Christmas movies are an industry unto themselves. This year, the Hallmark Channel will release 32 new ones, while Netflix has hundreds of flicks available for streaming.
Most of these are unlikely to be seen repeatedly year after year; the best holiday films, on the other hand, are perpetual gifts.
What sets them apart is that they are not just seasonally suitable, but also outstanding films in general: moving meditations on loneliness and human connection sprinkled with snowmen and carolers.
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“The Dead” (1987)
John Huston’s final film is a wonderfully authentic rendition of James Joyce’s short story. It takes place at a lively Epiphany party in Dublin in 1904 (close enough to Christmas to count).
And, like many parties, this one concludes on a sad note. The film—and Huston’s career—ends with a tragic monologue about love and loss delivered with grim resignation by Donal McCann, set against a haunting montage of Ireland in the winter.
“The holdovers” (2023)
Alexander Payne’s spiky yet homey comedy-drama was published in 2023, but it was so humane and entertaining that it quickly became a Christmas film classic.
Paul Giamatti stars as a grumpy boarding school teacher who must care for a young student (Dominic Sessa) over the 1970 Christmas movies holiday. Da’Vine Joy Randolph co-stars as the school chef, whose son was murdered in Vietnam; she received an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.
“Home Alone” (1990)
Eight-year-old Kevin (Macaulay Culkin, pictured) is unintentionally left behind when the McCallister family departs for Paris for Christmas. This parenting error appears to be even worse when two burglars (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern) target the house.
Since then, imitations and parodies of the resulting Tom-and-Jerry-style violence have been made, but the heart of Chris Columbus’s comedy occurs earlier in the movie, when Kevin is captivated by his freedom to explore the cold city.
The 1946 film “It’s a Wonderful Life”
A despondent George Bailey (James Stewart) is shown images of how much worse his hometown might have been if he had not lived there by a trainee guardian angel (Henry Travers).
The timeless Christmas movies starring Frank Capra pays moving homage to people who serve the community instead of their own celebrity and wealth. Even though the two hours leading up to that beautiful ending are depressing, it ends with a rush of happiness as George discovers how much he is valued.
“Christmas Vacation in National Lampoon” (1989)
This is a mild suburbia movie, the kind that American filmmakers accomplished so masterfully and frequently in the 1980s. Its timeless and recognizable theme—parents going to great lengths to provide their family with the ideal Christmas movies —will appeal to both children and adults.
There is antics, almost pantomime, to Chevy Chase’s just-below-boiling portrayal; Julia Louis-Dreyfus is excellent as the vile, shallow neighbor, and Randy Quaid is excellent as a rude, freeloading relative.
“Scrooged” (1988)
Three ghosts teach a heartbroken soul the true meaning of Christmas in this adaptation of “A Christmas Carol.”
The ghosts include an exceptionally angry Carol Kane and David Johansen of the rock band the New York Dolls; nevertheless, the soul in question is a TV executive, played by Bill Murray In other wordsy, Mr. Murray is entertaining from beginning to end, even though the movie is very much of its day.
Watch for Miles Davis to make a fleeting appearance as a busker.
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