Todd’s Complete List of Christmas Movies and Shows

Hey Mom,

Back when I was a kid (think 60’s-70’s green shag carpet and a black and white console television) one of the highlights of my holiday season was the weekly, television Christmas special…usually accompanied by a Dolly Madison commercial.

Early in the week, we’d consult the TV section of the newspaper and map out our week. After all, we only had one chance…no reruns, pauses, or replays. One shot. The night of the special, we’d warm up the TV and take our places so as not to miss even a minute. Then the commercial would fade, the familiar music would play, and Charlie Brown and his gang would skate across the screen.

He wasn’t alone. There was Rudolph, Frosty, the Little Drummer Boy, and at least a half dozen others. Those times were magical. That’s why I still carve out plenty of time for good old fashion Christmas video watching. In fact, we have a list of about 30 videos that we try to squeeze into the month.

Last night we saw a brand new one – Arthur’s Christmas. Now, if you’re the anti-Santa type, this isn’t for you (it’s about Santa, his father, and his two sons). Just so you know who you’re dealing with, we’re not Santa believers. We’ve never played the “game” with our kids and try to avoid the jolly elf. That said, we still watch movies with Santa as the star.

Some would say, it’s confusing to our children, but I don’t think it’s any more confusing that allowing your children to watch a movie about talking cars. We’ve treated them like fun movies for which they are…nothing more.

Anyway, Arthur’s Christmas was a lot of fun with high tech gadgetry, a mother-ship sleigh, 50,000 elves, and a bumbling young man who really loves Christmas. Plus it is has some hilarious moments…and it’s warm. So, we’ll add it to our list of great Christmas movies.

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Here my list in no particular order:

Scrooge – Albert Finney      

A Muppet’s Christmas Carol      

A Christmas Carol – George C Scott     

Mickey’s Christmas Carol    

An American Christmas Carol – Henry Winkler   

A Christmas Carol — 2009 Jim Carrey    

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Animated TV classic)      

Charlie Brown Christmas      

Frosty the Snowman      

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer      

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas (animated TV special)     

Santa Claus is Coming to Town (TV classic)      

The Year without a Santa Claus (TV classic)      

The Little Drummer Boy (TV classic)     

Small One (Disney animated classic)    

Nester the Long Eared Donkey (TV classic)    

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever    

The House without a Christmas Tree   

Eloise Christmas (live action)      

Polar Express      

The Grinch – Jim Carrey      

The Grinch (animated Movie)    

Home Alone I & II      

The Walton’s Homecoming (TV classic)      

It’s a Wonderful Life      

The Santa Claus (1, 2 & 3) – they get progressively worse…but they’ve grown on me

Ernest Saves Christmas    

The Christmas Box (Hallmark Special)

Christmas Shoes (sad ending)

While You were sleeping (great couples video)      

Miracle on 34th street (old version)      

Miracle on 34th street (modern version – great couple’s video)     

White Christmas      

Holiday inn      

Christmas in Connecticut

Meet me St. Louis — Judy Garland    

The Lemon Drop Kid – Bob Hope

Bells of Saint Mary’s – Bing Crosby

It Happened one Christmas — Marlo Thomas

One Magic Christmas –    

Christmas Vacation — I’ve only scene an edited TV version which was funny…but I’m sure that the unedited version is not fit for…anyone.

Elf     

Christmas with the Kranks

Yes, Virginia There is a Santa Claus (TV Special)

The Bishop’s Wife — Cary Grant

The Preacher’s Wife — Denzel Washington      

A Christmas Story – A Classic (with some bad language)      

Babes in Toyland — Laurel and Hardy   

Emmet Otter and the Jug Band Christmas    

The Man Who Invented Christmas

Santa Claus Conquers the Martians – You gotta watch this one!!  

Arthur’s Christmas      

Oh, one more thing, never assume that every Christmas movie is family friendly. I’ve had some recommended that our NOT family friendly at all ( a few are on the list above). Check them out so you won’t have any surprises. Case in point…Christmas Vacation. I’ve turned it off twice within the first five minutes. Later I saw an edited version and it was hilarious…but was only about 40 minutes in length after all the bad stuff was cut out.