It’s the hap-happiest season of all. We bring nature inside as we adorn our living spaces with seasonally appropriate trees, and we light up the longer nights with bright and colourful lights. Music from generations long since passed is re-played and re-contextualised, and centuries old iconography is re-evaluated and repurposed.

There’ll be parties for hosting, marshmallows for toasting, and carolling out in the snow. If we’ve been good, we’ll receive gifts (thanks Santa!), and if we’re lucky we’ll eat so much food we can barely move. Almost certainly, we’ll watch a movie. From the Netflix Originals of the current era to the silver screen classics of wartime Hollywood, Christmastime movie watching doesn’t discriminate based on picture quality, colour or the lack thereof, acting powerhouses or barely trained actors – if it works, it works. And if it’s good, we’ll hold onto it forever.

In this Movie List from The Film Magazine, we’ve scoured the annals of Christmas movie history to bring you the very best of the best to watch this holiday season. These films are Christmas classics and beloved cult hits, some culturally significant and others often overlooked. These films are seasonal treats; two advent calendars worth of movie magic from the big-wigs in Hollywood and beyond.

Short films (those with a runtime of under one hour) will not be included here, nor will films that cross multiple seasons but feel like Christmas movies – sorry You’ve Got Mail and Bridget Jones’s Diary. Debatable Christmas movies like Gremlins have also been omitted because of their inclusion in our alternative list “10 Excellent Non-Christmas Films Set at Christmas“. Seasonal classic The Apartment has also been disqualified on the grounds that it covers Christmas and beyond, and is arguably more of a new year’s movie.

These are 50 Unmissable Christmas Movies as chosen by The Film Magazine team members. Entries by Mark Carnochan, Kieran Judge, Martha Lane, Sam Sewell-Peterson and Joseph Wade.

Follow @thefilmagazine on X (Twitter).

1. Remember the Night (1940)

Golden Era stars Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray (who would go on to star in The Apartment) spark an unlikely romance when Stanwyck’s Lee Leander steals a bracelet from a jewellery store and MacMurray’s John “Jack” Sargent is assigned to prosecute her over the Christmas holidays.

One of the era’s many beloved studio romantic comedies, Remember the Night features all the elements that would come to define the genre while encompassing some screwball comedy and classic transatlantic accents. The tagline read “When good boy meets bad girl they remember the night”, and it’s likely you’ll remember this seasonal treat too. JW

2. The Shop Around the Corner (1940)

Few things signal classic Hollywood Christmases like Jimmy Stewart, and 6 years before arguably his most memorable performance in the iconic Frank Capra Christmas movie It’s a Wonderful Life, he starred in a seasonal favourite that was just as beloved by critics, The Shop Around the Corner.

This holiday romance from Ernst Lubitsch (who also directed Heaven Can Wait) sees Stewart’s Alfred fall in love with his pen pal who, unbeknownst to him, is the colleague he most despises at his gift store job – You’ve Got Mail has got nothing on this. With some hearty moments and all of the circumstantial comedy of the best movies of the era, The Shop Around the Corner will make you laugh and fill your heart in that special way that only the best Christmas movies can. JW

3. Holiday Inn (1942)

Early sound pictures were revolutionised by famed tap dancer Fred Astaire, and by 1942 he was a certified movie musical megastar. In Mark Sandrich’s seasonal musical Holiday Inn, he teams with would-be Christmas icon and man with a voice as sooth as silk, Bing Crosby. The result is one of the most iconic and influential Christmas movies ever made.

The film’s outdated attitude towards race are cringe-inducing and inexcusable in a 21st century context (there’s a whole sequence featuring blackface), but its other dated sensibilities shine bright amongst more modern and commercial Christmas films; its wholesome aura, classic dance scenes, and era-defining songs making for an unmissable experience. To top it all, Bing Crosby sings “White Christmas” for the first time in this film, cementing it in history as a seasonal classic. JW

4. Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)

Widely acknowledged as one of the holiday season’s best-ever films, Vincente Minnelli (An American in Paris) illuminates his would-be wife Judy Garland in arguably her most established performance, bringing Christmas cheer to all without sacrificing any of the harsh realities facing the American people in the first half of the 20th century.

