Happy Festivus! And if it’s Festivus, well, it’s certainly the season for holiday movies—and your opportunity to weigh in with your favorites—and some new “categories” for consideration!
Last year The Griswold’s Christmas Vacation topped the list, as it had the year before, while in 2017 it was A Christmas Story, in 2016 It was a Wonderful Life during Christmas Vacation with an Elf, and in 2015, It was a Miracle on 34th Street.
So, what about 2020?
Watched ‘Parties’
Apparently many of this week’s respondents have already gotten into the holiday mood by checking out many of the options on our list. Here are the ones that at least 10% of respondents have (already) seen (at least once):
45% - Elf
45% - How the Grinch Stole Christmas (cartoon)
37.5% - A Charlie Brown Christmas
37.5% - Christmas Vacation
37.5% - Home Alone
30% - Santa Clause, The
27.5% - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
25% - It’s a Wonderful Life
22.5% - A Christmas Story
22.5% - How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Jim Carrey version)
22.5% - Polar Express, The
20% - Miracle on 34th Street (traditional, with Natalie Wood)
20% - Frosty the Snowman
17.5% - Scrooged
17.5% - Love, Actually
17.5% - Die Hard
17.5% - A Christmas Carol (George C. Scott version)
15% - Holiday, The (Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jack Black, Jude Law)
12.5% - A Christmas Carol (Patrick Stewart version)
12.5% - Bad Santa
10% - Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
10% - Year Without a Santa Claus, The
10% - White Christmas
10% - Four Christmas’s
10% - Fred Claus
10% - The Family Stone
10% - Miracle on 34th Street (new)
10% - Muppet’s Christmas Carol
10% - Santa Clause is Coming to Town
“Never” Land
Now, over the years we’ve managed to accumulate a list that includes not only very common, but also some offbeat, and even esoteric choices—and this year we asked readers which one(s) they hadn’t seen—and here’s the ones that half (or more) have never seen:
84% - Dan in Real Life
76% - Come to the Stable
76% - On the 2nd Day of Christmas
76% - Bernard & the Genie
71% - Very Bundy Christmas, A
71% - Three Godfathers
66% - The Lemon Drop Kid (w/Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell)
66% - Ref, The (Editor’s Note: I highly recommend this one—Kevin Spacey and Dennis Leary at their best!)
63% - In the Good Old Summertime/The Shop Around the Corner
61% - Emmett Otter’s JugBand Christmas (Muppets)
61% - Noelle
61% - Christmas Shoes, The
61% - Miser Brothers Christmas, The
58% - Christmas in Connecticut
55% - Going My Way
53% - Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
50% - The Bishop’s Wife
50% - Toy That Saved Christmas, The
Least Liked
And while most holiday movies bring a smile (and sometimes a tear) to our collective faces, this year we asked readers if there was one of those that they “just can’t stand.” In fairness, fewer than half of this week’s respondents were able/willing to name one, but among those who did, here were the most least favored:
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Jim Carrey version)
A Christmas Story
Bad Santa
Elf
There’s some irony there—so keep reading.
Other Comments
We got a number of additional reader comments this week (as we generally do). Here’s a sampling:
I am disappointed that I have not seen A Very Bundy Christmas. I will have to look that one up!
Staying home and celebrating in my new home with my husband. Looking forward to making a Cajun seafood boil for dinner!
This is truly a year to remember and the nostalgia of watching the old specials is always special in my family. My sister and I even do the “sister” act together from White Christmas!
Missing the parties and seeing friends! Binge watching shows are getting old and just can’t wait to celebrate the beginning of 2021.
Unlike most people, I’m actually not much o f a Home Alone fan—a one-joke movie and not a good one at that. Nothing worse than watching Scrooged, tho—not one of Bill Murray’s finest moments. On the other hand, Heat Mister and Snow Miser rule-- I even wrote an article on them: https://cammackretirement.com/knowledge-center/topofmind/retirement-plan-committee-members-why-you-shouldnt-be-a-heat-or-snow-miser
Every year my wife and I watch It’s a Wonderful Life late Christmas Eve, after the kids go to bed and the present are put out under the tree.
Why does retail start playing holiday songs after Halloween?
If you’re sick, or have been exposed, stay home. If not, get out there and see your elderly relatives. We’ve only got so much time on this rock—don’t punish the elderly with your absence because of fear.
Home Alone 2 should be placed on this list unless we consider “Home Alone” to be an option that represents the entire franchise.
I’m impressed you listed Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas. I only know one other person who has seen it. It is a touching story and one of my favorites. It’s also amazing how nearly 60 years later many of these shows live on with such great popularity.
We’ve also watch a bunch of cheesy movies off Hulu and Netflix that are Christmas related (think Hallmark type movies).
A Christmas Story is the epitome of an ANTI-Christmas movie....
I feel like I have gotten the chance to watch fewer holiday movies than usual this year. When your office is in the dining room it’s hard not to be at work.
You left out “It Happened on 5th Avenue”
I’ll be watching movies all day long on Christmas! Happy Holidays to every at NAPA! :)
Staying home, a small Christmas and probably lots of movie watching.
Watch “Klaus” with your kids/grandkids. It’s a fabulous little cartoon that gives a fun rendition of how Santa came to be.
Favorite ‘Sums’
But of course, the real focus of this week’s NAPA-Net Reader Poll is your favorite holiday movie(s).
There was a multi-way tie for #10, including Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, It’s a Wonderful Life, Jingle All the Way, Meet Me in St. Louis, The Holiday, The Family Stone, How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Jim Carrey version), A Christmas Carol (Alistair Sim version), How the Grinch Stole Christmas (cartoon), and The Polar Express.
There was also a multi-way tie in the next group: The Year Without a Santa Claus, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and Love, Actually.
As for the rest, Elf & Home Alone tied for fourth, which means that the top three were:
#3 - Miracle on 34th Street (traditional, with Natalie Wood)
#2 - Christmas Vacation—the “reining” (pun intended) champion has been dethroned by…
#1 - A Christmas Story!
Thanks to everyone who participated in this week’s NAPA-Net Reader Poll! Enjoy your holiday—and all those wonderful holiday movies!
