On repeat: Christmas movies to watch again this year

Scrooged (1988)
Love Actually (2003)
Jingle all the Way (1996)
Frozen (2013)
Edward Scissorshands (1990)
Polar Express (2004)
The Nightmare Before Christmas  (1993)
Home Alone (1990)
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
Gremlins (1984)
Frozen II (2019)
The Family Man (2000)
Elf (2003)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
Arthur Christmas (2011)
The Princess Switch (2018)
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms  (2018)
Klaus (2019)
Bad Santa (2003)
Christmas with the Kranks (2004)
It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
A Christmas Carol (almost one every year)
Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
The Snowman (1982)
Scrooged (1988)

To start this list of classics, let's kick off with this brilliant 80's adaptation of Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol'. A wonderful, timeless piece starring Bill Murray. It really is Murray at his best.

Love Actually (2003)

This movie is truly a guilty pleasure for Christmas and pretty much any time of the year. It is a great classic film that critics and audiences love.

Jingle all the Way (1996)

Arnie proved he had a talent for comedy. Watching him running around all the shops in New York, battling for a Turbo-Man for his son for Christmas, is just plain hilarious.

Frozen (2013)

This unexpected success empowered Disney princesses and gave the world one of the best winter characters: Olaf. For many families, watching 'Frozen' at Christmas will have now become a tradition.

Edward Scissorshands (1990)

It has been more than 30 years since Tim Burton made the world fall in love with this dark but romantic Christmas tale. Edward Scissorhands is the story of a troubled soul looking for his place in the world but the world won't let him find his place. Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder form one of the most romantic couples in 90s cinema.

Polar Express (2004)

In 'Polar Express' we find a message of hope and friendship through the eyes of a child who questions the existence of Father Christmas. A masterpiece that has aged beautifully and continues to provide great Christmas pleasure.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

The music is wonderful and the animation is fascinating. The Nightmare Before Christmas is one of those rare holiday films full of comedy and adventure, yet horrifying and heartwarming.

Home Alone (1990)

This brilliant Christmas movie became an instant classic. It's funny and heartwarming with a fantastic cast and of course, a Christmas message. Kevin runs rings around the hapless thieves who want to ruin everyone's holiday.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

Who doesn't love the Grinch: the bitter enemy of Christmas? This is a film that is not necessarily 'excellent' but is certainly good Christmas entertainment. Jim Carrey is superb as always and the world of Dr. Seuss is as wonderful as it is weird.

Gremlins (1984)

This magnificent 80's film is just brilliant and is everything you want from a Christmas film. Just follow three simple rules or chaos is in store. A midnight snack anyone?

Frozen II (2019)

It doesn't reach the excellence of the first installment, but 'Frozen 2' embraces Elsa's more adventurous side and embarks on a search for her roots that provides an answer to the origin of her powers.

The Family Man (2000)

Is Nicolas Cage in a family Christmas movie? Yes, he is. And he is very good indeed. The actor plays a single, money-grabbing stockbroker who, after a car accident on Christmas Eve, wakes up in an alternate reality where he sells tires in New Jersey, gets married, and has two children. Don't forget that Mr. Cage has an Oscar for Best Actor.

Elf (2003)

In 'Elf' Will Ferrell pulls out all of his comedy excellence to play a child who is raised as one of Santa's elves after sneaking into his sack of presents on one Christmas Eve. When he grows up, being three times taller than the elves, they decide it's best for him to look for his real father. Where? Naturally, in New York, one of the most photogenic cities in the world at Christmas.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)

It is not strictly a Christmas classic, but it does have a certain atmosphere and spirit that is typical of this time of year. So yes, we include it as an option. Tim Burton just feels good for Christmas.

Arthur Christmas (2011)

How is Father Christmas able to deliver all the presents in the world in one night? That question has a technological answer and is revealed in this film by the creators of 'Wallace & Gromit'.

The Princess Switch (2018)

Vanessa Hudgens as Netflix's Christmas princess is something we didn't see coming but will be eternally grateful for. The actress is perfect for this type of romantic comedy and, besides, Victorian dresses suit her wonderfully. They just needed to perhaps make her sing more, which she also does splendidly. By the way, the story is the oft-told tale of two people who accidentally swap lives.

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018)

The story of Clara, a girl who travels to a parallel world where she must open an important gift left to her by her deceased mother. An unusual adventure, based on the mythical tale of the Nutcracker, which also features stars such as Keira Knightley and Morgan Freeman.

Klaus (2019)

In this film, we meet Jesper, a pitiful postman who is sent to a destination where no one mails letters to. That destination is Santa's hideout. The story works by combining a purely Christmas message with some really dark moments.

Bad Santa (2003)

Billy Bob Thornton playing Billy Bob Thornton. A bitter guy with a drinking problem who works as Father Christmas in a shopping mall. After robbing the mall, the day before Christmas Eve, something starts to change in the character, as if his soul is escaping from his body.

Christmas with the Kranks (2004)

Don't say 'Christmas', say 'Tim Allen'. The actor is the Mariah Carey of Christmas movies, and in 2004 he teamed up with all-rounder Jamie Lee Cutis to play a married couple who have to put together a perfect Christmas in a few hours to cheer up their daughter.

It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

Of course, it is the quintessential Christmas film. This Frank Capra masterpiece was 75 years old in 2021. We get a wonderful James Stewart, a guardian angel; and a perfect tale of how our actions affect others, even if we don't realize it. The great classic of classics for Christmas.

A Christmas Carol (almost one every year)

Charles Dickens’ tale of holiday-hating miserable grump Ebenezer Scrooge, and how he changes his ways after visits from three ghosts, has become a Christmas staple. There have been so many versions and adaptations over the years but we must give a special shout-out to the Muppets' version from 1992, starring Michael Caine.

Miracle on 34th Street (1994)

A lawyer and a little girl must prove that a man claiming to be Santa Claus is really who he says he is. Richard Attenborough is wonderful and brings all the joy and warmth you would want from a Christmas movie.

The Snowman (1982)

After a boy makes a snowman on Christmas Eve, it magically comes to life taking him on an adventure to the North Pole to meet Father Christmas. Based on Raymond Briggs' 1978 children's book of the same name.