26 Iconic Christmas Films – From 1898 to Present

26 Iconic Christmas Films – From 1898 to Present 🎄

From heartwarming tales of redemption to mischievous gremlins wreaking holiday havoc. Christmas movies have become an essential part of our holiday traditions. But did you know that the very first Christmas film was made way back in 1898?

Today, we’re taking a journey through the history of Christmas movies, highlighting 26 Iconic Christmas Films to explore how they evolved from simple silent shorts to modern-day classics like Elf (2003) and Klaus (2019). Whether you’re a fan of cozy nostalgia or a dark holiday twist, there’s something for everyone in this festive timeline. So, grab some cocoa, and let’s dive in.

Early silent era 1890 to 1920.

Santa Claus (1898)

This 19th-century film is considered the first Christmas-themed film. It was produced in Britain and directed by George Albert Smith. It’s a very short film that depicts Saint Nick coming down the chimney and delivering gifts to wealthy children. It’s notable for its groundbreaking use of early cinematic effects to create a magical atmosphere. The way they did the transitions is very interesting. Santa is not a jolly Elf, as alluded to in the Clement C. Moore poem. He is full-size, destroying the myth that Coca-Cola made Santa Claus full-sized. Presents were left only in stockings. This slightly over one-minute film is available on YouTube.

Scrooge or Marley’s Ghost ( 1901)

Scrooge or Marley’s Ghost ( 1901) is one of the earliest adaptations of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” This silent film sets a template for the mini versions that would follow. The film features basic special effects, mostly done in a dark setting depicting ghostly visitors.

Only 323ft of the original 620ft of film survives. The remaining six-minute film is available on YouTube.

A Trap for Santa Claus (1909)

Directed by the great early filmmaker D.W. Griffith, A Trap for Santa Claus (1909) is an awkward short film about a broken family reconciling during Christmas. This is a more complete film than the previous two, but it uses signboards and has no special effects.

A family of four has fallen on hard times since the father is unemployed, and the father turns to drinking. Eventually, he abandons the family shortly before Christmas. The mother tries hard but cannot find relief for the family. Then, the mother receives an inheritance from a distant, and she and the two children move into a new house. The mother tells the boy and girl that Santa Claus will be coming through a window, as the house has no chimney. On Christmas Eve, the mother is in a room dressing in a Santa costume and missing her husband. The children set up a trap to warn them. When Santa comes into the house.

The vagrant father decides to rob the house, not knowing who lives there. He climbs into the window, but the mother catches and forgives him. The father dresses like Santa, and the children are thrilled when they wake. Did this guy deserve a second chance? The entire film is available on YouTube.

The golden age of Christmas films. The 1930s through the 1940s “A Christmas Carol” 1938. There are a plethora of films based on “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. The MGM production, with Reginald Owen as Scrooge, was the first full-length production filmed. The story is the same, and this is probably the most traditional one.The film holds up pretty well, and the acting and special effects are very good.

The Shop Around the Corner (1940)

The Shop Around the Corner was remade as You’ve Got Mail (1998). In Budapest, a shop owner, Hugo Marshak (Frank Morgan). Yes, that’s right, the Wizard of Oz. Floor manager Alfred (James Stewart) is deeply in love with a woman he corresponds with through the mail.

Alfred has an instant dislike for new employee Klara (Margaret Sullivan). She is also in an intense mail relationship. Hugo notes one of his employees is having an affair with his wife. He suspects Alfred. Alfred is fired before he finds out he has been corresponding with Klara all along. Felix Bressart is outstanding as Petrovich.

Christmas in Connecticut ()

Film Noir icon Barbara Stanwyck plays Elizabeth Lane. She’s a Martha Stewart-type food writer. However, it’s all fiction, as Elizabeth knows nothing about cooking, decorating, entertaining, or housekeeping. Her boss invites a returning war hero to New England for a traditional family Christmas. She has to work extra hard trying to keep up with the lie. As the pair falls in love.

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

It’s a Wonderful Life. It’s one of the most beloved Christmas movies due to its great story and the amount of times it is played annually.

Directed by Frank Capra, and starring James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, Henry Travers,and future Noir icon Gloria Grahame. George Bailey (James Stewart) considers ending his life on Christmas Eve, feeling that he has made no impact on the world.

A somewhat out-of-touch angel (Henry Travers) arrives to show George the error of his ways. As they look back on George’s life.

Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Miracle on 34th Street is one of the truly magical Christmas movies. This fantastic Christmas movie was directed by George Seaton. The film starred Edmund Gwenn, Maureen O’Hara, John Payne, and a very young Natalie Wood. Maureen O’Hara, a true nonbeliever, is in charge of Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade and has trouble with Santa Claus until Kris Kringle arrives in the form of Edmund Gwenn.

