These are the movies I watch year after year because their stories and performances have withstood the test of time. For me, it’s just not an authentic holiday season without them.
It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
I have to admit, I find most of this classic film depressing as our hero, George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart), sinks deeper and deeper into trouble and despair. But with the help of an angel, Clarence (Henry Travers), George realizes that he’s positively impacted so many lives and his community. If he hadn’t saved his younger brother after he fell through the ice … if he hadn’t married his high school sweetheart … if he hadn’t stood up to Bedford Falls’ richest (and most tyrannical) man. Acclaimed director Frank Capra co-wrote and directed this movie, which has become a beloved part of the holiday season despite being a flop when it was first released.
A Christmas Story (1983)
Ralphie lives with his parents and little brother in 1940s Indiana, and is pining for a Red Ryder BB gun. But his mother cautions, “You’ll shoot your eye out,” much to Ralphie’s chagrin. Add a pink bunny suit, a sexy leg lamp, the neighborhood bully, a tongue-grabbing icy pole and the neighbor’s voracious dogs, and the result is a sweet, hilarious look at the holidays through the eyes of a young boy. The cast includes Peter Billingsley as Ralphie and Darren McGavin and Melinda Dillon as his loving but often baffled parents. Writer Jean Shepherd (who grew up in Indiana) also provides Ralphie’s voiceover, expressing his innermost thoughts and adding an extra helping of humor.
Elf (2003)
Will Ferrell might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but he plays the man-child Buddy to perfection. His awe-struck eyes and joyful jumping express the wonder of the season; I can’t imagine anyone else in the role. The story: During one of Santa’s stops, a baby crawls into his bag of toys and is accidentally taken to the North Pole. There, he becomes an elf, albeit a very tall one. The strong cast, including Ed Asner, Bob Newhart, James Caan, Mary Steenburgen and Zooey Deschanel — as Buddy’s love interest — made this an instant classic. Watch for Peter Dinklage, Amy Sedaris and Andy Richter, who sparkle in smaller roles.
Love Actually (2003)
I’ve written about this one before, calling it a “big sprawling mess of a movie,” but it does come together beautifully in the end. An all-star cast including Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Laura Linney, Emma Thompson, Liam Neeson, Keira Knightley and Alan Rickman play (mostly) ordinary people, just trying to find love. It’s jam-packed with memorable dialogue and performances. Who can forget the child dressed as an octopus, wedged between the prime minister and the woman he loves? How about the guy using flashcards to show his love for his best friend’s bride? The aspiring author leading a parade of villagers as he looks for the woman he can’t forget? Love actually is all around.
White Christmas (1954)
Call me old-fashioned, but I think this classic is perfect for the entire family. Bob (Bing Crosby) and Phil (Danny Kaye) meet during World War II and team up to become beloved song-and-dance men, famous around the country. But their busy schedule doesn’t give them any time to fall in love — until they meet the Haynes sisters (Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen). Veteran actors Dean Jagger as a retired general and Mary Wickes as his nosy housekeeper ably support the four leads. Many singers have covered Irving Berlin’s song “White Christmas,” but no one sings it like Crosby. And nobody but Kaye could have carried out the complicated, exuberant choreography. Fun fact: director Michael Curtiz also directed “Casablanca.”
Honorable mentions
“Home Alone” (1990); “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (2000); “Scrooge (1970); “Scrooged” (1988); “Miracle on 34th Street” (1947); “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (1989);
Planes, Trains and Automobiles” (1987); and “The Santa Clause” (1994).
Most, if not all, of these movies should be available on your favorite streaming services.