30 of the Best Christmas Movies To Watch this December

We LOVE Christmas movies here at Attachment Towers. They're the perfect way to get in a festive mood, and great entertainment to boot.  With 30 days to go until the big day, here are 30 of our favourite festive films, one a day, to get you completely Christmas-ed up.  Enjoy!


It's a Wonderful Life

Hot dog! indeed.  The ultimate Christmas film, this Frank Capra delight has snow, festive atmosphere, an angel, and plenty of good cheer.  Not to mention reaffirming your faith in humanity.  Makes me cry. Every. Single. Time.

Buy It's a Wonderful Life

Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

Merry Christmas, ya filthy animal!  Still funny, still brilliant, this film doesn't date at all.  And for extra Christmas oomph, the second one has festive New York, in snow.

Buy Home Alone

Miracle on 34th Street

More New York, New York, starting at Thanksgiving with the Macy's Cole's Christmas Parade, working its way round the city and culminating in super schmaltz when a little girl gets everything she ever wanted for Christmas.  Whether you opt for the original or the re-make (or both!), it's a must-see. Attachment Mummy believes.

Buy Miracle on 34th Street


Jingle All the Way

New York and Macy's Parade again.  Why do the Yanks make better Christmas films than anyone else?  All parents know the panic of trying to get the must-have present of the year, and here Arnold Schwarzenegger is brilliant as a panic dad trying to get his son a Turboman.  Real laugh out loud stuff.

Buy Jingle All the Way

Deck the Halls

This rather camp comedy sees Danny DeVito up against Matthew Broderick in a contest to see who can create the best and biggest Christmas decorations.  Some slightly inappropriate moments, but good fun.

Buy Deck the Halls

A Charlie Brown Christmas

This 1965 Christmas special is a holiday must.  Charlie feels depressed at the season of good cheer becoming so commercialised, and struggles to find any joy or meaning it all.  But when Linus reminds him of the true meaning of Christmas, there is hope again.  When the whole gang gathers together to celebrate, joy is restored.  The wonderful jazz score and sweet message will stay with you.

Buy A Charlie Brown Christmas


Holiday Inn

A crooner and a hoofer are holed up for the holidays in a snowbound inn, cue lots of festive wranglings and the first outing for that festive classic, White Christmas. The combination of Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby and Irving Berlin means this movie must be brilliant. If you love a bit of Bing at Christmas, this is perfect.

Buy Holiday Inn

White Christmas

The song White Christmas proved so popular that a second movie was made a decade later, with similar basic plot - stranded at a snowy holiday inn in Vermont, but a different story. Beautifully sentimental, and some wonderful costumes. Treat yourself and watch them both. I do!

Buy White Christmas

Serendipity

New York again in this contemporary love story of serendipity, fate, destiny vs. free will. Not strictly a Christmas film, but it soes begin and end at Christmas in the world's greatest department store, Bloomingdale's. This cheery film is my default background for wrapping presents, with its charming story and believable performances from John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale. Lovely.

Buy Serendipity


Bad Santa

Definitely not a family film, but this story of redemption and the inherent good in people is packed with laughs and plenty of non-political correctness. Billy Bob Thornton at his swearing, hard-drinking, chain-smoking, criminal, self-loathing finest.

Buy Bad Santa

Young at Heart

Frank Sinatra is another Christmas classic crooner, and this delicious film named after its popular song, stars him as downbeat Barney Sloan alongside wholesome Doris Day as cheery Laurie Tuttle. Despite finding love, Sloan's depressive nature leads him to try to commit suicide and the scene where he drives into oncoming traffic in a snowstorm with his windscreen wipers off is a heart-stopper. It's set all year round so not strictly a Christmas film, but that snow scene makes it a Christmas classic for me.

Buy Young at Heart

Polar Express

Believe. A disillusioned little boy, a magical train, fun characters, thrilling action scenes, big musical numbers like the hot chocolate scene, and a mesmerising arrival at the North Pole, this is a modern Christmas classic. Our daughters' favourite film, ever.

Buy Polar Express


The Shop Around the Corner

Essentially the plot of Meg Ryan-Tom Hanks film You've Got Mail but done earlier and better by Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullavan. Based on a Hungarian play, this is one of the best romantic comedies ever. Watch it on a rainy afternoon and smile.

