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Last year I shared a handful of holiday movie recommendations. I sent them out in separate newsletters. This year I received a few requests to send them in one newsletter. You got it! Here are 23 Christmas movies (classics and modern) I enjoy watching each year. You can rent most of these movies on Amazon or find them free or on other streaming channels like HBO Max.

Do you have a favorite Christmas movie? Leave me a note in the comments or you can reply to this email.

It’s so hard to pick a favorite- isn’t it? I’ll pick two of my favorites: Meet Me in St. Louis and The Apartment.

I asked my mom her favorite Christmas movie right now: Christmas in Connecticut

My dad’s favorite: A Christmas Carol (1938) with Reginald Owen (which I didn’t include here on my list— Oops!) I checked and it’s available to stream on HBO Max. Check it out.

p.s. I normally don’t start watching holiday movies until Thanksgiving or a day or two after. I broke my rule and started watching a few. I was ready for some holiday cheer.

-A.

1. The Apartment (1960) Jack Lemmon is a numbers cruncher at an insurance company and has a crush on the elevator operator, played by Shirley MacLaine. There are complications (of course).

2. Christmas in Connecticut (1945) (stream on HBO Max) Barbara Stanwyck is the fabulous Elizabeth Lane, a writer, gourmet cook, wife, mother and can do-it-all woman. Think Martha Stewart. It’s all a charade. Elizabeth’s life is tossed upside down when her publisher invites a war hero to spend Christmas with Elizabeth and her “family.”

3. Holiday Affair (1949) Janet Leigh (also Jamie Lee Curtis’s mom) is a secret shopper working for a rival department store, who bumps into sales clerk, Robert Mitchum. It’s a classic meet-cute movie.

4. Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) I’m not exaggerating when I tell you I know almost every line and every song in this movie. Judy Garland shines bright as Esther Smith, the second eldest daughter in the well-to-do Smith family. This movie musical follows a year in the life of the Smith family as they eagerly await the 1904 World’s Fair. I don’t think there’s a better Christmas song than Judy Garland’s “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”

5. The Shop Around the Corner (1940) (stream on HBO Max) The first time I saw this movie, I thought it was a little corny. But, isn’t that what Christmas movies should be? Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullavan work together and don’t like each other. They’re each in love with their pen pals. See where we’re going here?

6. We're No Angels (1955) Three escaped prisoners (Humphrey Bogart, Peter Ustinov and Aldo Ray) decide to rob a storekeeper and his family. They have a change of heart after getting to know the family.

1. Auntie Mame (1958) A boy goes to live with his wealthy and eccentric aunt. You may not think this is a Christmas movie, but part of the movie takes place during Christmas at an important time/turning point in Mame’s life. “Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death.”

2. The Bishop’s Wife (1947) Cary Grant saves the day as an angel who comes to help a bishop (David Niven) and his family.

3. It Happened on 5th Avenue (1947) (stream on HBO Max) A homeless man and his dog move into a New York City mega mansion while the owner is away at his other home in Virginia. It’s the holidays and the homeless man invites a few guests to stay.

4. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) We all know this one- right? “Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives. And when he isn’t around he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?”

5. The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942) (stream on HBO Max) The famous radio host, Sheridan Whiteside visits Masalia, Ohio and is forced to recuperate at the home of a wealthy Masalia family. Whiteside creates lots of trouble for the family.

6. Miracle on 34th Street (1947) Macy’s new Santa might be the real thing. "Oh, Christmas isn't just a day, it's a frame of mind...and that's what's been changing. That's why I'm glad I'm here, maybe I can do something about it."

7. Remember the Night (1940) Barbara Stanwyck is arrested for shoplifting and Fred MacMurray is the district attorney handling her case. They end up spending the holidays together with MacMurray’s family in Indiana.

*p.s. I don’t see Remember the Night on Turner Classic Movie’s schedule yet, but they usually show it around Christmas Eve.

Here are some modern Christmas movies (my definition of modern- means these movies were made after 1970.) You can rent most of these movies on Amazon or where I mention below.

1. A Christmas Story (1983) (stream on HBO Max or watch on TBS or TNT) All 10 year old Ralphie wants for Christmas is a Red Ryder BB gun. Will he get it? The movie takes place around 1940 and is based on stories by Jean Shepherd who grew up in Hammond, Indiana. *My mom and her family lived in Hammond. Fun fact: My parents and my aunt met Jean Shepherd at an event/signing several years ago.

***I haven’t seen Christmas Story Christmas yet. Have you? Thoughts? Leave me a comment or reply to this email.

2. Die Hard (1988) I’m a fan of action movies and I am still a fan of this one. Yes, I’ve seen some of the sequels, but the original one is the real deal. Bruce Willis is a cop determined to save his wife and several hostages from bad guy, Alan Rickman and his machine gun toting gang. It’s action packed with plenty of sarcasm and peppered with plenty of bullets and super salty language (lots of F words). Ho, Ho, Ho!

3. Four Christmases (2008) (stream on HBO Max) Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn play a couple who plan to escape family togetherness during Christmas and go to Fiji. Well, life has other plans for them. Vince Vaughn makes me laugh and I’ll see any movie with Robert Duvall.

4. The Holiday (2006) We all know this one. Who doesn’t love this fairy tale/fantasy? I want the houses, Cameron Diaz’s wardrobe and Jude Law. Take me away.

5. The House Without a Christmas Tree (1972) This TV movie (available free on You Tube) is about a young girl named Addie who lives with her father and grandmother. Addie really wants a Christmas tree at home but Addie’s father (Jason Robards) forbids it. There’s some angst, but it’s ultimately a sweet story about grief, forgiveness and the true spirit of Christmas.

6. Love Actually (2003) We know this one too! London at Christmas. Colin Firth, Hugh Grant and an excellent soundtrack.

7. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) (stream on HBO Max) The Griswold family is back with new kids and cousin Eddie. If you’re stressed out, watch this for some needed laughs.

8. When Harry Met Sally (1989) (stream on HBO Max) "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." I love this movie and especially the funny performances by Bruno Kirby and Carrie Fisher.

9. You’ve Got Mail (1998) (stream on HBO Max) It’s Christmas in New York in this updated remake of The Shop Around the Corner.

What are your go-to holiday movies? Reply to this email or leave me a message in the comments. Thanks!

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