Every year from the 14th of November I begin an over-a-month-long rewatch of my favourite festive movies. Some I watch by myself, Some I watch with my friends some I watch on early December mornings with my dad and others I watch with my whole family. No matter who is joining me, I must watch this list of roughly 40 (and counting) Christmas films every year to feel I have completed the Christmas season. While I can’t rank them all in one article I have decided to discern my top 5, all rated by the following, (as the good A level historian I am), criteria:
- Christmassy feeling evoked
- Originality of premise
- Character likeability
So here follows my completely unbiased list of the TOP FIVE FESTIVE FILMS to get you in the holiday spirit – even if you have mocks to prepare for:
SCROOGED (1988)
One of the two Christmas Carol adaptations on the list, this may the darkest of all the Christmas films I watch. The combination of the story of true Christmas goodwill combined with a ‘play-in-a-play’ and classic Bill Murray dark humour, I strongly believe this film is criminally underrated.
- Christmassy feeling evoked: 7/10
- Originality of premise: 8/10
- Character likeability: 6/10
Overall score: 21/30
ARTHUR CHRISTMAS (2011)
Every Christmas eve my whole family sit down to watch this together – while we may have all gotten older (now watching this in the afternoon and not at 7am) this is still a time to properly sit together as a family. I may love some characters (the absolute icon that is Bryony) and hate others (Steve.) but this will always hold a special place in my heart
- Christmassy feeling evoked: 9/10
- Originality of premise: 9/10
- Character likeability: 7/10
Overall score: 25/30
SPIRITED (2022)
A relatively new edition to this list but (dare I say) this is one of the best new films (of any genre) of recent years. You can keep your Oppenheimer, I’m happy to sit down and watch Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell sing through a modern version of Dickens’ tale – a shoutout to the soundtrack which brightens up every freezing December morning.
- Christmassy feeling evoked: 8/10
- Originality of premise: 8/10
- Character likeability: 9/10
Overall score: 25/30
ELF (2003)
This is always the first Christmas film my dad and I watch together after putting up the tree so this always represents a proper start to the Christmas season for me. A special shoutout here goes to the musical which I also think is underrated. A combination of the best of the best tropes of Christmas films and one of the most iconic decorating scenes of all time (one that I constantly aspire to).
- Christmassy feeling evoked: 10/10
- Originality of premise: 8/10
- Character likeability: 9/10
Overall Score; 27/30
NATIVITY (2008)
You might be able to tell from SLT’s most recent Friday Jammin’s performance, but I love this film – I always have. I would even argue that you can watch this outside of the Christmas period (I must admit that me and my brothers used to watch this regardless of the system – and enact (with our scooters) the fight between St Bernadette’s and Oakmoor.
- Christmassy feeling evoked : 9/10
- Originality of premise: 10/10
- Character likeability: 9/10
Overall score: 28/30
No matter the score I gave them these films all deserve a rewatch. Whether for the first (or if you’re like me, the one hundredth) time, all of them are amazingly enjoyable and a welcome distraction (if you’re Y11 or Y13 with exams) – maybe they even will become a annual tradition for you as well!
