As someone who has spent countless winters tucked away by the fireplace, watching one holiday movie after another, I can confidently say that these films are a must-see for anyone looking to get into the holiday spirit. From the timeless retellings of classic tales like “Scrooged” and “A Christmas Carol,” to modern-day comedies like “Violent Night” and “Trading Places,” there’s something here for everyone.
The bustling period around the holidays finds almost everyone swamped. They’re rushing to buy last-minute presents, queuing in lengthy parking lots to access malls and spending quality time with their dear ones. This season is always brimming with activities. Amongst all the chaos, people find unique ways to unwind and take some personal time, helping them endure the holiday rush. One enjoyable way to relax from the madness? Enjoy a hearty Christmas-themed comedy movie.
As a self-proclaimed movie enthusiast who has spent countless hours huddled under a blanket with a box of popcorn, I can confidently say that Christmas comedy movies hold a special place in my heart. Growing up, these films were a staple of our holiday traditions, bringing laughter and joy to even the gloomiest winter days. From the classic slapstick humor of “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” to the heartwarming antics of “Elf”, these movies have a way of transporting us to a magical world where miracles happen and love conquers all.
‘A Bad Moms Christmas’
Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, and Kathryn Hahn return in the roles they played from the 2016 film “Bad Moms.” In this sequel, they find themselves navigating their own mothers’ visits during Christmas. Taking on the roles of the new moms are Christine Baranski, Cheryl Hines, and Susan Sarandon.
‘Christmas With the Kranks’
As a gamer, I’d rephrase that as:
‘Deck the Halls’
In this movie, Danny DeVito and Matthew Broderick play neighboring characters engaged in a friendly competition to outdo one another by creating the most spectacular Christmas decorations.
‘Four Christmases’
In this movie, we tag along with a pair of lovers as they attend four festive family gatherings over the Christmas season. The ensemble features Vince Vaughn, Reese Witherspoon, Robert Duvall, and Jon Favreau.
‘Friday After Next’
In the third part of the “Friday” series, titled “Friday After Next“, Ice Cube and Mike Epps reprise their roles as Craig and Day-Day. An intruder dressed as Santa Claus bursts into their home and makes off with their Christmas gifts and rent money. The movie also features guest appearances from Terry Crews and Katt Williams.
‘The Holiday’
In the holiday season of ’06, I found myself immersed in a delightful romantic comedy that went by the name of “The Holiday”. This flick was masterfully crafted by none other than Nancy Meyers herself, who took on the roles of writer, director, and co-producer. Starring an all-star cast including Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, and Jack Black, it was a heartwarming tale that I simply couldn’t resist.
‘A Medea Christmas’
In the 8th part of the “Madea” series, Tyler Perry once again takes center stage. This is his debut Christmas-themed script. Joining him in this production are actors such as Kathy Najimy, Chad Michael Murray, Anna Maria Horsford, Tika Sumpter, Eric Lively, JR Lemon, Alicia Witt, Lisa Whelchel, and Larry the Cable Guy.
‘Bad Santa’
This 2003 movie offers a dose of humor with an edge if you’re into racy comedy. Billy Bob Thornton portrays Santa Claus on a cross-country adventure with his elf, robbing malls indiscriminately until he encounters an 8-year-old boy who inspires him to change his ways. Bernie Mac joins the cast in this film, directed by Terry Zwigoff and penned by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa. The Coen Brothers serve as executive producers too. A follow-up was released in 2016.
‘Candy Cane Lane’
2023’s film titled “Candy Cane Lane” features Eddie Murphy in the lead role, directed by Reginald Hudlin. The movie revolves around Murphy’s character striking a bargain with a Christmas elf to emerge victorious in his neighborhood block’s house-decorating contest. This heartwarming comedy, boasting an impressive ensemble cast including Tracee Ellis Ross, Jillian Bell, Thaddeus J. Mixon, Ken Marino, Trevante Rhodes, David Alan Grier, and Nick Offerman, is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
‘A Christmas Story’
Every year, people look forward to watching the timeless holiday movie, “A Christmas Story.” Originally based on the 1966 book titled “In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash,” it serves as the third part of the “Parker Family” series. The story revolves around a young boy named Ralphie, portrayed by Peter Billingsley, who dreams of receiving a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas in 1939, while we follow his family during their holiday season.
‘Elf’
In this movie, it’s none other than Will Ferrell portraying a man brought up by Santa’s elves. Feeling the pull of his human heritage, he embarks on a journey that takes him to New York City, where he eventually encounters his biological father, played by James Caan. Alongside Ferrell, you’ll find Zooey Deschanel, Ed Asner, Bob Newhart, Peter Dinklage, and Jon Favreau, who also helmed the director’s chair for this film.
‘Fred Claus’
Over the holiday season, this movie features Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti, Miranda Richardson, John Michael Higgins, Elizabeth Banks, Rachel Weisz, Kathy Bates, Trevor Peacock, Ludacris, and Kevin Spacey in its cast. The film draws inspiration from “A Legend of Santa and His Brother Fred,” a poem penned by Donald Henkel.
