News On 6 Team Shares Its Favorite Christmas Movies

By the second week of December, many of us have already seen every Hallmark movie we can stand for the entire season.

Or we might be watching another tale of a big city ad exec who moves to the Midwest to just in time for the holiday season and a chance of love with a local farm-hand. Can't get enough, if we're being completely honest.

Either way, it's time to get 'Christmas serious.' It's time to dig into the classics, and that may or may not include "Die Hard" if you happen to celebrate that cinematic masterpiece as a contribution to the season.

We thought it would be a fun idea to ask the newsroom here at News On 6 about their favorite Christmas movies.

Let us know if your favorite movies are on the list!

Travis Meyer, News On 6 chief meteorologist

1 - A Christmas Story

2 - Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer

3 - Elf

4 - The Santa Clause

5 - Home Alone

Lori Fullbright, News On 6 anchor and reporter

"It’s a Wonderful Life" - I think too many people think they go through life without understanding the impact they have on others, which is why I love the message of this movie so much.

Craig Day, News On 6 anchor and reporter

1 - It’s A Wonderful Life

2 - Die Hard

3 - Christmas Vacation

John Holcomb, News On 6 sports director

Christmas movies are something we just kind of end up watching in our home. It may not be appointment television. It's more like comfort food.

1 - A Christmas Story

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve pronounced fragile as “frah-GEE-lay!”

2 - It's a Wonderful Life

3 - Elf

4 - Christmas Vacation

5 - Die Hard

No, we don’t watch this one EVERY Christmas.

LeAnne Taylor, News On 6 anchor and reporter

This is like picking your favorite child because there are so many that I love for all sorts of reasons... but this is my Top 5 as of today.

A Charlie Brown Christmas - Loved it as a child and it presents the true meaning of Christmas, as Linus quotes the story of Jesus from Luke Chapter 2.

"Grinch" with Jim Carrey - He takes one of my favorite childhood shows and breathes new life into it! I would like to have lived in Whoville!

A Family Stone - Not one that many have seen but such a special movie about the love of family.

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer - Also from my childhood.

A Christmas Story - Always been a fan since it first came out! So many great one-liners. "You'll shoot your eye out!"

Dave Davis, News On 6 anchor and reporter

My favorite is a tough one!

"Elf" is always a fun rewatch, so I'll go with that one. It’s so quotable and re-watchable, and you can’t go wrong with James Caan and Mary Steenburgen …. And Will Ferrell in his prime!

Alan Crone, News On 6 meteorologist

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever - 1983

Originally a made-for-TV movie staring Loretta Switt (MASH), it’s a funny yet sweet story adapted from a children’s book about a small town’s Christmas pageant. A group of misfit and rowdy kids end up with starring roles in the pageant and teach the town some valuable lessons about the meaning of Christmas. We loved watching this movie with our kids when they were young.

Christmas Vacation - 1989

Cousin Eddie and Aunt Bethany. We still laugh out loud at the same scenes year after year. "Why is the carpet all wet, Todd? I don’t know, Margo!"  "Looks great. A Little full. Lotta Sap."

White Christmas - 1954

This was not a big movie for our family growing up, but we’ve learned to appreciate the great music and dancing from the golden years of Hollywood. 

Christmas with the Kranks - 2004

We just discovered this film a few years ago. It’s a little cheesy in spots but has some great situational comedy about a husband and wife that try to skip Christmas. Dan Akroyd’s character is great! 

Trivia: Believe it or not, this film is adapted from a John Grisham novel. 

It’s A Wonderful Life - 1946

I don’t watch this movie every year, but I probably should. Jimmy Stewart was a true movie star. It’s hard to imagine that this film was not well received upon its initial release. 

Jonathan Cooper, News On 6 anchor and reporter

I’ll be home for Christmas!

It’s very 90s and during the prime of Jonathan Taylor Thomas’s career. Also features music from NSYNC!

Reagan Ledbetter, News On 6 anchor and reporter

Christmas Vacation no doubt!!!! 

Clark is the gift that keeps on giving the wholeeeee year.

Stacia Knight, News On 6 meteorologist

I love the Polar Express because my 3-year-old loves it, and he will sit in my lap and watch it with us!

