Everyone has at least one movie they can't go without watching at least once during the holiday season. For me, that movie has always been Meet Me in St. Louis starring Judy Garland. In keeping with years past, I've rounded up a slew of movies to get you through the month. They range from classic to funny, romantic, and action. In other words, something for everyone.
1. Meet Me in St. Louis - As I said before, this is my favorite holiday movie. Starring Judy Garland, this movie is about four sisters finding their way in the world, with specific attention being paid to Garland's love life. It also introduced the world the classic Christmas song, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.
2. White Christmas - Set after World War II, a pair of performers set out on a mission with a sister act to save their former commander's inn.
3. Rise of the Guardians - This is one of our favorites year-round. Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, and Sandman are the protectors of children. When Pitch Black, aka the Boogeyman, returns, the Man in the Moon decides the big four need some help in the form of Jack Frost.
4. The Santa Clause - After causing Santa to fall off his roof, Scott Calvin and his son Charlie finish delivering that year's presents. Unbeknownst to Scott, he's also taken on the role of Santa Claus.
5. A Charlie Brown Christmas - There's nothing fancy about the Peanuts gang's first animated holiday special, but it's perfect for teaching kids the true meaning of the season and for adults who grew up on Charlie Brown and friends.
6. Elf - When Buddy, a human raised by elves, learns his father's identity, he sets out to find his roots. Along the way, he meets a girl and helps save Christmas.
7. Red - Die Hard is usually the token action movie you'll find on Christmas movie lists, but it felt too cliche. So this year's action movie of choice is Red. Christmas is never specifically mentioned, but the film is definitely set during the holidays. Three ex-CIA agents and one former MI6 agent are targeted by hitmen and set out to find out why.
8. The Holiday - This is another of my favorite movies. Two women, one American and the other British, swap homes for the holidays in an effort to get away from past relationships.
9. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - I'll be the first to admit that this type of movie usually isn't my jam, but this movie seriously tickles my funny bone. Clark wants the perfect Christmas, but losing his holiday bonus, a visit from crazy cousin Eddie, and a glitch in his decorations can end in nothing but hilarious disaster.
10. Home Alone - Kevin gets left behind for his family's holiday vacation, and finds himself going head-to-head with a pair of con-men intent on robbing his home.
11. A Christmas Story - Ralphie only wants one thing for Christmas: a Red Rider BB gun, but when everyone, including the mall Santa, tells him it's too dangerous (You'll shoot your eye out!), Ralphie sets out to convince them otherwise.
12. The Nightmare Before Christmas - In this cult classic, Jack Skellington becomes bored with his own holiday, Halloween. After discovering Christmatown, he decides to become Santa, but his scary ideas don't exactly match the spirit of the season.
13. The Nutcracker and the Four Realms - A mysterious gift from her late mother leads Clara into a secret world of four realms. The realms are divided and Clara sets out to save the world her mother loved.
14. Scrooged - This is a modern-ish retelling of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol. A cynical, selfish TV executive is visited by three spirits bearing lessons on Christmas Eve.
15. Jingle All the Way - A dad promises his son a Turbo Man action figure, but when Christmas Eve rolls around he still hasn't bought the popular toy, and he finds himself racing all over town to avoid disappointing his son.
16. The Family Stone - Everett takes his girlfriend, Meredith, home for Christmas where he plans on asking his mother for the family engagement ring, but Meredith just can't relax and everything goes to pot.
17. Just Friends - Chris Branner has been in Jamie's friend zone his entire life, but when odd circumstances land him in his hometown for Christmas, Chris is ready to take the next step.
18. Love Actually - Set in London, eight couples deal with their love lives in the days leading up to Christmas.
19. 12 Men of Christmas - Publicist E.J. loses her NYC job and fiance in the same night, so she takes a job in Montana where she hatches a plan to help the local search-and-rescue team raise money by convincing its members to pose for a sexy calendar.
20. Polar Express - A young boy who doubts that Santa Claus is real takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole.
21. You've Got Mail - Kathleen Kelly and Joe Fox are professional rivals who fall in love over email. This movie makes my list because of the poignant scene about mid-film showing Kathleen decorating her bookshop for the holidays and reminiscing her late mother.
22. Iron Man 3 - Here's another one for the fellas. After the Mandarin reduces Tony Stark's personal world to rubble, he has to rely on instinct and ingenuity to avenge his losses and protect those he loves.
23. The Christmas List - I've wanted to put this movie on my list for years but could not remember its name. When perfume saleslady Melody Parris's boyfriend won't commit and she's passed over for a promotion, she decides to write a Christmas list. After it's dropped in Santa's mailbox at the store where she works, Melody starts getting everything she asked for, but things don't turn out like she expected.
24. Miracle on 34th Street - Kris Kringle claims he's the real Santa and fills everyone at the Macy's department store where he works with Christmas spirit, except for his boss who's raising her daughter not to believe. When Kris is declared insane and put on trial, everyone's faith is put to the test.
25. The Christmas Chronicles - Siblings Kate and Teddy plan to capture Santa Claus on camera on Christmas Eve. They end up in Santa's sleigh, which breaks down in Chicago and the kids end up helping Santa track down his wayward reindeer.
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