The film climaxes in a New York courtroom, and you have to be pretty hard-bitten if this movie doesn’t bring it to your eye. We have reviewed this film. There’s a link in the description.

1950s through 1960s sentimentality and innovation.

White Christmas (1954)

White Christmas is a beloved Christmas movie by people of a certain generation. The song White Christmas was released earlier in Holiday Inn (1942). In this film, World War II veterans Bob (Bing Crosby) and Phil (Danny Kaye) take a sister team of dancers, Betty (Rosemary Clooney) and Judy (Vera-Ellen), to Vermont for a show to help their old friend, General Waverly (Dean Yeager), save His Guest Inn. Is love in the offering?

“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” 1964

“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” 1964 is a classic once-a-year TV special that uses stop motion animation to tell the story of a misfit reindeer with a glowing nose. The majority of the deer herd rejects the young buck for his difference. The rejection includes Santa, that fat, judgmental bastard. With a misfit elf and a few others, Rudolph heads out into the wild. As he grows and faces dangers. He learns to be kind and take care of others. Rudolph and friends return to Christmas Town to find Christmas is canceled because of fog. Then Santa needs Rudolph, so they all cozy up to him. Rudolph uses his new power to help Misfit Toys, but only after a children’s letter-writing campaign. Check out the review of this film to learn about the letter-writing campaign.

“A Charlie Brown Christmas” 1965

If you grew up reading peanuts in the newspaper, you will love the animated TV movie “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” Charlie Brown becomes despondent with the commercialization of Christmas, working on the school Christmas pageant. Charlie Brown picks the most forlorn tree from a lot. The gang gets mad. But after reflection, the kids decorate the poor little tree and find the true Christmas spirit.

“The Little Drummer Boy” 1968”

“The Little Drummer Boy” is an animated TV movie. An orphan is treated poorly by society. His only possession is a small drum that he plays well. The orphan has hate in his heart until he travels to Bethlehem with the three wise men. When they arrive at the manger, the orphan plays his drum for the baby Jesus as he has no other gift. It is well received. The film is based on a popular song. This film is not often seen, as some people consider it to be anti-Arab, as the main bad guys were Arabic.

1970s through the 1980s. Expanding genres.

Scrooge (1970)

Scrooge stars great actor Albert Finney as Scrooge. The story is the same as all the other “A Christmas Carols” based on Dickens’ book. However, this one is a musical. It’s not that bad if you like musicals.

A Christmas Story (1983)

A Christmas Story is another Christmas film that benefited from being on television every day during the Christmas season. The film plays on nostalgia in post-World War Two America. Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) is obsessed with getting a Red Ryder range 200-shot B.B. gun. However, everyone, including his mother (Melinda Dillon), his teacher, and Santa Claus, is against the Christmas present. Ralphie’s father (Darren McGavin) is especially good in this film. Fragile!

Gremlins (1984)

Gremlins is a very dark comedy slash horror film where vicious creatures create chaos during the Christmas season. Randall Seltzer (Axton) gives his son Billy (Zach Galligan), a furry creature with big ears, as a present. The only rules are they don’t get them wet and don’t feed them after midnight racing. Really, there’s one more rule. When the rules are violated. Evil versions of the furry creatures are created, led by the meanest stripe. They attack the town with a vengeance.

Scrooged (1988)

Scrooged (1988) is one of the funniest and most irreverent tellings of “A Christmas Carol.” Bill Murray is over the top playing Francis Cross (read that as Scrooge). The supporting cast and the graphics are amazing. When Cross’ deceased partner visits, you can feel the terror. This is offset by the appearance of Carol Kane and Buster Poindexter as Ghost and funnyman Bobcat Goldthwait as Cross’s foil. Karen Allen is a standout as the lost love of Scrooge.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is a slapstick comedy about Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) trying to create the perfect Christmas for his extended family. But houseguests, surprise visitors, a canceled bonus check, and a kidnapping work against Clark. We’ve reviewed this film, and there’s a link in the description.

1990s Modern Classics

Home Alone (1990)

Home Alone is a different take on Christmas. Based on an improbable premise. Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) is accidentally left at home while the family flies to Paris for Christmas. Kevin’s mother (Catherine O’Hara) desperately tries to make it home to her son, as Kevin at first, enjoys his time alone. When inept burglars Harry (Joe Pesci) and Marv (Daniel Stern) plan to rob Kevin’s house on Christmas Eve. He goes into full home defense mode. This could never happen twice.

