Christmas is one of my favorite holidays, amazing songs, good spirits, gorgeous decorations, and most of all fantastic movies. First, here’s IMDb’s top five Christmas movies, followed by my own list; after all, being born in December gives me a uniquely qualified opinion.

5. “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”
“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” is a staple to Christmas. He helps carry Santa’s sleigh full of Christmas gifts for every little kid in the world, you can’t have Christmas without having Rudolph. Seeing as it was made in 1964, it might not get the attention that it used to, the graphics aren’t as advanced as they are now, and some people might not like to watch it.

4. “A Christmas Carol” This movie has so many Christmas elements, and even with the character Ebenezer Scrooge being a grumpy old man, the heavy presence of the Christmas spirit, he’s able to overcome his feeling of selfishness and realize the true purpose of Christmas.

3. “Die Hard”
This movie does not deserve to be in the top three because it’s not a Christmas movie. It’s an action movie that’s based in December and happens to show a few Christmas lights here and there. But, to call this a Christmas movie and put it in the top three, is completely wrong.

2. “Home Alone”
“Home Alone” is a classic Christmas movie. This being at the number two spot is no surprise to me; it’s a good watch every single year. This is a movie that I watch all year-long. In the spring, summer and of course the winter.

1. “It’s a Wonderful Life”
Though this movie is fantastic, I don’t think it belongs at the number one spot. The movie is extremely outdated, and now, in 2025, it’s no longer something that the majority of people watch anymore. I’d rather watch movies that have good sound quality and good visuals.

Now, here’s the real list: The only 5 Christmas movies you’ll ever need.

1. “Elf”
I truly think that “Elf” deserves the number one spot. Along with all of the Christmas elements, it’s simply
an unforgettable movie. Every year I watch it, and the warm feeling that you get from Christmas movies never fades.

2. “Home Alone”
As previously stated, “Home Alone” is classic. The kind of Christmas you can never get enough of, it’s one of my favorites and will always be one of the best Christmas movies.

3. “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”
“How the Grinch stole Christmas” is by far one of the best Christmas movies. It’s absolutely hilarious, and has so many Christmas elements to it. The amount of Christmas cheer shown in the movie, down to the way Who-Ville is decorated, the way Martha May’s house is decorated, and especially the way the Who’s celebrate Christmas, is amazing.

4. “Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch”
Although this is nothing like the original, the kids love it. It’s not as frightening as the original might be to some. But, because it’s so different from the original, this doesn’t earn the top spot. It’s been adapted to cater to the younger generation of kids, taking away the feeling of disgust that the original Grinch would give you.

5. “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”
This is a movie that my mom and I watch every December. It’s a movie you can’t get tired of because it has such good comedy in it. And the subtle way that it teaches you the true importance of the holiday is perfect.

Now that you’ve seen both IMDb’s top five and my personal list, it’s time to decide for yourself. Which Christmas movie truly deserves the top spot?