I’m a sucker for the holidays. I love them. You won’t hear me complaining…well maybe only about that George Michael song Last Christmas. Damn, now it’s in my head again. I can’t stand it! I love the lights, the music, the shopping, the wrapping, and all the merriment, but one thing I truly enjoy is the movies. I was lucky enough to marry a wonderful man who enjoys them with me. We seriously have a pretty big collection of Christmas music and movies (for which we keep on hand year-round). So here is my list of all time favorite holiday movies.

1.) The Christmas Story – What is not to love. I love the 1950s setting most of all. Hell, it’s kind of why we bought our house and closed on Christmas Eve. Our house has that 1950s appeal…maybe because that was the last time anyone did any updates on it (that’s another post). Poor Ralphie! They all warned him, “you’ll shoot your eye out!” My brother and I used to enjoy this one a lot together. Great memories.

2.) The Christmas Carol – The one with Patrick Stewart is my all-time favorite of all of them…and believe me, I have seen ALL of them. My dad is obsessed. From the 1938 one with Reginald Owen to Bill Murray in Scrooge, even the animated one with Jim Carey. Seen them all.

3.) All I Want for Christmas – (1991) Loved this one. Cute little Thora Birch with the blonde ringlets and independent attitude, and the grandmother played by the beautiful Lauren Bacall. Scheming to get your parents back together on Christmas…too cute.

4.) National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation – This one is near and dear to my heart. Not only is it the one movie my husband and I will sit and watch together year round, but it plays a big part in my childhood. Two of my childhood girlfriends and I would have a sleepover every Christmas Eve, Eve and bake cookies and watch this movie. From childhood and into our college years! Funny memories.

5.) Jack Frost – Not the one with the killer snowman! The one with Kelly Preston and Michael Keaton. It’s a tear-jerker, but beautiful story about a bond between a father and son. And I don’t know why but I pretty much love any movie with hockey in it…go Mighty Ducks!

6.) How the Grinch Stole Christmas – An absolute classic. I’m sad that my kids don’t like it. I also love the Jim Carey one too! The set design alone is just captivating.

7.) And we can’t forget the classic cartoons from childhood. I remember getting so excited for the “holiday special”. Dad would make popcorn and on would come Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) and Frosty the Snowman (1969). The new versions of these films just don’t compare.

8.) The Family Man – I’m a sucker for films that give you the “what if” scenario. Nicholas Cage and Téa Leoni. I love the little girl who plays the daughter. She is absolutely adorable.

What are your all-time favorite holiday movies?