# 'Tis the season to discover some overlooked Christmas movies. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 5, 2005, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-discover-some-overlooked-christmas-movies/334241 "2005-12-05T21:25:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Interrobang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/interrobang/32/17463_2.png) [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2005, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-discover-some-overlooked-christmas-movies/334241/1 "2005-12-05T21:25:32Z")
Once upon a time, _A Christmas Story_ was a little-seen cult classic. Now, as noted in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=347886), it’s part of a Christmas tradition, shown for 24 hours in a row on TBS every year. _It’s a Wonderful Life_? It’s a wonderful movie, but even with NBC having somehow reacquired exclusive broadcast rights, almost everyone has seen this dozens of times. Same with _Miracle on 34th Street_, the Grinch, and other holiday mainstays. In the _Christmas Story_ thread, **JThunder** mentions _Die Hard_, which doesn’t necessarily spring to mind as a Christmas movie, but is a decent alternative to the familiar titles that roll around every year. Other great Christmas movies that don’t have their own 24-hour cable marathons: _Miracle at Morgan’s Creek_. Preston Sturges’ masterpiece is wildly funny and ends with a lump-in-the-throat Christmas miracle…that’s still wildly funny. You don’t have to watch it a Christmas, but it’s perfectly appropriate. [_Quai des Orfèvres_](http://www.criterionco.com/asp/release.asp?id=193&eid=296§ion=essay). A French film noir that gradually _blanc_ens up as the action progresses on Christmas Eve. Again, everything wraps up with a kind of Christmas miracle. Roast some chestnuts and enjoy the scrumptious [Suzy Delair](http://www.moviepoopshoot.com/diatribe/images/may27/quailamoure.jpg). What other movies would make great Christmas traditions, but don’t get nearly the attention they deserve? ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2005, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-discover-some-overlooked-christmas-movies/334241/2 "2005-12-05T21:39:55Z")
[Brazil](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088846/) isn’t exactly a Christmas movie, but it is set at Christmas time and the consequences of materialism is one of the themes in the movie. I believe [Batman Returns](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103776/) is also set during Christmas, though I’m not positive. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2005, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-discover-some-overlooked-christmas-movies/334241/3 "2005-12-05T22:05:38Z")
The first two _Home Alone_ movies, _Gremlins_, [The Night They Saved Christmas](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087797/combined) (starring Art Carney as Santa and Paul “Milner” Le Mat as the dad), [Christmas Comes to Willow Creek](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092756/combined) (John Schneider and Tom Wopat are comfortable as Duke-like trucking brothers who’d rather not have anything to do with each other), and [An American Christmas Carol](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078764/combined) (Henry Winkler as Depression-era skinflint Benedict Slade). ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2005, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-discover-some-overlooked-christmas-movies/334241/4 "2005-12-05T22:12:38Z")
I’m actually pretty happy with _The Santa Clause_ as a Christmas comedy. However, _White Christmas_ is still my favorite all. ---
**Author:** ![Interrobang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/interrobang/32/17463_2.png) [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2005, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-discover-some-overlooked-christmas-movies/334241/5 "2005-12-05T22:19:01Z")
> [@Sam Lowry](#): > > I believe [Batman Returns](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103776/) is also set during Christmas, though I’m not positive. Oooh, good one. [heretic alert]This is way better than the first _Batman_, and still one of my favorite Burton films.[/heretic alert]. _Gremlines_ is another excellent nomination, and I’m surprised I hadn’t remembered it for the OP. > [@Ethilrist](#): > > However, White Christmas is still my favorite all. I’m not terribly fond of _White Christmas_, I must admit. I prefer _Holiday Inn_, despite the the blackface Lincoln’s Birthday musical number. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2005, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-discover-some-overlooked-christmas-movies/334241/6 "2005-12-05T23:04:29Z")
[_Off Season_](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0287603/) is a surprisingly good Christmas movie that nobody seems to have heard of. It features one of the Culkin kids, but don’t be too quick to judge. You might also glance at the synopsis and think “_Miracle on 34th Street_ retread.” Don’t! I liked this movie a lot – not too sweet, not too cynical – and Sherilyn Fenn is as watchable as ever. The art direction is impressive, too: Everything is a beautiful deep red and green – but not in a “Christmas Village” way – the mundane world just happens to have this palette – the carpet in a flea-bag motel, old man pants from Army & Navy, etc. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2005, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-discover-some-overlooked-christmas-movies/334241/7 "2005-12-05T23:26:56Z")
> [@Interrobang!?](#): > > In the Christmas Story thread, [bJThunder\*\* mentions Die Hard, which doesn’t necessarily spring to mind as a Christmas movie, but is a decent alternative to the familiar titles that roll around every year. If _Die Hard_ gets to be a Christmas movie, so does _Lethal Weapon_. > [@](#): > > Alistair Sims (on the Murtaugh’s television, showing _A Christmas Carol_): Can you tell me whatday this is? > Gary Busey (shooting out the screen on the TV): IT’S CHRISTMAS!!! [BLAM!!!] It’s Christmas! ---
**Author:** ![priapus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@priapus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/priapus)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2005, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-discover-some-overlooked-christmas-movies/334241/8 "2005-12-05T23:38:24Z")
The Long Kiss Goodnight with Geena Davis.Violent,for sure,but the Christmas theme runs through it ---
