Christmas is my favorite time of year: the nostalgia, the sights, and the smells, especially Christmas Day! A popular pastime with my family has been watching Christmas movies together, so now it’s time I put this knowledge to work!

1. Mickey’s Christmas Carol (1983)

A popular pick for me as a child, I had binged this movie even outside of the Christmas season. The use of classic Disney characters such as Scrooge McDuck, Mickey and Minnie mouse, and even Goofy puts a more childlike spin on the famous novel adaptation of A Christmas Carol. Overall, this film gets a 9/10, mostly because of the nostalgia it brings.

1. White Christmas (1954)

White Christmas is an older, yet charming film where two army men turned singers and two showstopping sisters meet and try to save an old general’s inn. The speed at which Wallace and Davis- the two army men- fell in love with the sisters enamored me from the start. The plot and subplot, along with the soundtrack and choreography, show how absolutely magical this point in film history was. Though the dialogue is a bit outdated at times, I still give this film a 10/10. Romance and Christmas are always a good mix!

1. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

First introduced to me by my father, this is a classic comedy movie for parents and children alike! In showing the relatable struggles of hosting family gatherings, it was easy for me to imagine my own family in that same situation. A classic comedy for the holidays, I give this movie an 8/10.

1. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

Now, this movie. How the Grinch Stole Christmas is yet another I still watch to this day outside of the Christmas season. With Jim Henson as the iconic green holiday thief, there are multiple scenes and characters that make this the iconic Christmas movie to watch at any time of the year. The entirety of Cindy Lou’s character, the Grinch eating literal glass, the Grinch shaving Mayor Augustus Maywho’s head out of revenge, and the cursed baby Grinch are just a few parts of the movie I thoroughly enjoy. Overall, I have to give this movie a 10/10 for the comedy alone.

1. Elf (2003)

The movie Elf is… a journey, to say the least. For those who don’t know, Elf is about a human who is raised by elves at the North Pole and must bond with his father in New York. I don’t really have much to say about this film, other than the fact that I love Jovie, Buddy the Elf’s unenthusiastic love interest. This movie gets a solid 5/10.

1. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Now, The Nightmare Before Christmas may not be seen as a Christmas movie by some, but I personally classify it as both a Halloween movie and a movie for the holly jolly holidays. Jack Skellington is a genius man with only the best in mind for his town, even if it doesn’t turn out to be the greatest idea. The fact that Sally, the main love interest, was the thing that was missing from Jack all along warms my heart now that I am old enough to recognize it. This movie is fantastic for all ages, therefore earning itself a 9/10.

1. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)

Ah, yes. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, a classic tale of the “most famous reindeer of all.” I am a huge fan of these kinds of movies, yet I’m not always able to watch them, so it’s always a treat when I do. The colorful picture and the animation for this time was extraordinary, making the whole movie even better. The characters and their dialogue are also incredibly dynamic, which makes them easy to remember. (Example: The entire “WHY WEREN’T YOU AT ELF PRACTICE?!” exchange between Hermie, the wanna-be dentist elf, and the Head Elf after Hermie failed to show up for elf practice.) The whole movie gets a 9/10.

1. Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town (1970)

Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town is much like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer in that they are both movies made in the ’60s-’70s era and use a unique animation style called “Animagic.” This movie is one of many that tells a different story of how Santa Claus came to be. The movie follows Kris Kringle, aka Santa Claus, as he makes toys for the miserable town of Sombertown, which eventually outlaws all toys. The plot is entirely heartwarming, and yet again this movie has a beautiful soundtrack. The wonder of this movie and the joy it brings people I know earns it no less than a 9/10.

1. Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas (1999)

Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas is a heartwarming movie made up of three stories showing the magic of Christmas. My favorite of the three is mostly the second, with Goofy and his son Max. (Mostly because of Max, one of my favorite Disney characters). Rewatching this movie after a long time gave me a sense of nostalgia, especially with the animation and art style. Overall, it gets a decent 612/10, not because the movie is bad, per se, but because it’s not very outstanding like other movies on this list.

1. Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1990, 1992)

Both Home Alone movies are incredibly intriguing to me. The cleverness of little Kevin McCallister and how he sets such intricate traps to avoid robbers (or the “Wet Bandits”) Marv and Harry have entertained me for years. How is such a small child able to set up the traps he does? How does he survive for so long all alone, even in New York City? Nevertheless, this movie is entertaining and shows a relatable motherly love between Kevin and his mother, even if it’s strained at times. Overall, I give this movie series an 8/10.

1. It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)

The oldest movie on this list, It’s A Wonderful Life is a Christmas classic for the whole family. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this movie, especially the classic line “every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.” The wonderful theme of this movie with such a happy ending makes the grim feel of it worth it. Nothing much else to say about this movie, just that it’s one of the most hopeful Christmas movies I’ve watched. This movie earns itself an 8/10.

1. The Christmas Chronicles 1 and 2 (2018, 2020)

The Christmas Chronicles, both the first and the second, are what I would describe as a sort of modern-day classic. The first was made only four years ago, it feels as if it was an original tale made in the same time as Home Alone, Elf, or even The Polar Express, only with more dangerous views on magic and a more dire need for Christmas to continue. The movies follow the Pierce family, more specifically the children. They must leap through hoops in order to save Christmas after accidents that happen throughout both movies. I absolutely adore the jailhouse scene in the first movie, and overall the special effects win me over every time. This series gets an 8/10 from me!