The magic of Christmas is just around the corner. What better way to get in the mood than by immersing yourself in these good old (or newer) Christmas films that have the ability to warm our hearts? From timeless classics to the genre’s best comedies, here are 35 must-see Christmas movies:
The classics
The Miracle of the 34the Street
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This “remake” of the 1947 film of the same name is one of the greatest Christmas classics re-aired every year on American networks. It features a friendly old man who claims to be the real Santa Claus.
► Available on Illico, iTunes and Crave
Mom, I missed the plane
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This Chris Columbus classic is probably the best adventure comedy to watch with the family this Christmas. It hasn’t aged a bit since it was released 30 years ago.
► Available on Illico, iTunes and Crave
Boreal Express
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This great story by Robert Zemeckis, starring Tom Hanks, takes us aboard a mysterious train heading to the North Pole.
► Available on Illico, iTunes, Crave
Life is beautiful
This 1946 Frank Capra classic is hard to miss. It tells the story of an angel who descends from heaven to cheer up a depressed father.
► Available on Illico, iTunes and Crave and presented December 24th at 8pm on CTV and NBC.
Doctor March’s four daughters
Louisa May Alcott’s famous novel, brought to the screen by Australian Gillian Armstrong back in 1994, was the subject of a new, much more modern and rhythmic adaptation produced last year by Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird).
► Available on iTunes
Jack the snowman
Michael Keaton stars in this whimsical comedy based on a rather eccentric idea: a father who died on Christmas Eve is reincarnated a year later in the form of a snowman designed by his son.
► Available on iTunes
On the trail of Santa Claus
Tim Allen plays a divorced father who has to replace Santa Claus in this 1994 Disney film.
► Available on Illico and iTunes
a Christmas Story
After playing the Grinch, Jim Carrey revisits the character of Scrooge in this film adaptation of Charles Dickens’ work, directed by Robert Zemeckis.
► Available on iTunes
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms
An essential ballet of the holiday season, The Nutcracker has been brought to the screen many times, most notably in this film by Lasse Hallström starring Mackenzie Foy and Keira Knightley.
► Available on iTunes and Illico
The melody of happiness
A classic that we always enjoy watching at this time of year, even if the story of the film has no real connection to Christmas.
► Available on iTunes
Comedies
The tree has balls
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This 1980s classic is another Christmas comedy that hits the mark every time. The film stars the indefatigable Chevy Chase as a bumbling family man who is willing to do anything to create the perfect Christmas Eve.
► Available on Illico and iTunes
The Elf
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Will Ferrell delivers a performance that is both touching and hilarious as a tall naïve raised by elves who comes to New York to find his true father. Probably one of the best Christmas comedies.
► Offered on Illico, Club Illico and Crave
Dr. Seuss: the miser who wanted to ruin Christmas
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In this adaptation of the famous Christmas story by Dr. Seuss, Jim Carrey at his best takes on the role of the Grinch in this type of role.
► Available on Illico and iTunes
Bad Santa Claus
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Forget the beautiful image of good old, sweet and friendly Santa Claus. Billy Bob Thornton plays a dirty, vulgar and nasty Santa Claus in this black comedy that stands out from other films in the genre.
► Available on Illico, iTunes, Crave and Netflix
The day before
Did you like “The Hangover” film series? You might like this Christmas comedy with three young men who are a little too party-loving.
► Available on Illico and iTunes
Four Christmases
Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn form an effective comedy duo in this comedy that chronicles the misadventures of a couple who must travel four Christmas Eves in a single day.
► Available on Illico and Netflix
Christmas with the Kranks
Tim Allen (him again!) stars alongside Sigourney Weaver in this comedy that follows the adventures of a couple who plan to skip Christmas one year to go on a cruise to the Caribbean.
► Available on Illico and iTunes
Christmas with the Muppets
The classic Christmas carol by Charles Dickens, reworked and corrected by the Muppets puppets with Michael Caine in the role of Scrooge. Who says it better?
