A Countdown To Christmas With These 25 Films.

It’s nearly December and what better way to finish the year than countdown to Christmas with some festive films? I have put a list together of 25 films I recommend watching during the holidays to get you into the spirit. Some are classics you may of grown up watching, while other’s are fairly new. Either way I hope at least one of the films on this list help get you into the Christmas mood and put a smile on your face.

1: Harry Potter Series (2001)

Let’s start with one of my favourite franchises, Harry Potter! There is something about the music that feels magical and let’s be honest, who hasn’t dreamt about having their Christmas dinner in the great hall of Hogwarts. I start with The Philosopher’s Stone and then each day watch a new film on the side of Christmas films.

2: The Santa Clause (1994)

An old favourite and definitely gives you that nostalgic feeling. Tim Allen, a divorced father who just wants his son to like him, ends up becoming Santa Clause. This film throws you back into the 90’s and gives you that feel good, christmassy feeling you need to start your December.

3: The Santa Clause 2 (2002)

You might as well watch the second film the following day. This time Charlie (the son) is a teenager who ends up on the naughty list and Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) has just discovered the clause that he has to find a Mrs Clause soon. It’s still a good film and makes me laugh.

4: The Santa Clause 3 – The Escape Clause (2006)

The last of The Santa Clause films is definitely more cringey than the other two, however you can’t not watch all the series. This one is about Jack Frost wanting to take over Santa’s workshop for his own.

5: Last Christmas (2019)

I’m bringing you back into the modern world with Last Christmas. This romantic comedy is about an aspiring singer who works as a Christmas Elf in central London, meeting Tom who changes her perspective on life. I would say it’s like Notting Hill mixed with P.S I love you.

6: Home Alone (1990)

I mean would this be a Christmas film list without this iconic film on it? This definitely gives me the nostalgic feeling as it came out the year I was born. Kevin, an eight year old boy, is left behind at Christmas when his family go on vacation. A funny, feel good, iconic film that you can see again and again.

7: Home Alone 2 – Lost In New York

The second film from Home Alone, where this time Kevin accidentally finds himself alone in New York. It still has all the humour the first film gave, with the added bonus of Christmas in New York. I wont be adding anymore Home Alone’s in this list as I find from the third onwards they aren’t as good, but feel free to try them.

8: Rudolph – The Red-Nose Reindeer: The Movie (1998)

I’m not sure if many people have even heard of this film as I can’t seem to find it anywhere anymore apart from on Youtube. It’s a feel good animation about Rudolph growing up in Christmas village. He falls in love with a doe called Zoe, he gets picked on by the other reindeer and he meets some new friends along the way. I used to love this film when I was a kid and it has some good songs too.

9: Bad Santa (2003)

A fun comedy about two men who are trying to rob a mall dressed up as Santa and his elf, until they become friends with an eight year old boy. This isn’t a typical Christmassy film, but it is a good laugh.

10: How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

Another classic that needs to be on the list is the Grinch. He’s misunderstood and ends up hating the townsfolk of Hoo Ville and Christmas. This is until a little girl named Cindy Lou sets out to help him. This is such a good film and Jim Carrey’s Grinch personality, makes you secretly love him.

11: Holidate (2020)

This is a new one that came out this year and when I first saw that it was another romantic comedy I didn’t want to rush to watch it. However, it wasn’t until I watched it one evening that I couldn’t help and laugh. It reminded me exactly of how my family were and the feelings I had when I was single, and the pressures that came with special occasions. I would recommend this film as it’s funny, it is a cute film and gives you that Christmassy feeling too.

12: Jack Frost (1998)

I’m taking you back to the 90’s with this classic film. Jack Frost dies and leaves behind his son Charlie, they never spent much time together before Jack’s death. This is until he comes back as a snowman. This film is a little sad but it also has a deep meaning to it too. A perfect Christmas film that needs to be on your list.

13: The Muppets Christmas Carol (1992)

I grew up watching The Muppets, so I needed to add this on my list. This is the classic Christmas Carol with the story of Scrooge, but with the muppets version of it.

