Christmas Movie Watch List

Top 10 Not Animated Christmas Movies

Christmas Movie Definition

Everyone has their favorite Christmas movie watch list. When it comes to non-animated Christmas movies there is a lot of debate. The debate centers around one question: What makes a movie a Christmas movie vs a movie set during the Christmas season.

This may seem like the same thing but for many years there have been arguments over mostly a single movie. Die Hard! Is Die Hard a Christmas movie or not?

Many surveys have been conducted over the years and the results are mixed. Google “is Die Hard a Christmas movie” and you will find numerous survey results that say no, and several that say yes. Other are almost a 50/50 split. Even the screenwriter of Die Hard and the Star Actor Bruce Willis can’t seem to agree.

How I made my Christmas Movie Watch List.

I love the movie Die Hard and watch it any time it’s on but I have to draw a line. The below list is based on a definition of Christmas movies being a movie I only watch around Christmas. Since I’ll watch Die Hard year-round, it did not make the cut for this list.

Below are ten awesome Christmas movies. Some are family-friendly others are not but all should be considered when making your Christmas Movie watch list.

This article may contain affiliate links. When you click these links, I may get a small commission. This does not cost you anything but helps me run this site. I only promote products I have used and enjoy.

Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas

I have loved the animated How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie since I was a little girl. It was my grandpa’s favorite movie and I can still hear his chuckle in my mind. When the live-action version came out in 2000, I was unsure how I would like it.

The original was so important to me and the memories with my grandpa but I watched it anyway. And I’m glad I did! While I still lean toward the original, I also do love this version as well. (So did my grandpa!)

This Christmas movie sticks somewhat true to the original but explores more of the history and background around why the Grinch hates Christmas. Anyone who has ever been bullied or teased as a kid can relate to this one.

I like this because not only does the Grinch realize Christmas is not all about the packages, ribbons, and bows, but it also shows how the kindness of Cindy Lou Who can really make a difference in someone else’s life.

In the world we live in today, we could all use a reminder that simple acts of kindness can make all the difference in the world. This Christmas movie will show you how.

Disney’s The Santa Clause

Another excellent Christmas movie is The Santa Clause. This movie was first released in 1994 and starred Tim Allen.  As a young kid, I loved watching the sitcom Home Improvement. I had a huge crush on Jonathan Taylor Thomas and never missed an episode. When this first came out, I was excited to see Tim Allen again in a movie I as a kid could watch.

The Santa Clause is a Christmas movie about a man (Scott) who accidentally scares Santa who falls off the roof. To save Christmas he needs to take over the role of Santa Clause. The movie revolves around not only Scott trying to understand and believe he is now Santa Clause but he also needs to keep it a secret from his son, ex-wife, and her new husband who all think he is crazy. He also needs to decide if he will continue to be Santa Clause…

If you like a light-hearted comedy for your Christmas Movie watchlist, this is the movie for you.

Santa Clause 2

Spoiler Alert! If you have not seen the Christmas movie, The Santa Clause, read this (and the next Christmas movie suggestion) after you have watched it!

Santa Clause 2 is the second in the Santa Clause movie franchise. Many sequels don’t live up to the original but this is not one of them! I actually like this one more than the original. The Santa Clause 2 is a continuation of the original. Set eight years later, Tim Allen’s character (Scott) finds out his son is on the naughty list!

What kind of Santa Clause has a kid on the naughty list!?!?! He also finds out the only way to stay Santa Clause is to get married before Christmas Eve.

He struggles between needing to help his son and knowing he needs to find someone to marry before Christmas Eve.

While this Christmas movie has some comedy, it also brings in some romance. Making it a Christmas Rom-Com. And probably why I like it so much. I love a good Rom-Com Christmas Movie!!

The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause

In order of appeal, The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause, is third on my list but that does NOT mean I don’t enjoy watching this Christmas movie.

The Santa Clause 3 is set after Santa Clause (a.k.a. Scott) gets married and expands his family. Anyone who has experienced additions to a family, you know it’s a lot of work and has a lot of bumps until things get settled. Santa Clause is no exception. While he is working on navigating the new family dynamics, Jack Frost (Martin Short) is trying to take over Christmas by convincing him to evoke the escape clause and wish he never became Santa Clause.

