Secular and Religious Christmas Movie Recommendations

Secular and Religious Christmas Movie Recommendations December 17, 2024

 

It’s that time of the year when several major holidays have been  celebrated within a two month span of time. This gives time for some American workers to take time off from their jobs so they can spend their hard earned dollars on commercial products for the occasion. It’s also a chance to watch some specially themed movies or holidays specials, read a holiday themed book or listen to some holiday themed music. I listed some Halloween And Other Holiday Movie Recommendations  in this article.

So here are some Christmas movie recommendations for you from the 19th Century to the present..

Some I’ve actually seen and others I want to see.

Some I remember seeing a long time ago.

But I can’t rewatch all the old titles and actually see the plefera of new titles.

There is one particular Christmas Santa short animated one I remember watching and liking but can’t remember that name of.

There is another foreign Santa film I also remember seeing but can’t remember the name and can’t find it.

I didn’t list all there is and perhaps I listed too much.

Note: Some of the Descriptions Are Taken From Wikipedia or IMDB.com or from myself.

Christmas Day
December 25, 2024

Santa Claus (1898/1900) – G.A. Smith | BFI National Archive

The scene opens with two little children kneeling at the feet of their mother and saying their prayers. The mother tucks the children snugly in bed and leaves the room. Santa Claus suddenly appears on the roof, just outside the children’s bedroom window, and proceeds to enter the chimney, taking with him his bag of presents and a little hand sled for one of the children. He goes down the chimney and suddenly appears in the children’s room through the fireplace. He distributes the presents and mysteriously causes the appearance of a Christmas tree laden with gifts. The scene closes with the children waking up and running to the fireplace just too late to catch old Santa Claus by the legs. Santa Claus makes his escape through the chimney and the children are delighted with the presents which he has left. This is a remarkably clear picture, especially pleasing to children.—Edison Films (1900) IMDB Description

Life and Passion of Christ (1903) FULL MOVIE HD

Vie et Passion du Christ (English: Life and Passion of the Christ) is a 44-minute French silent film that was produced and released in 1903. As such, it is considered the first feature-length narrative film. The first part of the film tells the Christmas Story. The film was included by the Vatican in a list of important films compiled in 1995, under the category of “Religion”.  It is the oldest entry to make the list.

A Message from Mars (1913)

science fiction silent film, that is based loosely on A Christmas Carol. On Christmas eve, a miserly and self-centered man is visited by a Martian to show him the error of his ways.

The Little Match Girl (1928)

French film of Hans Christian Andersen’s story of the same name. The story of a frozen girl who tries to sell matches during Christmas and dreams about a toy store.

Babes in Toyland (1934)
Laurel and Hardy version of Victor Herbert’s popular 1903 operetta Babes in Toyland.

Holiday Inn (1942)

Introduced the song “White Christmas” sung by none other than Bing Crosby.

Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)

Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) This isn’t so much of a Christmas film as it is a film that has an incident that takes place at Christmas. It also has a scene that takes place at Halloween. That’s because the story is divided into a series of seasonal vignettes, starting with Summer 1903, that relates the story of a year in the life of the Smith family in St. Louis leading up to the opening of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition (most commonly referred to as the World’s Fair) in the spring of 1904. The film stars Judy Garland and Margaret O’Brien. It is one of the films that my wife Kristin watched over and over with our daughter Princess. It’s a classic with many take away lines and scenes.

It’s a Wonderful Life  (1946)

Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

An old man claims to be Santa and a lawyer defends him in court to stop him from being institutionalized.

The Bishop’s Wife (1947)

An angel helps a bishop to change his life and save his marriage before Christmas.

3 Godfathers (1948)

At Christmastime in the Old West, three outlaws find a woman dying in childbirth, and deliver the baby to civilization in a retelling of The Three Wise Men.

Come to the Stable (1949)

The Lemon Drop Kid (1951)

A racetrack tout has a month to pay back the money a gangster lost on a touted horse just before Christmas. The film popularized the song “Silver Bells“.

O. Henry’s Full House (1952)

An anthology film, covering five of O. Henry’s short stories, including the Christmas short story: The Gift of the Magi.

