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Monday, 9 December 2024

Best Christmas Movies of All Time, According to Critics

Since Thanksgiving, Christmas movies have dominated screens, from classics like It’s a Wonderful Life to new releases by Hallmark and Netflix. Stacker ranked holiday films using Metacritic and IMDb scores, considering those identified as Christmas-themed by critics with at least four reviews.

These films span genres, from family comedies like Elf to darker tales like Black Christmas, showcasing the versatility of holiday storytelling. Read on for the best-rated Christmas movies, as chosen by critics.

Best Christmas movies ranked

10. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

  • Director: Henry Selick
  • IMDb user rating: 7.9
  • Metascore: 82
  • Runtime: 76 minutes

A blend of Halloween and Christmas, The Nightmare Before Christmas charms fans of both seasons. The story follows Jack Skellington, the pumpkin king of Halloweentown, who stumbles upon Christmastown and becomes fascinated by its festive spirit. Produced by Tim Burton, the film features Danny Elfman’s music, capturing both spooky and cheerful holiday vibes.

9. Eastern Promises (2007)

  • Director: David Cronenberg
  • IMDb user rating: 7.6
  • Metascore: 83
  • Runtime: 100 minutes

While not a typical Christmas film, Eastern Promises explores themes of family and gift-giving, set in snowy England before Christmas. Naomi Watts plays a woman searching for a deceased girl’s family, while Viggo Mortensen, in an Oscar-nominated role, portrays an FSB agent undercover in a Russian gang. The film is noted for its intense performances and a gripping bathhouse fight scene.

8. A Christmas Tale (2008)

  • Director: Arnaud Desplechin
  • IMDb user rating: 7.0
  • Metascore: 84
  • Runtime: 150 minutes

Not every family has the luxury of healthy familial relationships, as the French comedy “A Christmas Tale” reminds us. The film follows a family full of strained relationships and how that family is shaken upon the discovery that the family matriarch (Catherine Deneuve) has leukemia. The film is sharp and funny, successfully engaging critics and capturing the chaos that defines many family gatherings during the holiday season.

7. Tangerine (2015)

  • Director: Sean Baker
  • IMDb user rating: 7.1
  • Metascore: 86
  • Runtime: 88 minutes

Shot entirely on the iPhone and making its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, “Tangerine” is the epitome of an independent film. The movie follows a transgender sex worker who discovers that her boyfriend has cheated on her, with the story tracking her search for him during Christmas Eve. The film received marks for its unique attitude and for its depiction of an often overlooked subculture.

6. Little Women (1994)

  • Director: Gillian Armstrong
  • IMDb user rating: 7.3
  • Metascore: 87
  • Runtime: 115 minutes

This adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women stars Winona Ryder, Kirsten Dunst, Claire Danes, and Susan Sarandon as the March family. Focusing on the sisters’ evolving relationships, the film features key family moments set against a wintry, Christmas backdrop.

5. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

  • Director: George Seaton
  • IMDb user rating: 7.9
  • Metascore: 88
  • Runtime: 96 minutes

A timeless Christmas classic, Miracle on 34th Street tells the story of Kris Kringle, a department store Santa who claims to be the real deal. His cheerful demeanor wins hearts but sparks a court case to prove his sanity. Despite remakes, the original remains a beloved holiday staple celebrating joy and true holiday spirit.

4. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

  • Director: Frank Capra
  • IMDb user rating: 8.6
  • Metascore: 89
  • Runtime: 130 minutes

Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life” follows George Bailey (James Stewart), who, on the brink of despair, is shown by his guardian angel how his life has impacted others. Initially a box office flop, the film gained popularity after entering the public domain in 1974, allowing TV stations to air it freely until copyright control was regained in 1993. Today, it’s a beloved Christmas classic.

3. Little Women (2019)

  • Director: Greta Gerwig
  • IMDb user rating: 7.8
  • Metascore: 91
  • Runtime: 135 minutes

In another remake of the literary classic, “Little Women,” the 2019 rendition directed by Greta Gerwig was lauded for its fresh take on a familiar story through unique cinematography and storytelling. Unlike previous versions, the story was not scripted chronologically. Viewers get thrown back and forth in time to check in on the formative moments of the women’s lives. The film was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and won the Oscar for Best Costume Design.

2. Carol (2015)

  • Director: Todd Haynes
  • IMDb user rating: 7.2
  • Metascore: 94
  • Runtime: 118 minutes

Based on the 1952 novel “The Price of Salt,” Carol stars Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara in a 1950s Christmas-season romance. The film follows Therese (Mara), an aspiring photographer, and Carol (Blanchett), navigating a divorce, as they embark on a passionate, complex relationship. Praised for its compelling story, it was one of 2015’s top-rated films.

1. The Apartment (1960)

  • Director: Billy Wilder
  • IMDb user rating: 8.3
  • Metascore: 94
  • Runtime: 125 minutes

Legendary actors Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine star in “The Apartment,” a famous romantic comedy centering on extramarital affairs. The film has an important scene that takes place during a Christmas party, with some truths about affairs and entanglements coming to light in the height of drunken revelations. The film is gleeful while also focusing on adultery and less conventional family values.

Data reporting by Luke Hicks. Story editing by Carren Jao. Copy editing by Tim Bruns.


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