‘Home Alone’
Back in the ’90s, I was utterly captivated by none other than “Home Alone” – a timeless holiday classic that skyrocketed Macaulay Culkin to fame as an iconic child actor. From the infamous scene where Joe Pesci’s head got torched by a flame thrower to the unforgettable line, “keep the change, you filthy animal,” this movie has left a lasting impression on me and countless others.
‘Home Alone 2: Lost in New York’
In the same league with the original, “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” remains a classic. This time around, Macaulay Culkin reappears as Kevin, now finding himself battling against Marv and Harry within the bustling city of New York. All the original characters make a comeback for this sequel. A standout scene from the movie is when Marv’s skeleton becomes visible after he gets an electric shock.
‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’
In 1957, Dr. Seuss’ timeless tale “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” was initially brought to life as a live-action movie. Starring Jim Carrey as the mischievous Grinch, this film showcases the typical physical humor that Carrey is known for in his films. Notably, “Grinch” was the inaugural full-length feature film adaptation of a Dr. Seuss book.
‘Jingle All the Way’
On a chilly Christmas Eve back in ’96, I found myself starring alongside the legendary Sinbad in a hilarious comedy. We were two dads, goaded by friendly rivalry, racing against time to grab that coveted action figure for our boys under the Christmas tree. The script was penned by none other than Chris Columbus – a mastermind of family-friendly films.
‘Love Actually’
In Love Actually, we follow ten unique narratives revolving around various characters navigating diverse facets of love during the holiday season. This beloved romantic comedy from 2003 boasts an all-star cast featuring Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Keira Knightley, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant, and Bill Nighy.
‘Miracle on 34th Street’
One of Those Heartwarming Movies Like a Christmas Miracle: 34th Street’s Miracle refers to a film that seems as if it were a genuine holiday miracle (no play on words). This movie revolves around a Santa Claus from a department store who insists he is the authentic Santa. The film was contended for four Academy Awards, among them best picture, and it won three awards in total.
‘Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas’
In 1999, the animated movie was initially launched as a direct-to-video production, predating the concept of direct-to-streaming. This holiday collection consists of three mini-stories: “Donald Duck: Stranded at Christmas,” “A Goofy Christmas,” and “Mickey and Minnie’s Magi’s Gift.
‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’
In the third part of the “Vacation” movie franchise, Jeremiah S. Chechik took charge as director while John Hughes penned the script. The earlier films in this series focused on the Griswold family (portrayed by Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, and their ever-changing brood of kids), who embark on a vacation and inevitably create a whirlwind of hilarity. “Christmas Vacation” maintains the same level of absurdity and zaniness that the series is known for.
‘Scrooged’
Scrooged” is a contemporary adaptation of Charles Dickens’ 1843 novel “A Christmas Carol.” Directed by Richard Donner, this movie features Bill Murray as the character Frank Cross. In the story set on Christmas Eve, Frank encounters several ghosts associated with Christmas who aid him in rediscovering his holiday spirit.
‘Spirited’
In this hearty holiday comedy, Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell join forces. This film is both a reimagining and a humorous take on Charles Dickens’ 1843 novel “A Christmas Carol.” Ferrell takes on the role of the Ghost of Christmas, while Reynolds plays an initially unhelpful man who ends up assisting the Ghost in unexpected ways. You can stream this entertaining flick on Apple TV+.
‘Trading Places’
In the ’80s, one of the most memorable comedies was titled “Trading Places.” Starring Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd, this film, directed by John Landis, presents an intriguing partnership. The story revolves around these characters switching their financial standings to observe how they manage under different circumstances.
‘Violent Night’
In the action-comedy movie “Violent Night,” played by David Harbour, Santa Claus finds himself in a dangerous situation as he works to rescue a wealthy family who have been taken hostage by a gang of armed mercenaries. This film, released in 2022 and rated R, also features John Leguizamo, Alex Hassell, and Beverly D’Angelo.
‘A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas’
The beloved “Harold & Kumar” series made a comeback with a festive third part, themed around Christmas. This time, our hilarious duo, Harold and Kumar (portrayed by John Cho and Kal Penn), find themselves on another adventure. The twist? Kumar accidentally burns Harold’s father-in-law’s Christmas tree, so the pair are on a mission to replace it this holiday season!
Read More
- Crypto ETPs hit $44.5b in YTD inflows amid Bitcoin surge
- AI16Z PREDICTION. AI16Z cryptocurrency
- A Palace x Nike Air Max DN8 Collab Is Rumored for 2025
- Amy Adams’ Nightbitch Has A Scene That Was So Disgusting, Crew Members Had To Leave The Room While They Filmed It
- Hong Kong Treasury says crypto is not a ‘target asset’ for its Exchange Fund
- ‘Riders of Justice’, Mads Mikkelsen’s Underrated Action Movie, Is Now Streaming for Free
- Felicity Jones Has a Fresh (and Minimalist) Take on Method Dressing Trend at ‘The Brutalist’ Premiere
- When Dharmendra said Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol didn’t have affairs with heroines and were ‘innocent’, recalls Gadar 2 director Anil Sharma
- ‘Hunger Games’ Director Discusses Challenges of Casting Young Haymitch
- The Best Fashion Audiobooks on Audible for Aspiring Stylists, Hypebeasts and Everyone In Between
2024-12-20 19:56