By combining my love of Christmas movies and stating my opinions on everything, I have come up with a list of what are, to me, the top 10 best Christmas movies and Christmas specials ever made.
#10: “Snow Buddies”
As one of the Christmas movies that my sister and I would watch on repeat when we were younger, “Snow Buddies” had to make it on my list. Though targeted more toward younger audiences, I would still watch this movie now and believe that it would be as good as I remember it being.
#9: “Barbie: A Perfect Christmas”
Although arguably a movie no one should watch after age 12, “Barbie: A Perfect Christmas” does make it onto my list. In my opinion, almost every Barbie movie ever made was at least a 7/10, and the Christmas movie is included in that. Though I definitely watched it more often when I was little, I rewatched it a few years ago and was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked it.
#8: “Arthur Christmas”
Although I have not seen this movie in a while, it has a strong plot line and has remained one of the more memorable Christmas movies I have seen in the last few years. Writing this article has made me want to rewatch it to possibly see if it would rank higher than it does now.
#7: “Christmas with the Kranks”
I first watched this movie last summer when I was in the mood to watch a Christmas movie that I had never seen before, and it did not disappoint. Although the plot is not what I expect in a Christmas movie, I believe that Tim Allen is great in all of the Christmas movies I have seen him in, and this was no exception. I do not watch this movie every Christmas, but I enjoy it when I am in the mood to watch it.
#6: “Prep & Landing”
With a great plot line and adorable characters, “Prep & Landing” makes it onto my list in sixth place. I have not seen the movie in a while but remember watching it with my mom around Christmas time when I was younger. Although not incredibly high on my list, “Prep & Landing” is one of my mom’s favorite Christmas specials, and she makes sure to text me every time it is on T.V.
#5: “Good Luck Charlie: It’s Christmas!”
I first had this movie on the list as a joke, but I soon realized how much I genuinely like it and miss it playing on Disney Channel. The plot twist included in this movie left six-year-old me speechless, and watching it as a now eighteen-year-old has made me realize that Bridgit Mendler’s performance in this movie was Oscar-worthy.
#4: “Frosty the Snowman”
Even though I have not watched it in a few years, “Frosty the Snowman” makes it onto my list in the fourth place spot. My sister and I would watch this special during Christmas break when we were in elementary school so I definitely associate this movie with those good times. It also reminds me of my mom decorating the tree while my sister and I sang the theme song and distracted her. This movie would be higher on the list if the creepy magician in it did not scare me when I was little.
#3: “A Charlie Brown Christmas”
One of the best Christmas specials in my opinion is the classic, “A Charlie Brown Christmas”. While being only 30 minutes long, this movie is a Christmas classic for most people I know, especially my mom. My mom, my sister and I watch both the Thanksgiving and Halloween Charlie Brown specials in addition to the Christmas special every year and plan to do so for as long as possible.
#2: “Elf”
Easily one of the best Christmas movies ever made, “Elf” is my second favorite and very close to being in the top spot. Much like “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!”, I watch this movie around Christmas time every year, and sometimes even in the middle of the year because I think it is that good. I would not put it in the top spot only because “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” is the perfect length for my very short attention span.
#1: “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” (1966 version ONLY)
While having one of the shortest runtimes of all the specials on the list, the original version of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is one of the best Christmas specials ever, and my favorite of all time. Every year since I can remember, my entire family watches this version of the movie around Christmas time, and I’ve never gotten tired of the tradition. The 1966 version is the only acceptable version as the 2018 version greatly lacks the nostalgic feeling that this version brings, and the Jim Carey version creeps me out.
