I’m a huge movie fan. Have I told you that? If you love movies, you know that this time of year is a movie fan’s dream. I started this as one post, but I had so many movies I had to break them into two. This one is just for adults.
It’s not that kids can’t watch some of them, but these movies are for when the kids go to bed, the fire is lit, and your cup of hot cocoa is in hand. Nothing but bliss, I tell ya. So here we go.
#5. White Christmas. Does anything matter after Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye? I could watch them sing and dance for hours, and the fact that I lu-huve the set of this movie sure does help.
#4. The Family Stone. Speaking of visuals (and you’ll find this to be a common theme within my list), that house! It’s busy, warm, and full of family memories. It’s a bonus that there are some gooood lookin’ people in this movie. I have a crush on Rachel McAdams.
#3. Bridget Jones’s Diary. It’s awkward and funny at the same time. I do well with that. Throw some snow and an ugly Christmas sweater in there, and it’s darn near the perfect Christmas movie.
#2. Swoon. I mean…The Holiday. Exhibit A: Jude Law. Exhibit B: That cottage. This is such a good movie. It’ll speak for itself.
And #1? Love Actually! It’s a no-brainer. I’m a sucker for ensemble casts and parallel storylines. Traffic? Valentine’s Day? The upcoming New Year’s Eve? You bet. This one is by far my favorite. I was trying to choose a favorite storyline to share with you, and I couldn’t! Love them all. I guess that’s why it’s #1.
I’m sure you’ve got some favorites of your own. Share them with me and others in the comments, so we can get our movie-watching on until Christmas. I’ll be back later with my list for “family friendly” favorites!
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I love the Bishops Wife – the original in black and white.
My #1 just has to be Elf. Makes me laugh every time and brings out the Christmas cheer. Then it is closely followed by The Holiday…two chick flick, holiday movies in one? Yes, please.
My favorite is definitely White Christmas. It is on repeat all season and my husband just shakes his head. 🙂 My second favorite is Miracle on 34th Street, but only the original version!
Although Elf is my favorite Christmas movie, Love Actually is a close second! What a great movie!
In addition to those listed (which I love!) “You’ve Got Mail” is another staple here around the holidays. I don’t know if it’s technically a holiday movie, but there is nothing I don’t love about that movie!
We really liked Love Actually. And I really want to see New Year’s Eve. 🙂 White Christmas is a favorite of mine. We usually watch it while putting the tree up but I forgot to today – but the hubs was watching football so…………. Anyhow……my all time favorite Christmas movie is Elf. Seriously – the funniest thing I’ve seen. I can recite most of it. lol 🙂 And another movie that I love (which I used to really hate) is A Christmas Story. Soooo funny!! The part in the Chinese restaurant is hilarious. Great post! 🙂
#1 – White Christmas!
#2 – The Holiday
#3 – The Christmas Story
#4 – National Lampoons Christmas Vacation
#5 – The Family Stone
(Haven’t seen Love Acctually. I will have to see it soon!)
I love The Holiday and I watch it year round I must confess – great movie!!
White Christmas is soooo good too!
I have to add Elf to my list – I can watch it over and over. It makes me laugh. I think I love all Christmas movies. Miracle on 34th street is another favorite.
Your favs are MINE! (well, of course they are!!!) You know that scene in Family Stone where SJP falls off the bus? Yeah, that was totally me at LAX 5 years ago and I had to walk through a million terminals with a foot fractured in 3 places. Awesome. Not embarrassing AT.ALL.
Love Actually is my favorite too!
Christmas vacation totally needs to be on this list. and white christmas needs to be higher. 🙂
My all time favorite Chrismas movie is White Christmas! Wonderful movie list! I agree wholeheartedly on every one of them 🙂
What, how is Die Hard not on anyone’s list?! I do admit, last year when I was in the mood for a movie that took place around Christmas, but not a true Christmas movie, that was the first one I went for. 🙂 White Christmas and Holiday Inn are my two favorites, closely followed by A Christmas Story and the original Miracle on 34th Street.
I love all of those except Bridget Jones. Might have to see that one again! I just DVRd Love Actually and I love it even more than last time!!!! We watch White Christmas every year. It’s a tradition!
Love Actually FTW. I adore that movie and Bill Nighy killed!
