Everyone has their favourite Christmas movies that they watch every year. And probably that’s why some people are fed up with movies like Home Alone or Love Actually. You’ve seen them too many times and would like something new. Streaming providers are responding perfectly to this demand, with more and more new Christmas films being released every year. The problem, as so often, is not the quantity but rather the quality. If you feel the same way, this list is for you. I’ve compiled a list of the 10 best Christmas films that are often overlooked. I’ve tried to pick films that could be good alternatives to the most popular films and low-key Netflix Christmas movies. Like my autumn and Halloween movie lists, this selection is entirely subjective.
The best underrated Christmas movies
- Miracle on 34th street
- It’s a Wonderful Life
- The Holiday
- The Family Stone
- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
- Jingle All the Way
- Last Christmas
- Elf
- Santa Clause
- Arthur Christmas
1. Miracle on 34th street 1947, 1994
At a Thanksgiving Day parade for a New York department store chain, an elderly man named Kris Kringle replaces a drunk Santa Claus. Kringle is such a hit that he soon appears regularly at the chain’s main store in downtown Manhattan. The uncanny resemblance to Santa Claus strikes both customers and employees. But his sanity is quickly questioned when Kringle claims to be Santa Claus. Soon he has to prove in court that he is not crazy and that Santa Claus does exist. Six-year-old Susan Walker, her mother, and her mom’s boyfriend help Kringle to defend himself. There are two versions of the film, one from 1947 and one from 1994. Both versions are charming and the Christmas spirit is guaranteed. I certainly couldn’t choose.
2. It’s a Wonderful Life 1946
When a depressed businessman George Bailey is on the verge of suicide, an angel named Clarence comes to his rescue. Clarence invites the man on a special journey and shows him what life would have been like without his existence. This is the oldest film on the list and I recommend it to everyone even to those who don’t like old movies. If there is such a thing as a best Christmas movie of all time, I think it would be ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’. So get your tissues ready – especially for the second half of the film, and enjoy.
By the way, the film was nominated for 5 Oscars but unfortunately failed to take home any of them. So I wouldn’t say this is the most underrated Christmas movie of all time, but definitely, one that we tend to exclude from Christmas film lists.
3. The Holiday 2006
I probably don’t need to introduce this film to anyone. I know, I know, It’s a little off the list of underrated Christmas movies. But the reason it ended up on the list, unlike other well-known Christmas movies, is that a sequel to the story has been announced. And I’m very curious to see if the new movie will live up to its great predecessor.
For those of you who don’t know the story, here’s a brief summary. Two women from different countries (UK and US) decide to swap homes over the holidays to escape their relationship problems. But, as usual, they both meet two local men and become very close by the end of the film.
4. The Family Stone 2005
It’s not a very popular Christmas movie, but I think the plot and the characters are very good. At the beginning of the story, Everett is on his way home with his girlfriend for Christmas to introduce Meredith to his family before proposing to her. Meredith soon realises that she doesn’t fit in with the bohemian (and I think often particularly rude) family and asks her sister to join her. The cast is superb with Sarah Jessica Parker, Rachel McAdams, Claire Danes, Diane Keaton, Dermot Mulroney and Luke Wilson. What more do you need? I absolutely love this film, you can laugh, you can get annoyed, you can cry – so it really has everything you’re looking for in a Christmas film.
5. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 1989
Clark Griswold loves Christmas and is excited about the preparations for the big family celebration. But it soon becomes clear that planning the perfect Christmas is much easier said than done. Family members may not be trustworthy, Christmas lights may not work, and even the annual bonus doesn’t arrive on time… Classic Chevy Chase comedy, full of crazy funny scenes. Too bad it became a really underrated Christmas movie over the years. I really like it, and a bonus surprise is that Johnny Galecki from the Big Bang Theory also plays in the movie. He was only 14 at the time of the filming and he plays the son of Chevy Chase’s character.
6. Jingle all the way 1996
This film is one of the most realistic Christmas movies I’ve ever seen, despite Arnold Schwarzenegger’s poor performance. Or at least I experience the same every year: I’m trying to get a completely impossible toy for one of the kids in the family – of course, last minute.
Howard, a busy salesman, has promised his son a Turbo Man doll for Christmas but forgets to buy it in time. So he’s forced to drive into town on Christmas Eve afternoon to get the toy, while also having to contend with other determined parents. Obviously not the best Christmas movie, but we watch it every after we’ve wrapped all the presents and overcome all the challenges depicted in the film.
7. Last Christmas 2019
This movie takes place – what a surprise – just before Christmas. The main character Kate’s life seems pretty bleak: she has no stable apartment, works dressed as a Christmas elf in a Christmas shop in central London and fails all her auditions – which is not the luckiest situation for an aspiring singer. That’s when she meets a mysterious stranger, Tom, who gives Kate a new perspective on London. Starring Emilia Clarke, who proves once again that she is much more than simply the mother of dragons. And on top of all, the story is co-written by Oscar-winning Emma Thomson.
8. Elf 2003
Buddy grows up among the elves in the North Pole, and even though he has always felt that something is wrong with him. It’s not until he’s an adult that he realises the truth: he’s not a real elf, he’s a human from New York, raised among elves by mistake. After learning the truth, he decides to travel to New York to find his biological father.
Great comedy, and a slightly underrated Christmas movie. I recommend it even for those who don’t like Will Ferrell’s style. He’s really good in this one.
9. Santa Clause 1994
Perhaps it is because of the second and third movies that the first film of the Santa Clause trilogy is treated so poorly. Nevertheless, I think it’s a very original film, and a particularly good alternative to Christmas films such as “Home alone”. This year, Disney released a new series about the Santa Clause with most of the original cast. There are 5 episodes so far, and all in all, I think it’s pretty good.
On Christmas Eve, a divorced dad, Scott Calvin, and his son Charlie discover that Santa has fallen off the roof and is unable to perform his duties. Charlie persuades his father to help, and instead of Santa, father and son deliver Christmas presents to the children. The only problem is that Scott unknowingly agrees to be the next Santa Claus.
10. Karácsony Artúr 2011
If you’re only going to see one animated Christmas film this year, then it should be this one. The film focuses not on Santa Claus, but on his youngest son, Arthur. When Arthur learns that a technical glitch has caused a little girl’s Christmas present to get lost, he decides to go on a mission and deliver the present himself before it’s too late. It’s a lovely, charming movie, I recommend it for young and old alike. If possible, watch it in English, because Arthur is voiced by James McAvoy, Santa Claus by Bill Nighy and Steve Claus by Hugh Laurie.
