Movies - My Top 5 Holiday Movies

If holiday music isn't enough to get you in the joyful spirit, there's no better cure than a classic holiday film.  Whether you want to laugh or cry, here are 5 films that will bring you cheer during the season. 

Photo courtesy of A Christmas Story/Warner Bros. 

1. A Christmas Story (1983) A classic holiday family film (which explains why it’s shown every Christmas Eve, since forever) The movie based in the 1940s, focuses on a young Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley), who wants a popular Red Ryder B.B gun for Christmas. He tries to convince his parents, his teacher, and even Santa that the gun really is the perfect Christmas gift. The only problem is everyone believes that he’ll shoot his eye out. 

Photo Courtesy of Miracle on 34th Street/Twentieth Century Fox

2. Miracle on 34th Street (1947) Another holiday classic. Doris Walker (Maureen O’Hara) a Macy’s executive desperately looks for a last-minute Santa for The annual Thanksgiving Parade. She hires Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) who claims he is the actual Santa Claus. With the help of attorney Fred Gailey (John Payne),  not only does he go to court to prove that he really is Santa, he also teaches Doris and her young daughter Susan (Natalie Wood), why it’s important to never give up believing in something for the greater good. 

Photo Courtesy of Elf/New Line

3. Elf (2003) One Christmas Eve, a baby boy named William “Buddy” Hobbs (Will Ferrell) crawls into Santa’s sack. Buddy is raised in the North Pole by Santa's elves. Later as an adult, Buddy finds out he’s actually human. After discussing it with Santa, he sends him off to New York to find his birth father Walter Hobbs (James Caan), who coincidentally is on the naughty list and doesn't know Buddy exists. Buddy's journey to find himself and his father takes us on a comical yet heartfelt ride as he shows us the true spirit of Christmas on the way.

Photo Courtesy of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation/Warner Bros

4. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) The third installment in National Lampoon’s series. As the big day approaches, Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) wants to have a quiet, old-fashioned, Christmas with his family. With the help of his annoyed wife Ellen (Beverly D’Angelo) and kids Audrey (Juliette Lewis) and Rusty (Johnny Galecki) he tries to keep everything together. When Ellen’s family comes to visit unannounced, and his yearly company bonus is not what he hoped, let’s just say this perfect Christmas turns into a disaster. 

Photo Courtesy of The Best Man Holiday/Universal

5. The Best Man Holiday (2013) A sequel to “The Best Man”(1999). After 15 years, Mia Sullivan (Monica Calhoun) decides to get in touch with her college friends, to get the gang back together for Christmas at her and her husband's home. Mia's perfect holiday plans are thwarted, as ongoing drama between the friends persists. Issues between former best friends Lance (Morris Chestnut) and Harper Stewart (Taye Diggs) have yet to be resolved. The rivalry between Shelby (Melissa De Sousa) and Candace (Regina Hall) comes to a head, while the hormonal and very pregnant Robyn (Sanaa Lathan) harbors her existing trust issues involving Harper's close relationship with Jordan (Nia Long).

Do you agree with my list?

If not then what is your Top 5 Holiday Films.