Intro
The holiday season is here, and it is time for seasonal traditions to start up once again. One tradition celebrated by many is watching holiday movies. Families and friends come together with seasonal snacks and treats, gather up around the couch and hit play on these heart-warming films. The classics are played in so many homes each year– “Elf,” “Home Alone,” “Nightmare Before Christmas”–but what about the millions of other movies out there that are not as popular?
I have gathered together a list of movies that are not as well-known as the classics, but are still bound to bring the family together and start the holiday season off right.
Low-rated Christmas movies that actually aren’t so bad:
Christmas with the Kranks (2004) – 5% Rotten Tomatoes – HBO Max:
This whimsical Christmas movie follows Tim Allen’s character, Luther Krank, and his wife, Nora Krank, portrayed by Jamie Lee Curtis, as they try to ditch the winter snow and head to the Caribbean after their daughter leaves for the season.
Christmas with the Kranks was criticized for its unrealistic situations and muddled plot. The humor is right on the nose, and shoved into the face of the audience, but is light and frequent throughout the movie. I feel like a younger audience would really get a kick out of some of the jokes—like when Luther insists that he does not need an umbrella in the pouring rain, but then gets drenched in a wave of water rushed onto him by an incoming car. It seems to include every single corny joke the writers could think of. However, even though some humor did not have me all that impressed, I did get a crack out of a few funny moments.
The main conflict of the movie comes when Luther and Nora Krank plan to skip Christmas, and their neighbors freak out. Though this plotline might not be interesting right off the bat, I do think this movie is a great one to put up in the background while decorating the house or tree.
Overall, this movie is underrated, and did not fully deserve the horrible rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Yes, it has some questionable writing, and the idea clearly was not thought out fully, but the comedy makes up for it. It is a great movie to watch to start your holiday season.
The Santa Claus 3: The Escape Clause (2006) – 17% Rotten Tomatoes –Disney Plus:
This movie is the third and last in the movie series, one that has been popular since 1994. Although the first two movies are considered Christmas classics, the third one, “The Escape Clause,” is highly underrated. Compared to the first movie, with a rating of 73% from Rotten Tomatoes, and the second one, with a rating of 56%, the reviews truly plummeted.
Compared to the other two, the humor was not quite as present as in the first two, and the dialogue was not up to the original standards, most parts enjoyable as someone who absolutely loves Tim Allen’s unique Santa character and the fresh new idea each movie brings.
Jingle All The Way (1996) – 20% Rotten Tomatoes – Disney Plus:
“Jingle All The Way” is a Christmas movie mixed with light humor and playful action. It follows Howard Langston, who works more hours than he spends with his family. When that concern is brought up by his son, Jamie, Howard makes it his mission to show that he cares just as much as he says by getting him the hottest new action figure, Turbo Man.
For those into comedy movies that involve unrealistic action, this movie is great. There is a lot of excess violence for a family Christmas movie, even when it rarely ends with serious injury. For example, when a store opens with a new set of Turbo Man figures on Christmas Eve, each longing parent goes into an all-out fight to get one, and the store goes up in full chaos.
Still, the atmosphere of the movie is very light, and it is a really intriguing movie about how family should always come first. It is a watch for the whole family, and is definitely underrated.
New-er Christmas movies you probably haven’t heard of:
Family Switch (2023) – Netflix:
Just like Freaky Friday, the plot of “Family Switch” revolves around a fighting family who switches bodies, this time during a one-in-a-lifetime planetary alignment, which also happens to be just days before Christmas. Each says that the others could “never be them,” which, of course, sparks the spell that changes their lives forever.
This modern Christmas movie has sprinkled humor throughout that teens and adults will both enjoy. This makes the movie great for all ages, though I would say early teens and above will like it the most.
Just like the classic Christmas Hallmark movies, “Family Switch” has a very predictable plotline. Even though the world erupts into chaos, just when it seems the whole family will regret the mistakes they make forever, unexpected events turn the movie into a very Disney-like happy ending.
