Whether you’re with family or alone, most people can agree that it’s one of the most classic activities. To get in the spirit of Christmas, I’ve made a list (and checked it twice) of my top 5
Christmas movies within three categories: Animated, Live Action, and Christmas Adjacent. 

Animated Movies

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The Nightmare Before Christmas theatrical poster.

1. “The Nightmare Before Christmas”
   “The Nightmare Before Christmas” was the biggest part of my childhood. It was released in 1993, made by Tim Burton. The movie was actually filmed with stop motion animation, which is moving clay figures and taking a picture for every frame. It was super successful, making $50 million and becoming a key feature in many people’s childhoods. There’s a lot of debate on whether it’s a Halloween or Christmas movie, but I believe it can be both.
2. Grinch (2018)
3. Grinch (1966)
4. Klaus
5. Charlie Brown Christmas

Live Action

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1. A Clüsterfünke Christmas
   A Clüsterfünke Christmas is a really underrated movie, in my opinion. The movie is a satire remake of Hallmark movies, poking fun at all the cheesy aspects that makes a Hallmark movie what it is, like the overuse of the same romantic tropes. I think everyone should give this a try, especially if they like comedy, and don’t like Hallmark movies.
2. Christmas with the Kranks
3. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
4. Home Alone
5. Elf

Christmas Adjacent

(A Christmas adjacent movie is a movie that isn’t Christmas, but has Christmas themes in the background.)

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1. Mean Girls
   While not a Christmas movie, Mean Girls still has Christmas in it, when the girls do a Christmas Dance to “Jingle Bells” in the talent show in their school. Mean Girls has always been one of my favorite movies to watch any time of the year. If you haven’t seen it, you absolutely should.
2. Rise of the Guardians
3. Die Hard
4. Gremlins
5. Harry Potter