► Available on iTunes
The race for the toy
Who has never had to run to the shops on Christmas Eve to find the ideal gift for their loved ones? In this family comedy from Brian Levant, Arnold Schwarzenegger plays a father who embarks on a crazy race to find the prized toy – a Turboman figure – that will make his son dream.
► Available on Illico, Crave and iTunes
Celebrate spirits
The irresistible Bill Murray plays a cynical and selfish television boss in this comedy from Richard Donner (“The Goonies”), loosely based on Dickens’ Christmas Carol.
► Available on iTunes
Calming films
Really love
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In the category of heartwarming films for the holiday season, it doesn’t get much better than this delightful British comedy-drama that tells the love stories of a dozen characters as Christmas approaches. A film that tastes like a Christmas candy cane.
► Available on Illico, Crave and iTunes
public holidays
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Two young women (Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet), who continue to be disappointed by men, decide to swap apartments during the holidays to change their lives. Obviously then they will finally find love.
► Available on Illico, iTunes and Netflix
The Stone family
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In this ensemble film, Sarah Jessica Parker plays an unsympathetic and, frankly, too uptight daughter-in-law who narrates the Christmas of a woman with cancer (played by Diane Keaton) who welcomes her adult children for one last New Year’s Eve.
► Available on Illico, Crave and iTunes
Genre films
Tragic Christmas
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Although the holidays are mostly synonymous with celebration, Christmas has also inspired several horror films. One of the most famous is certainly this thriller from 1974, which is about a group of young university students who have to deal with a serial killer.
► Available on Illico and iTunes
Gremlins
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Legend has it that filmmaker Joe Dante was inspired by Steven Spielberg’s Jaws to create this 1984 cult film about small creatures that are as funny as they are frightening.
► Available on Illico, Crave and iTunes
Crystal trap
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Should the action thriller “Crystal Trap” be considered a Christmas film simply because its action takes place on the evening of December 24th? This very serious debate has raged among fans of the genre for more than 30 years. One thing is clear to us: “The Crystal Trap” is a really good Christmas film.
► Available on Illico, Crave and iTunes
animated films
Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!
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In this animated classic, which has aired annually on American television since its premiere in 1965, Charlie Brown attempts to find the true spirit of Christmas.
► Available on iTunes
Klaus
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Klaus is one of the most beautiful animated Christmas films of recent years and deals with the legend surrounding the birth of Santa Claus.
► Available on Netflix
The nightmare before Christmas
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If you love Halloween as much as you love Christmas, this animated film by Henry Selick, based on an original story by Tim Burton, is for you. It’s about Jack Skelligton, the king of Halloween Town, who tries to spread Christmas cheer.
► Available on Illico and iTunes
Films from Quebec
Thank you for everything
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This dramatic comedy from director Louise Archambault (“It was Raining Birds”) is set during the holiday season and follows the adventures of two sisters in the Antipodes (Julie Perreault and Magalie Lépine-Blondeau) who set out to retrieve the ashes of their children father to spread on the Îles – de-la-Madeleine.
► Available on Illico, Crave and iTunes
The Tuque War
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“There is snow there.” This popular Tale for All, set during the Christmas holidays, contains some of the most famous lines in the history of Quebec cinema.
► Available on Illico and iTunes
Red nose
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One of the rare true Quebec Christmas films, this comedy from Érik Canuel (Bon Cop, Bad Cop) stars Patrick Huard and Michèle Barbara Pelletier in the roles of a literary critic and a writer who must team up in Operation Red Nose.
► Offered on Illico
My uncle Antoine
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This 1970 masterpiece by Claude Jutra takes us to a small mining town in Quebec on Christmas Eve.
► Available on Illico, iTunes and the NFB website.
French films
Santa Claus is trash
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In this crazy and hilarious comedy from 1982, the famous actors of the Splendid troupe (Gérard Jugnot, Thierry Lhermitte, Anémone, Christian Clavier, etc.) invite us to experience an incomparable Christmas in a call center for people in need.
► Available on the Télé Québec platform
Merry Christmas
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On December 24th, during the First World War, French, German and Scottish regiments decided to forget the conflict between them for one evening to celebrate Christmas together. A beautiful film that combines history and the magic of Christmas.
► Available on iTunes