# Lesser known, underrated, or simply unconventional Christmas movies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 22, 2018, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesser-known-underrated-or-simply-unconventional-christmas-movies/826536 "2018-12-22T15:31:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2018, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesser-known-underrated-or-simply-unconventional-christmas-movies/826536/41 "2018-12-25T13:50:09Z")
This animated movie is lesser known here in the U.S., but I know it’s quite popular in the U.K. and Finland: **The Snowman** , from 1982. I heard about it recently because I heard the beautiful song _Walking in the Air_ on the radio, and the announcer described the movie. I went and looked on youtube, found it and watched it a few days ago. It’s a lovely children’s movie and that song is a winner. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2018, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesser-known-underrated-or-simply-unconventional-christmas-movies/826536/42 "2018-12-25T17:23:27Z")
A bit of a stretch: Mars Attacks! (The reason all of the victims’ skeletons are red or green is because the movie was scheduled for a Christmas release) ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2018, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesser-known-underrated-or-simply-unconventional-christmas-movies/826536/43 "2018-12-25T22:24:50Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > There is a new Christmas movie on Netflix, _The Christmas Chronicles_. It stars Kurt Russel as Santa, and is a lot of fun. I watched this based on the recommendations here and really enjoyed it! It was well done and could’ve been a theatrical release. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2018, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesser-known-underrated-or-simply-unconventional-christmas-movies/826536/44 "2018-12-25T23:06:13Z")
> [@furryman](#): > > If you like totally ridiculous B movies watch _Santa Claus Vs. The Martians_. I have neither seen nor heard of this movie before this thread. But after reading your post, I thought to myself: That sounds like a movie MST3K would do. So I googled it, and sure enough, they did it. 😃 I’ll be watching this tonight. Thanks for sharing. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2018, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesser-known-underrated-or-simply-unconventional-christmas-movies/826536/45 "2018-12-25T23:21:16Z")
One unconventional Christmas movie that I like is [Tokyo Godfathers](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0388473). The three central characters are homeless people in Tokyo, and the movie is about the miracles that happen to them at Christmas time, including reconnecting with each of their families. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2018, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesser-known-underrated-or-simply-unconventional-christmas-movies/826536/46 "2018-12-26T00:56:32Z")
This may not qualify as “lesser known,” but it’s one of my favorites. [The Bishop’s Wife](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039190/?ref_=nv_sr_1)(1947) with David Niven as an uptight Bishop concerned with fundraising and administrative matters, Loretta Young as his slightly neglected wife, and Cary Grant as the angel who is sent to help them out and who has to be reminded (a) that it’s a temporary assignment and (b) that technically he isn’t corporeal. Utterly charming, especially when Cary and Loretta ice skate and he persuades her to buy a new hat. I know there was a remake with Denzel Washington called The Preacher’s Wife. I never wanted to see it (although I love Denzel), mostly because remakes usually don’t work out. If someone tells me it was good, I’ll give it a look. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2018, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesser-known-underrated-or-simply-unconventional-christmas-movies/826536/47 "2018-12-26T01:36:52Z")
_Conquest of Space_ ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2018, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesser-known-underrated-or-simply-unconventional-christmas-movies/826536/48 "2018-12-26T01:51:21Z")
[Christmas in Connecticut](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pC2b2PFyU2Q) ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2018, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesser-known-underrated-or-simply-unconventional-christmas-movies/826536/49 "2018-12-26T02:01:35Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > There is a new Christmas movie on Netflix, _The Christmas Chronicles_. It stars Kurt Russel as Santa, and is a lot of fun. > [@Patx2](#): > > We just finished watching this a half hour ago, we really enjoyed it. > [@Helena330](#): > > I watched this based on the recommendations here and really enjoyed it! It was well done and could’ve been a theatrical release. Thanks! I agree, it’s a fun movie. The highlight is Kurt as Santa doing a jailhouse Elvis impression singing _It’s Christmas Time Pretty Baby_. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2018, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesser-known-underrated-or-simply-unconventional-christmas-movies/826536/50 "2018-12-26T02:41:06Z")
> [@GinoC](#): > > Try **Rare Exports** , a 2010 film about how a small Finnish community discovers the true meaning of Christmas. Watched it this evening. Very clever. Three thumbs up. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2018, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesser-known-underrated-or-simply-unconventional-christmas-movies/826536/51 "2018-12-26T04:45:19Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > I agree, it’s a fun movie. The highlight is Kurt as Santa doing a jailhouse Elvis impression singing _It’s Christmas Time Pretty Baby_. I agree, that is a highlight. But my favorite moment is when a disbelieving cop hears jingling bells in the distance and asks, “What’s that sound?” Santa (Kurt) tells him, “Sleigh bells. Are ya listenin’?” ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2018, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesser-known-underrated-or-simply-unconventional-christmas-movies/826536/52 "2018-12-27T18:21:03Z")
I know it’s a bit late, but I wanted to add another +1 for Netflix’s _The Christmas Chronicles_. Good stuff, with a wide audience appeal. ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2018, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesser-known-underrated-or-simply-unconventional-christmas-movies/826536/53 "2018-12-27T21:32:44Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > This may not qualify as “lesser known,” but it’s one of my favorites. [The Bishop’s Wife](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039190/?ref_=nv_sr_1) I resisted watching for many years as the title was too religious for me I thought. I have no problem watching other comedies with God in them, it might not have registered as a comedy with me. Since seeing it for the first time maybe five or ten years ago, it’s definitely in my top five Christmas movies. Being a big Cary Grant fan is likely why, though the rest of the cast is great too. A true “lesser known” is Rod Serling’s made for TV version of _A Christmas Carol_, titled _A Carol For Another Christmas_… [TCM Intro](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuMR8WeU1X8) Contemporary to 1964, and nightmarish a la Rod Serling. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesser-known-underrated-or-simply-unconventional-christmas-movies/826536.md?page=2)