During the bustling holiday season, one of the best ways to relax is to curl up with hot cocoa, a big bowl of popcorn and your loved ones to enjoy some of the holiday’s best family Christmas movies. From classics of the 1960′s to modern favorites, there are many to choose from for a memorable family movie night.
1. “Home Alone” (1990)
A beloved favorite for many families, this tale is the store of 8-year-old Kevin, who is inadvertently left home alone during the holidays while his large family travels to France for Christmas. He must battle two dense, and clumsy, burglars (played by the hilarious duo of Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern) and learn valuable lessons along the way.
2. “The Santa Clause” (1994)
. Tim Allen stars in this modern favorite about a workaholic adman who becomes Santa one night after the real thing slips off of his roof and dies. This hilarious film also stars Judge Reinhold (from the “Beverly Hills Cop” franchise), Wendy Crewson and Eric Lloyd as little Charlie, and even spawned two sequels
3. “Fred Claus” (2007)
. Another modern classic, this movie stars Vince Vaughan as Santa Claus’s older, troublemaking brother. When he is forced to move to the North Pole, his antics for trying to fit in eventually cause him to save Christmas Day. Also starring Paul Giamatti as St. Nick, Miranda Richardson as Annette Claus, Rachel Weisz as Wanda, the award-winning Kathy Bates as Mother Claus, Ludacris as DJ Donnie and Kevin Spacey as Clyde, this movie will become a family favorite in your home as well.
4. “A Christmas Story” (1983)
. Probably one of the most much-loved and well-known of all holiday films, “A Christmas Story” is the journey of one little boy, Ralphie (Peter Billingsley), who tries to convince his parents and teacher that the Red Ryder BB gun is the perfect Christmas present. Set in Chicago in the 1940′s, this film also stars Melinda Dillon as the mother, Darren McGavin as “the old man” and Jean Shepherd as the voice of grown-up Ralphie.
5. “Elf” (2003)
. A soon-to-be seasonal favorite, this Christmas movie is the story of Buddy (played by the hilarious Will Ferrell), a human living at the North Pole as an elf who was adopted by the Head Elf (the venerable Bob Newhart) and learns the hard truth that he is a human. So, he heads to New York City in search of his real father and along the way, he falls for a store elf (Zooey Deschanel), warms his father’s hard, workaholic heart (James Caan stars as Buddy’s dad Walter) and saves Christmas for the world. This film was directed by actor/director Jon Favreau, so it’s sure to be a hilarious family favorite.
6. “Jingle All The Way” (1996)
. Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sinbad and the late SNL funnyman Phil Hartman, this Christmas comedy follows the dream of harried dad, Howard Langston (Schwarzenegger), who decides to get that year’s hottest toy for his son, just in time for Christmas. Sinbad plays Myron Larabee and Phil Hartman is Ted Maltin, this movie also stars James Belushi as the Mall Santa, Rita Wilson as Howard’s wife Liz, Jake Lloyd as Jamie, the son, and Robert Conrad as Officer Hummell.
7. Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993)
. A slightly dark Christmas musical from the minds of Tim Burton and Danny Elfman, this film is about how Jack Skellington, the king of Halloween, discovers Christmas Town, and decides to take it over. Starring the voice talents of: Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, Catherine O’Hara, William Hickey, Paul Reubens and the hilarious Greg Proops.