Best Holiday Films List

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Last Updated: 6/18/25
Note: It's simple and straightforward: the best of the best in holiday cinema history. In order to qualify, the film has received a rating of at least '7' from me and then must also meet the following criteria:

1. It centers around a holiday like Christmas, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, etc.
2. There should be strong holiday elements.

Although Halloween and Groundhog Day aren't holidays, they are acceptable, but birthdays or anniversaries don't count. Multiple parts (i.e. duology, trilogy, etc.) can be put together as one if there's a continuation in the narrative. Miniseries and telefilms are fair game, but anything made after the year 2000 and documentaries are excluded.

These films have shown brilliance in most, if not all, aspects: acting, characters, screenplay, plot, direction, editing, cinematography, and so on. They must also be "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." Then, I think about cultural phenomenon, uniqueness, famous movie moments, iconic scenes and/or lines, cinematic power, and timelessness.

This list is based on what I have seen so far and is limited to the top 8 with some, if any, honorable mentions in that order and some notable exceptions to the rule. While ranking the films, I am simultaneously thinking about holiday before quality and quality before holiday.



  1. It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

    2. It's a Wonderful Life is the Christmas picture of them all. It also captures the human spirit. The last twenty minutes is what transcends the film as a whole to another level, hence the repeated viewings. Any time you're confronted by a person who wants to commit suicide, the best answer is telling him to watch It's a Wonderful Life. This piece of advice will probably save his life, offering him a new perspective of the world.


  2. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)

    3. Unusual and perfect for Christmas, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is a funny picture. There are many memorable moments such as the crash landing on the Christmas tree lot, the sight of a dug-out tree, the stickiness from the sap, the 25,000 twinkle lights plus the drum roll, "What's that sound? You hear it? It's a funny squeaky sound," the damage caused by the squirrel, the burned-down tree, and so on.


  3. Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)

    4. Planes, Trains & Automobiles is an all-time classic that's relatable for everybody, no matter what decade it's viewed in. Scoring high in comedy, it's almost a laugh-a-minute all the way through. There are many funny scenes and one-liners involving John Candy. Both he and Steve Martin have called Planes, Trains & Automobiles their favorite movie they've done. Honestly, there's not a single flaw in it.


  4. Die Hard (1988)

    5. What's great about Die Hard is how real John McClane is and, even better, how direct Hans Gruber is. Unlike most action-adventure movies, it's a thrill machine that never lets down from start to finish. The script is well-done, and the special effects extravaganza intensifies the viewing experience even more.


  5. Black Christmas (1974)

    6. Black Christmas is regarded as one of the earliest slasher films made and was influential in the making of Halloween and Friday the 13th, outshining both of them in the suspense department. The acting is quite good and keeps the tension taut throughout. The last fifteen minutes of the detectives trying to trace the calls is terrifying. Oh, how the weird obscene phone calls that would never stop. They're so bizarre that the feeling of suspense is doubly heightened.


  6. Halloween (1978)

    7. A John Carpenter masterpiece, Halloween is universally regarded as one of the best suspenseful horror movies made. The director's setup of the atmosphere is brilliant. So is his idea of putting on a simple white Shatner mask over Michael Myers' face. He's like a robot with no feelings. Jamie Lee Curtis is the indisputable queen of scream. Her name will live forever in the annals of horror cinema.


  7. Groundhog Day (1993)

    8. Groundhog Day is a memorable picture for going through the same day over, over, over, and over. The concept seems to be clever at the outset yet can be tedious after a while. Thankfully, it's consistently funny and, at the same time, never runs out of gas. Harold Ramis does a good job of finding new ways to keep the momentum going.


  8. Born on the Fourth of July (1989)

    9. An epic of Ron Kovic's life with lots of highs and lows, Born on the Fourth of July is the one Tom Cruise will be remembered for eternity. It's to Oliver Stone's credit for making the film seamless and moving. He also takes advantage of Ron Kovic's autobiographical story to tell how one disabled Vietnam veteran went from an idealistic patriot to a cynical, jaded hater because of the lies that were spoon-fed to him.



Honorable Mentions: None

Notable Exceptions: Halloween: Resurrection (2002)