The movie that my husband and I watch religiously every Christmas for the last 10 years easily is Scrooged with Billy Murray. Yes it’s quirky, politically incorrect, and very early 90’s, but we love it!
My favourite kids movie, that I have gotten my 3.5 year old daughter addicted to is Miracle on 34th Street. Both versions! I love both of them for different reasons, I’m a sop and cry almost every time I watch either one.
I looooove The Family Stone – the clutter gives me the shakes, however!
On a high brow note, I also love Elf!
Kerry at HouseTalkN
3 of your 5 would make my list too! White Christmas, The Holiday, and Love Actually. White Christmas has been my favorite Christmas movie for EVER – my husband proposed while we were setting up our tree with W.C. playing in the background. 🙂
I haven’t seen Love Actually yet, but it came on tv recently and I recorded it. Will be watching it tonight! The Holiday is one of my all time favorites!!!!! I loved seeing Jack Black play someone different than his typical characters and he was perfect at it! I think I’ve seen The Family Stone, but can’t remember. I love when a whole lot of famous gets together for a movie. So fun to watch! Can’t wait for New Year’s Eve!!!
I love that your Top 2 would be my Top 2! I watch those 2 movies every Chrismtas/Holiday Season and “Elf” is another must see this tme of year – just a goofy fun movie.
1. White Christmas..its amazing.
2. Elf
3. Christmas Vacation
4. Love Actually
5. The Santa Clause (the first one)
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE White Christmas!!!!!! I make my three kids sit through this a couple times each Christmas season….giddily grinning and going on and on about what a great classic it is. They used to roll their eyes but resistance is futile so now they just ignore me. I’m glad to see someone else has as much superbly refined taste in movies as me. 😉
We love “Polar Express”. Our family watches it every Christmas Eve.
Scrooged is by far my favorite Christmas movie. Bill Murray doing the 80’s corporate yuppy greed Scrooge so very well, Carol Kane hitting him with a toaster and ending with “Put a little love in your heart.” I cry at the end every year and nothing puts me in the Christmas spirit more.
That said I adore White Christmas and Love, actually.
LOVE your list!!! Would you believe I haven’t seen White Christmas! Adding it to my list for this year!
I LOVE The Holiday! National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation has always been one of my favorites since my parents taped the edited version off of TV when I was little. 🙂
love all the ones you picked and another one i love is home for the holidays with holly hunter and robert downie jr.!!!
Love all of these! I’ve also gotta see Home Alone at least once at Christmas. The Christmas Story is my all time favorite though. I watched it on Thanksgiving this year.
Love “THE HOLIDAY”!! Jude Law is so dreamy, and I too love the cottage! After seeing that movie it made me want to do a house swap to a cottage in Europe! HA!
I remember being so embarrassed watching Love Actually with my mom sitting next to me!
I know what you mean, had to do the same thing with my 87 year old mother. Wish they could have left that part out.
every year i say that i am going to have to watch love actually. i have seen it once, but it didn’t leave an impact on me…and i think i may be the only one! maybe i wasn’t in the right mindset when i watched it or something?
the only thing i rewatch every year is the my so called life xmas episode, just as i watch the halloween one every year, as well as the new year’s one. i also strangely feel as if we’ve had this conversation…last year, maybe?
Chris – I mentioned you and linked to your post in my own blog post. I love your lists and I love that you love ensemble casts. I would have included “The Holiday” but Cameron Diaz drove me crazy in that movie. It doesn’t stop me from watching it every time I catch it on tv though – Kate Winsley and Jude Law were just awesome in it.
http://theboatwrightfamily.blogspot.com/2011/12/favorite-christmas-movies.html
#1 It’s A Wonderful Life
#2 Family Stone
#3 White Christmas
#4 The Holiday
#5 Christmas Vacation
Oooh…great list, Linda Jo! Can’t argue with that.
I love all of those! It’s a Wonderful Life, and Elf are also high on the list. The one I watched this year was Little Women. It’s not specifically about Christmas but it starts at Christmastime. I have never seen White Christmas. I will have to check it out. Have you seen Between Naps on the Porch movie home tours? She did a tour of the cottage on the Holiday.
No, you’re right Amy! I love that movie at Christmas too. Didn’t even think about it! I have seen those house tours–too fun, aren’t they? Thank you!