There are a lot of Christmas classics to choose from during the month of December to fill you with holiday spirit! Some movies are almost inescapable‚ playing around the clock on every television movie channel‚ but some are not as mainstream. The easier-to-find holiday films include Elf, A Christmas Story, The Grinch and A Miracle on 34th Street, so let’s assume you’ve already seen these. Although the ones just listed are definitely must-see movies, there are a lot of other holiday gems to watch too! Here are ten of the less popularized (but equally great!) holiday films to watch this holiday season, appropriate for the entire family: 1. Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol You know the story: a stingy Scrooge gets a literal wake-up call by three ghosts, they proceed to show him the error of his ways and allude to his nonexistent future until he ultimately decides to stop being so selfish and bitter. This Charles Dickens novel, first published in 1843, has been adapted for the silver screen time and time again. You’ve probably seen most of them: either Disney’s 2009 version with Jim Carrey or the animated Mickey’s Christmas Carol, Jim Hensen’s The Muppet Christmas Carol, or perhaps you’ve even seen Scrooged with Bill Murray (if you’re over the age of 13 and with permission from your parents since it’s rated PG-13). One version that remains at the top of the adaptation list is the 1962 cartoon Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol, with the blind, yet beloved Mr. Magoo being the star of the show. Mr. Magoo was a cartoon favorite in the 1950s, and his Christmas Carol was the first ever animated Christmas special to air on television‚ talk about some holiday history! via GIPHY 2. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York The first Home Alone with a young Macaulay Culkin is one of the highest grossing movies of all time, so chances are you’ve seen the original. But did you know the sequel is just as entertaining? Culkin takes on the biggest of big cities by himself (New York City), meeting new and old Christmas villains to outsmart as he tries to find his family‚ yet again! Oh, and having a great time with his dad’s credit card while he’s at it. via GIPHY 3. Holiday Inn Older movies may not be as action-packed as the ones released within the past 20 years, but there are hundreds of classic movies that stand as exceptions to the rule. Holiday Inn, starring Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby, is a moving musical that can entertain any audience and (spoiler alert!) you may already know some of the songs to sing along to! via Tumblr 4. Gremlins Okay‚ the title doesn’t sound like a Christmas movie, but it totally is! After receiving a very unique Christmas present, Gremlins is about the bond between a boy and his‚ well, gremlin. Although rated PG, this holiday movie can get a little scary at moments (especially for younger audiences), so make sure you have someone watching with you to avoid being too frightened! via GIPHY 5. Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas This movie is not to be confused with the live action Jim Carrey version! (Jim Carrey’s in a lot of Christmas movies, have you noticed that??) No, this 1966 cartoon classic features the narration of Dr. Seuss’ book as the Who-hating Grinch plots to manually remove Christmas from all residents of Whoville. He even goes so far as to take the “rare Who-roast beast”! Like many other Christmas cartoons, it was first aired as a TV special and introduced the world to the now very famous Christmas show tune “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch “. via GIPHY 6. It’s Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown With the new Charlie Brown movie coming out this Christmas, it would be a shame not to watch the original Peanuts holiday special A Charlie Brown Christmas! The TV special is actually celebrating its 50th anniversary since its creation in 1965. However, did you know that there was more than one Christmas special with the Peanuts gang? There are actually four in existence: the 1965 classic A Charlie Brown Christmas; the 1992 TV special It’s Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown; 2002’s Charlie Brown’s Christmas Tales; and 2003’s I Want a Dog For Christmas, Charlie Brown. All of these are amazing, but the 1992 Christmastime Again included Peppermint Paddy playing a sheep and Sally’s inability to say the one word she was assigned in her school play. Silliness ensues. via GIPHY 7. The Snowman It may only be a half an hour long, but The Snowman is a timeless classic that every holiday lover must see! Created in England, this instrumental and animated film features a snowman coming to life and leading a boy to a very merry party at the North Pole with an ultra special guest in attendance. Fair warning: you may want to watch this with a box of tissues. via GIPHY 8. Jack Frost Speaking of snowmen, Jack Frost is a movie about a boy losing his dad, only for him to return in the form of a snowman. It sounds like the movie would sad‚ which it is in the beginning‚ but it’s really full of fun too! via GIF Soup 9. Prancer What’s more heart-warming than a farm girl finding a wounded reindeer and nursing it back to health by Christmas time because she thinks it’s one of Santa’s? Santa’s sleigh can’t pull itself, so Prancer has to heal in time. If you’re an animal lover, this movie is the holiday film for you! via GIPHY 10. I’ll Be Home For Christmas Another race against the clock kind of Christmas movie was made at the height of Jonathon Taylor Thomas’ career (a name you might not recognize, but who was definitely a featured heartthrob in many a teen magazine during the 1990s). His girlfriend in the movie is Jessica Biel‚ a name that probably sounds a little bit more familiar (cough, Justin Timberlake). The film’s plot centers around JTT being offered a sweet new Porsche as a Christmas gift if he can make it home from college by Christmas Eve. However, obstacles start almost immediately when he’s left stranded in the middle of the desert wearing a Santa suit! Will he make it home in time to get the car? Watch and find out. via GIPHY What other family holiday movies do you like to watch during Christmastime? Let us know in the comments below for our next year’s list!
10 Holiday Movies for the 12 Days of Christmas