White Christmas (1954)

A successful song-and-dance team become romantically involved with a sister act and team up to save the failing Vermont inn of their former commanding general.- IMDB

Santa Claus (1959)

A Mexican fantasy film about Santa, who battles a demon from ruining Christmas. The film achieved wider recognition and a cult following after it was lampooned on a 1993 episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000.

Mister Magoo’s Christmas Carol (1962)

An animated and musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ famous book, A Christmas Carol, with Mr. Magoo as Scrooge.

Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964)

The Martians decide to abduct Santa Claus, and they kidnap two children. The film is often considered one of the worst films ever made. It is featured in series episodes of Canned Film Festival in 1986, Mystery Science Theater 3000 in 1991, and Elvira’s Movie Macabre. It has the first documented motion picture role of Mrs. Claus.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)

A Charlie Brown Christmas  (1965)

This is where I learned my first memorized scripture. Never knew at the time what Lucy meant my real estate but I watched and loved this special anyway as the Peanuts kids try to put on a Christmas pageant.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)

It directed and co-produced by Chuck Jones. Based on the 1957 children’s book of the same name by Dr. Seuss, the special features the voice of Boris Karloff (also a narrator) as the Grinch. It tells the story of the Grinch, who tries to ruin Christmas for the townsfolk of Whoville below his mountain hideaway.

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Cricket on the Hearth (1967/NBC)

Rankin/Bass Productions television adaptation, loosely based on the Charles Dickens‘ 1845 novella.

The Little Drummer Boy (1968)

It is a stop motion television special produced by Rankin/Bass Productions, based on the song of the same name.  An orphan drummer boy who hates humanity finds his life changed forever when he meets three wise men en route to Bethlehem. A sequel The Little Drummer Boy, Book II was broadcast in 1976.

Frosty the Snowman (1969)

 It is animated Christmas television special produced by Rankin/Bass Productions. It is the first television special featuring the character Frosty the Snowman. The special first aired on December 7, 1969, on the CBS television network in the United States, airing immediately after the fifth showing of A Charlie Brown Christmas, both scored high ratings. The special aired annually for the network’s Christmas and holiday season until 2023. After 55 years, NBC acquired the broadcast rights to the special, and will keep airing it yearly hereafter. It had a sequel Frosty Returns (1992)

The Littlest Angel (TV Movie 1969)

A little shepherd boy newly arrived in Heaven tries to adjust to life in the Hereafter.

Santa and the Three Bears  (1970)

Two young bears, Nikomi and Chinook, know nothing of Christmas until the local park ranger tells them about the legend, and they become curious to meet Santa Claus. Their mother, Nana, is preparing for Winter hibernation and cynically tells her children there is no Santa, but they are determined to believe. Mother finds it impossible to begin their sleep, since the young cubs wish to stay awake until Santa arrives.

Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town (1970)

It is a stop-motion Christmas television special produced by Rankin/Bass Productions in New York, New York. The film is narrated by Fred Astaire and stars the voices of Mickey RooneyKeenan WynnRobie LesterJoan Gardner, and Paul Frees, as well as an assistant song performance by the Westminster Children’s Choir. The film tells the story of how Santa Claus and several Claus-related Christmas traditions came to be. It is based on the hit Christmas song, “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town“, which was written by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie for Leo Feist, Inc. and introduced on radio by Eddie Cantor in 1934; and the story of Saint Nicholas.[1]

The special was created using Japanese stop-motion animation called “Animagic”, in which all the characters are made out of wood and plastic and animated via stop-motion photography.

The Bear Who Slept Through Christmas (December 17, 1973/NBC)

When all other bears sleep through Christmas, one specific bear named Ted E. Bear is curious about Christmas and discovers the true meaning of the holiday.

Twas the Night Before Christmas (1974)

It is animated Christmas television special produced by Rankin/Bass Productions that features Clement Clarke Moore‘s famous 1823 poem A Visit from St. Nicholas, the opening line of which is the source of the title of this animated special.

The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974)

 It is stop-motion animated Christmas television special produced by Rankin/Bass Productions. The story is based on Phyllis McGinley‘s 1956 book. It is narrated by Shirley Booth (her final acting credit before her retirement from acting) and stars the voices of Mickey RooneyDick Shawn and George S. Irving. One of the highlights of the film is the Heat/Snow Miser song.

