50 best holiday movies of all time

What is the greatest holiday movie of all time?

We asked our readers that very question, and they responded by helping us select the top 50 films for the season (though, due to multiple ties, there are actually 52 movies on this list).

So, which movie ran off with the honor of being crowned No. 1? Click through to find out and tell us which movies you’ll be watching this season and why!

50. (tie) “Four Christmases’’ (2008) / “Meet John Doe’’ (1941) / “Mixed Nuts’’ (1994)

These three films in our final slot took the total over 50 movies, but with good cause. Vince Vaughn (left) and his better half (Reese Witherspoon, not pictured) are both the product of divorces and need to visit four separate parents on Christmas Day. In “John Doe,’’ a reporter creates an idealist who promises to commit suicide on Christmas Eve due to a corrupt society. Finally, speaking of suicide, Steve Martin (right) takes on Christmas at a crisis hotline in “Mixed Nuts.’’

49. “Adam Sandler’s Eight Crazy Nights’’ (2002)

First, “Saturday Night Live’’ veteran Adam Sandler decried the lack of Hanukkah songs for Jewish children to sing and issued “The Chanukah Song.’’ Using a line from that tune, he then provided an animated movie for them to watch, too, in a woefully under-represented genre.

48. (tie) “A Rugrats Chanukah’’ (1996)/ “The Hebrew Hammer’’ (2003)

Two wildly different Hanukkah movies tied for 48th on our readers’ list. The “Rugrats’’ gang occupies the roles of all the characters in the story of the Jewish holiday. In the comedy “The Hebrew Hammer,’’ Adam Goldberg (right) is on a mission to rescue the holiday after Santa Claus’s son (played by Andy Dick) takes control of it.

47. “Scrooge’’ (1970)

Albert Finney earned a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Ebenezer Scrooge from Charles Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol.’’ The greedy old man learns the cost of that avarice and the value of charity during the holiday season.

41. (tie) “Babes in Toyland’’ (1961) / “Die Hard 2’’ (1990) / “Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas’’ (1977) / “The Holiday’’ (2006) / “A Midnight Clear’’ (1992) / “Prancer’’ (1989)

This six-way tie brings together a very diverse crop of movies, from “Babes,’’ which has been done as a TV special with a young Drew Barrymore, and two film versions in 1934 and 1961, to the sequel to the Christmas Eve thriller “Die Hard,’’ to a Muppet TV special about otters who seek to win a contest for Christmas. Also, Cameron Diaz swaps homes in “The Holiday,’’ Gary Sinise and his fellow World War II fighters spend Christmas together in “A Midnight Clear,’’ and Santa’s forgotten reindeer gets his due in “Prancer.’’

40. “The Preacher’s Wife’’ (1996)

This adaptation of the 1947 classic “The Bishop’s Wife’’ finds Denzel Washington as Dudley, an angel who comes to guide a devoted preacher whose dedication to his work has put a strain on his marriage to his wife, Julia (Whitney Houston, left).

38. (tie) “Gremlins’’ (1984) / “The Ref’’ (1994)

A Christmas present unleashes evil creatures in the classic horror comedy “Gremlins.’’ Speaking of comedy, local jokester Denis Leary (left) takes on a role as a burglar who takes a couple hostage on Christmas Eve, but ends up presiding over their domestic disputes.

37. “One Magic Christmas’’ (1985)

In this Disney tale, a woman (Mary Steenburgen, right) needs help rediscovering her belief in Christmas and the “magic’’ of the season. Luckily, Santa can show her a thing or two.

36. “Jingle All the Way’’ (1996)

Then-action hero Arnold Schwarzenegger goes soft in this story about a father who becomes embroiled in a battle over a sold-out toy that his son desires.

35. “Santa Claus’’ (1985)

How did Santa become, well, Santa? Director Jeannot Szwarc set out to show how he acquired his unique skills that make Christmas possible.

34. “Little Women’’ (1994)

This adaptation of the 1868 Louisa May Alcott novel has been done twice, in 1949 and 1994. But the more recent version features a cast with clout: (from left) Winona Ryder, Trini Alvarado, Kirsten Dunst, Susan Sarandon, and Claire Danes, as well as Gabriel Byrne and Christian Bale (not pictured). Several of the movies twists center around the Christmas season, including the dramatic homecoming of the girls’ father from the Civil War.

