There are hundreds of Christmas movies to choose from but if you are looking to watch one movie during the holidays that just about everyone in your family will enjoy, we recommend watching any one of the following ten films. And if you have time, why not watch all ten!
These movies are not only critically acclaimed but have the highest audience scores across several platforms including Rotten Tomatoes, IMDB, Metacritic, and Cinemascore.
Source: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
A Christmas Story (1983)
Directed by Bob Clark
Starring Melinda Dillon, Darren McGavin, and Scott Schwartz
What is it about: In the 1940s, a young boy named Ralphie attempts to convince his parents, his teacher and Santa that a Red Ryder BB gun really is the perfect Christmas gift.
Source: Touchstone Pictures
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Directed by Henry Selick
Starring, Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, Catherine O'Hara
What is it about: Jack Skellington, king of Halloween Town, discovers Christmas Town, but his attempts to bring Christmas to his home causes confusion.
Source: Fox Searchlight Pictures
Millions (2004)
Directed by Danny Boyle
Starring, Alex Etel, Lewis McGibbon, and James Nesbitt
What is it about: Ethics, being human and the soul come to the fore when a 7-year old finds a bag of Pounds just days before the currency is switched to Euros and learns what we are really made of.
Source: Miramax Films
Serendipity (2001)
Directed by Peter Chelsom
Starring John Cusack, Kate Beckinsale and Jeremy Piven
What is it about: A couple search for each other years after the night they first met, fell in love, and separated, convinced that one day they'd end up together.
Source: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
A Christmas Story (1983)
Directed by Bob Clark
Starring John Cusack, Kate Beckinsale, and Jeremy Piven
What is it about: A couple search for each other years after the night they first met, fell in love, and separated, convinced that one day they'd end up together.
Source: 20th Century Fox
Edward Scissorhands (1990)
Directed by Tim Burton
Starring, Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Dianne Wiest
What is it about: An artificial man, who was incompletely constructed and has scissors for hands, leads a solitary life. Then one day, a suburban lady meets him and introduces him to her world.
Source: Universal Pictures
Love Actually (2003)
Directed by Richard Curtis
Starring, Bill Nighy, Gregor Fisher, and Rory MacGregor
What is it about: Follows the lives of eight very different couples in dealing with their love lives in various loosely interrelated tales all set during a frantic month before Christmas in London, England.
Source: New Line Cinema
Elf (2003)
Directed by Jon Favreau
Starring, Will Ferrell, James Caan, and Bob Newhart
What is it about: Raised as an over-sized elf, a human travels from the North Pole to NYC to meet his biological father who doesn't know he exists and is in desperate need of some Christmas spirit.
Source: 20th Century Fox
Home Alone (1990)
Directed by Christopher Columbus
Starring, Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, and Daniel Stern
What is it about: An eight-year-old troublemaker must protect his house from a pair of burglars when he is accidentally left home alone by his family during Christmas vacation.
Source: RKO Pictures
It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
Directed by Frank Capra
Starring James Stewart, Donna Reed, and Lionel Barrymore
What is it about: An angel is sent from Heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed.