 

The Small One (1978)

Ordered by his father to sell his old, small donkey, named Small One, a boy in ancient Palestine takes the donkey to the Nazareth market. Finding no buyers there, the boy is about to give up when he meets a kind man named Joseph. – IMDB

Ziggy’s Gift (1982)

Ziggy and his faithful dog Fuzz take a job as a street Santa to raise money for the poor.

A Christmas Story (1983)

Ralphie has to convince his parents, teacher, and Santa that a Red Ryder B.B. gun really is the perfect gift in 1939.  It is based on the 1966 book In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash by Jean Shepherd, with some elements from his 1971 book Wanda Hickey’s Night of Golden Memories and Other Disasters. It is the third installment in the Parker Family Saga.

it has been shown in a marathon annually on TNT since 1997 and on TBS since 2004 titled “24 Hours of A Christmas Story“, consisting of 12 consecutive airings of the film from the evening of Christmas Eve to the evening of Christmas Day.

The film spawned three sequels. The first, My Summer Story (originally released as It Runs in the Family), also directed by Clark, was released in 1994. The second, entitled A Christmas Story 2, was released straight to DVD in 2012. A third sequel, entitled A Christmas Story Christmas, was released on HBO Max in 2022 and features most of the original cast returning.

Mickey’s Christmas Carol (1983)

I used to have the record with the story on it of this movie. Although the movie and the record were slightly different. I have a great memory of going to see this with my parents. It was playing alongside The Rescuers. I remember seeing a man riding down the street on a bike in the middle of the road. This is why this version has a special place in my heart.

Gremlins (1984)

A young man inadvertently breaks three important rules concerning his new pet and unleashes a horde of malevolently mischievous monsters on a small town on Christmas Eve.

Rocky IV (1985)

The fourth installment in the Rocky film series. Rocky challenges Drago to an unsanctioned 15-round fight in the Soviet Union on Christmas Day.

Santa Claus: The Movie (1985)

The story of where Santa Claus came from and his attempts to save Christmas after his elf gets mixed up with an evil toy tycoon.

Die Hard (1988)

Die Hard follows New York City police detective John McClane (Willis) who is caught up in a terrorist takeover of a Los Angeles skyscraper while visiting his estranged wife. Die Hard  is now considered one of the greatest action films of all time. Due to its Christmas Eve setting, Die Hard is also often named one of the best Christmas films, although its status as a Christmas film is disputed. It had several sequels but Die Hard 2 (1990) is the only one that once again took place on Christmas with  this time having John McClain battling terrorists who have seized control of Dulles airport on Christmas Eve a year after the first film.

Ernest Saves Christmas (1988)

Ernest helps Santa Claus as he searches for his successor.

Scrooged (1988)

Charles Dicken’s classic Christmas/Ghost/Time Traveling tale told with a modern comedic retelling that follows Bill Murray as Frank Cross, a cynical and selfish television executive who produces a live Christmas Eve show. The film also stars Karen AllenJohn ForsytheBobcat GoldthwaitCarol KaneRobert MitchumMichael J. Pollard and Alfre Woodard. It has one of the funniest openings of any movie I have ever seen.

A Very Brady Christmas (1988)

The entire Brady family manages to overcome personal obstacles to spend a happy holiday together. Follow up-to The Brady Bunch and The Brady Brides.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

The Griswold family plans turn to disaster, this time at Christmas. The third film in the Vacation series. Although very hilarious, parents should take caution to the not so family friendly content depicted in the film. It also had a sequel National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie’s Island Adventure (2003)

Home Alone  (1990)
with Macaulay Culkin,  Joe PesciDaniel Stern and John Candy.

Home Alone is a slapstick live action cartoon directed by Chris Columbus, and written and produced by John Hughes. , The film stars Macaulay Culkin as Kevin McCallister, an eight-year old boy who defends his Chicago home from a home invasion by a pair of robbers after his family accidentally leave him behind on their Christmas vacation to Paris.

The first film in the Home Alone franchise includes

Nicholas: The Boy Who Became Santa (Video 1990)

The story of the boy whose charity and care for people helped him become Saint Nicholas, a great bishop whose spirit lives on as Santa Claus. Based on historical facts.- IMDB

I used to show this to my Catechism Kids.