Buy The Shop Around the Corner

Scrooge

So many versions, so many adaptations, but the sublime Alistair Sim is never bettered in this classic film of Dickens' A Christmas Carol, considered the most true to the original text. The ultimate story of Christmas redemption, the spirit of the season, and goodwill to all men. God bless us every one.

Buy Scrooge

Christmas with the Coopers

When four generations of the Cooper clan come together for their annual Christmas Eve celebration, a series of unexpected visitors and unlikely events turns the night upside down. As conflicts are resolved and secrets revealed, family bonds are strengthened and the true spirit of Christmas reigns.

Buy Christmas with the Coopers


Die Hard

Another film with many imitators and sequels, but none is better than this Christmas-filled action adventure starring a man in a vest. Alan Rickman is the ultimate villain and the twists and turns never fail to disappoint, however many times you've seen it.

Buy Die Hard

Little Women

Not strictly a Christmas movie, but with its homespun joy, a good sprinkling of snow, and a rather swoonsome Gabriel Byrne, it has enough festive cheer to make a Christmas classic for me. Like a big film hug.

Buy Little Women

The Muppet Christmas Carol

This Muppet-filled retelling of the classic tale sets Kermit, Miss Piggy, Gonzo as Charles Dickens, and friends - plus Michael Caine - in Victorian London. Sounds like a nightmare but this heartwarming film does justice to Dickens and brings the Scrooge story to life for younger viewers - gives the grown-ups a great excuse to watch it too 😉

Buy The Muppet Christmas Carol


The Family Stone

Another mixed up family with secrets and issues, all being played out and resolved over Christmas. With twists and upsets a-plenty, this tale of uptight broad meets free spirited, relaxed family is funny, warms the cockles, and be=rings a tear to the eye more than once.

Buy The Family Stone

Santa Who

This made-for-TV movie starring Leslie Nielsen as a Father Christmas who has lost his memory is a surprising hit with kids. It owes more than a passing nod to the superior Miracle on 34th Street but is a jolly tale with more than enough magic to entertain all the family. After all, who could resist the chance to help Santa and have him stay in their home?!

Buy Santa Who

Meet Me in St Louis

This charming musical is set throughout the year, but has enough Christmas-ness to add it to the list. And who can resist the dramatic Yuletide scenes, including the stunning debut of that holiday perennial Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. Make sure you sing along to the Trolley Song too! Ding, ding, ding....

Buy Meet Me in St Louis


Arthur Christmas

Superb animation, a truly funny story and a big helping of Father Christmas himself (not seen in many Christmas films), Arthur Christmas is a modern classic that stands head and shoulders above the rest. With enough quips in this smart script for grown-ups, this charming family film is a hit. And who doesn't want to know the Christmas's back story?

Buy Arthur Christmas

The Holiday and/or Bridget Jones's Diary

Schmaltzy, yes; contrived, yes; completely ludicrous representation of England, yes, but oh it's lovely. Perfect Christmas romance. Want your romance with a few more laughs? Try Bridget Jones instead, which begins and ends at Christmas.

Buy The Holiday

Dr Zhivago

Again, not strictly a Christmas film, but all that snow makes it as Christmassy as it comes. A wonderful epic journey across Russia and through history, with a beautiful love story at its heart. My favourite film ever.

Buy Dr Zhivago


The Snowman and The Snowman & The Snowdog

The Snowman has been a Christmas classic since its release and is as ubiquitous as mince pies and Quality Street. A simple delight with no words, other than that classic song, it is as wonderful today as it ever was. Now joined by The Snowman and the Snowdog, guaranteed to bring a tear to any pet owner's eye, another beautiful tale that has become an essential family classic.

Buy The Snowman and The Snowdog

Nativity 1, 2 and 3

My daughters love this franchise, full of crazy antics from Mr Poppy (Marc Wootton) and with foils including Martin Freeman, David Tennant and Martin Clunes. Surprisingly well-acted and well-scripted comedies which are perfect family entertainment and full of Christmas joy.

Buy Nativity! (and the sequels)

Have a very happy pre-Christmas!

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