14: The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Some would argue and say this is a Halloween film, to be honest you can class it as both. Jack Skellington is from Halloween Town, and after finding himself in Christmas Town he wants to take over the holidays with his own crazy ideas. He becomes obsessed with the idea and ends up abducting Santa Clause. It’s a funny, sing a long film that all the family can enjoy.

15: The Chronicles of Narnia – The Lion, Witch and The Wardrobe (2005)

I know most people wouldn’t add this to their Christmas list, but I just find watching films like this and Harry Potter, which are fantasy, magical and based around winter periods to still give you that Christmassy feeling (it did come out in December of 2005 after all). This is a film that will take you into a fantasy land of Narnia and one that all the family can watch.

16: The Snowman (1982)

A short film which is only half an hour long, but one that you watch every year and grew up watching. A young boy makes a snowman which comes to life and takes him on a journey. There is no words in this film, but the music and beautiful animation is enough to put a smile on your face.

17: A Christmas Carol. (2009)

I mentioned the Muppets version of this earlier, but the version with the likes of Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman and Colin Firth is a must watch. Scrooge is an old, miserable man who hates Christmas, until one Christmas Eve when he encounters three spirits. This is such a fun film and one I love watching again and again.

18: Santa Claus: The Movie (1985)

This one is such a fun classic, and one I remember watching when I was a kid. This film tells the tale of how one man becomes Santa Claus after delivering toys in his small village. One of his elves, Patch, moves to New York to work at a failing toy factory by a scheming businessman. It’s a good film to watch and brings all the Christmas feels.

19: Fred Claus (2007)

Vince Vaughn plays Fred Claus, the jealous older brother of Santa. This film shows sibling rivalry and shows Fred being the child that let the family down. It’s such a good classic Christmas film that will have you laughing.

20: The Holiday (2006)

This is one of my most favourite Christmas films. Yes, it’s your typical romantic comedy that maybe plays love a little over the top than what it’s like, but the Christmassy feel around it just makes it right. It has Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, Kate Winslet and Jack Black, so you just know the film will be a good one. Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet find themselves alone at Christmas and decide to swap lives for the holiday’s. Diaz ends up in a little cottage in the English Surrey Countryside, while Winslet ends up in a huge house in L.A.

21: Love Actually (2003)

A classic film that you can watch again and again. It has a perspective of all different families and backgrounds, that all have one thing in common, love. This film will have you crying, laughing and smiling, it’s just one you have to watch close to Christmas.

22: Miracle on 34th Street (1994)

Richard Attenborough is Father Christmas. There, I said it. He really was the best portrayal of what you imaging Santa to be like, so this film is just the best. A young girl is skeptical of Christmas myth involving Santa and his workshop. Her mum hires a new Santa at her store, who happens to be the real Father Christmas. Will he be found out? This film is just perfect.

23 : Mary Poppins (1964)

I know this isn’t really classed as a Christmas film, however it was released on 23rd Christmas 1964 so technically it counts. It’s such a feel good film, full of amazing songs, and one all the family can enjoy.

24: The Polar Express (2004)

I honestly think this is a good film to watch on Christmas Eve. It’s an animated film about a boy who ends up in the North Pole and meets Santa. He meets special people along the way that each provide him a lesson that he carries on through life. This film is lovely and always gets me into the spirit.

25: Elf (2003)

Would there be any other film to watch on Christmas day other than Elf? I honestly can’t remember a time before this classic film. Will Farrell plays Buddy, a human raised as an Elf, who goes on a search to find his real dad. This is a hilarious, feel good film that you would want to watch again and again. I think this is the perfect film to end on and enjoy Christmas Day with.

These are my top 25 films I would watch on the countdown to Christmas. I would also watch a lot of Disney throughout too, think of the Renaissance period with the likes of Beauty and The Beast, Lion King, Lady and The Little Mermaid. Lady and the Tramp is also a classic to watch this time of year too.

What films will you be watching and are there any you recommend that I haven’t put on my list?

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