Any Good Christmas movies?

Any good Christmas movies? All the ones on Netflix read like really bad Hallmark greeting cards. I can never make it to the end of any of them. 

This was just brought up by @ElizMcCord on the "What series should I watch next thread?"  Thought it may be better as a separate thread.

Mtierney's response:

check out TCM — they will run the oldies from the ‘50s onward. Best Family viewing this time of year.

Thanks for the thread Jamie. 

Growing up I used to watch After the Promise. It was old, black and white and it was a wonderful, full of heart, tear jerker. Every Christmas it came on. They don’t make them like that anymore. 

I think the issue is that Hallmark Channel holiday movies have become a kind of ironic genre of their own, so companies like Netflix are attempting to replicate that, for example this article about A Christmas Prince, which has a sequel this year.

In terms of good holiday movies, my favorite is still Love Actually but The Holiday is really growing on me.

Here's a couple lists to jog your memory:

https://www.imdb.com/list/ls000096828/

https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/best-christmas-movies/

It's funny the Diehard tends to appear on these. 

I've been huge fan of A Christmas Story and I could watch it 2-3 times in a day, but I think I OD'd on it.  I think Elf is my current favorite.

(Edited to add the following which I found pretty cool)

I'm wishing for a Wes Anderson sort of Christmas flick - something with nuance and existentialism and maybe grace.   Something that makes you think, is not filled with so much kitsch and sugar but just makes you feel that this time of year is a little different than the rest.   

Love Elf!

The one we go back to every year is The Muppet Christmas Carol - all of the good old story, plus some truly lol riffs on it.  (should i be embarrassed about this?)

mjc said:
The one we go back to every year is The Muppet Christmas Carol - all of the good old story, plus some truly lol riffs on it.  (should i be embarrassed about this?)

 Never be embarrassed by a love of Muppets anything.

The original Miracle on 34th Street, wherein a cut-rate Santa gets the heave-ho, warming the heart of any Eagles fan.

And an early-’70s made-for-TV special, The House Without a Christmas Tree.

What Michael Caine told "Muppet Christmas Carol" Director Brian Henson when taking the role of Scrooge (and why the movie works):

“I’m going to play this movie like I’m working with the Royal Shakespeare Company. I will never wink, I will never do anything Muppety. I am going to play Scrooge as if it is an utterly dramatic role and there are no puppets around me.”

Does anyone consider Die Hard a Christmas movie?

https://www.tvguide.com/news/how-to-watch-a-christmas-story-2018/

For the 2018 season, A Christmas Story's TV domination trend will continue when TBS and TNT launch the annual "24 Hours of A Christmas Story" marathon, starting on Christmas Eve at 8/7c and running throughout Christmas Day.

If you can't wait until then to watch the Old Man win his fishnet stocking lamp and for Flick to freeze his tongue on the flagpole, you're in luck! The film will also be airing a little sooner on TNT, so catch it Saturday, Nov. 24 at 8/7c and 10/9c.

A Christmas Story will also be available for streaming on TBS and TNT's digital sites (starting Nov. 22) as well as through DirecTV, with rental and purchase options offered at Amazon Prime and Vudu.

yahooyahoo said:
Does anyone consider Die Hard a Christmas movie?

 why not?  

I love the original Miracle on 34th Street, which always reminds me of my Christmas trips to Macy’s in the 1950’s, as well as Pocketful of Miracles, which I saw with my dad and we laughed out loud at some of Peter Falk’s smarty *** lines.

Trading Places

Though it is often cringe inducing, I'm a sucker for The Santa Clause.

And I still like It's a Wonderful Life. Just doesn't get old for me.

Agree regarding TCM and while they do "run the oldies from the ‘50s onward" they also routinely show things from the 30s and 40s. It's a good place to find classics like Shop Around the Corner, The Bishop's Wife and Holiday Affair (all from 40s).

Fanny and Alexander (1983) isn't really a Christmas movie but has some beautiful scenes of festivities and traveling to them.

I think one reason people don't make a lot of Christmas movies is they want to have flexibility regarding the release date. And it's a pain to create fake snow.

Diner

The Ref is a family Christmas fave at our place. (Only works if you don't have little kids...) 

Gremlins

The 7 best films you didn't realize were Christmas movies

Fanny and Alexander also has a Christmas feel, while not necessarily about Christmas.

One of my favorite movies, which I also consider a Christmas movie, is The Apartment.

The Apartment. Yes! Especially that week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

hmm, I wasn't familiar with The Apartment - it's on Amazon Prime at the moment.  I'll be sure to catch it.

A Christmas Carol with Alastair Sim (1951)

I'm partial to It's a Wonderful Life because Jimmy Stewart was from my hometown, Indiana, Pa. His parents' house was one block from my house. His father, Alex, was the world's worst driver - my father used to walk several blocks out of his way so that Alex wouldn't offer him a ride downtown in the morning when they were going to their businesses. The picture is taken at the top of the stairs leading to the downtown  and  Jimmy Stewart's house was at the top of the stairs. 

jamie said:
hmm, I wasn't familiar with The Apartment - it's on Amazon Prime at the moment.  I'll be sure to catch it.

 Me too!

The Apartment: Best Picture Oscar 1960.