Top 5 Movies set at Christmas
In keeping with the Christmas movie discussion, I thought I’d post my top 5 movies that are set at Christmas time but not necessarily Christmas movies.
1. Die Hard (1988) - Arguably the BEST action movie ever made is also a heart-warming holiday film that my family watches every year at Christmas. By giving John McClane the task of reuniting with his estranged wife and making the bad guys merely roadblocks to that goal, the filmmakers raised the bar for action movies. No longer were they merely about explosions and fight scenes. Favorite scene: Of course – Yippee-Ki-Yay Mother…
2. Gremlins (1984) – Some might say this IS a Christmas movie but it’s hard to make that argument hold up when you remember the scene where Billy’s mother cooks a Gremlin in the microwave. Joe Dante and Chris Columbus are the only ones who could have achieved the delicate tone of horror/comedy found in Gremlins. Oh how I long for the days of smaller Steven Spielberg-produced films that weren’t about Giant Robots. Favorite scene: When Kate tells the story of how her father died. Hilarious and tragic.
3. While You Were Sleeping (1995) – This is the second best Romantic Comedy ever made. The first is It Happened One Night. They both work better than your average Rom Com because our hero is given a goal that isn’t to woo the guy/girl. In While You Were Sleeping, Sandra Bullock’s task is to keep up the lie she’s found herself living so that she can finally have the family she’s always wanted. Along the way, she finds her true love. The movie is more of a New Year’s movie so we usually watch it on New Year’s Day. Favorite Scene: At the dinner table with the Callaghans. “Caesar Romero was tall.”
4. Hook (1991) - This is Steven Spielberg’s most under-appreciated film and the last “kid” film he ever made. I wonder if the reviews had something to do with that. Regardless of what the critics thought, Hook is one of my favorite films of all time. Robin Williams plays a grown up Peter Pan who doesn’t remember he’s Peter Pan. Wow! What a tagline! And what an easy pitch! The film takes place during the Christmas season which means it makes the list. Favorite Scene: The food fight. “BANGARANG!!!”
5. Toy Story (1995) – Sure there’s only one scene set at Christmas and it’s the very last scene but I think that’s enough to land this film on the list. Plus, the whole idea of toys is so central to Christmas time. And the film was released in November of 1995. I probably saw the film 3 times before Christmas. And I got a Buzz Light-year action figure from Santa that year. (Yes, I was 15 – so what.) Favorite Scene: “You are a TOOOYYYY!”
Some honorable mentions are Batman Returns, Edward Scissorhands, Chronicles of Narnia, Catch Me If You Can, and Meet Me in St. Louis. Strangely enough, I always watch Groundhog Day right after Christmas because of its wintry feel.
Another Daws family tradition is to watch the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy (soon to be saga when the Hobbit is released) during the month of December. I’m not exactly sure why we do this but it seems to work. I guess we spent the entire season anticipating the release of the films that it became a tradition.
So, what movies did I miss?
Die Hard – Yeah.
My wife would have commented:
While You Were Sleeping – Yeah
This one is controversial because some of the content, but a tradition for my wife and I is to watch “Love Actually.” This one is R for a reason, so don’t let the kids see it, but it’s also seems to do a good job of portraying relationships in a very real and touching way.
I’ve only seen Love Actually once, but I remember liking it. Good pick. Could have done without the porn star story though.
Great list! But for me, I would have given Edward Scissorhands more than just a mention. It would make my list. LOL!
I agree with Brian – Love Actually is a fantastic movie around the holidays. Bill Nighy’s character is hilarious. Scott and I watched the Lord of Rings trilogy along with ALL of the behind the scenes stuff. That took about a week out of my life but it was fun!
Great list! Love your family traditions, I wish my family was as cool as yours. I forgot that “Hook” took place around Christmas. I think “Love Actually” falls under the category of an actual Christmas movie, wouldn’t it? Personally, I hated it cause it’s not about love, more accurately it should have been called “Lust Actually.” But that’s my opinion.
My seasonal movie tradition (besides the obvious “It’s A Wonderful Life,” and “A Christmas Story”) is to watch “Empire Strikes Back” at the first snow-fall.
P.S. Look carefully at the picture you posted from “Gremlins.” The town is also Hill Valley from “Back To the Future.” (The clock tower is on the right hand side of the picture.)
I worked at Universal so I could give you a loooong list of other movies as well, but it’s presently used as Jennifer Love Hewitt’s home town in “Ghost Whisperer.”
P.P.S. Believe it or not “Castaway’ was actually shot on the same set as “Back To The Future,” “Gremlins,” “Ghost Whisperer,” etc. oh! and it happens to be a non-Christmas movie taking place at Christmas! How did you miss that one?!
Great picks with Die Hard & Gremlins. 2 of my favorites as well! But the best one of all time has to be “The Lion in Winter”. So many great lines, but the most memorable:
Henry II (to his wife Eleanor): “I’ll never let you loose. You’ve led too many civil wars against me”
Eleanor: “And nearly won the last one. But as long as I get trotted out for Christmas courts and state occasions now and then… for I do like to see you.”
It makes “Home for the Holidays” seem like a warm & comfortable family gathering.