The 10 Best Christmas Movies According To Patch Readers [Survey]

Classics from the Golden Age of Hollywood “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Miracle on 34th Street” are time-tested favorites among readers who responded to an informal Patch survey.

We listed 20 movies that consistently rank as among the best Christmas movies of all time and asked readers to choose a favorite for Patch’s Top 10 Christmas Movies. We also asked readers to tell us in a few words why “Die Hard” is or is not a Christmas movie and received passionate comments in support of either answer.

Of 677 respondents, about 22 percent of respondents can’t get enough of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” but others in the top five had nearly equal support: “Miracle on 34th Street” (12 percent), “White Christmas” (10 percent), “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (10 percent) and “A Christmas Story” (8 percent).

Rounding out our list, in order of preference by respondents, are “Love Actually,” “Elf,” “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” “Home Alone” and “Polar Express.”

Harrison (New York) Patch reader John said there many good movies on the list.

“However, ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ hits your heart the best as for the true feelings of Christmas and family and people,” John said. “I saw (producer and director) Frank Capra once in the office where I used to work. … Wow, what a talent and feeling for filmmaking.”

Philadelphia Patch reader Leslie chose “While You Were Sleeping” as her favorite — most of the time.

“Actually, I think it depends on what mood you're in when you watch a certain Christmas movie. For instance, ‘A Christmas Story’ reminds me of my late parents because they were kids in that film’s time setting. I was about the age of Sandra Bullock when ‘While You Were Sleeping’ came out and I found her character totally relatable,” Leslie said. “Sometimes, however, you just want to watch a good old-fashioned classic.”

Matt, a Newtown (Connecticut) Patch reader, said what qualifies as “the best” is generational.

“The best is usually defined by when you were born and what values as a generation you had or have,” Matt explained. “Gen -X can fully relate to ‘Bad Santa’ with its grit and violence, whereas Boomers can embrace ‘Miracle on 34th Street.’ And Gen Z can get into the zany ‘Elf.’ ”

He’s a “Bad Santa” kind of guy. The dark comedy about a pair of cons who, dressed as Santa and his elf, rip off last-minute shoppers on Christmas Eve, ranked 15th in the poll.

That kind of movie doesn’t fly at Christmastime with Marty, an Edina (Minnesota) Patch reader whose favorite is “It’s a Wonderful Life” and who thinks “The Bishop’s Wife” should be on the list.

“They should always have a good message,” Marty said.

Marlborough (Massachusetts) Patch reader Nana said great Christmas movies “share a love for humanity.”

“Christmas is a happy loving peaceful feeling,” Nana said. “Guns and explosions do not fit in.”

‘They Make Me Feel Happy’

Several readers said Christmas movies are an instant mood-lifter.

Cath, a Doylestown (Pennsylvania) Patch reader, watches Christmas movies regardless of the season. “I watch them all year long,” Cath said. “They make me feel happy.”

“They get you into the holiday spirit and give you ideas for family fun and decorating!” said KGO, a Lakeville (Minnesota) Patch reader.

“Christmas movies remind us of the pure, pure magic Christmas holds,” Wilmette-Kinsnsilworth (Illinois) Patch reader Zoe M. said.

“It’s who you watch the Christmas movie with, not the movie,” said Apple Valley-Rosemount (Minnesota) Patch reader Todd.

“They’re just a great escape, leaving you feeling warm and hopeful,” said Bristol (Pennsylvania) Patch reader Fluffy, whose all-time favorite holiday movie is “White Christmas.”

Great Christmas movies should also be inclusive, but they’re not, Beverly (Massachusetts) Patch reader J. Mittens said.

“Looking at this list makes me concerned that there's so little variation in demographic representation. Even my top five — ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,’ ‘A Christmas Story,’ ‘Elf,’ ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas,’ ‘How The Grinch Stole Christmas’ — feature no main characters of color,” J. Mittens said.

