I absolutely love the Christmas season, and one of my favorite things to do during December is watch all the classic, beloved Christmas movies I can. It’s been a bright spot in the middle of wrapping up the Fall semester! While my favorites are probably ones you’re familiar with, there are a couple of somewhat niche films on my list.

Here are my top 10 Christmas movies:

Christmas with the Kranks

Though admittedly there are parts of this movie that make me cringe (like Tim Allen’s whole character, and the ham getting runover by a truck scene), I love how heartwarming the story is, especially the depiction of neighborliness and coming together. I also appreciate how quirky the neighbors are and how the smalltown nosiness drives the film’s conflict forward.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Naturally I’m talking about the classic claymation film here! Rudolph gave me a love for reindeers in general; some of my favorite Christmas décor pieces are or feature reindeer. I also catch myself humming the songs often. Rudolph definitely makes me nostalgic for childhood Christmases.

White Christmas

I’m a big musical fan, so ever since I was introduced to White Christmas, it’s become a staple, usually one to put on while I decorate the tree. (And of course I’m singing along the whole time I hang ornaments!) Beyond the music, I also love the storyline. It’s romcom flavor makes it feel timeless.

Spirited

A newer Christmas movie, and another musical! If you haven’t heard of it, Spirited is a sequel to A Christmas Carol, set many, many years in the future. Not only are the songs a bop, but the story plays off of the original story in creative and clever ways. Also, with Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell starring, you know it’s a funny movie.

The Polar Express

Okay, I will admit: the animation has not aged well, which is unfortunate. (This is one classic movie I would actually accept being remade in live-action.) But I still love this movie, with its tender story and sweet music. The Polar Express is the perfect late-night Christmas movie, always best watched with nothing but the Christmas tree lights on and a mug of piping hot chocolate.

The Man Who Invented Christmas

Another appearance of A Christmas Carol! (It is a classic for a reason, after all.) Like Spirited, The Man Who Invented Christmas is a more recent take, but focuses on Dickens writing the classic novel we all know today. Though it is fictionalized, it’s decently accurate at capturing real elements of his life and the unusual circumstances around A Christmas Carol’s publication. Plus, I find the movie’s portrayal of an author and his writing process—complete with characters talking back—very relatable. I particularly love watching this one with my mom.

The Grinch Who Stole Christmas (with Jim Carrey)

My family knows this movie so well, we probably quote it at least once a week (and that’s a low estimate). In fact, when we watch this movie, we mostly just pay attention to my dad, who will basically quote the entire thing as it plays. No other version of the Grinch story can top the Jim Carrey version.

The Nativity Story

This movie is extremely underrated; no one seems to remember it. It might be the best film portrayal of the birth of Christ. It stays faithful to the events recorded in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, but incorporates small details to bring out the cultural context of living under Roman rule, as well as ones that emphasize the social cost for Mary and Joseph. It’s a beautiful depiction of Jesus’s birth, and a film we watch every Christmas morning.

It’s A Wonderful Life

I absolutely love this movie. Though a long-time classic, I was only introduced to it relatively recently, and ever since, it’s one I look forward to rewatching every year. The themes are exceptional: a celebration of ordinary life, and a reminder that even disappointments and setbacks can be used for good.

Klaus

What to say about my favorite Christmas movie? Other than you should definitely watch it! I’m a fan of creative art style in animation, and this film is beautifully animated. It also has a great soundtrack; I wrote my Christmas novel and other holiday stories to it. And the story is extremely clever: an origin of Santa Claus that creatively weaves together all the pieces of Santa lore. Excellent movie.

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What are your Christmas must-watch movies?