I recently polled my Instagram followers to see what they thought was the best Christmas movies of all times. I picked the Top 20 movies as voted by major publications (Like Esquire, Time, Rotten Tomatoes) and pitted them against each other in a bracket style contest. The results were … surprising. For instance, classics fell WAY down the list. Each of the publications I pulled lists from had the same number one movie and my followers decided that movie was better suited in the 15th position instead.
So what did everyone vote as the best Christmas movie ever? Check out the list below in order from 20 to 1. Disagree with the position of your favourite Christmas movie? Leave a comment!
20. Merry Christmas Mr. Bean
This is personally a favourite of mine. Rowan Atkinson’s ability to make an entire show based around a character that rarely talks is amazing to me and this Christmas special is a glimpse into the sad, but somewhat adorable life of Mr.Bean.
19. Arthur Christmas
Arthur Christmas follows the adventures of Arthur on Christmas Eve after a child’s present accidentally gets missed. It’s a great family movie to enjoy over the holidays.
18. Merry Christmas Charlie Brown
This was the first of movies that I was SHOCKED didn’t do better. The music of Charlie Brown and the Christmas tree are staples around the holidays since it was released. If you tell someone they have a Charlie Brown Christmas tree they know exactly what you mean and are now likely upset that you told them their tree sucks. While I think this is a must see every Christmas, the Instagram voters thought it deserved to be near the bottom of the list.
17. Frosty the Snowman
This movie has made my daughter obsessed with snowman making and who could blame her. Everyone loves the tale of Frosty with his corn cob pipe and a button nose.
16. Miracle on 34th Street
I hope you won’t judge me too harshly when I say I’ve never actually seen this movie. That being said it’s consistently voted one of the top movies to watch around Christmas, so colour me surprised it didn’t do better in the votes.
15. It’s a Wonderful Life
This is, without a doubt, the biggest upset of the whole vote. It’s a wonderful life has been voted the number one Christmas movie of all time by the likes of Esquire, Rotten Tomatoes, Readers Digest and MANY more. To find it sitting in the 15th spot is a real shocker to me, especially considering some of the other movies that finished higher. Speaking of which…
14. Bad Santa
It honestly pained me a little to even put this movie on the voting list. I’ve never been a big fan of it, but I know to some it’s a favourite. I wasn’t hurt to find it land in the 14th position, even if it did beat out some awesome movies.
13. Die Hard
Is Die Hard a Christmas movie? Judging by the amount of comments and DM’s I got my Instagram followers couldn’t decide either. I think that means that it sitting in the number 13 position is perfect for a movie that can be divisive, in what should be times that bring us together.
12. Polar Express
Tom Hanks is a gem and even though the animation on this movie can be – at times – a bit creepy, it’s a great tale for kids or anyone that loves Christmas …. or trains.
11. Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer
This old stop motion film has received a great deal of criticism in recent years with some calling it Racist and Bigoted. What do you think?
10. A Muppets Christmas Carol
A Muppets Christmas Carol was at a bit of a disadvantage almost immediately as it was paired off against the original A Christmas Carol. Despite that, it only lost by ONE vote leaving it to finish at the respectable half-way point of our countdown
9. Christmas Story
This is another movie on the list that I haven’t actually seen despite the fact that it was released the same year I was born. This is a movie that often finishes quite high on Christmas movie lists, but can also be quite polarizing which is why, I suspect, it finishes near the middle of this countdown.
8. Love Actually
Love Actually started off with a bang by winning its first matchup by almost 100 votes. With that kind of momentum I expected it to easily fly into the Top 5 movies, but it started to lose steam as the matchups got harder, eventually losing out to the number one movie.
7. White Christmas
White Christmas coming in at number seven is proof positive that I didn’t rig this vote. Bing Crosby crooning to White Christmas is THE Christmas soundtrack in our household and White Christmas is, personally, one of my favourite Christas movies.
6. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
Since its releases in 1989, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’s tale of Clark Griswold has been a holiday favourite for many people. I got a number of message from people who were upset this didn’t make it farther in the voting. But the people have spoken and Chevy Chase’s movie falls just outside the top five.
5. The Santa Clause
I don’t dislike The Santa Clause, but I am definitely surprised it made it so far in the voting. It seems Tim Allen’s movie about a local man that accidentally becomes Santa, is a holiday favourite for many people and it starts our Top 5 Christmas movies ever.
4. A Christmas Carol
The Charles Dicken’s classic that gave us Scrooge, Tiny Tim and dreams of Christmas spirits visiting us in our sleep is iconic. You can’t spend a holiday season without seeing A Christmas Carol performed on tv, in theatre, a local school or parodied in commercials everywhere. I’m a touch surprised it’s not a bit higher, but number four is still very respectable.
3. The Grinch Who Stole Christmas (2000)
Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch Who Stole Christmas is my personal favourite holiday movie. Since it was released in 2000 I always make sure to watch it every year. I love the performance that Jim Carrey puts in and although it’s strange that Cindy Lou Who is now the lead singer of a metal band called The Pretty Reckless, it seems almost everyone agrees this is one of the best Christmas movies ever.
2. Home Alone
This is even MORE evidence that I did not rig this vote. I cannot for the life of me understand how this movie is so popular. I watched it again last year just to make sure I wasn’t missing out on anything and I really feel like I’m not. Clearly, however, I’m in the minority as Home Alone destroyed all of its competition on the way to just falling short to the eventual winner. If you love Home Alone, please leave me a comment as to why, because I just don’t get it.
1.Elf
The winner of Dashing Dad’s Best Christmas Movie Ever poll is Elf! This Will Ferrel classic brings so much positivity to the holiday season and is a big reason why it’s a favourite for so many people. Will Ferrel’s over the top performance brought us amazing lines and taught us that the four food groups are actually Candy, Candy Canes, Candy Corn and Syrup. While Elf doesn’t usually come on top in any major Christmas movie polls, it always makes the lists and it’s easy to see why Instagram voters decided Elf is the best Christmas move ever.
Read more of Dashing Dad’s articles like:
- Dashing Dad’s Holiday Gift Guide
- 16 Free Things To Do With Your Kids
- Awesome Day Trips To Take Around Calgary
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