Overall, this is a fun Christmas movie that is easy to watch if you just want to lay back and relax during the holiday season.
A Clusterfunke Christmas (2021) – Paramount:
This Christmas movie pokes fun at the Hallmark movies many have grown to love during the holiday season. The plot is just like a regular Hallmark movie: a rich girl from the big city travels to a small town where she learns that she would rather have a poor guy than a rich man who has everything she could ever want.
Unlike most Hallmark movies, though, the acting is actually decent, as you can tell some moments are exaggerated to point out all of the flaws.
If you’re looking for a hilarious movie that is bound to make you point out all of Hallmark’s imperfections from now on, “A Clusterfunke Christmas” is a great one for you.
Really old Christmas movies that you will still enjoy:
It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
“It’s a Wonderful Life” is a classic Christmas movie that can be viewed in both black and white and in color. It follows George Bailey, a businessman who has been sacrificing his happiness to help his small town and family. Eventually, as he gets older, gets married and has kids. On a dark Christmas Eve, he gets in severe financial trouble and wishes he had never lived at all. This sparks him to travel to a reality where he actually never existed, revealing how dull everyone’s lives were because he hadn’t been there to help them.
This movie is a heart-warming, family-friendly, must-watch. Though the graphics are a bit old, it is wound to make you tear up by the end of it, as you can really learn to appreciate hard work and dedication, and how magical the Christmas season is.
Miracle on 34th Street (1947):
This classic movie is about a man, Kris Kringle, who claims to be the real Santa Claus. Even though he works at a standard Macy’s department store, he still insists on the fact, and eventually this leads to a court case brought up by Doris Walker to see if the man is even sane.
Through it all, the old man gives Doris’ daughter, Susan, a new-found sense of Christmas spirit, making her happier than ever. This leap of faith Susan has in Kris Kringle has everyone testing their faith in exactly what Christmas stands for.
“Miracle on 34th Street” is a cheerful movie that can be for all ages, and is sure to warm your heart.
Great animated Christmas movies:
Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas (1999) – Disney Plus:
“Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas” is a heartwarming movie that tells three different stories involving some of Disney’s classic characters–Mickey, Donald Duck, Minnie and more. Through each story, a complete hour of cartoon humor, the characters find the true meaning of Christmas.
This movie warmed my heart with its cute, emotional moments, quirky humor and older animated style. The jokes reminded me of the shows I watched when I was younger–like when Donald Duck got scared and threw a plate of pancakes, resulting in all of them hitting his head–so the moods are nostalgic enough that it kept me intrigued.
I did feel like the movie ran on for a while longer than it should have–even though it was only 69 minutes. Some of the stories were stretched to add in more humor.
It is true that this movie, though silly, is a great watch for the whole family. It is sure to remind everyone the true meaning of Christmas.
Klaus (2019) – Netflix:
This animated movie has a unique take on how the Santa Claus tradition wound up in the Christmas holiday. Everyone knows that Santa wears a big, red suit and flies a magical sleigh pulled by reindeers. Everyone knows that this jolly fellow somehow slips into even the tiniest of entrances of a home, just to make children happy with a toy.
Yet, in “Klaus,” Santa becomes Santa because of another man. The movie follows a spoiled postman who was forced to the uppermost part of the world to develop discipline. This man, Jesper, finds a town not supported by love and compassion, but sheer violence. Even the children–especially the children–are in need of a simple good deed to turn their lives upside down. So, Jesper joins up with a quiet, reclusive man known as Klaus, and together, they deliver presents to a small town that so desperately needs the act of kindness.
At the beginning of this movie, it seemed to have no plot and no point, as everything was either very childish or overly intense for a supposedly “fun” animated movie. As it went on, however, as more and more kids started finding happiness, “Klaus” turned into a loveable movie for all ages. It truly shows that the true meaning of the Christmas spirit can be found when you show just a little bit of kindness.
