Monday, December 23, 2013

Top 10 Christmas Movies

A while back, I surveyed my readers on their favorite Christmas movies. Many of you said how much you'd love to see NORTH POLE HIGH turned into a movie (thank you!). But here are your top ten picks of Christmas movies that have already been made:

1. A CHRISTMAS STORY
Scott Schwartz and Peter Billingsley in "A Christmas Story"
Based on the book In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash by Jean Shepherd, this Christmas classic from the director of Black Christmas and Porky's runs continuously all Christmas Day on TBS and is also a Broadway musical!

2. MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET
Edmund Gwenn and Natalie Wood in "Miracle on 34th Street"
Santa Claus won an Oscar for his appearance in this 1947 classic in which he goes to court to prove, once and for all, that he's real.

3. IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE
James Stewart stars in "It's a Wonderful Life"
Based on a self-published short story, The Greatest Gift, by Philip Van Doren Stern. The author printed 200 copies and sent them out as Christmas cards. One of those landed at RKO and the rest is history.

4. ELF
Buddy the Elf doesn't fit in with the other elves at North Pole Elementary School
A baby accidentally stows away in Santa's sleigh and is raised in the North Pole as an elf. As an adult, he realizes he's human and sets off to find his father in New York City. Based on a true story. Really.

5. SCROOGED
Bill Murray produces a live broadcast of "A Christmas Carol" in "Scrooged"
Bill Murray is a cynical TV executive in charge of a live Christmas Eve broadcast of A Christmas Carol when he is visited by three ghosts who convince him he should have done The Sound of Music instead.

6. NATIONAL LAMPOON'S CHRISTMAS VACATION
Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold in "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation"
The Griswolds have kind of had it with traveling. Perhaps if they stay home for a quiet family Christmas dinner their luck will change?

7. THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS
Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King, plots to kidnap Santa Claus in "The Nightmare Before Christmas"
This one scares the chocolate out of me because Jack Skellington kidnaps my dad. Skellingtonnnnnn! If you must watch this one, please don't get any ideas.

8. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST: THE ENCHANTED CHRISTMAS
Belle takes the Beast ice skating in Disney's "Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas"
Belle shows the Beast the beauty in Christmas!

9. THE POLAR EXPRESS
Tom Hanks, Tom Hanks, and Tom Hanks in "The Polar Express"
Tom Hanks plays Santa Claus, a train conductor, a hobo, a young boy, and the boy's father, and narrates this young boy's magical adventures in the North Pole. Based on the 1985 book by Chris Van Allsburg.

10. EMMET OTTER'S JUG-BAND CHRISTMAS
The Muppets star in "Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas"
The Muppets bring to life Russell Hoban's Gift-of-the-Magi-esque 1971 story with songs by Paul Williams, a former elf who later wrote "The Rainbow Connection" for The Muppet Movie and all the songs for The Muppet Christmas Carol.

'Tis the season to enjoy your favorite Christmas movies all over again. With crushed candy canes sprinkled in your popcorn.

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