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

Watching Muppets Christmas Carol and thinking about the fact that frogs live an average of 10-12 years. Tiny Tim is dying, regardless of Scrooge’s decision to help. You just blew your money, old man. (How’s that for a bah humbug?) -Jack Lombardo
The 1992 classic is full of wonders you can’t find anywhere else: Michael Caine starring in a children’s movie, a ghost of Christmas future that haunts me every time I consider splurging on frivolities, and a drum set at a Victorian England Christmas party. But the movie isn’t just a fun, Muppet-y take on Charles Dickens’ classic novella; it’s also a compelling screenplay with heart-warming, humorous songs that offer a radical Christmas message of “cast down the mighty … send the rich away empty” (Luke 1:52-53). –Why ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol’ Is a Radical Christian Classic | Sojourners

OK, fine. You really think The Muppet Christmas Carol is the best movie based on A Christmas Carol?

Now that’s a little less cut and dry. It’s hard to begrudge those who give that title to the 1951 adaptation directed by Brian Desmond Hurst, which has a delightful performance from Alastair Sim that has justifiably become the standard against which all Scrooges are judged, gothic atmosphere you could drown in, and spine-chilling effects by 1951 standards. That is an unquestionably great movie based on A Christmas Carol.

What that movie does not do is identify and synthesize the specific cocktail that makes Charles Dickens’ novel a universally1 enduring work of fiction. The same is true of the 1935 version starring Seymour Hicks, the 1938 version starring Reginald Owens, the 1984 version starring George C. Scott, the 1999 version starring Patrick Stewart—and, of course, the 2009 version starring Jim Carrey, though if anyone is tempted to make that case I can only hope the Ghosts of Good Movies Past, Present, and Yet to Come might save their soul.

No, only one work of cinema has ever managed to effectively recreate that uniquely Dickens magic, achieving it not so much through adaptation in the traditional sense as through the more precarious feat of transmutation. A Grand Yuletide Theory: The Muppet Christmas Carol is the Best Adaptation of A Christmas Carol

Merry Christmas, Mr. Bean  (1992)

Christmas adventures of Mr. Bean include shopping, Christmas Eve at home, and preparing the Christmas turkey. – IMDB

It has this memorable scene.

The Nightmare Before Christmas(1993)

This beautifully stop-motion animated film by master director Tim Burton tells the story of  Jack Skellington, the King of “Halloween Town”, who stumbles upon “Christmas Town” and schemes to take over the holiday. Filled with memorable songs  such as ‘Jack’s Lament.

Timmy’s Special Delivery: A Precious Moments Christmas  (1993)

The Santa Clause (1994)

When Santa supposedly dies after falling off his roof, Scott Calvin is required to take Santa’s place.

Its success led to two sequels, The Santa Clause 2 (2002) and The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006), which were both financially successful despite the former’s mixed and the latter’s negative reception. The franchise continues with a follow-up series, The Santa Clauses, which premiered November 16, 2022 on Disney+.

Jingle All the Way (1996)

A dad competes with others to get them a sold out hot toy for his son.

VeggieTalesThe Toy That Saved Christmas (1996)

Grandpa George (In a role similar to S.D. Kluger from Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town) tells a bedtime story to his granddaughter Annie. In the story, Mr. Nezzer is the owner of a toy company that makes “Buzz-Saw Louie”, who tells kids to get more toys. As Buzz-Saw Louie dolls roll off the production line, one of them inexplicably comes to life and escapes the factory to search for the true meaning of Christmas.

Other VeggieTales Christmas Tales

  • The Star of Christmas (2002)
  • Saint Nicholas: A Story of Joyful Giving (2009)
  • It’s a Meaningful Life (2010)
  • The Little Drummer Boy (2011)
  • Merry Larry and the True Light of Christmas (2013)
  • Beauty and the Beet (2014)

Mrs. Santa Claus (1996)

Santa’s wife ends up in New York in the early 1900s near Christmastime.