Featuring the original (and arguably the best) rendition of Christmas classic “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”, and being anchored by some heartbreaking story elements, Meet Me In St. Louis maintains its power and relevance 80 years on. It offers a Christmas movie that will forever mark the height of its sub-genre, as well as the two filmmaking careers (of Minnelli and Garland) that helped to define the era. JW

Recommended for you: There’s No Place Like St. Louis at Christmas

5. Christmas in Connecticut (1945)

Remember the Night star Barbara Stanwyck is once again front and centre for a Golden Era Hollywood Christmas movie, this time playing a city magazine editor whose lies about being a perfect housewife are put to the test when her boss and a returning war hero invite themselves to her house.

This is screwball comedy with all the spirit of the festive season is as romantic as it is funny, and prominently features the shadows of World War II to gift the film a unique emotionality that has ensured it is rewatched year on year. JW

Curry first caught the bug for performing in his university days, eventually joining a swing band before graduating in English and drama. During these early years, Curry ensured that his devotion to drama would not die on his academic certificate as he swiftly booked a role in the London musical “Hair” (1968), where he happened to meet future collaborator Richard O’Brien. Amidst these sophomore years, Curry continued to blossom under the bright lights in productions such as “Life of Galileo” (1971) and “Cinderella” (1972), earning a stellar reputation along the way.

As Curry was earning his acclaimed Broadway status, he put himself forward for O’Brien’s upcoming stage play, “The Rocky Horror Show” (1973-), and was eventually cast in the lead role. The show was a bustling success, with Curry’s performance as the enigmatic Dr Frank-N-Furter eventually leading him to reprise his role in the show’s cinematic adaptation. This would be Curry’s first role in a movie, but it would certainly not be his last, the artist featuring in over forty films over the next five decades.

Being able to transform into a character, to become immersed in the role so much that the barrier between screen and reality is ripped away, is a rarely attainable talent. In celebration of Curry’s commendable work over the years, The Film Magazine has curated this evaluation of Tim Curry’s three career-defining performances.

Follow @thefilmagazine on Twitter.

1. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

The Rocky Horror Picture Show Review

The Rocky Horror Picture Show has become so entwined with its lavish visuals, energetic musical numbers, and the zany storyline, that it has become both a cultural phenomenon and one of, if not the most, career-defining performance of Tim Curry’s lengthy career. When questioned about what reminds people of Tim Curry, many will recall him bound in a black-jewelled corset, ripped fishnet stockings, bright red lipstick, and a mop of curly hair. His portrayal of the infamous Dr Frank-N-Furter is an iconic look that has helped coin the glorious madness cult cinema is known for.

Curry’s staple role in this wacky extravaganza is a testament to how crucial actors are to the success of a film. Whilst the staging, costumes, and soundtrack are all achievements in their own rights, without Curry’s uncontainable zest as the utterly unhinged ‘mad scientist’, the film indeed would not contain that heap of gusto that makes The Rocky Horror Picture Show just as contagious now as it was back in 1975. The narrative structure represents a fever dream that requires equally vibrant characters willing to break free of social constraints. Whilst every character shines, Curry fully embellishes this vibrancy, creating a trippy, wild ride of a film.

Throughout The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Curry exercises a unique air of naturalness, with his years of portraying the character on Broadway lending its hand to his smashing performance. As the film unravels, this sense of authenticity and expertise is furthered by Curry’s many vocal numbers. The movie set was his stage, and everyone else was just his audience, with his deep baritone pipes making for some exceptionally entertaining and catchy tunes.

