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.

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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

Klaus is a 2019 animation directed by Spanish director Sergio Pablos and distributed by Netflix. It features the voices of stars such as Jason Schwartzman, Joan Cusack and J.K. Simmons, and was produced by Pablos’ own animation company Sergio Pablos Animation Studios. The story follows Jesper’s (Schwartzman’s) trials and tribulations of being a postman on an island that doesn’t send letters, his unlikely friendship with a woodsman (Simmons), and how the duo transform the gloomy, feud-ridden island into a place of joy through delivering presents. It was a nominee for Best Animated Feature Film at the 2020 Oscars, and won the equivalent award at the 2020 BAFTAs.

It has been lauded by many as one of the great animated films made outside of the Hollywood studio system in the past ten years, but what makes Klaus so special? In this Movie List, we’re looking at this Christmas themed animated feature to offer 5 Reasons Why Klaus (2019) Is an Amazing Christmas Film.

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1. The Animation

In an age of animation inhabited almost exclusively by 3D releases, 2D animation is a breath of fresh air. With both 2D and 3D animation styles being blended together, Klaus is full of added depth but stays true to its nostalgic and unique art style.

Smeerensburg, where the film takes place, is inspired by German Expressionism in its design, both in terms of the buildings and the town’s inhabitants. The colour scheme also plays a large role in the atmosphere building throughout the film; Smeerensburg’s first appearance is dark, grey and rundown, but as time goes on, warmer tones begin to take over, especially in scenes of isolated happiness such as during the first present delivery.

Unlike the bland and corporate offerings of some of the US’s biggest animation studios – Illumination Entertainment, Warner Animation Group, etc. – every aspect of Klaus’ animation really adds to the emotional weight of its story, helping it to connect with audiences young and old.

2. It’s an Original Look at Santa’s Origin

The origin of Ol’ Saint Nick has been revisited time after time, both in literature and on screen, so to have a film in 2019 have a fresh take on the beginnings of Santa is already impressive, but to then have it be emotional, comical and magical takes the film to the next level.

The story behind why Klaus makes toys is enough to reduce any adult to tears, but then the comical edge of Jesper’s struggles with the actual delivering of the presents helps to ease the emotional tension. Jesper’s involvement in the story is actually very important, since it finally gives credit to postal workers – the ones who work extra hard to deliver the Christmas presents over the holidays.

Vitally, this change in perspective and in tone doesn’t kill the magic of Father Christmas, as despite the legendary figure’s disappearance, he still delivers presents every year.

Oscars favourites Pixar are once again there as the most experienced in the category to battle it out for the crown, however the absence of Disney Animation’s biggest hit of the year, Frozen 2, has not gone unnoticed.

The early dark horse in this race has been Netflix’s Klaus, though it does have to contend with other heavy hitting animation studios such as Dreamworks, Laika (the creators of former Oscar nominee Kubo and the Two Strings) and Netflix’s other animation entry I Lost My Body, which did well at both the Cannes and Annecy film festivals.

In 2020, it seems to be a pretty even race, so it will interesting to see which film takes the top prize.

Let’s take a closer look at this year’s contenders in the 2020 Animation Race…

How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

Director: Dean DeBlois

The second sequel in this year’s Animated Feature category is How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, the final chapter in the How To Train Your Dragon franchise that wraps up a complex coming of age story.

When Hiccup discovers that Toothless is not the only dragon of his kind, the race os on to find the ‘Hidden World’, a utopia for dragons, before the tyrant Grimmel does.

Dreamworks brings an emotionally and visually beautiful end to the much loved series. The audience has grown alongside Hiccup and Toothless throughout the trilogy and The Hidden World is the perfect send off for our heroes. Getting to see the characters grow from children to adults over the years brings a true sense of realism to the saga even though it is an animated film series set in a fantasy world with dragons, and that shows just what talent Dreamworks has put behind the project.

Perhaps in any other year How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World might have been the front-runner in this race, but this year it has some tough competition to fight off.