Buster & Chauncey’s Silent Night (1998)

A whimsical animated tale that tells the story of how the beloved holiday hymn Silent Night was created. Join our heroes, Buster and Chauncey, two musical mice who accidentally create a holiday miracle and make musical history. – IMDB

“The Vicar of Dibley” Winter (TV Episode 1999)

For Christmas Geraldine plans to stage a Nativity play in front of the church. David will play Herod,showing his kinder side, and Owen wants to be the King – cue his Elvis Presley impression. Alice and Hugo play Joseph and Mary and, amazingly, learn to speak Hebrew. During the play Alice goes into labour and gives birth, prompting an audience member to declare it is the most realistic Nativity play she ever saw.—don @ minifie-1

Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

Santa vs. the Snowman 3D (2002)

When a lonely snowman wants to be part of the holiday fun, he decides to impersonate Santa! A hilarious clash that ensues where rocket-propelled reindeer face-off against snowball-launching igloos! ( Get it in 3D or 2D!!!!! ) – IMDB

Elf  (2003)

Another film my wife and daughter would watch together oodles of times. Even in the off season outside of the Christmas season.

Will Ferrell plays Buddy who is a man raised as an elf in the North Pole searches for his father in New York City and hilarity ensues throughout the movie and a number of memorable lines you will quote long after watching it.

The film inspired the 2010 Broadway musical Elf: The Musical and NBC‘s 2014 stop motion animated television special Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas. It has been hailed by many as a modern classic and is often listed as one of the best Christmas films of all time.

The Polar Express (2004)

This is a great well-paced engaging roller coaster ride of a film. I remember seeing it at a IMAX theater and feeling the shacking of the train in the seat I was seating in.

Tom Hanks and director Robert Zemeckis (Forrest GumpCast Away) reunite for Polar Express, an inspiring adventure based on the beloved children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg. When a doubting young boy takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe.

Joyeux Noël (2005)

A film set around the informal Christmas truce on the Western Front during Christmas 1914. This film demonstrates just how awful war is and how pointless the first world war actually was and how it was not a just or necessary war.

Chasing Christmas (2005): Another original take on the classic story giving us more time travel as the Ghost of Christmas Past (Leslie Jordan) going AWOL, leaving the ‘Scrooge’ of this story (Tom Arnold) stuck in 1965.

The Nativity Story (2006)

The Nativity Story is  American biblical drama film based on the nativity of Jesus and directed by Catherine HardwickeThe Nativity Story premiered in Vatican City on November 26, 2006, making it the first film to hold a world premiere in the city. It is refreshing to have had a big screen re-telling of the true meaning of Christmas.

Prep & Landing  (2009)

An elf named Wayne is part of the Prep & Landing organization, the group of elves who prepare homes for Santa Claus’s visit. After being passed over for a promotion, he begins to slacken in his duties, but he has a change in heart after this results in a child’s house not being ready in time and the unprecedented decision to skip it.

Prep & Landing Franchise

A Christmas Carol (2009)

Disney‘s animated adaptation of Charles Dickens’ story starring Jim Carrey as Scrooge.

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale  (2010)

In the depths of the Korvatunturi mountains lies the closest ever guarded secret of Christmas. A Spielbergian horror romp with a Christmas twist.

The Christmas Candle (2013)

There is the subtile magic of the Christmas drama  The Christmas Candle (2013) based on the book by popular Christmas author Max Lucado. The movie actually starts in and acknowledges  Advent.

The Christmas Candle film poster.jpg

All Is Bright (2013)

While out of prison on parole, a man reluctantly takes a job selling Christmas trees with his old buddy to make enough money to buy his estranged daughter the piano she has always wanted.

Get Santa (2014)

Santa comes in all shapes and sizes, and maybe you think you’ve seen it all when it comes to JOlly Ol St. Nick.

How about a family comedy that has an ex-con trying to spring Santa from jail? This film has one of the best take off sequences of Santa and his reindeer in Santa film history. It shows Santa acknowledging that life is hard and challenging and gives a very good portrait of caring father’s towards their son.

Toy Story That Time Forgot (2014/ABC)

It’s a post-Christmas play-date and the toys have to go up against the fearsome and aggressive new dino toys.- IMDB

Saving Christmas (2014)

A man convinces his brother-in-law that Christmas is still a Christian holiday, and endeavors to “put Christ back into Christmas”.

