Do you love Christmas movies as much as I do? How many do you try to watch during the holiday season? I am a big, big fan of Christmas movies and I don’t really discriminate. I watch them all: the classics, the silly ones, the romantic ones and the family dramas. Every year, I (try to) watch a long list of all my favorites and then also try to seek out one or two that are not-so-commonly known (or at least new to me!).
I thought I was going to share with you seven of the movies that I have come across in recent years that might not be on everybody’s radar for the holiday season. As you will be able to tell, I have a thing for Christmas movies with a cast of celebrity actors and actresses, I guess.
1. A merry friggin’ Christmas (2014) with Robin Williams, Joel McHale and Lauren Graham.
This must have been one of Robin Williams’s last movies and I love his grumpy self in this movie. The movie might not be that well known because apparently it wasn’t well received by many people, but I can’t say the same for me. I enjoyed it and will watch it again.
2. A Fitzgerald Family Christmas (2012) with Edward Burns and Connie Britton.
Gerry, one of 5 siblings, is the only one who’s trying hard to get an enstranged father and his slightly dysfunctional rest of the family together for Christmas.
3. Four Christmases (2008) with Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn.
Brad and Kate have to deal with all four of their divorced parents (and new family settings) for the holidays, which turns out to be a real relationship test for them.
4. Joyeux Noël (2005) with Benno Führmann, Diane Krüger, Daniel Brühl.
This movie is based on the Christmas truce (a series of widespread but unofficial ceasefires along the Western Front of World War I) of December 1914, depicted through the eyes of French, British, and German soldiers. It’s an anti-war movie, so it’s hard to watch at times, but it’s very well done and demonstrates the absurdity of war.
5. Noel (2004) with Paul Walker, Penelope Cruz and Susan Sarandon.
This movie is set in New York (which already awards at least 3 stars for a holiday movie right of the bat) and tells the story of five strangers who are linked together – and who meet each other at separate times – by a series of events that take place on Christmas Eve. The perfect story of how our lives are all intertwined in weird ways.
6. While you were sleeping (1995) with Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman
You might not think of this as a classic Christmas movie, but it is set during a snowy Christmas in Chicago and it’s about love and family and forgiveness around Christmas. If that is not Christmas movie material, I don’t know what is.
7. Love the Coopers (2015) with Diane Keaton, John Goodman, Steve Martin.
I have to admit I haven’t seen this one yet, but I pretty much love all Diane Keaton-movies, so I am pretty sure I am going to love this one! It’s also a multi-generational family drama set around the holidays and I guess I am always secretly hoping that there is a happy end. I am so sappy when it comes to Christmas movies, I want all the feelings and happy endings. Can’t wait to watch it.
What is one of the movies you like to watch for the holidays that is not one of the widely known Christmas movies? Maybe you have a new suggestion for me!
Megan @ Meg Go Run
December 12, 2017 at 7:19 amI LOVE WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING!!!! It’s so homey. :) It used to be on Netflix so I would watch it every Christmas but it’s not on there anymore. I random, weird Christmas movie I love to hate is The Family Stone. Have you seen it? My absolute favorite Christmas movie is Home Alone.
a/k/a Nadine
December 12, 2017 at 7:27 amThe Holiday with Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, and Jack Black. This is a must watch for me every year. I also think of Sleepless in Seattle around Christmas time.
Lisa of Lisa's Yarns
December 12, 2017 at 8:47 amI also loved While You Were Sleeping! I think of it as a Christmas movie, too, since it happens over the holidays. Of these movies I’ve only seen that movie and 4 Christmases, which I saw in the theater.
I love watching Christmas movies! The cheesy Hallmark ones are my favorite. I know they are not high quality but they always have a warm & fuzzy happy ending. A friend sent me a DVD with 4 Hallmark Christmas movies as she knows I don’t have cable so don’t have access to them. I haven’t watched any other Christmas movies this year, but I want to watch The Holiday and Love Actually, which are 2 movies that aren’t classic Christmas movies but are my favorite. I also love Serendipity and think of it as a Christmas movie even though very little of it takes place over Christmas!
Heike
December 12, 2017 at 9:51 amAnd here I am again: “Rise of the Guardians”. Who wouldn’t love Hugh Jackman as the Easter Bunny? LOL
Daniela
December 12, 2017 at 10:00 amLove Actually is my all time favorite Christmas movie and overall movie!
Beth
December 12, 2017 at 12:08 pmWhile You Were Sleeping is one of my most favorite movies!! I love watching it at this time of year! Some of these others I haven’t heard of yet but I’m very curious about! A Merry Friggen Christmas has a bunch of my favorite people in it so I might have to check it out even if it wasn’t well received!
Kate
December 12, 2017 at 4:47 pmI always forget that “While You Were Sleeping” is a Christmas movie!
Lacey@fairytalesandfitness
December 13, 2017 at 11:45 amI have never seen some of these movies. I always liked Robin Williams. He was definitely gone too soon. A Holiday movie that I love to watch and hardly ever see it on is I’ll Be Home For Christmas with Jonathon Taylor Thomas. I always had a crush on him back in the day….haha.
Charlotte
December 13, 2017 at 12:50 pmI’m totally pinning this post. I feel like I haven’t seen nearly enough holiday movies but the few I have always put me in a good mood and make me appreciate the season a bit more :) I’d love to see Noel and the one with Robin Williams and Joel McHale… and also Four Christmases… Oh! And The Fitzgeralds one? I saw the poster and thought, “I wonder if that’s an Ed Burns movie” :)
DAnielle
December 16, 2017 at 5:33 pmI love While You Were Sleeping and have always considered it a favourite Christmas movie. I also love Edward Scissorhands at Christmas.
Tobia | craftaliciousme
December 19, 2017 at 2:17 amOh San I am so watching them all. I think I saw a few definitely the last two. But you can never watch too many Christmas movies. I watched “The spirit of Christmas” last year and really enjoyed it. Also I just saw a trailer for “Christmas Eve” and really want to watch that one. I feel like Netflix is a bit short on Holiday movies this year.
Enjoy your movie time, Tobia
Terra
December 19, 2017 at 8:03 amOHHHHHH, While You Were Sleeping is SO, SO GOOD! I haven’t seen that movie in years and years but I remember absolutely loving it. More than a few times I caught it somewhere in the middle and couldn’t stop watching it.