favourite christmas movies

Have yourself a merry little Christmas, sang Judy Garland in this cockle warming musical set against the backdrop of the 1904 World Fair. The breakout song wasnt originally so cheery, but Garland and her co stars objected to the cynical tone in lyrics such as Have yourself a merry little Christmas / It may be your last / Next year we may all be living in the past. Cheery.

Christmas plays a central part in this charming British comedy grumpy Will (Hugh Grant) is living off the proceeds of the Christmas song his father wrote, and discovers the value of family Christmases through his friendship with young Marcus (Nicholas Hoult). Not as schmaltzy as it sounds.

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus and It Turned Me Into a Raving Psychopath. This genuinely odd, compelling and subversive low budget festive slice n dice, about a toymaker who takes revenge on those who betray the true spirit of Christmas, was named by director John Waters as the best seasonal film of all time.

Cop John McClane (Bruce Willis) was hoping for a quiet Christmas, but sinister kidnapper Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) has other ideas. Die Hard made an action star out of TV actor Bruce Willis, and made many subsequent holidays just as challenging for our hero.

Christmas Eve is yet again the worst day of John McClanes year as he is forced to tackle airborne terrorists whove hijacked the plane his wife is on. As in Die Hard, festive favourites (Let It Snow) are used to ironic yet cheery effect.

This early version of Charles Dickenss much told story remains one of the finest, with Reginald Owen as Ebenezer Scrooge and Gene Lockhart as Bob Cratchit. Theres something oddly comforting about watching snow fall in black and white.

Sandra Bullock saves the life of stranger Peter Gallagher on Christmas Day. While hes comatose, she lets his family continue under the misapprehension that shes his fianc e. Meanwhile his brother (Bill Pullman) smells a rat. Cute chemistry and family cheer.

Its Christmas every day for Arthur, son of Santa, in the most recently released entry in our countdown. Sarah Smiths humorous animation sees the clumsy kid leaving the North Pole on a mission, complete with reindeer and comedy elves. James McAvoy and Jim Broadbent provide voices.

A secret wager sees Eddie Murphys street hustler trading places with rich suit Dan Aykroyd, who is framed and rendered homeless in the run up to Christmas. Heavy stuff for a comedy, perhaps, but told with a light touch and a big heart.

Terry Gilliams dystopian cult classic is indeed set at Christmas theres even a scary Santa Claus in this Orwellian nightmare, which stars Jonathan Pryce as the man who goes in search of the woman of his dreams.