Favourite Christmas Movies

1. Tim Allen stars in this festive comedy about an ordinary man who must step into Santas shoes after an accident. A trip to the North Pole follows, along with various comic scenarios as he physically morphs into Santa in front of his disbelieving ex wife (Wendy Crewson). .....

Reindeer Games

2. Featuring the first instance of criminal misuse of the Santa suit in our list, this snowy thriller was released in some countries under the slightly less festive title of Deception. Ben Affleck stars as the released convict who robs casinos dressed as Father Christmas (tut, straight on that naughty list). Charlize Theron and Gary Sinise also appear. .....

The Family Stone

3. Sarah Jessica Parker, Claire Danes and Rachel McAdams star in this American comedy drama about an uptight guest (Parker) in the liberal Stone household, where matriarch Diane Keaton rules supreme. Watchable Christmas fluff. .....

Love Actually

4. This is either unbearable schmaltz or a festive heart warmer, depending on who you ask. Love is certainly all around in this ensemble comedy drama set in the holiday season even a school nativity play is an opportunity for romance. Comic standouts include Bill Nighy as an ageing rock legend whos reduced to competing in the race to land a Christmas Number One. .....

Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence

5. A Japanese prisoner of war camp is the less than festive setting for this David Bowie starrer in which an eventful Christmas Eve has an impact on both prisoners and guards. One to make you feel grateful for your Christmas turkey. .....

Joyeux Noel

6. The WWI Christmas truce of 1914 is the poignant setting for this snowy heart warmer in which Scottish, French and German soldiers down their weapons and agree on a ceasefire. Daniel Br .....

Christmas in Connecticut

7. Loved for her columns about her wholesome husband and family in Connecticut, Elizabeth (Barbara Stanwyck) is actually a single New Yorker. When asked to host a Christmas dinner by her boss, she must head to Connecticut and keep up the pretence. Romantic complications follow. .....

The Polar Express

8. Robert Zemeckis sprinkled his family friendly magic on this performance capture animation starring Tom Hanks in multiple roles, including narrator, train conductor and Santa Claus. This one ticks a lot of boxes for Christmas fanatics, including reindeer, elves and a whole heap of snow. .....

A Christmas Story

9. A festive staple in the USA, this comedy didnt export quite so well, perhaps due to the fact that its all about a little boy who wants a BB gun for Christmas. Still, theres lot to like about its chirpy wit and snowy suburban setting. .....

The Holiday

10. Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz swap houses for Christmas and conveniently meet Jack Black and Jude Law respectively. Theres romance, theres an unfeasibly large country cottage and there are light laughs from an attractive cast. This is the kind of slushy movie you can get away with watching simply because its Christmas. .....

Planes Trains and Automobiles

11. While actually a Thanksgiving themed comedy, John Hughess film has a festive, family feel thats made it a Christmas viewing favourite. Pitting Steve Martins uptight traveller up against John Candys optimistic salesman, it blends slapstick and innuendo with classic character comedy. Just the thing for a tipsy Christmas afternoon. .....

Lethal Weapon

12. Opening with Jingle Bell Rock and ending with a family gathering around the Christmas tree, Lethal Weapon has a Christmassy start and finish, book ending a story of drug busts, suicide and torture. Theres a shootout in a Christmas tree lot, mind you. .....

Ghostbusters II

13. The holiday season sees an influx of spirits to New York City, so who you gonna call? This sequel may not have wowed like its predecessor but it reunited the charming cast in a suitably festive setting. Who can resist the Ghostbusters charging around in Santa hats, eh? .....

Prancer

14. A girl finds one of Santas magical reindeer in this cute live action kids film starring Sam Elliott as the gruff, grieving father of eight year old Jessica (Rebecca Harrell), whos obsessed with Christmas. Jessicas optimism will teach the town a thing or two about the true spirit of the season. .....

