• The Grinch (How the Grinch Stole Christmas) 

The Grinch is probably the most iconic Christmas film, although it only has a running time of 25 minutes. The Grinch was voiced by Boris Karloff in the original film, which was based off of the book by Dr. Seuss in 1957. Since then, there have been several more iterations, including the 2000 live-action film How the Grinch Stole Christmas starring Jim Carey, and the 2018 animated version The Grinch starring Benedict Cumberbatch. 

• Elf (2003) 

Starring Will Ferrell, Elf is “full of Yuletide cheer, [Elf] is a spirited, good-natured comedy and it benefits greatly from Will Ferrell’s funny and charming performance as one of Santa’s biggest helpers (Rotten Tomatoes).” Elf features a great sense of humor and since it’s release has only gotten more popular. It had been made into different plays and performances, rendering it one of the most beloved holiday films to date. 

• Die Hard 

The jury is still out on Die Hard. While it can and has been watched during any time of the year, many people stand with their belief that Die Hard is a Christmas movie. The film takes place on Christmas Eve in a skyscraper in Los Angeles. The film stars Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman, who play the main character and a terrorist respectively. In my opinion, it’s a classic film that in my family has always been enjoyed during the Christmas season. 

• Polar Express 

In some respects, Polar Express is controversial and it’s a sort of love-or-hate relationship with it. In my experience it’s almost half and half, but this movie is a classic and has always been a staple of the holidays in my family. Released in 2004, it was the first movie to use animation and motion capture together, and it has an amazing score and a story that will make every person think about what the spirit of Christmas means. 

• Christmas Carol 

Based on the book by Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol is similar to the Grinch, as the main character is a terror and he learns by force what the true spirit of Christmas means. Since it’s original release it has been made into countless movies, plays, and stories, and new adaptations continue to charm and terrify audiences, and probably will for many more generations.