Top Holiday Movies and TV Specials for Families to Watch
Well it is finally here. The time of the year that a good portion of people will be looking for the one particular holiday special or movie that they just cannot go without. Of course the holidays just would not be complete unless the usual slew of movies are shown. And thanks to cable and satellite, you can catch some films multiple times over the next few weeks.
The website WhatToDoWithTheKids.com recently conducted a survey to find The Top 10 Family Holiday Movies and TV Specials, and they got over 1,400 people to weigh in.
Here's the top 10, along with each one's rank in 2011. (Note: There are actually 12 titles listed, thanks to a three-way tie.) The ones from the 2011 list that didn't make this year's list are: The 1983 movie, "A Christmas Story", which had been #3, the 1951 black-and-white movie "Scrooge: A Christmas Carol", which had been #5.
Bing Crosby's 1954 movie, "White Christmas", which had been tied for #7, and the first "Home Alone" movie, which was previously #9 and made back in 1990 when people still consider Macaulay Culkin cute.
It's cool that "How the Grinch Stole Christmas", which is 47 years old, is still the most popular, however, it's worth pointing out that all the old, black-and-white movies are becoming less popular.
- 1
How The Grinch Stole Christmas
This classic animated special from 1966 where a grumpy hermit hatches a plan to steal Christmas from the Whos of Whoville Comes in at #1 this year also #1 in 2011.
- 2
The Polar Express
#2 on the list is The Polar Express. On Christmas Eve, a doubting boy boards a magical train that's headed to the North Pole and Santa Claus' home. This movie was ranked #8 in 2011.
- 3
Its A Wonderful Life
At #3, the 1946 black-and-white classic, "I's A Wonderful Life." Jimmy Stewart stars in this timeless feature which was #2 in 2011. And just as recently as last week, there was a buzz in Hollywood about a re-make of this movie. Thank goodness that has been squashed.
- 4
Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
at #4 this year, from 1964, "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" a misfit reindeer and his friends look for a place that will accept them. It is up from #6 in 2011.
- 5
Elf
#5 on this years list "Elf." After inadvertently wreaking havoc on the elf community due to his ungainly size, a man raised as an elf at the North Pole is sent to the U.S. in search of his true identity. Was not on the list in 2011.
- 6
A Charlie Brown Christmas
The first of a three way tie from 1965, "A Charlie Brown Christmas" was #4 in 2011. Repelled by the commercialism he sees around him, Charlie Brown tries to find the true meaning of Christmas.
- 7
The Santa Claus
The second in this three way tie, "The Santa Clause" When a man inadvertently kills Santa on Christmas Eve, he finds himself magically recruited to take his place. This movie did not even make the list in 2011.
- 8
Frosty The Snowman
The 3rd part of this tie is from 1969. The animated special, "Frosty The Snowman" A living snowman and a little girl struggle to elude a greedy magician who is after the snowman's magic hat. This one was tied for #7 in 2011.
- 9
Miracle on 34th Street
Natalie Wood's 1947 black-and-white classic, "Miracle on 34th Street." Dropping a couple of slots since 2011. When a nice old man who claims to be Santa Claus is institutionalized as insane, a young lawyer decides to defend him by arguing in court that he is the real thing.
- 10
The Grinch
This movie, "The Grinch," did not even make the list in 2011. Big budget remake of the classic cartoon about a creature intent on stealing Christmas.
- 11
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
At #9 "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation." The Griswold family's plans for a big family Christmas predictably turn into a big disaster.Was tied for #8 in 2011.
- 12
A Muppet Christmas Carol
Finally coming in at #10 in the same spot as it was in 2011, "A Muppet Christmas Carol." The Muppet characters tell their version of the classic tale of an old and bitter miser's redemption on Christmas Eve.
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