Christmas movies are a very popular film genre. New classics are introduced every year, and some Christmas movies keep getting better with age. However, the quality of the films can vary wildly. It's very easy to make a clichéd and derivative Christmas film about a dysfunctional family getting together for the holidays. These are seemingly made every year, and at a certain point, diminishing returns begin to set in.
But the Christmas genre is also an open place for wonderful creativity. The sky is the limit in terms of what filmmakers can do, and certain movies took full advantage of the human imagination.
Jingle All The Way (1996)
Little about Jingle All the Way makes sense, but that has always been part of its charm. A nostalgic film for '90s kids everywhere, Jingle All the Way has quite a unique premise: negligent father Howard Langston tries getting his son a Turbo Man doll for Christmas, only to become Turbo Man himself later in the movie.
The movie begins as a smart satire against Christmas commercialism before descending into typical Schwarzenegger zaniness. It's completely bonkers, and somehow, it works.
Klaus (2019)
Released on Netflix to great acclaim, Klaus is an origin story about Santa Claus himself. The protagonist is Jesper Johansen, a postman who is sent to the remote Northern village of Smeerensburg.
Here he meets the reclusive woodsman and toymaker Klaus, who delivers wooden toys to the village children. It's a brilliant idea for a film, and it delivers on its potential with a smart and heartwarming script.
The Santa Clause (1994)
The "e" at the end of The Santa Clause is completely deliberate, and it is thanks to the movie's richly creative premise. The movie follows Scott Calvin, a toy salesman who accidentally scares Santa, causing him to fall off the roof and die. Scott in turn puts on the iconic red-and-white coat and becomes the jolly man himself.
He becomes contractually obligated to deliver presents every Christmas Eve, and he even begins sprouting grey hair, a long beard, and some pronounced belly fat. It's a wonderful idea for a family Christmas film, and it results in some touching and laugh-out-loud moments.
Bad Santa (2004)
Bad Santa stars a not-so-jolly Saint Nick in Billy Bob Thornton's Willie Soke. In a wonderful subversion of the typical feel-good holiday film, Bad Santa is intentionally crass and offensive. Willie is a deeply troubled, heavy-drinking thief who poses as a mall Santa to scope out a department store.
But amidst all the tomfoolery, Willie eventually develops a bond with a bullied kid named Thurman Merman. There's a beating heart underneath all the swearing, sex, and drinking, and it has helped make Bad Santa a classic.
Die Hard (1988)
The debate will forever rage regarding Die Hard's status as a Christmas movie. Either way, it's certainly not a family-friendly Christmas movie. Taking place on Christmas Eve (hence its maybe status as an Xmas film), Die Hard sees New York cop John McClane visiting his estranged wife Holly and attending her office party.
However, the office is eventually besieged by professional thieves who wish to steal the company's bonds. It's certainly not a conventional Christmas movie plot, but those who hate the sappy tone of holiday movies will love it.
Holiday Inn (1942)
Holiday Inn is a love triangle film disguised as a Christmas movie. Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire respectively star as Jim Hardy and Ted Hanover, professional song-and-dance men who fall for an aspiring singer named Linda Mason.
Both of the men vie for Linda's affections over the Christmas season inside the titular inn. It's a very cozy and warm film thanks to the intimacy of its setting — and Christmas proves the perfect season for a love triangle!
Home Alone (1990)
Home Alone has aged surprisingly well, and its timeless nature has helped make it an enduring Christmas classic. Written by John Hughes, the film was a massive hit when it was released in 1990, as many people wished to see the wacky adventures of Kevin McCallister.
Kevin is accidentally left home alone over the Christmas holidays and is forced to defend his massive house from eager thieves. It's here where Home Alone truly finds its identity and winning creativity.
Miracle On 34th Street (1947)
The story of Miracle on 34th Street is credited to Valentine Davies, and the script was written by George Seaton. Together, they crafted a timeless Christmas classic. Edmund Gwenn stars as Kris Kringle, a department store Santa who claims to be the real deal.
The story also ropes in Fred Gailey, an attorney who wishes to prove, in court, that Kris is indeed the legal Santa Claus. It's a heartwarming tale about belief and the magical nature of Christmas, and it's told with exceptional intelligence.
Elf (2003)
Perhaps the greatest thing about Elf is that it was written by a first-time screenwriter. David Berenbaum sold his script to New Line Cinema, resulting in an instant Christmas classic. It tells the story of Buddy Hobbs, a human who was accidentally sent to the North Pole and raised by real elves.
Buddy eventually travels to New York City to meet his biological father, resulting in many wacky hijinks. It's an inventive story that makes for the perfect fish-out-of-water comedy.
It's A Wonderful Life (1946)
The Christmas movie to end all Christmas movies, It's a Wonderful Life certainly has a reputation. It follows George Bailey, a stressed banker with thoughts of suicide who is saved by an angel. The angel shows what the small town of Bedford Falls would be like if George never existed.
It borrows a few elements from A Christmas Carol, like a supernatural entity showing the protagonist an alternate reality shaped by their existence (or lack thereof). A little Dickens goes a long way, and the story of It's a Wonderful Life has been winning fans for 75 years.