2. Clue (1985)

Based on the famous board game Cluedo, this Johnathan Lynn-directed film stars Tim Curry in one of his most comical roles. Clue is peak 1980s humour, with plenty of irreverent jokes and lude quick-witted characters, including Curry’s astute Wadsworth.

Wadsworth, the secretive butler, acts as the film’s resident unreliable narrator, as many of the film’s rocky events are explained through his lengthy monologues. Clue’s co-writer John Landis (An American Werewolf in London) created the idea of a triple ending, rotating which endings were sent to theatres, urging cinema-goers to make multiple trips to the movies. Wadsworth plays a large part in each of these endings, with all of the finales falling upon Curry’s character and relying upon his gift of repartee.

Furthering the dry humour and suspense that Curry infuses amidst all the murder mystery and mayhem is his winning charm that runs across every one of his performances. Films including Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992), Congo (1995), and Muppet Treasure Island (1996) capture that ‘Wadsworth’ magic, utilising Curry’s fun, attention-commanding aura to create irreverent, wholesome entertainment.

Clue solidified Curry’s future acting portfolio, with many of his following roles capturing his witty and sarcastic tone.

3. It (1990)

Disclaimer: this ABC miniseries (released on television in two parts) was released in some territories as a feature film.

Pennywise the Dancing Clown has become the godfather of recent horror icons thanks to Andy Muschietti’s 2017 adaption of the classic Stephen King novel. However, while Bill Skarsgård did a fantastic job playing the evil clown, the lore and success of everyone’s favourite clown is owed to Curry’s original portrayal.

It is brimming with nightmare fuel. One particularly memorable scene showcases Pennywise standing in a half-dug grave, wielding his infamous grin whilst giggling at the thought of his maniacal plans, all-but singlehandedly ensuring that every viewer develops a lifelong mistrust of clowns. The mere thought of such imagery is enough to send shivers down one’s spine, and whilst storytelling is a major factor in fashioning effective scares, It owes most of its superb execution to Curry’s performance. It plays out like one large urban legend, one that is told around campfires to scare youngsters and create thrilling but chilling atmospheres. Capturing this nostalgia-driven narrative is Curry’s playful attitude that he lends to Pennywise, luring his victims in with the promise of ‘fun’, only to brutally murder them.

Despite not being the studio’s first choice for Pennywise, director Tommy Lee Wallace was eager to secure Curry for the role, with the actor’s innate ability to fully absorb himself into a character’s psyche and ultimately transform being a critical factor in Wallace’s determinations. After beating the likes of Alice Cooper and Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork Orange) to the gig, Curry eventually settled in as Pennywise and assured his place as one of the scariest movie villains in horror history.

Each time Pennywise appears on screen, the atmosphere darkens, and tension looms as he spouts the most unsettling threats in a thick Bronx accent, glaring with bulbous and piercing eyes. Nothing is more startling or skin-crawling than witnessing Curry transform into this horrifying beast. Many viewers would have seen It years ago, or many new watchers would have been subjected to modern horror’s much more gruesome and graphic films, but It manages to be scarier than many of today’s must-sees. Curry’s performance has created a legacy, with his unique ability to tiptoe between being cheery and bright to utterly sinister and twisted becoming one of the film’s most essential factors in its thirty-plus years of success.

Recommended for you: Marilyn Monroe: 3 Career-Defining Performances

Though now largely withdrawn from the public eye, Tim Curry remains an instantly recognisable and beloved artist. His work on the stage, in music, and on the screen, have ensured a legacy that is bound to make anyone smile.

Home Alone has been considered a Christmas tradition since the moment Macaulay Culkin slapped his cheeks and yelled at the top of his lungs all the way back in 1990, but seeing the John Hughes-written and Chris Columbus-directed picture develop into a franchise of straight-to-video/dvd glorified holiday specials has given the franchise the proverbial “mixed bag” of good and bad filmmaking. In this edition of Ranked, we’re looking at all 6 Home Alone movies (yes there have been 6) and judging them in terms of quality, enjoyability, critical reception and public perception to rank each from worst to best.