33. “Bridget Jones’s Diary’’ (2001)

Renée Zellweger plays the title character who makes several New Year’s resolutions which she records in her diary. Along the way, she meets a love interest in a hideous holiday sweater at a Christmas party.

32. “The Family Man’’ (2000)

A greedy Wall Street trader (Nicolas Cage, left) gets a taste of family life on Christmas morning — minivans and all — and begins to realize money may not be the key to happiness.

29. (tie) “Meet Me In St. Louis’’ (1944) / “The Family Stone’’ (2004)

There isn’t much to tie together these two films made 60 years apart from each other. Judy Garland (center) sings her way through “St. Louis’’ as her family gets the news of a move to New York on Christmas Eve. In “The Family Stone,’’ Sarah Jessica Parker (right) plays a conservative woman meeting her boyfriend’s wildly different family for the first time during the holidays.

28. “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York’’ (1992)

How does a kid get separated from his family not once, but twice? And both times hectic holiday travel (and inattentive parenting) was to blame. Either way, Macaulay Culkin reprises his role as Kevin McCallister except, instead of protecting his house, he was unleashed on the winter wonderland of New York City during Christmastime. Of course, the same bandits are pursuing him.

27. “Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol’’ (1962)

Poor old Magoo. He is crotchety — yet lovable — as ever in his take on Ebenezer Scrooge in this TV special. Of the 52 movies on this list, at least five are adaptations of Charles Dickens’s Christmas classic.

26. “The Nightmare Before Christmas’’ (2003)

Director Tim Burton brings his twisted take on the holiday season to this animated film about Jack Skellington — who presides over Halloweentown — wandering into the foreign Christmas town.

24. (tie) “Christmas in Connecticut’’ (1945) / “Frosty the Snowman’’ (1969)

Barbara Stanwyck plays an unmarried journalist who lies about her home life. When her boss asks to come over for Christmas, she and Dennis Morgan play pretend for the holiday in the 1945 classic. Almost two decades later, the popular holiday song “Frosty the Snowman’’ got its own animated feature on TV, as the chilly hero with a warm heart tries to hang onto his magic hat.

23. “The Bishop’s Wife’’ (1947)

A bishop hoping for a new cathedral prays for help, and gets guidance unexpected guidance in the form of Dudley (Cary Grant), an angel. Dudley sets out to prove that the bishop’s mission has redirected his focus from his family.

22. “When Harry Met Sally’’ (1989)

Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal play platonic friends who slowly start to fall for each other in this classic movie. Not a holiday movie? Try this quote from Crystal’s character: “It’s not because I’m lonely, and it’s not because it’s New Year’s Eve. I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.’’

21. “Planes, Trains and Automobiles’’ (1987)

OK, so it’s more of a Thanksgiving movie than a Christmas film. But it’s about holiday travel, and that counts too, right? John Candy (left) and Steve Martin play two mismatched travelers just trying to get to Chicago, and driving each other nuts en route.

20. “The Santa Clause’’ (1994)

The clever turn of phrase in the title is as follows: the “clause’’ is if Santa dies and you discover his body, you have to suit up and become the next Santa. Such is the fate that befalls inattentive father Scott Calvin (Tim Allen, left) as he undergoes the transformation.

19. “The Year Without a Santa Claus’’ (2006)

This TV special has actually been made twice, 2006 and 1974. In the more recent version, John Goodman fills Santa’s sleigh and plans to give it a rest. But a little boy helps him recapture the Christmas spirit.

18. “Bad Santa’’ (2003)

The title says it all. Billy Bob Thornton is perhaps the naughtiest Kris Kringle ever portrayed on screen — a drunken robber set on looting a department store.

17. “Die Hard’’ (1988)

Bruce Willis plays a New York City detective who just wants to enjoy a Christmas party with his family. Of course, a few terrorists throw a wrench in the plan. Will he save the hostages — and Christmas?

15. (tie) “Holiday Inn’’ (1942) / “Scrooged’’ (1988)

These two wildly different films tied for 15th place on our readers’ list. In “Holiday Inn,’’ Bing Crosby (far left), Fred Astaire (not pictured), and Marjorie Reynolds sing and dance their way through the holiday season as the men compete for the lady’s attention. Did someone say dance off? In the innovative “Scrooged,’’ Bill Murray (right) is selfish TV executive Frank Cross, but may as well be named Ebenezer.

