Learning Resources: Christmas: What to watch

Highest Grossing Christmas Films

1) The Grinch (2018)
Grossing $526,760,632 (£430,705,830)
The Grinch lives a solitary existence in a cave on Mount Crumpet. His main source of displeasure comes from Christmastime when his neighbours in Whoville celebrate the festivities. When the Whos decide to make Christmas bigger and brighter, the angered Grinch realises there is only one-way to get peace and Quiet; he must steal Christmas.

2) Home Alone (1990)
Grossing $476,684,675 (£389,761,224)
Kevin made a wish that his family disappeared and when they accidently left him home alone at Christmas, he thought it had come true. However his excitement changes when his house comes under attack from 2 robbers. Kevin must outsmart them and do what he can to protect his home.

3) Home Alone 2 (1992)
Grossing $358,994,850 (£293,532,139)
After losing his father at the airport, house defender Kevin accidently gets on the wrong plane! While his family fly to sunny Florida, Kevin ends up alone in New York City at Christmas. After conning his way to get a room in a fancy hotel, Kevin finds that the robbers he defeated are on the loose and have set their sights on an elderly man’s toy store.

4) How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
Grossing $345,823,032 (£282,762,202)
In this live action version, reclusive Grinch makes it his mission to ruin Christmas for the happy Whos who live in Whoville. Joined by his reluctant dog, Max, he comes down from his Mount Crumpet home to steal Christmas from the holiday loving Whos. However he never planned for a young Who call Cindy-Lou who takes a shine to him and shows him what love is truly like.

5) A Christmas Carol (2009)
Grossing $325,286,646 (£265,970,626)
Animated version of the classic novel by Charles Dickens, Ebenezer Scrooge lives alone content with only making money. Christmas is a joyful time but for Ebenezer, it is all Humbug. On Christmas Eve, he is visited by the ghost of an old business partner who warns him that three ghosts will visit in the hopes of changing his outlook on the world. The ghosts take him on a journey to his past, the present and the future, hoping to transform his bitterness.

6) The Polar Express
Grossing $315,249,768 (£253,753,995)
Set during the youth of the narrator, known only as Hero Boy, this the story of a young boy who is struggling to believe in Santa. On Christmas Eve, when a magical and mysterious train is outside his house, Hero Boy begins a journey to the North Pole with other children, who are eager to see Santa. Hero Boy begins to learn that for those who truly believe, the wonders of Christmas will never fade.

7) Love Actually
Grossing $245,203,167 (£197,371,385)
Nine interconnected stories examine the complexities of love. Among them is the prime minister who falls for a member of his staff, a graphic designer whose devotion to her family complicate her love life and a businessman who is tempted by his attractive new secretary.

8) Elf
Grossing $225,097,437 (£181,187,679)
Buddy the Elf is an adult who was accidently transported to the North Pole as a baby and was raised by Santa’s elves. Unable to shake the feeling that he doesn’t belong there, Buddy travels to New York to find his real father. The childlike Buddy tries build a relationship with his biological dad with increasingly chaotic results.

9) The Holiday
Grossing $205,850,134 (£165,694,948)
Hopelessly in love with the wrong man, English Iris agrees to swap homes with recently single Californian Amanda for a much-needed break. Iris finds herself in a luxurious Hollywood mansion while Amanda navigates the snowy picture-perfect English Countryside. The unlucky in love women soon bump into local lads who prove to be the perfect romantic pick-me-up.

10) The Santa Clause
Grossing $190,539,357 (£153,370,844)
After accidently killing a man in a Santa suit on Christmas Eve, divorced dad Scott and his son Charlie finish delivering the presents and are transported to the North Pole. The Elves who great him tell Scott that he is now Santa, which he dismisses. Over the next year he gains weight, his hair turns white and he grows a beard. With his son’s help, he accepts that he is now Santa and has lots of work to do before Christmas.

Best Christmas Movies

The 100 best Christmas movies according to Rotten Tomatoes
From Home Alone and Elf to classics like Miracle on 34th Street, we’ve made our list of great holiday films and checked it at least twice. Now, to all you nice boys and girls out there, we present the Best Christmas Movies ever!
71 Best Christmas according to Esquire
‘Tis the season once again for Christmas cheers and Hallmark holiday movie jeers. Whether you go for the classics like Miracle on 34th Street, or prefer to laugh at whatever silly idea Netflix has come up with now, December has a host of Christmas films to take you all the way into the New Year.

LRC's Favourites

You have to appreciate the classics. I love It's a Wonderful Life, Love Actually and White Christmas

– Allyson

You honestly can't beat a bit of Arnie at Christmas, Jingle all the Way is a festive classic!

- Annalee

I love spending my time watching Elf, Miracle on 34th Street and The Polar Express

– Courtney

For me, it has to be Die Hard and yes it is a Christmas movie

– Danny

Love Actually is always my go to

– Dianne

The Nightmare before Christmas and The Polar Express have got to be two of the best films to watch this time of the year

– Jade

I have to agree with Danny, Die Hard is a brilliant Christmas film but when I fancy a little romance, I have to go with The Holiday

– Jane

You can't beat spending the long winter nights cuddled with the kids watching The Grinch , The Holiday or The Polar Express

– Joanne

While it isn't a traditional Christmas film, Hachi: A Dog's Tale is one that I just love to watch curled up in a blanket with a warm drink

– Lorraine

For me, I love watching the Home Alone Series. Watching those two thieves get beat by a kid is just hilarious.

- Luca

Well now for me I love a good war film and loads come on the tv at Christmas, but if we are talking about traditional it's got to be The Nightmare before Christmas and Love Actually

– Paul