Our Top 10 Christmas Films or Movies

There's nothing quite like sitting down as a family to watch some festive films in the run up to Christmas.

Even watching them as you sit and wrap presents can help you relax and enjoy the holiday spirit and the true meaning of Christmas.

Here's our top ten list of our favorite holiday movies:-

1.  Miracle on 34th Street (the 1994 version) - magical movie about a young girl who doesn't believe in Santa Claus, but who gradually comes to believe - this is a modern day fairytale that's perfect for watching during the holidays

2.  It's A Wonderful Life - a timeless classic, this is a wonderfully heart warming film for the whole family

3.  Little Women - the Marches are the perfect family with a heart for those around them.  This is a wonderful tale of the March girls and how they grow up as a family and how they share the real festive spirit

4.  Muppet Christmas Carol - who can resist the Muppets? This is a classic tale by Dickens retold in an easy, fun and accessible style, yet surprisingly true to the original

5.  Love Actually - for mom and dad to watch (and maybe the teenagers), captures something of the Christmas spirit as well as the trials and pains of the festive season

6. The Nativity Story - the classic tale of the birth of Jesus, beautifully filmed and a great family watch for kids and adults

7.  Jack Frost - wonderful for adults and kids, a lovely story of a dad who comes back as a snowman

8.  The Snowman (with theme tune, Walking in the Air)

9.  Christmas with the Kranks - very humorous tale of how NOT to do Christmas, good all round family fun, together with the real meaning of Xmas

10.  Noel - another one for the adults, a little known movie that deserves more attention at holiday time.   A festive story with a little love and magic thrown in.

And an honorary mention to The Polar Express - perfect for kids, full of snow and wonderful tales of imagination.

Also, Family Stone, is a great one for the adults, with a truthful story about the difficulties of a family Christmas, together with the heart warming moments.

All of these films are heart-warming, family oriented films (apart from Love Actually, which is for older children), although some of them may be less familiar than others.

Each one is great to watch with the family in the run up to Christmas and even in the aftermath, surrounded by torn wrapping paper and half eaten mince pies.

Films that didn't make our Top 10 :-

• Home Alone - although in the UK this is supposed to be a favorite movie
• The Nativity - a film showing the story of how Jesus came to be born in a stable
• Christmas Story - simply not available in the UK
• Friends - most seasons have a Christmas or Thanksgiving episode to put you in the festive mood
• A Christmas Carol - the original black & white version with Alastair Sim

So, if you need a little something to get you in the mood whilst you're putting up the tree and wrapping presents - put on a movie and enjoy!

Recommended Resources

Top Christmas Songs - the top 25 from the American Society of Composers