The holidays are not just a time to eat, drink, and be merry, but also a time to bond over movies with loved ones. Some films are specially made for this season and have lasted for decades as families re-run them each year.
The movie themes range from humor to horror, or from cheesy romance or drama about family. They also tend to teach lessons about giving during Christmas and remembering the importance of community. A few of these classics have stood out, and according to a media outlet, one of them is the best.
What classic is the best Christmas movie ever made?
Entertainment Weekly named It’s a Wonderful Life as the best Christmas movie of all time. Frank Capra directed the 1946 classic and features Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey. In a bid to help people in his little Bedford Falls hometown, George goes broke and considers suicide on Christmas Eve.
Thankfully, an angel named Clarence shows up to give him a better perspective on his life, making him take another shot at living. The movie earned five Oscars Award nominations and a Golden Globe for Capra as best director.
Other top Christmas movies
Following It’s a Wonderful Life on the list of top Christmas movies are A Christmas Story, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Elf, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. A Christmas Story is a cult classic that teaches viewers to find joy in the simple things, like 9-year-old Ralphie Parker.
A Charlie Brown Christmas is a favorite of Peanuts comic fans, and like A Christmas Story, it teaches that Christmas’ essence can be found in the little things. Elf is one of Will Ferell’s career-defining roles, as he depicted the child-like adult raised as an Elf at the North Pole. How The Grinch Stole Christmas was a 26-minute special that stole viewers’ hearts and has been remade into live-action and animation in recent times.