Most Deserving Holiday Movies
I'm tired of pretending to agree that certain old movies are the hands-down most classic, best Christmas movies ever. Here are some titles that are truly deserving of the title of "great Christmas movie," a few of their less-deserving sequels for binge-watching purposes, as well as other holiday movies that are also under-appreciated.
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- DirectorJules BassArthur Rankin Jr.StarsEarl HammondEarle HymanLarry KenneyAt a council convened by The Great Ak, the forest being tells the story of Santa Claus to explain why he deserves to be made immortal.1985 marked the year of the last Rankin/Bass stop-motion holiday special and, as far as I'm concerned, the best one. Infusing the tale of Santa Claus with a bit of Wizard of Oz and just a dash of Lord of the Rings, this is THE origin story of Santa Claus as far as this fan of fantasy is concerned.
- DirectorLarry RoemerStarsBillie Mae RichardsBurl IvesLarry D. MannA young reindeer Rudolph lives at the North Pole. His father is one of Santa's reindeer and it is expected that Rudolph will eventually be one too. However, he has a feature which is a setback and causes him to be ostracized: his red nose.The grand-daddy of all children's Christmas specials. If you ask anyone what their favorite classic Christmas children's movie is, they'll probably say "A Charlie Brown Christmas" or this movie. For me, it's gotta be Rudolph, particularly because I've always felt like a toy from the island of misfit toys.
- DirectorJules BassArthur Rankin Jr.StarsRed SkeltonFrank GorshinMorey AmsterdamRudolph must find Happy, the baby New Year, before midnight on New Year's Eve.I don't remember if Frosty is in this one or not, but if he is, it's probably better to watch this after "Frosty the Snowman," for better continuity. Otherwise, dive right in after "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer."
- DirectorJules BassArthur Rankin Jr.StarsJackie VernonBilly De WolfeJimmy DuranteA living snowman and a little girl struggle to elude a greedy magician who is after the snowman's magic hat.This is a pretty good side story to check out before "Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July" -- the Frosty sequel isn't as great, but if you're a fan of the character, go for it.
- DirectorJules BassArthur Rankin Jr.StarsAndy GriffithShelley WintersDennis DayFrosty's kind of lonely, so the kids think of making him a wife, Crystal. But will Jack Frost let them be happy?This is the deserving sequel to "Frosty the Snowman," not the 1992 "Frosty Returns" that they seem to show following "Frosty the Snowman" every year.
- DirectorJules BassArthur Rankin Jr.StarsRed ButtonsEthel MermanMickey RooneyThe Winterbolt is trying to make North Pole his evil wonderland, and it is up to Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and other icons to stop him.The final film in the Rudolph trilogy. It's frankly not that great, but I can imagine the nostalgia of seeing many of your old stop-motion Christmas friends again will outweigh the amount of shrugging you'll be doing throughout the so-so story.
- DirectorJules BassArthur Rankin Jr.StarsBuddy HackettRobert MorsePaul FreesThe Groundhog tells the story of how, for once, Jack Frost became human, and helped a knight win his lady love.Jack Frost is good for a slightly different take on Christmas from Rankin/Bass, a tale told from the perspective of an outsider named Jack Frost.
- DirectorJules BassArthur Rankin Jr.StarsFred AstaireSkip HinnantBob McFaddenThe Mailman decides to stop another deluge of letters by answering questions about the Easter Bunny: Sunny, a baby rabbit found and adopted by Kidville (a town of only kids--even a kid mailman). And when Sunny goes delivering eggs to the nearby town (which he has to dye to fool Gadzooks, the mean bear on the mountain), he discovers that there are no kids in the town, and that the rightful (kid) ruler is being suppressed by his aunt. But the young king likes Sunny's dyed eggs and jelly beans. So Kidville, with the help of an old train engine, makes a few plans (and a decoy chocolate rabbit) to distribute them.This is THE Easter movie as far as I'm concerned! A fun, musical romp about a bunny named Sunny and his pals and how they bring joy to people using simple, delicious boiled eggs.
- DirectorJules BassArthur Rankin Jr.StarsDanny KayePaul FreesJoan GardnerWith the help of a time machine, Peter Cottontail must rescue Easter from the hands of the malicious Irontail.I prefer "The Easter Bunny Is Comin' To Town," but this one's cute, too. It even manages to include a bit of St. Patrick's Day cheer near the end. "Here Comes Peter Cottontail: The Movie (2005)" is a sequel if you're desperate to see more after watching this. Just make sure you check "The Easter Bunny Is Comin' To Town" ... meanwhile, "The First Easter Rabbit" may also be worth your time.
- DirectorHenry SelickStarsDanny ElfmanChris SarandonCatherine O'HaraJack Skellington, king of Halloween Town, discovers Christmas Town, but his attempts to bring Christmas to his home causes confusion.The perfect Halloween movie to be recycled two months later as the perfect Christmas movie! Surprisingly enjoyable even decades after its initial release, I still find myself singing these Halloween-Christmas songs.
- DirectorBurny MattinsonStarsAlan YoungWayne AllwineHal SmithThe classic Disney animated characters play the roles in this animated retelling of the Charles Dickens masterpiece.Here's the version of a Christmas Carol to show to kids. It's certainly my favorite non-live-action version, but of course I grew up watching Disney cartoons, so I may be biased in that regard.
- DirectorPhil RomanStarsLorenzo MusicThom HugeGregg BergerWhen Garfield and Odie are out trick-or-treating, they end up at a haunted house.This Halloween tale starring Garfield and Odie was truly chilling to me as a child. It still holds up to this day, particularly for fans of Garfield the Cat. Skip the computer-animated sequels and get straight to the good stuff with the original Monday-hating, candy-loving cartoon cat.
