Nightmare Before Christmas — Review

Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) — audience rated.

The number-one most popular Christmas film of all time – as voted on by the Movie Night audience… “The Nightmare Before Christmas”! – This 1993 stop motion fantasy film by director Tim Burton is about Jack Skellington, the “Pumpkin King” of the dream world of Halloween Town. But Jack grows tired of scaring humans every October 31st, and when he discovers a secret portal to “Christmas Town” – things start to get interesting. CBK911 writes, “An amazing movie with its creative animation, entertaining songs, and very relatable characters. This movie takes a very different idea towards Christmas, resulting in a very memorable film , 10/10.” – mackieflann adds, “An amazing film intertwines the frightful scares of Halloween with the joyful love of Christmas. You could watch it three times in a row and still be entertained. Perfect for the holidays and for the family.

Home Alone — Review

Home Alone (1990) — audience rated.

John Hughe’s classic from 1990, “Home Alone” — Not only did this slapstick family comedy single-handedly launch the career of it’s childhood star Macaulay Culkin, it also holds the distinction of being the highest grossing Christmas film of all time with over 475 million in box office revenue worldwide. Culkin plays Kevin McCallister, an eight-year-old boy, frustrated with his family, who wishes he didn’t have one. When he wakes up on Christmas morning the next day, he discovers he’s been accidentally left home alone after his entire family flies to Paris on vacation, and forgets about him. Matters are complicated when two bumbling burglars attempt to rob the large house Kevin is home alone in. nostalgiatrip1 writes, “One of the best Christmas movies and one of John Hughes best movies. The reason is because it’s a modernization story of “It’s a Wonderful Life”, but it applies to both the main character and the supporting cast, where both sides wish that the main character never existed but when they are apart they realize they really do love each other and want to be together for Christmas. Plus watching two adult idiots get outsmarted by a kid is always fun.

Elf — Review

Elf (2003) — audience rated.

This 2003 Will Ferrell comedy, Elf – directed by Jon Favreau. Ferrell plays Buddy – a regular boy is accidentally raised at the North Pole as an Elf. When he realizes he’s not like the other elves around him, Buddy visits New York to find his biological father, played by James Caan. Pumpkinwife has this review, “Will Ferrell has made a career of playing an obnoxious brat in a grown man’s body, so it is an amazingly delightful surprise to find that the child inhabiting his six foot tall elf to be a charming, wide-eyed innocent kid who is welcomed back into the family by his dad’s wife and son, but it is the relationship between father and elf that allows us again to see the true spirit of Christmas.

Christmas Vacation — Review

Christmas Vacation (1989) — audience rated.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is the third of five “vacation” movies starring the dysfunctional Griswold family, Chevy Chase stars in perhaps his most famous role, as a father who’s family Christmas celebrations quickly turn into a massive nightmare. Here’s TheLargeFry’s review: “Without a doubt one of the best. The movie shows how crazy the holiday can be and how the holiday can make you crazy as well. If it wasn’t for this movie, we would have never known how to break the sound barrier sledding.

A Christmas Story – Review

A Christmas Story (1983) — audience rated.

1983’s “A Christmas Story” – is a holiday classic usually seen during 24-hour marathons on basic cable. It’s a light-hearted and nostalgic look on 9-year-old Ralphie’s quest to get a toy air-rifle for Christmas – that also coined the timeless line, “you’ll shoot your eye out!” PossumCuber writes, “A classic movie that relates to almost everyone. Especially growing up as the only child to an overprotective mother, I know how it feels to have something (or in my case, everything) being too dangerous. I could watch this movie over and over.

How The Grinch Stole Christmas — Review

How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) — audience rated.

How The Grinch Stole Christmas, stars Jim Carey as The Grinch, in the 2000 live-action adaptation of the classic Dr. Seuss children’s book – about a green goblin that attempts to rob the village of Whoville during Christmas. InsideUniversal writes, “A fantastic movie that definitely relived the storybook fantasy of Dr. Seuss. There were many chances to shift away from the original book, but Jim Carrey and Ron Howard carried the movie beautifully and with taste. Grossly underrated by the critics, in my opinion.

The Polar Express — Review

The Polar Express (2004) — audience rated.

This motion capture animated film by director Robert Zemeckis was a big hit when it was released during the holiday season in 2004, which follows a young boy’s dream-time journey to the north pole on Christmas Eve onboard a magical train, conducted by Tom Hanks. bostonsweetie23 writes, ” Polar Express is a Christmas feast for the eyes and offers a heartwarming story of a young boy who’s searching for the true spirit of Christmas. While the movie is beautiful to look at, it fails with a slow paced plot filled with silly obstacles and secondary characters who add nothing to the story. Still a great family movie that will surely get you into the Spirit of Christmas.”

Muppet Christmas Carol — Review

Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) — audience rated.

A Christmas Carol – originally written as a novel by Charles Dickens in 1843 – This classic tale shares the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a cynical and embittered old man who is visited by the three ghosts of Christmas, past, present, and future – to help him examine the errors of his ways. “A Christmas Carol” has been adapted into hundreds of films, plays, and television specials – but perhaps the most popular version though is the 1992 adaptation, “The Muppet Christmas Carol”. Here’s jadencampbell3’s review: Surprisingly accurate to the original story, but “Muppet” combines the original story with corny musical numbers, jokes that break the fourth wall, and Michael Caine in possibly the greatest interpretations of Scrooge ever. This film is greater than its sum parts, so bad its good, and a Christmas tradition in the hearts and minds of many.