Recommended for you: Hair Love – Oscar Nominated Animated Short Review

I Lost My Body

Director: Jeremy Clapin

I Lost My Body is a French animated fantasy drama that debuted at Cannes Film festival in 2019 and was the first animated feature to win the Nespresso Grand Prize. It is also Netflix’s second entrant in this category.

The story is a little bit bizarre. On the surface it’s a story of boy loves girl, but it’s also the story of the boy’s severed hand making its way back to him through a Parisian backdrop.

Leaning towards a more traditional animation style does not mean it is any less impressive than the others. The atmosphere is simple but extremely poetic, showcasing the losses that we all go through in life and exploring how rediscovering the missing parts of us is ultimately the reason we keep on living.

I Lost My Body disproves the assumption that animated films are for children in the most spectacular way, and could very well be the underdog to come out on top in this race.

Klaus

Directors: Sergio Pablos & Carlos Martinez Lopez

Klaus was one of a myriad of films released by Netflix around the Christmas period, however it was certainly one that stood out from the crowd.

Klaus is the directorial debut for Sergio Pablos and has an incredible voice cast of the likes of Jason Schwartzman and Rashida Jones, as well as J.K Simmons as the title character.

This is certainly a twist on the origin story of Santa Claus and follows the story of a postman stationed on an island in the North who befriends Klaus, a reclusive toymaker. The message of the story is clear, that one act of kindness can often spark another even in a place where feuding locals barely speak to each other.

Klaus is a heartwarming take on the Christmas origin story, filled with emotion and humour, with a message of kindness that really rings true, coupled with some stunning animation that (much like last year’s winner Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse) sets itself apart from the rest.

This is Netflix’s first animation to be nominated for an Academy Award, and it has already won the BAFTA for best animated feature, so expect some high praise for Klaus even if it doesn’t walk out with the trophy.

Missing Link

Director: Chris Butler

Missing Link is another stunning stop-motion animated feature from Laika, the creators of previous Academy Award nominee Kubo and the Two Strings.

It presents the story of Mr Link, a Sasquatch who befriends an English explorer and adventures with him to the Himalayas in search of his Yeti cousins. It is a traditional story of adventures and friendship, with a heartfelt and humorous core.

Missing Link is another contender with an all-star voice cast including Hugh Jackman, David Walliams, Stephen Fry, Emma Thompson and Zach Galifanakis just to name a few. Missing Link lets us celebrate a more traditional style of animation, away from the computer generated films that now dominate the genre. It was awarded the Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature and was the first non-computer-generated animated film to win in this category, which certainly increases its chances of taking home the gold come Oscars night.

Recommended for you: Laika Animated Movies Ranked

Toy Story 4

Director: Josh Cooley

Pixar are no stranger to the awards scene when it comes to animated features, and this year they presented the fourth instalment to one of the most beloved animated franchises of all time, Toy Story.

The entire gang are back, including Tom Hanks and Tim Allen who reprise their roles and Woody and Buzz. We may have felt that Toy Story 3 gave the perfect send off to Woody, Buzz and the gang but this film developed their story that little bit further. We see the characters we know and love set off on a road trip with new owner Bonnie, and a new toy Bonnie has created and loves dearly. When said toy, Forky, gets separated from the group, Woody sets off on a quest to find him and ultimately make sure Bonnie is happy. Along the way, Woody runs into an old friend as well as some hilarious new ones that make him question his place in the world now that he is no longer a part of Andy’s life.

Toy Story 4 is blessed with the stunning visuals that Pixar always deliver, however it has a lot to contend with this year, and this chapter in the story did not quite hit the same highs as its predecessors, and may not quite make it to the finish line first (though never entirely discount Pixar…).

Recommended for you: Kitbull – Oscar Nominated Animated Short Review

There are some serious contenders in the Animation Race this year, and it will be interesting who will come out on top. Who do you think will win the Animation Race 2020? Let us know in the comments or tweet us.