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Okay, okay, we know what the classic Christmas movies are that people watch every year: It’s a Wonderful Life, Elf, A Christmas Story, etc.
But what about the underrated films that maybe everyone doesn’t know about? I’m talking about the ones that fly under the radar and go unnoticed?
These responses come to us from the Buzzfeed community. Time to update your queues!
1. Arthur Christmas
“Arthur Christmas!! I hardly see anyone talk about it and it’s such a shame because it’s honestly so heartwarming and truly encapsulates the feeling of Christmas. Plus it has an INCREDIBLE voice cast.”
2. The Apartment
“My favorite Christmas movie is also the only one ever to win the Best Picture Oscar: The Apartment (1960). It’s all about how lonely people survive the Christmas season; the cast, led by Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, and Fred MacMurray, is top-notch; and it doubles as a needle-sharp indictment of corporate dehumanization. And it has one of the greatest final lines in cinema history.”
3. The Night Before
“Overall, I’m kinda done with modern adaptations of A Christmas Carol, but The Night Before is the exception. Seth Rogen is beyond hilarious in this movie, and the rest of the cast — including Anthony Mackie, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Lizzy Caplan, Mindy Kaling, and Ilana Glazer — is also great. VERY R-rated, but pretty fun.”
4. 12 Dates of Christmas
“I absolutely love 12 Dates of Christmas. It’s very Groundhog’s Day in that she lives Christmas Eve over and over again, which is always fun, but it’s also very sweet. I watch a few times every year.”
5. Jingle All the Way
“Without fail we watch Jingle All the Way every year. A lot of younger people in my experience haven’t seen it or aren’t familiar with it. Arnold Schwarzenegger stars as a workaholic dad going to extreme lengths to obtain a coveted toy for his young son. Funny, action-packed, and it has a great cast.”
6. I’ll be Home for Christmas
“I’ll Be Home For Christmas! It’s got a star-studded cast. Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Jessica Biel, Adam LaVorgna, Gary Cole. It has a great balance of comedic and heartfelt moments. Such a great movie. It’s always a holiday must-see for us!”
7. While You Were Sleeping
“While You Were Sleeping is my Christmas movie. It’s not Christmastime without it!”
8. Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas
“Yes, it’s a straight-to-video sequel, but it manages to keep the spirit of the original while telling a new story.”
9. The Shop Around the Corner
“It’s very old, but it’s the most lovely romantic story, acted so well, and the film just goes by so quickly. James Stewart and Margaret Sullavan are perfectly pitted against each other and the support characters provide excellent entertainment. Along with Uncle Buck and A Muppet Christmas Carol, this is the film that as a family we sit down to watch every year.”
10. ‘Twas the Night
“‘Twas the Night was my favorite Christmas film growing up; no one I mention it to seems to have heard of it. It’s got Bryan Cranston in it! Great film.”
11. Annabelle’s Wish
“It’s a cheesy animated TV movie that was only shown once or twice about a calf named Annabelle who is born on Christmas and wants to be a reindeer. All the barnyard animals get to speak on Christmas, and Annabelle befriends Billy, a boy who lives on the farm and can’t speak. It has cute songs and some great voice actors, like Rue McClanahan. I believe it was sponsored by the Make a Wish program, and I’m so glad my parents taped it on a VHS all those years ago. We watch it every year!”
12. The Addams Family
“I don’t care what you say! The Addams Family is a Christmas movie. It’s the same principle as Die Hard — if a movie takes place during Christmas, it’s a Christmas movie. End of discussion.”
13. Grumpy Old Men
“The best Christmas movie ever (except for maybe Die Hard). Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon at their finest.”
14. The Family Stone
“The Family Stone is the greatest, sweetest, funniest Christmas movie. Every year I watch it and laugh and cry. Gah, I just love it.”
15. Just Friends
“Just Friends with Ryan Reynolds and Amy Smart is the most underrated film of all time that happens to be a Christmas movie.”
16. Anna and the Apocalypse
“It has Christmas, singing, and zombies… What more could you want?!?”
17. Meet Me in St. Louis
“The song “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” was written for the film. It goes through every season so I start watching in October.”
18. Scrooged
“It just isn’t Xmas ’til I have watched Scrooged! What’s not to love about a retelling of Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol with Bill Murray in the lead role! I am genuinely filled with joy when they all start singing “Put a Little Love in Your Heart” at the end of the film. If this film doesn’t make you feel festive you must have a swinging brick instead of a heart!”
19. Terry Pratchett’s Hogfather
“Such a crazy concept but Terry Pratchett somehow made it work.”
20. Nativity!
“Nativity! with Martin Freeman doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. It’s a BBC film about a Christmas-hating teacher who has to organize the nativity play at the primary school he works at, and is overheard lying that his ex-girlfriend is going to bring film producers over from Hollywood to watch it. It’s a funny, feel-good, family-friendly movie that I watch every year without fail.”
Do you have some lesser-known Christmas movies that you and your family like to watch during the holidays? Share them with us in the comments!
