In “Pop the Popcorn & Watch a Christmas Movie,” episode #246, Meredith Curtis suggests Christmas movies for the whole family. At our house, we love to curl up under a blanket and watch a Christmas movie with the whole family. Some are inspirational, others funny, and all wholesome and entertaining. Let’s admit it. We all watch movies – a lot – so choose wisely and spread a little Christmas cheer.

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At our house, we have family favorites that we watch year after year. All are packed with festive holiday cheer and music that makes the troubles of the world seem distant for a short time. As Christmas rolls around again year after year, we find ourselves wanting to see these old favorites once again.

So, pop the popcorn, heat up the hot chocolate, and get ready to hear about some wonderful Christmas movies that the whole family will enjoy!

It’s a Wonderful Life never grows old. It is the timeless story of a man who feels like a failure but is actually a true success! Step back in time and watch George go through high school, college, the Great Depression, World War II, and finally come to a breaking point on Christmas Eve. But, the love of family, friends, and an angel named Clarence pulls him though. I laugh and cry every time I watch this movie.

I grew up on Peanuts cartoons and always felt so sorry for Charlie Brown. In A Charlie Brown Christmas, though, Charlie Brown nails it at the end of the movie when he reads the Christmas story from the Bible. A very sweet movie for all ages!

I love this movie! The Nativity Story is the story of Mary and Joseph as they find out their world has been turned upside down. There is a tenderness to this movie that is so heartening and inspiring. I love the characters of Mary and Joseph. Really well-done movie!

A Christmas Carol is my husband’s favorite movie, and his favorite version is the one with George C. Scott. This classic tale by Charles Dickens has been made into numerous movies, even cartoons. Its timeless message shines through in this version of a “Scrooge” who is converted from selfishness to genuine love for his fellow man.

So many adaptations of this story/movie. The Muppets and Disney have children’s versions. Scrooged is an example of a version for adults.

A Christmas Less Traveled just came out last year. From Great American Family, it has become a favorite. An old audio cassette left by her father sends a woman on a journey (in his truck of course) to retrace her family’s special moments. On the way, a man joins her to find a way to close the most important deal of his life.

A Christmas … Present is another heartwarming movie that just came out last year. From Great American Family, it has become a favorite because the message is so timely for homeschool moms like me. Real Estate Agent Maggie Larson and her family will be spending Christmas with her recently widowed brother, Paul, and his young daughter at their house. Maggie is determined to give her brother and niece the best Christmas possible and to lift their spirits when they most need it. Though Maggie’s plan is to aid her brother, his faith and parenting style ultimately helps her to understand issues within her own life and a need for closeness in her own family.

Timeless Tidings of Joy just came out this year. Another Christmas classic from Great American Family! A young woman returns home to a letterpress shop, that she considers a burden, and meets a man determined to preserve its legacy. Together they travel back in time and discover that faith, sacrifice, and love are more important than riches and ease. Wow! I loved this movie.

Christmas with the Chosen O Holy Night is another wonderful video from the producers of The Chosen TV series. A young mother labeled impure. A shepherd boy considered “unclean”. A never-before-seen performance from Andrea Bocelli highlights seven music performances and two beautiful monologues.

Elf is a silly movie that tickles our family’s funny bone. We all laugh so hard together when we watch this lighthearted Christmas movie. However, there is a message of family reconciliation and making family time a priority that is always a timeless, and needed, message.

There is some cursing. We watch with Clearplay or VidAngel

A Christmas Story

A Christmas Story is set in the 1950/1960s era of wholesomeness. Raphie wants a Red Ryder BB Gun, but Mom is worried he’ll shoot his eye out. This movie is hilarious, and we have so many lines memorized. We always laugh through the whole fun drama. Great family fun movie!

There is some cursing. We watch with Clearplay or VidAngel

Christmas with the Kranks is a hilarious movie starring Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis. With their daughter doing charity work in South America, the couple plan a cruise for Christmas and opt out of all their usual Christmas traditions. But there must be a twist! Their daughter tells them she is coming home with her brand-new fiancé, so he can experience a traditional American Christmas. The Kranks must get everything ready for their daughter in 24 hours. This is such a funny movie!

The Grinch is played spectacularly by Jim Carey in How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Silly and fun, but with a message. Like many of us, the Who’s go overboard with light contests and excess commercialism but one little girl thinks about the Grinch and reaches out to him. The resulting chaos is predictable especially if you’ve seen the cartoon or read the book but the scene where the Who’s are singing is worth the whole movie. I always tear up. There they are with all their presents gone but they’re singing. If only Jesus was in it! Super cute movie!

Home Alone is another silly movie with a little boy who gets left behind when his parents head to Paris for Christmas. If you have a large family, the chaos will ring true and isn’t every mother’s fear that her child will be left behind. While Mom is hitching a ride with a polka band to get home to her beloved son, the little boy is shopping, cooking, ordering pizza, and defending his home from robbers. Super cute movie!

There is some cursing. We watch with Clearplay or VidAngel

From Hallmark, three brothers who each have their own issues inside and with one another, find themselves forced to care for a baby during the holidays. They rebuild their relationships and rediscover a great blessing of Christmas – love and family. The highlight of this movie is when the three brothers sing. Hilarious!

White Christmas is another vintage movie with a sweet story and beautiful music. The clothes are amazing, too. World War II vets become a famous song-and-dance team and are asked to watch a sister act. The four help out the men’s former commanding officer, Major General Waverly who is in danger of losing his family inn. It is a lovely Christmas in Vermont. This is my daughter Julianna’s pick each year.

There are so many Christmas cartoons that my children enjoyed when they were little, and now my grandchildren watch. They help make the Christmas story come alive in little hearts. Here are my favorites:

• The First Christmas (Superbook)
• Little Drummer Boy (Veggie Tales)
• The Star

Okay, Moms and Teen girls, let’s admit it. We love the romantic comedies. Each of the movies that I’m going to mention has a part that I don’t like but much I do.

• While You Were Sleeping
• You’ve Got Mail

You’ve Got Mail always makes me think of my mom and how much I loved being with her, how much I miss her – but I hate the beginning where the hero and heroine are both living with people. Yuck!

While You were Sleeping is such a tender look at family but at times people in the movie are crass. Yuck.

Often these movies lead to discussions about Christmas, traditions, generosity, and what the treasures of life are. 

Christmas is a great time to talk about life and things we value in life like family, traditions, and Jesus! I hope this season will be a blessing for you and your family.

Merry Christmas to all and please share your favorite Christmas movies in the comments below.

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