“Much of this is the fault of the respective eras, as there was little variation in media anyway, but it’s a sad realization,” the reader said. “For a holiday that’s supposed to be about peace and love for all, that peace and love seems to be extended only by or to white people in these movies, and if it's not white. it’s a fictional and/or animated character.”

‘Die Hard’: Christmas Movie Or Not?

No one connected to the making of “Die Hard” imagined the 1988 film starring Bruce Willis as a Christmas movie. It takes place around Christmastime and, for some Patch readers who responded to our survey, that’s enough to qualify the film as an action-packed holiday classic. A body count of 59 disqualifies it, others maintained, leaving the question unsettled.

“Bruce Willis said ‘Die Hard’ is not a Christmas Movie,” said Seattle Patch reader Wiggs.

Is, too, said Wheaton (Illinois) Patch reader J, who noted, “The spirit is woven throughout in a fun ‘Bruce’ way.”

“Bruce Willis doesn’t think so,” said Revere (Massachusetts) Patch reader Jazrobean, “but we do.”

Many survey respondents agreed with Willis. A Cranford (New Jersey) Patch reader who shares the actor’s first name said “Die Hard” is not a Christmas movie “for the same reason planting a tree in the middle of a field doesn’t make it a forest.”

“Any movie with guns, violence, terrorism, kidnapping isn’t a movie about Christmas,” said KJ, a Dedham (Massachusetts) Patch reader. “Just because it takes place at Christmastime doesn’t make it a Christmas movie!”

But, Woodbury (Minnesota) Patch reader Junie said, “if you consider ‘Love Actually’ and ‘While You Were Sleeping’ Christmas movies, you should probably consider ‘Die Hard’ a Christmas movie, too.” Those movies also take place at Christmastime but are not about Christmas.

“I personally have no skin in the game either way,” Junie said.

Gloucester Township (New Jersey) Patch reader Pete offered different logic: “ ‘Die Hard’ is a Christmas movie because I feel awkward if I watch it any other time of the year except Christmastime.”

“It’s hard to think of any action film as being anything other than that — an action film,” said Leslie, a Philadelphia Patch reader.

“Gratuitous violence is the antithesis of Christmas,” said Glon, an Ormond Beach (Florida) Patch reader whose holiday favorite is “A Christmas Carol.”

Hallmark Movies ‘Just Love Stories’?

Kranski, an Aberdeen (Maryland) Patch reader, thinks Christmas movies should play year-round.

They almost do on cable TV’s Hallmark Channel, which has been airing nonstop Christmas movies since October and starts them early every year with its “Christmas in July” programming.

Orange County (California) Patch reader Meemaw is over Hallmark movies, though. “They’re goofy,” Meemaw said.

Connecticut Patch reader John has something to say about that. Hallmark’s “Christmas at the Plaza” is his favorite holiday movie, and he says these and other productions for TV are “better than the theater films and more available.”

“I love Christmas movies and also appreciate the new Family Network instead of Hallmark for Christmas TV shows,” said Kay, another Connecticut Patch reader.

“Hallmark Christmas movies for the win!” said Troy (Michigan) Patch reader Connie. “They’ll be playing in the background as I work from home all month.” Healdsburg (California) Patch reader Susie and Philadelphia Patch reader Joan are right there with her.

But are the Hallmark movies really Christmas films? Groton (Connecticut) Patch reader Jo-Ann, whose favorites are TV movies “The Christmas Visitor” with William Devane, “Fallen Angel” with Gary Sinise and “The Christmas Card” with Ed Asner, isn’t so sure.

“I love Hallmark but they just aren’t making Christmas movies like the ones I mentioned,” Jo-Ann said.” There’s just something missing in the Christmas movies Hallmark is making these days. They are just love stories like they always make.”

Other films up for consideration in our informal poll got anywhere from two to 17 votes. They were “The Santa Clause,” “Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” “While You Were Sleeping,” “Bad Santa,” “The Family Stone,” “The Holdovers,” “Scrooged,” The Nightmare Before Christmas” and “Noelle.”