First and foremost, I need to apologize, to Netflix. I sincerely dislike your Christmas films, I am a complete traditionalist and despite my efforts to branch out, films such as The Princess Switch or The Christmas Prince will never make my highly prestigious list of gold.
My list largely hasn't changed since I was a kid, and I think it is perhaps the nostalgia of Christmases gone by (and all the fond feels that come when watching these films), that allows this list to remain unchanged and unchallenged. (Comment your rivals!)
Love Actually
It's the cast and the London setting that places this film at number one. No matter how many times I watch this I will always laugh at Bill Nighy, jump up and dance with Hugh Grant and my heart will repeatedly break for Emma Thompson (in arguably her best scene of her career) being screwed over by Professor Snape. This film leaves you will all the warm fuzzy's you want out of a Christmas film, while not being too cheesy or make believe. Special Shout out to MR Bean, I used to work in Christmas wrapping and relate to that scene like no other!
The Holiday
Two women find themselves screwed over by men and depressed at Christmas time and decide to do a house swap with each other between LA and London. This is loaded with cheese and it such a feel good film. Jack Black and Cameron Diaz bring the comedy while Jude Law and Kate Winslet bring the mushy romance. This film is romcom meets Christmas time and only gets better (and cornier) as it ages!
The Snow Man
This twenty-minute long animated television film was broadcasted in the UK in the 1980s and is based on the 1978 picture book the Snowman. The mini film follows a symphonic poem about the story of a young boy and a snowman. It is the beautiful Walking in the Air orchestral score performed by the Sinfonia of London and sung by Peter Auty, a St Paul's Cathedral choirboy, that makes this short film so beautiful. This piece of art has won both a BAFTA and has been nominated for an Academy Award. Break out the mince pies, make a hot chocolate and snuggle down an enjoy this soul warming film.
The Polar Express
This movie, based on a children's book, was produced by Tom Hanks, who also amazingly voices seven of the characters. I feel like kids of today won't appreciate this the way that I did. In 2004 I was 6 and this was groundbreaking animation. I could not get over how life like the people were and how magical the special effects were. For this reason, this movie is still one of my favorites because I remember how in awe of it I was when it came out, and is still played every Christmas eve on the Telly.
The Santa Clause
I enjoy all three of these Tim Allen comedy's but specifically the first one, perhaps because, despite being totally unbelievable, as a child it was believable. Every Christmas film about Santa Clause and the North Pole, comes up with its own version of how the two exist and how they operate, and for some reason in The Santa Clause the concept just works. Tim Allen (Tim the Tool Man Tailor), master of family comedy and cheer is at his prime in this movie and little Charlie is way too cute!
Other Notable Mentions
- A Charlie Brown Christmas
- Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone
- Christmas With the Kranks
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas
TV Specials - The Vicar of Dibley, Michael Macintyre Christmas, Gavin and Stacey Christmas, Mary Berry, Nigella Lawson, The Great Christmas Bake Off
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