooner and a hoofer vie for the affections of a beautiful up-and-coming performer.
Directors: Mark Sandrich, Robert Allen | Stars: Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Marjorie Reynolds, Virginia Dale
Votes: 17,618 | Gross: $8.18M
Not really big on "White Christmas", just me
12. The Night Before Christmas (1933)
Approved | 8 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
A narrator sings the opening stanzas of the classic poem while we see the house at rest. Santa lands on the roof, comes down the chimney, and opens his bag. The toys march out and decorate ... See full summary »
Director: Wilfred Jackson | Stars: Allan Watson, Kenny Baker
Votes: 956
The Disney Silly Symphony bit
13. The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974 TV Movie)
TV-G | 51 min | Animation, Comedy, Family
When a weary and discouraged Santa Claus considers skipping his Christmas Eve run one year, Mrs. Claus and his elves set out to change his mind.
Directors: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr. | Stars: Shirley Booth, Mickey Rooney, Dick Shawn, George S. Irving
Votes: 11,632
14. Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (1970 TV Movie)
TV-G | 48 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
A mailman reveals the origin of Santa Claus.
Directors: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr. | Stars: Fred Astaire, Mickey Rooney, Keenan Wynn, Paul Frees
Votes: 17,496
15. A Christmas Story (1983)
PG | 93 min | Comedy, Family
In the 1940s, a young boy named Ralphie Parker attempts to convince his parents, teacher, and Santa Claus that a Red Ryder Range 200 Shot BB gun really is the perfect Christmas gift.
Director: Bob Clark | Stars: Peter Billingsley, Melinda Dillon, Darren McGavin, Scott Schwartz
Votes: 168,574 | Gross: $20.61M
16. The Night They Saved Christmas (1984 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 92 min | Drama, Family, Fantasy
Santa's home is threatened when an oil company blasts in the North Pole.
Director: Jackie Cooper | Stars: Jaclyn Smith, Art Carney, Paul Le Mat, Mason Adams
Votes: 1,710
OK, a BIG cheesefest, but the plot and ideas are fun
17. Scrooge (1935)
PG | 78 min | Drama, Family, Fantasy
Ebenezer Scrooge is a mean old miser who wants nothing to do with Christmas. The Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come visit Scrooge on Christmas Eve, taking him on a journey into the very spirit and magic of Christmas itself.
Director: Henry Edwards | Stars: Seymour Hicks, Donald Calthrop, Robert Cochran, Mary Glynne
Votes: 2,643
Cuts more corners than it should, but the spirit is right
18. Mr. Krueger's Christmas (1980 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 26 min | Drama, Family, Fantasy
An elderly widower relies on his daydreams and faith to get through a lonely Christmas.
Director: Kieth Merrill | Stars: James Stewart, The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, Beverly Rowland, Kamee Aliessa
Votes: 1,158
19. How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 26 min | Animation, Comedy, Family
A grumpy hermit hatches a plan to steal Christmas from the Whos of Whoville.
Directors: Chuck Jones, Ben Washam | Stars: Boris Karloff, June Foray, Dal McKennon
Votes: 58,988
20.
Highway to Heaven (1984–1989)
Episode:
Another Song for Christmas
(1984)
Not Rated | 60 min | Drama, Fantasy
Jonathan and Mark become involved in their own version of Dickens' classic "Christmas Carol" ... only their "Scrooge" is a heartless used car salesman.
Director: Michael Landon | Stars: Michael Landon, Victor French, Jeff Doucette, Bill Quinn
Votes: 190
My favorite TV series take on A Christmas Carol
21. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
Not Rated | 96 min | Comedy, Drama, Family
After a divorced New York mother hires a nice old man to play Santa Claus at Macy's, she is startled by his claim to be the genuine article. When his sanity is questioned, a lawyer defends him in court by arguing that he's not mistaken.
Director: George Seaton | Stars: Edmund Gwenn, Maureen O'Hara, John Payne, Gene Lockhart
Votes: 54,893 | Gross: $2.65M
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