1.  Elf (2003): Elf follows the story of Buddy, a human being raised amongst elves living in the North Pole. After discovering his true parentage, Buddy goes on an adventure to find his real family in New York and along the way must show them the true meaning of Christmas. The film is full of witty humor and clever gags. “I like the snowball fight scene,” said Camryn Grzyd. Watching Buddy interact with the real world leads to some interesting moments. There are also references to other iconic Christmas movies which helps make this movie an instant Christmas classic.

Elf Rating: 8/10

2. Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1984):  Rudolf The Red-Nosed Reindeer is about a young reindeer named Rudolph who is bullied by the other reindeer because of his red nose. “The movie shows why you shouldn’t bully people.” said Mikey Moloney. After running away from home, Rudolf must traverse the harsh landscape of the North Pole and learn to accept himself along the way. This movie is a beautiful coming of age story and the message is sure to resonate with kids and adults alike. The charming stop motion animation gives the movie a unique style that separates it from your average Christmas movie.

Rudolf The Red-Nosed Reindeer Rating: 8.5/10

3. Home Alone (1990): Home Alone is arguably one of the most iconic Christmas movies of all time. Even just saying the title is enough to invoke feelings of nostalgia. The movie follows the story of Kevin McCallister, a kid who is accidentally left behind by his family when they leave for Christmas vacation. Now with the house to himself, Kevin gets into all sorts of wacky misadventures and must defend the house from a pair of robbers trying to burglarize the place. “I like the part when the family realizes that Kevan is not there,” said Charlotte Young,” The movie highlights the importance of family, making it a great film for a family movie night. Home Alone definitely earns its spot as a certified Christmas classic.

Home Alone Rating: 8.7/10

4. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992): The Muppet Christmas Carol is an underrated masterpiece in a sea of mediocre Christmas Carol adaptations. The film is an adaptation of the book “A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens, except with an interesting twist: most of the important characters are replaced by Muppets. This makes the story more appealing to a younger audience which is a nice addition considering the bleak nature of the original story. Even with the Muppet characters, the movie is still able to stick  close to the source material thanks mainly to Michael Caine’s performance. Caine as Scrooge is a perfect casting choice and his serious portrayal of the character in a world full of Muppets makes this movie one of the best Christmas movies of all time. “I think it is a great film and it is a staple
in the Christmas movie community,” said Mikey Philip.

The Muppet Christmas Carol Rating: 9/10

5. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946): It’s a Wonderful Life is the oldest movie on this list. Even though it’s old, it has withstood the test of time. The movie follows the story of George Bailey, a generous self-sacrificing man who finds himself in financial trouble and wishes he was never born. An angel-in-training named Clarence is assigned to help George through these tough times. Clarence shows George what would happen if his wish was granted and how much worse the world would have been if he was never born. This movie speaks to everyone showing us all how we can appreciate life more. It’s a Wonderful Life has long been considered by many to be the best Christmas movie of all time and is a must watch for the Christmas Season. “It’s A Wonderful Life is one of my favorite Christmas movies ever and I love watching it with my family around Christmas time,” said Ryan Soch.

It’s a Wonderful Life Rating: 9.9/10