Have a favourite Home Alone movie? Let us know in the comments, and follow The Film Magazine on Twitter.

6. Home Alone 4: Taking Back the House (2002)

The fourth entry to the franchise is nothing short of a disaster.

A clear cash grab intended to capitalise on the burgeoning DVD market, this Rod Daniel (K-9) straight-to-TV feature recasts the iconic roles of Kevin McCallister (once played by Macaulay Culkin) and Marv (originally Daniel Stern) and, as if that wasn’t sacrilegious enough, takes the concept to an entirely different level of absurd. Seriously, if you thought a child defending his house from fully grown men via a series of booby traps was absurd, wait ’til you get a load of this…

In Home Alone 4: Taking Back the House, Kevin McCallister must ignore the instructions of his parents and rescue a crown prince from his old foe Marv and Marv’s wife Vera.

It truly is as bad as it seems…

5. Home Alone: The Holiday Heist (2012)

Home Alone 5 (The Holiday Heist) thankfully didn’t regurgitate the great characters from the first Home Alone in some lame attempt to gather an audience, but much like our previous entry did seem like a film written before the Home Alone branding was ever slapped on it.

In many ways another sorry attempt to grab cash from willing and hopeful consumers, rather than a fitting tribute or loving extension to the Home Alone franchise, The Holiday Heist did actually offer brief glimmers of being something more than that of the franchise’s previous incarnation, notably upping the casting quality to include the legendary Ed Asner (albeit in a cameo) and A Clockwork Orange actor Malcolm McDowell.

The movie was directed by Peter Hewitt, the man who helmed Bill & Ted’s Bogus Adventure just a year after the original Home Alone was released and later directed the absurd British children’s comedy Thunderpants (2002), his work on The Holiday Heist at least attempting to replicate some of the feeling of the first few movies, albeit quite poorly.

Recommended for you: I’m a 90s Kid and I Watched Home Alone for the First Time This Year

Make sure to read 10 Best Home Alone Moments before you read this article.

Alone in the most heavily populated city in the United States, Kevin encounters troublesome hotel clerks and the return of some old foes in this much beloved follow-up to one of the greatest Christmas films of all time.

In this Movie List, we at The Film Magazine are examining Chris Columbus’ iconic Christmas sequel for this, the 10 Best Home Alone 2: Lost in New York Moments.

Make sure to follow us on Twitter for updates on more articles like this one.

10. Kevin Calls Uncle Frank a Cheapskate

The film opens with a scene from a Christmas concert at Kevin’s school, the parents of the children all gathered in the audience to watch the show. Kevin’s solo is coming up.

Buzz (Devin Ratray), Kevin’s horrible older brother, plays a prank on him whilst he is singing, causing the whole auditorium to laugh at Kevin’s expense. 

Back at the house, after the event has unfolded, Buzz is apologising to the family for the prank he pulled and the embarrassment he caused his younger brother. Kevin clocks on to the insincerity of Buzz’s apology and stands up to his family, saying he doesn’t want to spend Christmas in Florida anyway. Uncle Frank (Gerry Bamman) tells him not to ruin the trip that Kevin’s father has paid a lot of money for. 

With outstanding delivery from Culkin, Kevin roasts Uncle Frank with one simple line: “I wouldn’t want to spoil your fun Mr. Cheapskate.”

Hilarious.

9. Marv Smiles for the Camera

Marv (Daniel Stern) and Harry (Joe Pesci) have escaped prison and made their way to New York in an attempt to make the Big Apple their new stomping grounds. They find out about a donation drive happening at a big toy store, and when Kevin clocks on to what they’re doing, he follows them there and catches them in the act.

When he sees them robbing the store, Kevin uses his new polaroid camera to snap a shot of them for proof. He shouts, “Hey Guys! Smile!”.

With brilliant comedic timing, and his trademarked goofiness, Marv looks up at the camera and gives it a big grin.