For the most part, the month of December on David’s Basement of the Bizarre has covered the darker side of the holiday season. This includes Christmas horror movies and the dark side of Christmas history. As much as I enjoy the darker aspects, I also enjoy the fun that Christmas brings. I have some of the best memories of growing up around this time of year, and to be honest, I miss them dearly. Two really stand out. The first was the arrival of the Sears Wishbook, a giant catalog of every child’s dreams. The second was reading comic books by the light of the Christmas tree. Though the Wishbook no longer exists, reading comics by the tree still does. Watching Christmas movies does as well (and I am not talking about the sappy Halmark movies either). I present to you my list of Christmas movies that I watch every year (or at least try to).
A BAD MOMS CHRISTMAS takes the stress of the holidays and multiplies it by three. The arrival of their own mothers ambushes Amy, Kiki, and Carla. Each mother is more wildly different and disruptive than the last! Mila Kunis’s Amy has to contend with her hyper-critical, control-freak mother (Christine Baranski), while Kristen Bell’s Kiki is suffocated by her overly attached, pajama-clad mom (Cheryl Hines). Meanwhile, Kathryn Hahn’s Carla gets a visit from her perpetually vagrant, free-spirited mother (Susan Sarandon). Her mother immediately encourages some questionable Christmas scams. It’s a raunchy, wine-fueled battle for control over the festive season, culminating in a drunken, rebellious rampage in a mall and a very unforgettable encounter with a Sexy Santa stripper—proving that no matter how bad the moms get, their own mothers will always find a way to make them feel like teenagers again.
The 1984 version of A CHRISTMAS CAROL, starring the incredible George C. Scott as Ebenezer Scrooge, is widely considered one of the most definitive and wonderfully gloomy adaptations of the classic tale. Scott delivers a performance that is less cartoonishly mean and more magnificently miserable, making his eventual redemption feel truly earned. This film beautifully captures the grimy, atmospheric streets of Victorian London, making the visitations from the Ghosts genuinely unsettling and dramatic. From the chilling appearance of Jacob Marley’s ghost to the terrifying silence of the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come, it’s a richly crafted and deeply emotional journey. It remains serious but is still fun in its dramatic flair. It reminds us that even the iciest and most bitter heart can be thawed by the spirit of Christmas.
A CHRISTMAS STORY is the ultimate nostalgic trip back to a hilariously stressful 1940s Christmas. It is all seen through the eager, glasses-wearing eyes of young Ralphie Parker! All Ralphie wants for Christmas is one glorious, dangerous gift: an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action 200-shot Range Model Air Rifle, a quest constantly shut down by the infamous warning, “You’ll shoot your eye out!” The film combines childhood agony and quirky family chaos perfectly. It features unforgettable moments like the terrifying department store Santa slide. Randy’s snowsuit struggles add to the chaos. Additionally, the battle involving a leg lamp is truly spectacular. Flick’s triple-dog-dare disaster involves a frozen flagpole. It’s a wonderfully warm, slightly warped look at the true meaning of the holidays: surviving your family and desperately trying to get what you want, no matter how many times you’re told no.
DR. SEUSS’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (the 2000 live-action version) is a visually wild, wonderfully bizarre spectacle. It is brought to life by Jim Carrey’s manic, rubber-faced brilliance as the Grinch! Hiding up on Mount Crumpit with his long-suffering dog, Max, the Grinch harbors a deep, green, hairy hatred for the saccharine cheer of the Whos in Whoville. This movie takes us on a hilarious, chaotic journey as he plots to steal every last present, roast beast, and piece of tinsel, only to be confounded by the tiny, innocent Cindy Lou Who and the fact that you simply can’t steal the true spirit of Christmas. Carrey’s over-the-top performance, coupled with the candy-colored, curly-cue world of Whoville, makes this a delightfully exaggerated and ultimately heartwarming reminder that Christmas truly comes without ribbons or tags.
ELF is the quintessential modern Christmas classic. It captures the childlike wonder of the holiday with a hilarious, oversized dose of fish-out-of-water charm! Will Ferrell plays Buddy, a human raised as one of Santa’s elves in the North Pole who discovers his true parentage and travels to New York City to find his biological father, a grumpy, cynical book publisher. Watching the 6’3″ Buddy navigate the concrete jungle is pure joy. He treats revolving doors like thrilling rides. He reacts to the shocking lack of Christmas cheer with wide-eyed sincerity. From his diet of syrup-laden spaghetti, Buddy’s unwavering belief in Santa brings out the joy in everyone. Even the grumpiest New Yorker is reminded that the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!