- DirectorPhil RomanGeorge SingerStarsLorenzo MusicThom HugeGregg BergerGarfield, Jon, and Odie go to Jon's grandmother's house for Christmas, where Garfield finds a present for Grandma.Even Garfield gets into the spirit of Christmas, showing off his rare softer side, when the gang heads off to Jon's grandmother's house for Christmas.
- DirectorPhil RomanGerard BaldwinBob NeslerStarsLorenzo MusicThom HugeGregg BergerJon falls for Garfield's veterinarian--who puts Garfield on a diet--and invites her to Thanksgiving dinner.What a great Thanksgiving movie! There aren't many out there, so if I need to save myself from re-watching "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" (which honestly wasn't that great), I can revisit Garfield's dysfunctional family, including the grandmother with whom Garfield bonded over Christmas.
- DirectorChuck JonesBen WashamStarsBoris KarloffJune ForayDal McKennonA grumpy hermit hatches a plan to steal Christmas from the Whos of Whoville.Need a little holiday cheer for the kiddos but want to steer clear of the Rankin/Bass and Charlie Brown stalwarts? Check out this animated tale of a Grinch whose heart grows three sizes. Only true blue Grinch fans should bother with the prequel {"Halloween Is Grinch Night (1977)"} and the sort-of sequel {"The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat (1982)"}.
- DirectorJon FavreauStarsWill FerrellJames CaanBob NewhartRaised as an oversized elf, Buddy travels from the North Pole to New York City to meet his biological father, Walter Hobbs, who doesn't know he exists and is in desperate need of some Christmas spirit.My favorite live-action Christmas movie! Good for kids and adult alike, but those who are young at heart / old of body like Buddy the Elf here will get the most out of it.
- DirectorPeter HarrisEric TillStarsFrank OzDave GoelzRichard HuntFozzie Bear surprises his mother on Christmas Eve by bringing the entire Muppet gang to her farm to celebrate the holidays.This Christmas special united many beloved Jim Henson creations from various franchises under one roof for a nostalgia-packed, snowed-in visit to Fozzie's mother's house. Be sure you watch the original unedited version, as the edited version (widely circulated on DVD) has some unforgivable cuts to the heart and humor of the film. As I understand it, the unedited version begins with the "We Need a Little Christmas" song on the way to Ma Bear's house, while the edited version begins with them arriving at Ma Bear's house.
- DirectorBrian HensonStarsMichael CaineDave GoelzSteve WhitmireThe Muppets present their own touching rendition of Charles Dickens' classic tale.If you love the classic Muppets movies and want to see the Muppets doing "A Christmas Carol," this movie is for you. Heartwarming fun like all the classic (made before the 2000s) Muppets movies.
- DirectorBill MelendezStarsPeter RobbinsChristopher SheaSally DryerThe Peanuts gang celebrates Halloween while Linus waits for the Great Pumpkin.The best of the Charlie Brown holiday movies as far as I'm concerned. Who wouldn't want the great and terrifying Great Pumpkin to be real after watching this?
- DirectorBill MelendezStarsAnn AltieriChris DoranSally DryerDepressed at the commercialism he sees around him, Charlie Brown tries to find a deeper meaning to Christmas.I used to love it, but I'm honestly not into the metaphor as much as I used to be. It's too iconic to not include, though, plus it still makes the list of movies I'd want to expose my own kids to, unlike a lot of those typical Christmas movies I just can't stand.
- DirectorPhil RomanStarsTodd BarbeeMelanie KohnStephen SheaThe Peanuts gang prepare for Easter in their own clumsy ways.The Peanuts Gang are great for having a holiday movie to watch for just about any holiday out there, including Arbor Day, so it would be insane to try to fit them all on the list. As such, I've limited it to three of my favorites, but there are plenty more Peanuts specials that are worth your time.
- DirectorJun FalkensteinKarl GeursGary KatonaStarsGregg BergerBrady BluhmJim CummingsJoin Pooh and his friends in three stories about the seasons.I'm no expert in Winnie the Pooh's various holiday specials, but from what I've seen some are good and others are only so-so. This one makes the list for its inclusion of Kessie, a little bluebird that Rabbit raises and, through that, gains great affection for her (in spite of his usual grumpy attitude) as her adoptive father. This one also covers Thanksgiving and ends with Christmas, so you get a lot of holiday mileage out of one special.
- DirectorRobert YoungStarsDiana RiggCharlotte RaeTim CurryMildred Hubble (Fairuza Balk) is one of the young girls at a prestigious witch academy. She can't seem to do anything right and is picked on by classmates and teachers. The headmistress of the school, Miss Cackle (Charlotte Rae), has an evil twin sister (Agatha) who plans to destroy the school. Can Mildred foil the plan before the Grand Wizard (Tim Curry) comes to the Academy for the Halloween celebration you'll never forget?Forget Hogwarts, THIS is the magical academy I wanted to attend when I was growing up! Sad to say this gem has been mostly forgotten in this day and age, but if you have an opportunity to watch it and/or show it to a little girl, go for it.
- DirectorNicolas RoegStarsAnjelica HustonMai ZetterlingJasen FisherA young boy stumbles onto a witch convention and must stop them, even after he has been turned into a mouse.If you've succeeded in making your child or grandchild love witches with "The Worst Witch," the next step is to make them fear them with this scary/exciting tale of a boy who runs afoul of some seriously bad witches bent on world domination, then receives some help from an unexpected source.
- DirectorBarry SonnenfeldStarsAnjelica HustonRaul JuliaChristopher LloydCon artists plan to fleece an eccentric family using an accomplice who claims to be their long-lost uncle.Delightful Halloween film along with its first and best sequel, Addams Family Values. This is the one that includes the classic Girl Scout Cookies question.