Kristie Webb, News On 6 news director

Elf - my family watches it every Christmas Eve while we eat sushi. Every time they sing, "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town," I get all the feels!

Christmas Vacation - Who doesn’t love the antics of the Griswald’s and cousin Eddie?

Love Actually - It is RomCom and Christmas rolled into one, and how can that be wrong!!?

Die Hard - Yes, it is a Christmas movie.

Spirited - It just came out last year, but we liked it, and I am sure it will make a repeat performance this year.

Any and everything on the Hallmark Channel, but that’s just for me and my daughter. My husband & son do not celebrate...

Richard Clark, News On 6 assistant news director

No. 1 is actually a short film. It’s called “The Great Toy Robbery” and was produced by the National Film Board of Canada in 1963.

The animation is brilliant, especially when the horses are galloping, but I also love the soundtrack and the voice work. OK, I love everything about it.  

No. 2 is “A Christmas Story.” Just about every part of this movie resonates with me, having grown up as one of seven siblings. Mom and Dad made sure we always had great Christmases.

No. 3 is “Scrooge” from 1970, a musical starring Albert Finney. Wonderful adaptation of a classic novel.

Tricia Hanks, News On 6 news business admin

"It's a Wonderful Life" is my all-time favorite Christmas movie. Besides the fact that you can't beat the acting performances, it's an incredible reminder of the blessings we all have, how easily we can be blinded to them, and the uplifting redemption we experience when we realize the truth of a life lived serving others.

Lex Rodriguez, News On 6 reporter

Die Hard

Gremlins

Nightmare Before Christmas

All the Harry Potter movies. I think the why is in the movies themselves. The only thing controversial about this list is that I almost didn’t include "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" because I don’t recall it mentioning time of the year in the movie such as a holiday, but since it was released in November, I’m counting it. 

Hannah Sedgwick, News On 6 producer

Mine is the 2016 made-for-TV movie "Dolly Parton's Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love."

Karen Thrower, News On 6 assignment editor

My favorite Christmas movie is the 1979 Rankin and Bass Jack Frost.

Patrick Bender, News On 6 producer

5 - Home Alone

4 - Eyes Wide Shut

3 - Black Christmas (the 1974 version)

2 - The Muppet Christmas Carol

1 - It’s a Wonderful Life

Aaron Alexander, News On 6 producer

1 - Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

2 - Home Alone

3 - Bah, Humduck! A Looney Tunes Christmas

4 - The Grinch (2018 animated film)

5 - The Santa Clause

Michael Woods, News On 6 photojournalist

"Scrooged" with Bill Murray

Kaitlyn Deggs, News On 6 reporter

My two favorite Christmas movies are 'It’s a Wonderful Life' and 'National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation!'

It’s A Wonderful Life - Great reminder of the importance of family and love during the holiday season. I am a sucker for old movies and history, so I especially love this one!

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation - My family had a tradition of putting all the decorations up the day after Thanksgiving and sitting down to watch this movie. It’s one of the funniest and I’m pretty sure I can quote the entire movie by heart! It’s such a classic you have to see it at least once, and you’ll realize how many references from it people use in everyday life!

Scott Pfeil, Griffin Radio producer & News On 6 sports

1 - It’s a Wonderful Life

2 - Christmas Vacation

3 - A Charlie Brown Christmas (I know not technically a movie)

4 - 8-Bit Christmas

5 - Elf

6 - A Christmas Story

7 - A Christmas Story Christmas

8 - Gremlins

9 - Home Alone

10 - A Christmas Carol (1984 TV movie)

Tatum Guinn, News On 6 anchor and reporter

I'll give you my top three all time favorite Christmas movies:

3. The Santa Clause - I remember watching this when it came out. I was around the same age as the son in the movie. It came out right around the time I was old enough to start asking questions about who Santa is and how he's able to do his job so well. I thought their portrayal of the North Pole was so real -- exactly how I imagined it in my head. Their explanation of how Santa becomes Santa seemed so plausible to me as a little girl. This movie reminds me of Christmas magic. 

2. Christmas with the Kranks - a fun reminder of what the season is all about.

1. Elf - I quote this movie almost year-round with my family and friends. May we all keep a child-like, or in this case Buddy-like, faith in creating and keeping Christmas magic alive.