The third movie in this franchise goes back into the comedy category (vs rom-com from Santa Clause 2). Martin Short is hilarious as the evil Jack Frost and comes up with all kinds of schemes to take over Christmas. He almost succeeds…

Elf

Elf is not a Christmas movie that needs much for an explanation. I’m willing to bet most of you have at least heard of the movie. But just in case… Elf is a comedy about a human baby who crawls into Santa’s bag on Christmas Eve and ends up being raised by Papa Elf at the North Pole. As he grows up, he finds out he is a human and wants to go to New York City to find is biological father.

Having been raised as an elf, he does not know how to act once he is out of North Pole. This Christmas movie follows him on his adventure to not only find is biological dad but also learn how to not act like an elf. But he never let’s go of his elf upbringing and even finds a way to save Christmas.

Some people find this movie annoying but it makes me smile so I added it to this list. 

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is an older Christmas movie but has held the test of time. This movie is one about anything that can go wrong will go wrong.

Clark Griswold loves Christmas (much like I do)!! He want to make Christmas magical for everyone in his family but everything he does goes wrong. From the Christmas tree too big for the living room, to squirrel in the house, unexpected in-laws, to the electrocuted cat… this moving will have you laughing and realize no matter what has gone wrong in your life, the Griswold’s Christmas will always be worse.

Home Alone

This was one of my favorite Christmas movies as a kid!! What kid does not dream of the day they have free reign of the house! We all know we would have been like Kevin, eating chips and ice cream for every meal.

The best part is when he realizes two con men are going to rob the house and he needs to defend it alone. The booby traps he comes up with both inside and outside the house are genius and will have you laughing (and some cringing) with every new step!

A Christmas Story

I have a confession… I was an adult before I watched A Christmas Story for the first time. I know, I know!! It was not a movie my family watched so I never had an opportunity or desire to watch this Christmas movie.

As I got older though I saw it EVERYWHERE. Ornaments, aired all day on TV, cards, my friends talked about it, social media…EVERYWHERE! I figured I better watch it so I could be in the know.

While it is not yet a tradition for me, I do like watching this movie. We all have that one toy we wanted so badly from Santa that we would do anything to get it. The struggle is real! Which is why I think people can relate to it.

Not for Kids Christmas Movie – A Bad Moms Christmas

This Christmas movie is hilarious!! If you have seen the Bad Moms movie this is right in line with the level of hilarity. I went to see this with some friends on a girl’s night and we all laughed the whole time. Some parts had us laughing so hard our stomachs hurt. 

This is NOT for kids as there is bad language and adult situations. If that is offensive to you, please do not watch this movie. If it’s not offensive, you NEED TO WATCH THIS CHRISTMAS MOVIE!!

 It’s about three moms who are trying to make Christmas special for their family in their own ways but their mothers show up and want it done their way. It brings to light the need for holding on to some family traditions but also the importance of making your own traditions and more importantly, doing what you enjoy for Christmas not what you think you need to do.

Really Not for Kids Christmas Movie – Bad Santa

If A Bad Moms Christmas is offensive, you really will NOT like Bad Santa. If you however enjoyed A Bad Moms Christmas and can handle a little more, watch Bad Santa. This is absolutely the darkest of dark comedy Christmas movies. Full of bad language and adult situations but it has a heart-warming ending.

This Christmas movie is about con men who pose as a mall Santa and an elf to execute on a plan to rob a department store on Christmas Eve. When Santa befriends a kid who is struggling with bullies and confidence, they both find they can help each other.

This movie is less hysterical comedy and more shock comedy. It is however a guilty pleasure of mine when it comes to watching Christmas movies.

Christmas Movie Watch List Summary

I love watching Christmas movies, animated, adult, family-friendly, rom-coms, Hallmark/Lifetime, classic, new releases, Die Hard… I could spend all day every day from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day watching Christmas movies.

Don’t tell anyone but I sometimes watch a few before Thanksgiving and a few after New Year’s Day too. There is something that brings out the Christmas spirit and magic when I watch Christmas movies. I look forward to it all year.

While this is not a full list of my favorites, (check back for future posts about my favorite animated, classic, Lifetime, and Hallmark Christmas movies) these are some of my top recommendations for your Christmas Movie Watch List. 

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