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

Directed by Brian Henson. Saw the Muppet creator Jim Henson. The Muppet Christmas Carol is a fantastic adaptation of the Dickens story. The Muppets are a laugh-a-minute as they back up one of the greatest actors of all time, Michael Caine. Make sure to watch the complete version that contains the love song.

Jingle All the Way (1996)

Jingle All the Way has action star Arnold Schwarzenegger as a detached father, competing with Funny Man, Sinbad, who is playing a mailman. They are competing for the last remaining Turbo Man action figure before Christmas morning. Meanwhile, funnyman Phil Hartman attempts to seduce Schwarzenegger’s wife, played by Rita Wilson. It’s a really funny movie and worth a watch.

2000 – Present: Diverse themes.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

The Nightmare Before Christmas is a Tim Burton-produced stop motion film that combines Halloween and Christmas themes. Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloweentown, wants to do more than Halloween. Jack arrives in Christmas Town and soon convinces his followers to hijack Christmas. But it can’t work out right.

Reindeer Games (2000)

Reindeer Games was directed by The Amazing Action director John Frankenheimer. This Christmas Eve casino heist movie is packed with star power. Rudy (Ben Affleck) is a cellmate with Nick (James Frain). Nick is in a pen pal relationship with a woman he has not met yet named Ashley (Charlize Theron). Just before their release, Nick is killed protecting Rudy.

When released, Rudy keeps a planned rendezvous with Ashley and pretends to be Nick. Ashley’s brother, Gabriel. (Gary Sinise) kidnaps the couple and forces Rudy to plan a robbery for a casino where Nick, who they think he is, used to work. But there are many surprises and twists before Rudy can make it home for Christmas and some pie.

Elf (2003)

This unique Christmas movie was directed by Jon Favreau. Comedian Will Ferrell teams up with legendary comic Bob Newhart for this Christmas comedy. Watch for Peter Dinklage playing a mean character. Ferrell plays Buddy the Elf, a human raised at the North Pole who goes south to find his biological father (James Caan). Ed Asner returns as Santa in one of the many times taking on this role.

The Polar Express (2004)

The Polar Express was directed by Bob Zemeckis, who is probably best known for the Back to the Future trilogy. Still, he has had a long and successful career with other classics like Forrest Gump and Who Framed Roger Rabbit. This movie is based on the children’s book of the same name. The book is mostly just pictures and is honestly beautiful. But I will say that the CGI in 2004 wasn’t the best. I think people do generally like this movie. It is somewhat of a musical. One song from the movie actually won a Grammy in 2006. I’m not the biggest fan of musicals, but who doesn’t love Tom Hanks?

Krampus (2015)

Krampus is a fun holiday horror movie directed by Michael Dougherty, who you may know from writing movies like Trick or Treat (2007), an excellent horror film, and Godzilla King of the Monsters (2019). This movie is loosely based on the Germanic folkloric figure of the same name. The tale goes that Krampus accompanies Saint Nicholas on Krampusnacht on December 5th and doles out punishment to naughty children instead of gifts as Saint Nicholas does. Generally, the punishment is considered to be beatings with birch sticks, but he is also said to steal children away, to drown them, or eat them.

The movie plays a little fast and loose with the concept, really just getting the name and a creepy description of Krampus. Honestly, the monster design in this movie is pretty iconic. Plus, what’s not fun about an evil gingerbread man? Am I right?

This Krampus is a giant wearing a Santa-like cloak and appears to be wearing a loose, ill-fitting Santa mask. This truly makes for a chilling experience when a character comes face to face with the creature.

Klaus (2019)

Claus was directed by Sergio Pablos and was released directly on Netflix. This film is beautifully animated and follows a postman who is new in town and becomes friends with a surly loner toymaker. You can see where that’s going. Toys plus mail equals Santa Claus delivering toys on Christmas. It’s definitely a cute movie.

This timeline of 26 Iconic Christmas Films showcases how Christmas films evolved from simple shorts to culturally significant staples. Adapting to changing tastes and societal norms. Christmas movies have come a long way from their humble beginnings, capturing the magic, the mayhem, and even the melancholy of the holiday season.

Whether it is the timeless lesson of It’s a Wonderful Life, the quirky humor of A Christmas Story, or the heart-pounding antics of Home Alone, Each era has added its own unique sparkle to the holiday canon.

As Christmas films continue to evolve. One thing remains constant: their ability to bring us together, remind us of the holiday spirit, and create memories that last a lifetime. Thank you for joining us on this cinematic sleigh ride.

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