Honorable mention: How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Jim Carrey's version). 

Tess Maune, News On 6 anchor and reporter

This is so fun and hard for me to choose. Can it be a tie? 

'National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation' and 'A Christmas Story' are my favorites. They’re the two movies my family watched on repeat throughout the holiday season when I was growing up. 

But if I HAVE to pick, I would say “A Christmas Story“ is my favorite Christmas movie. I think I can attribute this to TBS and TNT’s 24-hour “A Christmas Story Marathon” and the nostalgia of having it playing in the background during so many moments of the holiday season with my mom, older brothers and grandma, especially during the marathon on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. And I still can’t see a BB gun without thinking, "You’ll shoot your eye out!" 

Ryan Gillin, News On 6 reporter

My favorite Christmas movie is the Charlie Brown Christmas Movie. My family and I would watch it every Christmas Eve while we baked cookies for Santa. It’s one of my favorite memories of being a kid!

Katie Alexander, News On 6 digital producer

1 - A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)

This is an absolute must-watch every year. Nothing quite captures the holiday spirit like the Peanuts coming together to learn what it truly means to be filled with the Christmas spirit. The music is also really well-done!

2 - The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (1983)

This one was introduced to me by my grandparents, first through the book. The movie isn’t very long, not even hitting the hour-long mark. It takes some really unlikeable characters and completely turn them around.

3 - While You Were Sleeping (1995)

While it’s not added to most Christmas movie lists, the inciting action of the movie is that Sandra Bullock’s character is made to work on Christmas. Also, the movie is an adorable rom-com; what’s not to love?

Drake Johnson, News On 6 digital producer

1 - Home Alone / Home Alone 2

They're both so great I can't decide between them. 

Keep the change, ya filthy animal!

2 - Elf - Will Ferrell is great! "He's an angry elf"...

3 - How The Grinch Stole Christmas -- He's just really relatable. "You're the... the... the.... the... THE GRINCH"

4 - The Santa Clause- It's just a classic. I'm in big trouble!

David Prock, News On 6 digital producer

Here's my Top 8, one for each tiny reindeer, well, minus Rudolf - but he's in there. Don't worry.

1 - The Santa Clause - This 90s Christmas movie is pure nostalgia for me, but it still holds up. It's funny and sentimental, perfect for families and kids of any age. Plus, Tim Allen just looks and sounds like Santa. It's weirdly perfect casting.

2 - The Muppet Christmas Carol - I have seen almost every adaptation of this Dickens story, and I can honestly say this still may be the most all-around entertaining. Not the most faithful, but closer than a lot of others. Kermit, Gonzo, Piggy, and Rizzo are all great, but Michael Caine steals the show by acting as though he's not in a Muppet movie at all.

3 - Any Rankin/Bass Christmas Special - Rudolf The Red-Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town, The Year Without a Santa Claus, The Little Drummer Boy. Take your pick.

4 - Elf - This is kind of an expected pick, but hey, it was a hit for a reason. Ferrell is hilarious, and the movie is a sweet family story.

5 - How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966) - This special directed by 'Looney Tunes' legend Chuck Jones took the Dr. Seuss story and brought it to life in a new way. The animation design and song "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch" are iconic and deserve a yearly watch. (Jim Carey's version is also good, but I love this special a little bit more.)

6 - Klaus - This may be a bit of an uncommon pick, but this 2019 animated film creates a new origin for Santa that may have you crying by the end. Starring JK Simmons, Jason Schwartzman, the late Norm Macdonald, and more, this movie features a selfish mailman who has to find a way to bring a town of feuding families together. When he meets a lonely and mysterious woodsman, he discovers the power that giving can have. The film features a blend of traditional animation enhanced with new technology, which makes it look like a classic film from long ago.

7 - Christmas Vacation - I was a latecomer to this movie, but watching it with my friends made it an instant classic.

8 - Either Version of A Miracle on 34th Street - Both the 1947 film and the '94 remake will do the trick this Christmas.

Carley Crabtree, News On 6 digital producer

1 - Home Alone (1990)

2 - Elf (2003)

3 - The Family Stone (2005)

4 - The Santa Clause (1994)

5 - The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

6 - The Holiday (2006)

Image by stockking on Freepik