Favorite Christmas Movies | Family Night

It’s time to snuggle into a big pile of blankets, pop some corn, and watch Christmas movies!

I’m a huge Christmas movie fan. I used to have a “no watching Christmas movies before Thanksgiving” rule, but I broke it a couple of years ago when I realized I was never going to watch them all if I waited. We have several traditions when it comes to movie viewing in my house—Harry Potter marathon, New Year’s Day, Scrooge is playing as I decorate the tree, and we watch Santa Claus 2 on Christmas day all dressed up in our PJs.

As we were having dinner out the other night planning our movie line-up, we wrote down all of the movies we have to watch before and after Christmas and in what order. Yes, we’re that family. So I thought I’d list our family favorites, in no particular order, just in case you need a bit of inspiration.

Christmas Movies List

• It’s a Wonderful Life (My husband’s favorite.)
• National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (Did you know this movie was adapted from a short story by John Hughes?)
• The Santa Clause and Santa Clause 2 (SC2 is watched on Christmas day after our favorite PJ Christmas became a tradition. Skip the 3rd one.)
• Christmas with the Kranks (Apparently, Tim Allen IS Santa Claus in our house. Based on the book, Skipping Christmas by John Grisham.)
• Love Actually (Another one of my husband’s favorites. Not for the kiddies.)
• The Ref (Again, adults only please.)
• The Holiday (Sappy and romantic.)
• The Family Stone (I was really hooked on this for a few years.)
• Little Women (Not exactly a Christmas movie, but a family favorite none the less.)
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas (The movie version is one my girl’s favorites. I prefer the animated 1966 classic.)
• Scrooge (Starring Albert Finney. I love a few adaptations of A Christmas Carol, but this one is the one I have to watch. I recite the lines, which drives everyone else nuts.)
• Miracle on 34th Street (Either version. This is one of my daughter’s favorites.)
• White Christmas (The girls fell in love with this movie when they were in elementary school and we watch it every year.)
• Home Alone (We haven’t watched this one in a couple of years. I saw it three times in the theatre when it came out.)
• The Polar Express (You must wear your PJs and drink hot, hot chocolate while you watch this.)
• The Family Man (A story of a man who may have chosen the wrong path.)
• Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus (Starring Richard Thomas and based on the famed New York Sun editorial. Try to find it if you can.)
• All of the animated classics—A Charlie Brown Christmas, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Rudolph, Frosty…)

Turn on the tree lights and settle in for a movie marathon this season!

Kimberly Merritt – I am a mother of 3 and wife to a pretty great guy. I’m an avid reader and I plan to spend my retirement years in the library. You could attach these labels to me as well: traditionalist, dreamer, worrier, foodie, recovering perfectionist.

I am fortunate to do several things I love–sometimes all at once. I make my living as a writer/instructor/stylist. I’m a former designer who now teaches professional classes in interior decorating, and I get to write about all things home for magazines and all over the web. I’m available to style shoots, write copy, and just go on and on about motherhood, family, food–all the good stuff. And I’m addicted to my blog, Beautiful Living.

When I’m not tapping away at my computer keyboard, I’m letting the dogs out, letting them in, and trying to juggle motherhood, family, work, and play time just like everyone else.