14. “The Polar Express’’ (2004)

Tom Hanks brought the well-loved children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg to the big screen. The magic of the Christmas season is discovered as a train ushers children to the North Pole to see Santa and, for some strange reason, Steven Tyler of Aerosmith.

13. “The Muppet Christmas Carol’’ (1992)

Michael Caine (right) appears as Ebenezer Scrooge alongside Kermit and the gang as the Muppets take on Charles Dickens’s tale.

12. “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’’ (1964)

Everyone knows the song, or at least part of it. But this 1964 TV special is almost as ubiquitous. The film brings the lyrics to life as Rudolph turns an apparent affliction (his red nose) into an indispensable tool (the headlights to guide Santa’s sleigh).

11. “Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas’’ (2000)

Who else but Jim Carrey (right) could play the Grinch from Dr. Seuss’s beloved children’s story? Of course, there is also a classic 1966 cartoon TV special with Boris Karloff as the Grinch. So, clearly Mr. Grinch always gets the star treatment as he sets his sights on destroying Christmas for the neighboring village.

9. (tie) “A Christmas Carol’’(1951) / “Miracle on 34th Street’’ (1947)

This pair of holiday classics — an adaptation of Charles Dickens’s famous story starring Alastair Sim as Ebenezer Scrooge (left) and the heartwarmer about a young girl’s (Natalie Wood, right) legal defense of Santa Claus. Both films have been reproduced in various forms, but these versions are widely considered the definitive representations.

8. “Home Alone’’ (1990)

Didn’t every kid dream of having the house all to himself? After 8-year-old Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) is accidentally left at home when his family goes on a Christmas vacation, he finds it exhilarating at first, but lonely as the holiday approaches. Of course, along the way he has to protect his house and foil the plot of robbers Harry (Joe Pesci, right) and Marv.

7. “White Christmas’’ (1954)

Bing Crosby (left), a veteran of likeminded holiday musical “Holiday Inn,’’ returned for another Irving Berlin production with (from left) Vera-Ellen, singer Rosemary Clooney, and Danny Kaye. After two same-sex dance couples travel to a lodge for a Christmas show, they consider switching partners.

6. “A Charlie Brown Christmas’’ (1965)

Perhaps the most renowned holiday TV special ever, the Peanuts gang inspired many imitations. But there’s only one Charlie Brown (left), and in this animated feature, he goes in search of true Christmas spirit after decrying the material greed that often overshadows the holidays.

5. “Love Actually’’ (2003)

Love — specifically love during Christmas time — is under the microscope in this star-studded film by Richard Curtis. Eight couples, including the prime minister (Hugh Grant) and the aide he longs for (Martine McCutcheon), fall in and out of love over the holiday season. Why during Christmas? Because, as one character puts it, “at Christmas you tell the truth.’’

4. “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’’ (1989)

What father hasn’t felt like Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) from time to time? As the bumbling partriarch, Clark tries to get in a festive mood only to have his plans continually go awry, whether it’s the delay of a Christmas bonus or the excessively rude intrusion on his family’s Christmas by relatives.

3. “Elf’’ (2003)

A “new classic’’? Will Ferrell (left) channels his inner child (not exactly method acting for him) as Buddy, a human raised as an elf in Santa’s workshop. Once he ventures out into the cruel grind of daily life, his boundless joy may be the perfect antidote to a lagging interest in Christmas for Jovie (Zooey Deschanel, right) and her fellow New Yorkers.

2. “A Christmas Story’’ (1983)

“You’ll shoot your eye out!’’ Those words haunt Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley) — and probably many of us — as he pleads and cries for a particular Christmas gift: a Red Ryder BB gun. Along the way, he issues his request to a nasty Santa (Jeff Gillen), only to be dismissed the same way.

1. “It’s a Wonderful Life’’ (1946)

No surprises here. Frank Capra’s classic, starring Thomas Mitchell (left) and Jimmy Stewart (third from left), is a true holiday heartwarmer about a despondent, suicidal man (Stewart) whose zest for life is rekindled after being shown what life would have been like without him.