**Author:** ![ladybug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/46a35a/32.png) [@ladybug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladybug)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2005, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-discover-some-overlooked-christmas-movies/334241/9 "2005-12-05T23:39:46Z")
One of my favorite movies this time of year is [Desk Set](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050307/) with Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy. It’s not a Christmas movie in the strictest sense, but there is a big office Christmas party toward the end. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2005, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-discover-some-overlooked-christmas-movies/334241/10 "2005-12-05T23:50:23Z")
I like _The Lion in Winter_. It makes most families look functional by comparison. ---
**Author:** ![ZebraShaSha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/eada6e/32.png) [@ZebraShaSha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZebraShaSha)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2005, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-discover-some-overlooked-christmas-movies/334241/11 "2005-12-05T23:53:50Z")
My favorite movies this time of year include [Jack Frost](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116671/) and [Christmas Evil](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081793/). With one, you have a pissed off serial snowman that has hillarious lines and hillarious ways of killing people. In the other, a man who is enchanted by Christmas becomes pissed off when he finds out santa isn’t real and then snaps due to peoples cynicism, resulting in a great comedic Christmas style massacre. Both are heartily recommended, for you and yours to enjoy on this most festive holiday of the year. ---
**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-discover-some-overlooked-christmas-movies/334241/12 "2005-12-06T00:07:17Z")
My kids were little when Home Alone and Home Alone 2 came out. They really cracked up while watching them back then, which was always just the cutest. Even though they are now bratty teenagers, we usually end up watching both of them around Christmas time. ---
**Author:** ![PastAllReason](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f07891/32.png) [@PastAllReason](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastAllReason)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-discover-some-overlooked-christmas-movies/334241/13 "2005-12-06T00:25:55Z")
_Meet Me in St. Louis_ is one that I enjoy watching at Christmas. starrring Judy Garland, and directed by Vincente Minelli, it has songs that can be sung along to…“zing, zing, zing went my heartstrings” and “meet me in St. Louis, Louis, meet me at the fair”, but especially it has “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”. Also in the movie are Mary Astor, Margaret O’Brien and Marjorie Main (aka Ma Kettle). ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-discover-some-overlooked-christmas-movies/334241/14 "2005-12-06T00:31:18Z")
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation isn’t overlooked, but I’ve watched it every year since the early 90s. ---
**Author:** ![E.Thorp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@E.Thorp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E.Thorp)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-discover-some-overlooked-christmas-movies/334241/15 "2005-12-06T00:44:57Z")
'Tis the season to watch [Metropolitan](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100142/). ---
**Author:** ![ladybug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/46a35a/32.png) [@ladybug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladybug)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-discover-some-overlooked-christmas-movies/334241/16 "2005-12-06T01:12:05Z")
> [@PastAllReason](#): > > _Meet Me in St. Louis_ is one that I enjoy watching at Christmas. starrring Judy Garland, and directed by Vincente Minelli, it has songs that can be sung along to…“zing, zing, zing went my heartstrings” and “meet me in St. Louis, Louis, meet me at the fair”, but especially it has “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”. Also in the movie are Mary Astor, Margaret O’Brien and Marjorie Main (aka Ma Kettle). I saw this movie for the first time on the Sunday after Thanksgiving (it was playing on TCM that morning). It’s definitely going on my list of Christmas movies. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-discover-some-overlooked-christmas-movies/334241/17 "2005-12-06T01:46:04Z")
Leave us not forget _The Bishop’s Wife_, with David Niven, Loretta Young, Cary Grant, and Monty Woollery.\* And Speaking of Monty Woollery, _The Man Who Came to Dinner_. \*And leave us BY ALL MEANS, forget the execable _The Preacher’s Wife_, with Whitney Houston and Denzel Washington. ---
**Author:** ![Winnie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e480ec/32.png) [@Winnie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winnie)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-discover-some-overlooked-christmas-movies/334241/18 "2005-12-06T01:52:21Z")
[The Ref](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110955/) with Dennis Leary and Kevin Spacey is a great Christmas movie. Really funny, but in a dark way with some sentiment as well. I look forward to watching it every year at Christmas. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-discover-some-overlooked-christmas-movies/334241/19 "2005-12-06T02:17:06Z")
I’ve been hoping that with the P.S. Hoffmann movie and another one planned that the powers that be would release a couple of outstanding Capote related Christmas themed pieces: [Tru](http://imdb.com/title/tt0320662/)- a fantastic one-man show starring Robert Morse and set at Christmas in the late 70s when Truman has lost most of his jet-set friends for writing about them. He recounts his life and incredibly transforms into Capote in the final scene. Not on video. _A Christmas Memory_, part of the [Trilogy](http://imdb.com/title/tt0165996/) starring Geraldine Page as Sook. 40 years old but TV at its best. Not on video. (A remake starring Patty Duke is, but it’s not 1/10th of the original.) ---
**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 6, 2005, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-discover-some-overlooked-christmas-movies/334241/20 "2005-12-06T02:41:59Z")
**The Thin Man**. Not actually filled with Christmas cheer (well, Nick and Nora are), but it takes place during the Christmas season. Quite an entertaining little mystery. The second movie in the series, **After the Thin Man** , takes place on New Year’s. The best Christmas movie since **A Christmas Story** is **Love Actually**. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-discover-some-overlooked-christmas-movies/334241.md?page=2)