Holiday films quickly become an inevitability through December, with sacchrine schlock clogging up every other channel. Stations are unapologetic about the schmaltz: the gooey, dull, feel-good, often confusingly magical, always lazily acted stories fill - like so much gingerbread house icing - every corner of December programming.
But not to worry! There are bastions of respite, though possibly not the festive-free respite you were hoping I might recommend.
No, I'm here to share some obscure holiday film favorites that just don't get the play of the embraced classics.
Speaking of, let's get those out of the way so we can truly think of this list as practically comprehensive! We can all agree that these films capture a special kind of seasonal magic. Something true, something kind, something magical, something nostalgic, something (I'm just going to say it) heartwarming.
And nearly all people have seen some of these first tier holiday films, here in alphabetical order:
A Charlie Brown Christmas; A Christmas Story; Bad Santa; Die Hard; Elf; Holiday Affair; Holiday Inn; Home Alone; How the Grinch Stole Christmas; It's a Wonderful Life; Love Actually; Meet Me In St. Louis; Miracle on 34th Street; National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation; Nightmare Before Christmas; Scrooged; The Family Stone; The Muppet Christmas Carol; The Snowman;and White Christmas.
Perhaps there are a few surprises in there (did you forget Die Hard and Die Hard 2 are set during the holidays? When was the last time you saw the beautifully animated The Snowman? Maybe you disagree that The Family Stone now gets new-classic billing. ) but nonetheless, there's probably no shockers in the bunch.
Lets see if we can get a bit shocking with the next list!
I've got two more tiers of holiday or at least satisfyingly wintery films for your consideration. This second tier, after the tried and true holiday work horses, includes films that I have loved and forgot had festive elements or are more obscure or vintage films that now, thanks to all things internet, we can dig out and watch with relative ease, once again, alphabetically:
12 Monkeys; An Affair to Remember; Arthur; Batman Returns; Bell, Book, and Candle; Brazil; City of Lost Children; Cronos; Desk Set (and SO many more below the video of a drunk and adorable Katharine Hepburn)...
Edward Scissorhands; Gremlins; Hogfather; In the Good Old Summertime; Jim Henson's The Christmas Toy; John Denver and the Muppets - Rocky Mountain Holiday; Lady and the Tramp; Lethal Weapon; Mixed Nuts; Moonstruck; One Hundred and One Dalmations; Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale; Santa Claus Conquers the Martians; Santa Claus the Movie; Sleepless in Seattle; The Bishop's Wife; The Hudsucker Proxy; and The Lemon Drop Kid.
BUT WAIT. I have one final tier for your consideration, an incredibly ecclectic mix of films to consider should you have already seen all 54 of the movies listed above.
About a Boy; All I Want for Christmas; Bridget Jones's Diary; Diner; Eastern Promises; Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas; Eyes Wide Shut; Fargo; Ghostbusters II; Go (look! Timothy Olyphant and Melissa McCarthy!) In Bruges; Just Friends; Kramer vs Kramer; Little Women, any version; Prancer; The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; The Hebrew Hammer; The Ref; When Harry Met Sally; Yours, Mine, and Ours; and You've Got Mail.
Now, when listing 75 vaguely seasonal films, I wanted to keep it short, not harass you with the reasons certain films are included; not list the precise time when a Christmas tree or man in a Santa suit appears or the characters go to a holiday party. I hope you will delve into this opportunity for discovery all on your own, but should you feel a little out of your element, start with these festive five: Desk Set; 12 Monkeys; Jim Henson's The Christmas Toy; In the Good Old Summertime; and In Bruges.
Hopefully it goes well and you'll be invigorated to take on a few more new favorites this season!
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