Rudolph Grinch Bing
A month's worth of yule views and tunes.
Holiday Movie Advent Calendar
When it comes to to holiday viewing, I like campy epics, charming old school animation, and comedies in equal measure. Here’s a list of the 25 best movies and shows you can watch to keep the Christmas spirit going all December long.
1) A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) - A heartwarming, jazzy, Christmas gem.
2) How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966) - In theory, Jim Carrey should make an incredible Grinch, but the reality is that Seuss’ original animated version is the only way to watch this story.
3) Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (1964) - Longest continuously running Christmas TV special in the US for a reason.
4) National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) - Clark’s light-strewn house. Margo and Todd’s string of bad luck. Aunt Bethany’s cat present. Cousin Eddie’s heist of Mr Shirley. None of these things get old.
5) Frosty the Snowman (1969) - Rankin and Bass are animagic geniuses thanks to all the worlds they created.
6) A Very Murray Christmas (2015) - This whole thing feels improvised and while there are many awkward moments, something about the overall vibe and the unexpected cameos makes it worth a watch.
7) Holiday Inn (1942) - The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor occured half way through the filming of this black and white Christmas musical featuring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire which also debuted the world’s best selling single, “White Christmas.” Beware of the unfortunate black faced number.
8) The Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire (1989) - There are many funnier Simpsons episodes than this one, but this Christmas special is the pilot episode for one of the best shows of all time.
9) A Very Sunny Christmas, Season 6, Episode 13 (2010) - A crazy “Christmas Carol”-esque episode of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” where a naked Danny Devito births himself from a couch.
10) The Office “Christmas Party” Season 2, Episode 10 (2005) - An office party Secret Santa shareout gone awry is comedy gold.
11) Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas (1977) - Jim Henson’s jug band knows how to jam.
12) Die Hard - Terrorism isn’t the best holiday theme, but it’s still an entertaining flick
13) Compilation of best SNL Christmas sketches - NPR’s “Delicious Dish,” “Drunk Uncle,” “Elf Motivation,” “Dick in a Box,” “I Wish it was Christmas Today,” Malkovich reading “Twas the Night Before Christmas.” The list goes on and on.
14) Elf (2003) - There’s some odd scenes throughout (what’s with the shower scene in the mall?) but it’s a no doubt kid pleaser.
15) Daddy’s Home 2 (2017) - Will Ferrel’s best holiday movie.
16) The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) - Super inventive all around.
17) Love Actually (2003) - There is a festive feel throughout, albeit the multiple intertwined stories are all rather surreal upon closer inspection. Prime Minister dating his youngest employee. Groomsman hitting on his best friend’s new wife days after their wedding. Boss treating his secretary better than his wonderful wife. Writer proposing to a woman with whom he is unable to communicate. Aging rocker ditching Elton John on Christmas eve to to hang with his manger. But we watch it all anyways.
18) Home Alone (1990) - The blockbuster still holds up.
19) Peace on Earth (1939) - Animated short film about a world populated only by animals after all humans have gone extinct due to war. Apparently nominated for a Nobel Peach Prize.
20) Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby Christmas Special (1957) - Two old guys hanging out in their apartment, drinking, talking about records, and singing Christmas songs. Bizarre, yet amusing. They run through 13 songs in 26 minutes, and each song is performed in basically one unedited take.
21) The Sound of Music (1965) - I don’t believe this movie has anything to do with Christmas, but it just feels right to watch it during the holidays.
22) Reve de Noel (1900) - Fantastical in a silent, black and white, French kind of way. Wizards, rabbits, jesters, geese, children, angels, ballarinas, beggars, carriage drivers, lantern holders. At under 4 minutes long, its the kind of thing you might play on loop at a holiday party. Just don’t take too many gummies while watching it.
23) White Christmas (1954) - Nostalgic Christmastime wonderment.
24) A Christmas Story (1983) - The lamp. The flagpole. The bully. The turkey. The duck. The decoder. The Red Rider.
25) It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) - The one and only classic.
Who knew Jeff Goldblum could sing? Here’s a holiday playlist for your consideration.
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