Holiday Inn

15. This musical is the ultimate 40s cheerer as Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby sing and dance their way into the ladies hearts. The set up is pure Broadway theyre a musical troupe who only perform on holidays, from Easter to Christmas. The film scored an Oscar for the now iconic song White Christmas. .....

White Christmas

16. Christmas may have been white, but this time Irving Berlins musical was in Technicolor. Inspired by Holiday Inn, this follow up could not be more Christmassy if it tried (and try it probably did). Snow, shows and romance all added up to a massive festive box office hit that would run and run on TV. .....

Mickeys Christmas Carol

17. This Oscar nominated Disney short film casts Mickey as Bob Cratchit and Scrooge McDuck as his selfish boss, while Goofy, Jiminy Cricket and other familiar characters morph into the various ghosts. A nifty blending of Disney favourites with the Dickens classic. .....

National Lampoons Christmas Vacation

18. Yule crack up promised the posters for this now cult comedy, which gives you a fair idea of the level of humour were dealing with. Nonetheless, theres something irresistible about this third in the comedy series, as Chevy Chase and family have an accident prone Christmas. Also notable for featuring a young Juliette Lewis as the daughter. .....

Babes In Toyland

19. Laurel and Hardy go family friendly in this fairytale mash up featuring characters from the stories of Mother Goose, Little Bo Peep and others. The duo play the Toymakers Apprentices in this slapstick heartwarmer, which was a Christmas TV favourite throughout the 60s and 70s. .....

R Xmas 2001

20. He's back on top after Welcome to New York and Pasolini, but back in the early 2000s the great New York director Abel Ferrara couldn't get arrested in Hollywood which might explain why hardly anyone knows about this intense, gritty but surprisingly festive gangland thriller starring Ice T and The Sopranos actress Drea De Matteo. .....

Meet Me In St Louis

21. 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. .....

About a Boy

22. 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. .....

Christmas Evil

23. 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. .....

Die Hard

24. 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. .....

Die Hard 2

25. 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. .....

A Christmas Carol

26. 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. .....

While You Were Sleeping

27. 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. .....

Arthur Christmas

28. 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. .....

Trading Places

29. 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. .....

Brazil

30. 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. .....

Bridget Jones Diary

31. Bridget (Ren e Zellweger) thinks she might have met the man of her life (Colin Firth) but spots him sporting a hideous Christmas jumper. This seasonal wardrobe error plays a pivotal part in the sharp romantic comedy drama, which also features fellow festive favourite Hugh Grant. .....

The Nightmare Before Christmas

32. Leave it to Tim Burton to give Christmas a dark edge, although this stop motion animation still has plenty of heart, too. Jack Skellington is the anti hero who decides hes had enough of Halloween and wants to stand in for Santa. Terrific fun. .....

The Muppet Christmas Carol

33. Michael Caine as Scrooge, Gonzo the Great as Charles Dickens, Kermit the Frog as Bob Cratchit just three of many reasons to love this witty, warm hearted take on the classic story. Despite the presence of Muppets, it is believe it or not one of the more faithful versions of the book. .....

How The Grinch Stole Christmas

34. Jim Carrey puts in an exuberant turn as the grumpy green Grinch of the Dr Seuss books. A hermit who lives on a rubbish dump near Whoville, the Grinch takes a dim view of the consumerist little town except for child Cindy Lou, who might just be the one to melt his heart. A great family Christmas movie. .....

The Long Kiss Goodnight

35. Another terrific alternative to your traditional Christmas movie, this action thriller sees soccer mom Geena Davis suddenly recalling her past as a trained assassin and racing away from (or should that be towards?) danger with private investigator Samuel L Jackson all against a snowy festive backdrop. .....

In Bruges

36. Bruges isnt exactly where hitman Ray (Colin Farrell) was planning to spend the holiday season, but the Belgian town is where he must stay, in the company of his older, wiser counterpart (Brendan Gleeson). The picturesque festive backdrop contrasts neatly with Rays bored cynicism. .....

