Beck’s Favorite Holiday Films

What better way to dive into this winter’s (albeit snowless) Winter Wonderland than with La Puma‘s Top 10 Best Christmas Movies of All Time?

1.Elf– Starring comedian Will Ferrell as a massive elf, this flick follows a pilgrimage in which the awkward Buddy (Ferrell) runs into the expectations of the real world. From Buddy facing scorn for eating syrup on his spaghetti to his reunion with his estranged dad, Elf offers a fuzzy tale jam-packed with comedy.

2. Frosty the Snowman– Another classic Christmas story, this flick tells the tale of cultural icon Frosty, a live snowman, following his birth from a magical hat to his heartwarming interactions with the neighborhood kids who accidentally bring him to life.

3. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer– A 1964 animation, this is a definite classic. On its surface it is a cutesy children’s tale, but it reveals that a social misfit can grow into a success.

4.The Polar Express– Based on the novel by Chris Van Allsburg, a boy travels to the North Pole viatrain, learning about bravery, friendship, and the joy of hot chocolate. Released in 2004, the film enjoyed a then record-breaking budget of $165 million. For that price-tag, it’s a good thing this holiday classic never disappoints.

5. A Christmas Story-Directed by Bob Clark, this 1983 comedy is set in the 1940s and follows protagonist Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley), as he tries to convince his parents and teacher to let an air-rifle–the Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-shot Range Model–greet him on Christmas morning. Consisting, much like The Wizard of Oz, of an overarching dream, this flick is sure to please persistent kids and overcautious adults alike.

6. It’s a Wonderful Life-Starring Hollywood icon Jimmy Stewart, this 1946 fantasy is heavenly. Following suicidal businessman George Bailey (Stewart), this story unfolds as an angel pays an earthly visit to convince Bailey to stay in this world.  

7. Home Alone– The original of the series, this Christmas flick shows 8-year old Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) defending his home from 2 burglars after being left behind by his vacationing family. It was the highest-grossing live action comedy film of all time when it was released in 1990.

8. Die Hard– This 1988 movie isn’t your typical holiday flick. Suspenseful and action-packed, Die Hard follows NYPD officer John McClane (Bruce Willis) on Christmas Eve as he tries to save his wife (Bonnie Bedelia) and his 2 daughters from a German terrorist. In other words, it’s the nontraditional holiday route.

9. How the Grinch Stole Christmas– This classic features Dr. Seuss’s grumpy Grinch. This Christmas-hater transforms and encourages the rest of us to defend the season we love.

10. Home Alone 2– However unlikely, the McCallister family again forgets their son at Christmas. We love to follow his shenanigans nonetheless.