FOUR CHRISTMASES is a chaotic, funny journey into holiday obligation that anyone with divorced parents can relate to! Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn star as Kate and Brad. They are a commitment-phobic, perpetually vacationing couple. A thick fog completely derails their perfect Christmas plans to escape to Fiji. Additionally, a local news report outs them to their families. Suddenly, they are trapped in a single, jam-packed day where they must sprint between four separate, uniquely dysfunctional family gatherings. From wrestling matches at Brad’s father’s house to awkward nativity scenes at Kate’s mother’s, the film revels in the messy, embarrassing, and ultimately endearing realities of dealing with your crazy relatives all in one go. It’s a great reminder that when it comes to the holidays, sometimes surviving is the best present of all!
FRED CLAUS is played hilariously by Vince Vaughn. He is the perpetually grumpy older brother. Fred has been living in the shadow of his saintly younger sibling, Nicholas, for centuries! Nicholas is Santa Claus, portrayed by Paul Giamatti. When Fred’s questionable life choices land him in a tight spot, he’s forced to travel to the North Pole to help out in the family business—a place he absolutely despises. Watching Fred, the ultimate cynic and a fast-talking Chicago repo man, is genuinely fun. He attempts to manage Santa’s elves, who are basically a tiny, overwhelmingly cheerful labor force. He also navigates the sheer, suffocating cheer of Christmas. It’s a tale of sibling rivalry, reindeer antics, and eventually realizing that maybe, just maybe, being a Claus isn’t so bad after all.
HOME ALONE is the ultimate adrenaline-fueled holiday fantasy for anyone who ever wished their family would just vanish! Macaulay Culkin stars as Kevin McCallister, accidentally left behind when his massive, chaotic family rushes off on a trip to Paris. Kevin is far from being lonely. He treats his sudden independence like a dream come true. He celebrates with junk food, forbidden movies, and zero adult supervision. His freedom is challenged by the arrival of the bumbling “Wet Bandits,” Harry and Marv. He must defeat them using a brilliantly inventive series of booby traps. The traps become increasingly painful. The film is a perfect blend of slapstick comedy and genuine Christmas heart, proving that even a eight-year-old kid can defend his turf and realize that, despite the stress, there’s no place like home for the holidays.
HOME ALONE 2: LOST IN NEW YORK takes Kevin McCallister’s accidental abandonment to the next level. He mistakenly boards a flight to the Big Apple and ditches his chaotic family once again! Armed with his dad’s credit card and an astonishing lack of supervision, Kevin turns the Plaza Hotel into his personal playground, enjoying luxurious room service, limo rides, and a massive splurge at Duncan’s Toy Chest. However, his idyllic vacation is in danger. The “Wet Bandits,” now called the “Sticky Bandits,” have returned. Harry and Marv are plotting to rob the toy store on Christmas Eve. Kevin springs into action. He turns a dilapidated brownstone into a brutal gauntlet of hilarious traps. These are cartoonishly painful. He learns heartwarming lessons from a pigeon lady. He proves that even in the largest city in the world, he’s still the master of his own destiny. He is also the master of mayhem.
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE may be the most uplifting holiday movie ever made. However, it starts with a truly dark night of the soul. James Stewart stars as George Bailey, a man plagued by disappointment and feeling like a complete failure on Christmas Eve, wishing he had never been born. Clarence is an adorable, wingless Angel Second Class. He swoops down to show George what his beloved town of Bedford Falls would look like if he truly hadn’t existed. Suddenly, the town is a miserable, commercialized den of vice called Pottersville, and George’s friends and family are scattered and unhappy. It’s a beautiful, emotional journey. It uses Christmas magic and a near-suicide to prove that every single person’s life touches countless others. This reinforces the heartwarming truth that no man is a failure who has friends. Sometimes, the greatest treasures are right in your own backyard.
MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET is a charming, timeless debate on the importance of belief. It centers around a jolly old man named Kris Kringle. Kris is hired to play Santa Claus at Macy’s. The twist? He genuinely claims to be the real deal! Kris insists on being truthful. He even advises customers where to find better deals at Gimbels. This leads to him being institutionalized. Consequently, a dramatic court case ensues to legally prove his sanity and, by extension, the existence of Santa. Watching the cynical, yet adorable, little Susan Walker (Natalie Wood) learn to embrace imagination, and seeing an entire city rally around a man who just wants people to believe in kindness and wonder, is truly magical. It’s a wonderful, heartwarming film that ultimately asserts that sometimes, faith is more important than facts, and that a little bit of magic can certainly exist on 34th Street.
THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL is quite simply the best version of the Dickens classic. The story’s emotional core is delivered by a frog, a pig, and a host of hilarious felt friends! Michael Caine delivers a remarkably serious and powerful performance as Ebenezer Scrooge, which is made all the more comical by being constantly interrupted and surrounded by Muppet madness. We see Kermit the Frog as the perpetually patient Bob Cratchit. Miss Piggy plays the fiery, fashionable Emily Cratchit. The story is narrated with witty commentary by the great Gonzo (as Charles Dickens) and the delightful Rizzo the Rat. This movie showcases rousing musical numbers. It features the genuinely spooky Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come. The film captures the true, heartbreaking spirit of redemption. It still manages to include plenty of classic Muppet mayhem and jokes about vegetables.
NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION is a brilliant, over-the-top masterpiece of holiday stress, starring Chevy Chase as Clark W. Griswold, whose singular mission is to host the most perfect, old-fashioned family Christmas imaginable. Predictably, this pursuit descends into glorious, high-voltage chaos almost immediately! Clark’s attempts to string up 25,000 twinkle lights nearly result in a citywide blackout. His quest for a giant Christmas tree involves a harrowing trip to the woods and a very aggressive squirrel. His uninvited cousin, Eddie, arrives with his RV-dwelling family. Their sewage pipe drains into the storm sewer, pushing the entire household to the breaking point. It’s a hilarious, relatable, and truly explosive look at how far one dad will go for the spirit of Christmas, even if it means nearly blinding the neighbors and kidnapping his boss.
THE NIGHT BEFORE is a hilariously irreverent, R-rated odyssey. It follows three lifelong best friends—Ethan (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Isaac (Seth Rogen), and Chris (Anthony Mackie). They embark on one last, legendary Christmas Eve blowout. They’ve spent a decade cementing their annual tradition of wild holiday partying. Since Isaac is about to be a dad and Chris is now a famous athlete, they decide to hunt down the mythical, exclusive “Nutcracker Ball.” Fueled by Isaac’s box of increasingly questionable, mind-altering party favors, their night becomes chaotic. The box is a gift from his wife. It leads them into a series of absurd, star-studded misadventures involving misplaced phones, dramatic encounters with a cryptic weed dealer named Mr. Green (Michael Shannon), and even a karaoke session with Miley Cyrus. It’s a raucous, surprisingly sweet tale about growing up and holding onto the true spirit of friendship, even when you’re incredibly high and dressed in matching ugly sweaters.
THE SANTA CLAUSE is a brilliantly fun concept. It flips the traditional Santa narrative on its head. Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) is a cynical, divorced executive. He accidentally causes the real Santa to fall off his roof on Christmas Eve! Following the instructions on a mysterious card, Scott puts on the suit, steps into the sleigh, and delivers the rest of the gifts, only to discover he has signed an involuntary contract—The Santa Clause—that magically transforms him into the big man himself. Over the next year, Scott hilariously tries to deny the unbelievable. However, his beard gets thicker. His belly gets rounder and his obsession with cookies grows undeniable. It’s a charming story about a dad who has to literally become a figure of belief, proving that sometimes, you don’t choose the Christmas spirit; the Christmas spirit chooses you (and gives you a really snazzy red suit).
SCROOGED takes the classic Dickens tale. It injects the story with a healthy dose of 1980s cynicism. Bill Murray runs wild as Frank Cross, a mean-spirited, high-powered television executive. His favorite pastime is tormenting his staff and demanding violent, star-studded Christmas specials. Frank’s career-obsessed life means he’s due for a festive intervention. He gets it in the form of three increasingly bizarre ghosts. First, he encounters a tiny, aggressive cabbie (the Ghost of Christmas Past). Then, a gleeful, violence-prone fairy (the Ghost of Christmas Present) visits him. Finally, a massive, horrifying specter (the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come) makes an appearance. Watching Murray’s frantic descent into madness, full of fantastic one-liners and surreal encounters, is pure holiday gold. It’s a hilarious, fast-paced comedy that proves you can be thoroughly redeemed, even if you spend most of your life being a grade-A jerk and staple deer antlers onto your employees.
Thanks for taking the time to go over my list! What movies would you add? If you want to add any of these movies to your holiday collections, all movie covers can be clicked on to purchase the title.