The film received a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It was nominated in six categories for the 35th Golden Raspberry Awards and won four, including Worst Picture. It also became the lowest-rated film on the IMDb Bottom 100 List within one month of its theatrical release, and is now considered one of the worst films of all time.[7] Despite being panned by professional critics, Cameron defended the film, alleging that the low reviews were part of an atheist smear campaign that was allegedly hatched on Reddit.

I started watching it and it had one pretty good sequence. I’ve seen movies that are way worse.

Krampus  (2015)

Krampus is a horror comedy film that could also be watched at Halloween as well as Christmas I suppose. It’s about a dysfunctional family squabbling causes a young boy (Max) to lose his festive spirit. Doing so unleashes the wrath of Krampus, a fearsome, horned demonic beast in ancient European folklore who punishes naughty children at Christmas time. As Krampus lays siege to the neighborhood, the family must band together to save one another from a monstrous fate.

The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017)

Everwonder how Dickens came up with A Christmas Carol? The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017) lets you in on the creative process of how it happen.

The Man Who Invented Christmas | Kanopy

The Star (2017)

An animated film based about the Nativity of Jesus and the Christmas star.

Angela’s Christmas (2017)

Angela’s Christmas gives you a sweet taste of a Irish Christmas long ago. It combines childhood innocence and a winter atmosphere to give us a rare quality Christmas tale that focuses on the actual reason why we celebrate Christmas that also gives us some harsh realities of real life. It’s also based on a true story.

Angela the character in Frank McCourt’s pulitzer prize winning memoir Angela’s Ashes’ is attending Church Christmas Eve as a young girl. She becomes concerned the baby Jesus in the crib will be cold.

A sequel, titled Angela’s Christmas Wish, was released on December 1, 2020.

Spirited (2022)

Yet another modern musical comedy re-imagining of a Christmas Carol that is focused on the perspective of the Ghosts, with Will Ferrell as the Ghost of Christmas Present and Ryan Reynolds as the person visited by the ghosts.

The Christmas Chronicles (2018)

The Grinch (2018)

The Grinch is an animated film of the Dr. Seuss tale that fleshes out the story to a about 90 minutes. It is fun and gives some added motivation and makes certain plot points make sense and is a pure delight to watch.

Anna and The Apocalypse (2018)

A zombie apocalypse threatens the sleepy town of Little Haven – at Christmas – forcing Anna and her friends to fight, slash and sing their way to survival, facing the undead in a desperate race to reach their loved ones. But they soon discover that no one is safe in this new world, and with civilization falling apart around them, the only people they can truly rely on are each other.- IMDB

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018)

I needed to include at least one Nutcracker film on this list. It seems as if most of them have terrible reviews.

A young girl is transported into a magical world of gingerbread soldiers and an army of mice.

Klaus (2019)

Beyond the approachable storytelling, fun cast, and revisionist mythology, however, lies the stunning craftsmanship of the animation itself. –Jared Mobarak, Jaredmobarak.com (February 4, 2020)

A simple act of kindness always sparks another, even in a frozen, faraway place. When Smeerensburg’s new postman, Jesper, befriends toymaker Klaus, their gifts melt an age-old feud and deliver a sleigh full of holiday traditions.

If your going to watch one Santa movie this Christmas, this should be the one. This is easily one of the best animated Christmas movies as well as one of the best animated movies every made.

The Knight Before Christmas  (2019)

A medieval English knight is magically transported to present-day America where he falls for a high school science teacher who is disillusioned by love. – IMDB

Let It Snow (2019)

In a small town on Christmas Eve, a snowstorm brings together a group of young people.- IMDB

Last Christmas (2019)

Christmas is inherently trashy. There’s the garish, spiky strands of tinsel and the itchy novelty jumpers; the sloppy, drunken corporate get-togethers and the feigned niceties shared between people who absolutely despise each other. So shouldn’t a good Christmas film be a little trashy, too? That seems to be the logic behind Last Christmas, a star-studded romcom that plays like an expensive Hallmark film. It’s also meant to be, as the title suggests, inspired by the songs of George Michael. They appear on the soundtrack, but the musician’s presence is barely felt.- Clarisse Loughrey, Last Christmas review (December 6, 2019)

Tom: It’s good luck you know.
Kate: What is?
Tom: Getting pooed on by a bird.
Kate: I’m busy, you’re weird, good-bye!