Miracle on 34th Street

37. The ultimate in cuddly Christmas afternoon movies, this original stars Edmund Gwenn as Kris Kringle, who must prove he is in fact Santa Claus not least to a young girl (Natalie Wood) who has lost the true meaning of Christmas. .....

The Chronicles Of Narnia The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe

38. A cosy, child friendly Christmas treat, this faithful adaptation of CS Lewiss novel sees its young kids entering an eternally snowy Narnia through the wardrobe, and encountering Father Christmas while the villainous White Queen (Tilda Swinton) is lurking with evil intent. .....

8 Women

39. Eight women gather to celebrate Christmas in a snowy cottage, but all fall under suspicion when a man is found murdered. French filmmaker Fran .....

Scrooged

40. Its unlikely that Bill Murray could ever have got through his career without playing a version of Scrooge. His deadpan delivery was made for this comic take on Dickens festive moral tale, in which his TV exec oversees a broadcast of A Christmas Carol. .....

Batman Returns

41. Tim Burtons foray into the Batman franchise is a crisp, darkly comic classic with a striking turn from Michelle Pfeiffer as a slinky Catwoman. Christopher Walken and Danny DeVito are chief villains for Michael Keatons caped crusader, while Gotham just wants to have a normal Christmas. Some hope. .....

A Charlie Brown Christmas

42. Isnt there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about? wails Charlie Brown in this anti consumerist cartoon that sees the anxious kid nursing an ailing little Christmas tree and learning the value of co operation. Unlike many festive favourites, this actually features the biblical passage about the birth of Christ. Short but very sweet. .....

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

43. Small time crook Robert Downey Jr hits Hollywood in this witty crime comedy featuring a memorable turn from Val Kilmer as a private investigator hired to give the wannabe actor background for a role. There are as many complications as belly laughs, while Michelle Monaghan puts in a break out turn in a y Santa costume. .....

The Snowman

44. Raymond Briggss book came to life once a year throughout many childhoods, as the animated film was shown on British TV with religious precision. Nominated for an Oscar, the short film tells of a boy whose snowman magically becomes real but not forever. Add the haunting song Walking In The Air and you have a true Christmas classic. .....

Edward Scissorhands

45. Christmas is a time of both joy and fear for Edward (Johnny Depp) after he and his new host family are ostracised from the community. Its a typically bittersweet story from Tim Burton which, with Danny Elfmans score, has a magical festive feel just picture Winona Ryder dancing around that ice sculpture. .....

Home Alone

46. Home Alone is such a perfect kids fantasy, its a wonder nobody thought of it before. Parents go on holiday, forget a kid, he can eat ice cream and watch movies as much as he likes, before getting the chance to invent some booby traps to catch burglars. Four sequels followed. .....

Gremlins

47. Fancy something festive but naughty, cute but deadly? This 1980s Christmas classic can oblige. Gizmo the mogwai looks like the kind of harmless pet youd give your kid for Christmas but you dont want to get him breeding. Tremendous fun. .....

Bad Santa

48. You wanna see some magic? Here, lets watch you disappear. Billy Bob Thorntons drunk, grouchy, thieving store Santa is the perfect antidote to saccharine Christmas movies, while sneaking in a bit of heart behind the humour and crime comedy thrills. .....

Elf

49. A gift to Christmas TV programmers, this festive comedy makes full use of Will Ferrells man child charm by casting him as a naive human raised by elves and thrown into a cynical modern day New York. Highlights include a duet of Baby, Its Cold Outside with an unwitting Zooey Deschanel as she sings in the shower. .....

Its a Wonderful Life

50. A moving tribute to the power of the individual, Frank Capras snowy festive classic is a true delight, as entertaining as it is message driven. James Stewart puts in the performance of a lifetime as a potential suicide whos given a chance to look at life with fresh eyes. Merry Christmas George. .....