Last Christmas (2019) - IMDb

Noelle (2019)

The story revolves around Santa’s daughter (Anna Kendrick) who is forced to take over the family business when her father dies and her brother (Bill Hader) is clearly not up to the job.

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey  (2020)

Morgan State Alumnus responsible for Upcoming Netflix Film, 'Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey' | The Spokesman

“Colorful” is not a colorful enough word to describe a fantasy movie musical so maximalist that even the title is overstuffed. “Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey” packs a lot into the movie’s title, including two character names and the dual ideas of something cute and something a little more heartwarming, with a touch of the spiritual.

It has all of that and more, more, more. But Christmas is a time of excess, and the many pleasures of this overflowing Christmas stocking of a film are sure to make it a family favorite, and most likely a family tradition. Originally conceived as a musical play, it retains the liveliness of an in-person production. The exceptionally strong and nearly all-Black cast gives the film a fresh perspective, and it is heartening to see Black characters in a story that is not just about their being Black.
Nell Minow, Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (Roger Ebert.com

The Claus Family  (2020)

After discovering his grandfather is Santa Claus, Jules has to help him deliver his presents all around the world. But Jules’ hatred for Christmas might make that more difficult than Santa thought. – IMDB

  • The Claus Family 2 (2021),
  • The Claus Family 3 (2022)

Fatman (2020)

A rowdy, unorthodox Santa Claus is fighting to save his declining business. Meanwhile, Billy, a neglected and precocious 12 year old, hires a hit man to kill Santa after receiving a lump of coal in his stocking.

Godmothered  (2020)

An unskilled young fairy godmother ventures out on her own to prove her worth by tracking down a young girl whose request for help was ignored.- IMDB

A Boy Called Christmas (2021)

A young boy must journey to a magical kingdom called Elfhelm.

 Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas  (2021)

When Shaun’s hunt for a bigger stocking hits a snag, the whole farm sets out on a wild holiday adventure — complete with a sleigh!

8-Bit Christmas (2021)

 From the folks that brought you ELF, this film gets the holiday spirit off the ground with two big reindeer way up. It is in the style of A Christmas Story with the storytelling of A Princess Bride of a father telling his kid what it was like to desire a Nintendo for Christmas and the great lengths he and his friends had to do to get one. It had a set of wacky characters like The Sandlot. Like the Goldbergs it was 1980 something in a Wonder Years sort of way. There was even a nod to Stand By Me in one scene as part of one their schemes. It was a good nostalgia look back to when I was a Kid Type of Story. It was it’s own original story that stuck with the spirit of the other ones that I mentioned. A few missteps but none that derailed the film for me. Neal Patrick Harris has the knack for being a good narrator. The ending actually didn’t end the way I thought it would. It stirred emotion in me. A good and pleasant surprise that talks about having a Merry Christmas and shows a good relationship between father and son. Check it out for some laughs and heartfelt emotion.

David and the Elves (2021)

A jaded, overworked elf runs off to the real world where he tries to experience the magic of Christmas with the help of a newly befriended young boy.- IMDB

5000 Blankets (2022)

When her husband has a mental breakdown and goes missing, a woman and her young son set out to find him on the streets, sparking a movement that inspires a city.

This is a film that tells the true story of a kid who wanted to live out Matthew 25 and demonstrate the true spirit of Christmas by helping out those in need. You can find out more at Phillip’s Wish – Warming Homeless Hearts.

I Heard the Bells (2022)

The inspiring story behind the writing of the beloved Christmas carol and its author, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. This film got me to know the poet more and made me want to explore his poetry more.

The Three Wise Kings vs Santa (2022)

The Three Wise Men and Santa vie for the children’s attention, unbeknownst that their struggle will wake the Krampus from its slumber.

Violent Night (2022)

The film follows Santa Claus (portrayed by David Harbour) as he fights a paramilitary group mercenaries who have taken a wealthy family hostage.

Candy Cane Lane (2023)

Eddie Murphy stars in this holiday comedy adventure about a man on a mission to win his neighborhood’s annual Christmas home decoration contest and inadvertently makes a deal with a mischievous elf that brings the 12 Days of Christmas to life.- Amazon Description.

The film is magical and a lot of fun.

The Holdovers (2023)

During Christmas in 1970, a curmudgeonly history teacher at a New England prep school is forced to chaperone the handful of students with nowhere to go over Christmas break.- The movie is a little rough, but it makes you think your watching that came out in the 70’s although it came out in 2023.

The Holdovers  received five nominations at the 96th Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Giamatti; Randolph won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Journey to Bethlehem (2023)

A musical film based about Mary and Saint Joseph‘s journey to Bethlehem and the birth of Jesus.

Watch Christmas With The Chosen: Holy Night   (2023)

A young mother labeled impure. A shepherd boy considered “unclean.” Experience Jesus’ birth through their eyes as CHRISTMAS WITH THE CHOSEN: HOLY NIGHT blends The Messengers and The Shepherd into one special remastered and re-scored story. Plus, a never-before-seen performance from Andrea and Matteo Bocelli highlights seven musical performances and two beautiful new monologues.

It’s a Wonderful Knife (2023)

Winnie Carruthers previously saved her town, the idyllic Angel Falls, from a psychotic killer on Christmas Eve, only for the killer to return the following year. A difernt horrific take on It’s A Wonderful Life.

 Elf Me  (2023)

Trip is a builder Elf working in Santa’s factory who prefers making bizarre and dangerous weapons rather than toys. Fate will lead him to meet Elia, a shy and peculiar kid from a village in the Italian mountains. Initially at odds, the two must learn to put aside their differences in order to save Christmas from a ruthless businessman who wants to spoil everyone’s favorite holiday!

Family Switch (2023)

When a chance encounter with an astrological reader causes the Walkers to wake up to a full body switch, can they unite to land a promotion, college interview, record deal, and soccer tryout? – IMDB

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (2024)

Dallas Jenkins has gifted the world The Chosen. Now he has give us this film based on the 1972 novel by Barbara Robinson. Starring Judy GreerPete Holmes, Molly Belle Wright, and Lauren Graham, the plot centers around the Herdmans, a group of juvenile delinquent siblings who have inadvertently found themselves starring in their small town’s Christmas pageant.

It is refreshing to have a mainstream movie with this much quality and heart showcase the real Christmas story. It made my wife and I cry and laugh in the theater as we watched it.

Red One  (2024)

I you think that Die Hard is too much for the younger crowd, Red One is an action film without all the gritty violence and bad language. The head of North Pole security (Dwayne Johnson) teaming up with a notorious hacker (Chris Evans) in order to locate a kidnapped Santa Claus (J. K. Simmons) on Christmas Eve.

I can see M.O.R.A (Mythological Oversight and Restoration Authority) being explored in other film-spin offs’ of this movie and creating a cinematic universe.

An Almost Christmas Story (2024)

 Teddy’s Christmas

While visiting a Christmas market in her Norwegian town, eight-year-old Mariann connects with an adorable, living stuffed bear sitting on the top shelf of a carnival game booth. But when someone else wins Teddy, it’s up to him and his new hedgehog friend, Bolla, to reconnect with Mariann and discover the true importance of family and friendship.

A Sudden Case of Christmas (2024)

An American couple bring their 10-year-old daughter to her grandfather’s hotel in Italy to tell her that they are separating. Hoping to bring them back together, she asks to celebrate one last Christmas together, even though it’s August.

That Christmas  (2024)

That Christmas follows a series of entwined tales about love and loneliness, family and friends, and Santa Claus making a big mistake, not to mention an enormous number of turkeys!

Carry-On (2024)

 It is an action thriller film directed by Jaume Collet-Serra and written by T.J. Fixman. The film stars Taron EgertonSofia CarsonDanielle Deadwyler and Jason Bateman. Its plot follows a young TSA officer who’s blackmailed into letting a nerve agent onboard a flight during Christmas Eve.

Doctor Who: Joy to the World (2024)

New Years Day (January 1, 2025)

Rudolph’s Shiny New Year (1976)

Rudolph helps Father Time find Baby New Year so that the New Year can start.

Happy New Year, Charlie Brown! (1986)

Charlie Brown is obliged to attend Peppermint Patty’s New Year’s Eve party, even though he has to finish the novel “War and Peace”. – IMDB

 


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