Elf is NOT the UK's favourite Christmas film: Check out the definitive list
You can't beat a Christmas film!
Last updated 14th Dec 2023
When it comes to getting into the festive spirit, you can't beat cosying up on the sofa and watching a good Christmas film. With so many different festive movies to choose from, ranging from classic films to newer releases, we all have our own opinions on which seasonal film is the best.
However, research conducted by vegan chocolate makers NOMO has found the 20 most popular Christmas films amongst British movie lovers. With films including The Holiday, Elf and The Grinch, there's an array of must-see festive films on the list.
Where did your favourite rank? Take a look through the list and find out.
Check out the top 20 Christmas films:
20 - Jingle All The Way
Released in November 1996, Jingle All The Way is a festive comedy film. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sinbad play two rival fathers who are trying to buy a Turbo-Man action figure for their sons on Christmas Eve.
19 - Gremlins
The comedy horror film Gremlins was released in June 1984 and stars Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Hoyt Axton and features Howie Mandel as the voice of Gizmo. Gremlins tells the story of a man who is given a strange creature as a pet, which then spawns a series of monsters who cause chaos on Christmas Eve.
18 - A Christmas Story
This festive comedy was released in November 1983, telling the story of Ralphie (Peter Billingsley), who wants an air rifle for Christmas.
17 - Frozen
Released in November 2013, Frozen has proven to be a hugely successful Disney film. The animated movie tells the story of two sisters - Princesses Anna (voiced by Kristen Bell) and Elsa (voiced by Idina Menzel).
16 - The Nightmare Before Christmas
Tim Burton's animated musical film The Nightmare Before Christmas was released in October 1993. In the film, the King of Halloween Town, Jack Skellington (voiced by Chris Sarandon) comes across Christmas Town and schemes to take over Christmas.
15 - How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Released in November 2000, this iconic Christmas film was based on Dr Seuss' 1957 book of the same name. The Grinch (Jim Carrey) attempts to ruin Christmas for the residents of Whoville, when he comes across six-year-old Cindy Lou Who (Taylor Momsen).
14 - Scrooged
Released in November 1988, Scrooged is based on Charles Dickens' classic A Christmas Carol. The film tells the story of Frank Cross (Bill Murray), a television executive who is visited by a series of ghosts on Christmas Eve.
13 - The Santa Clause
Comedy film The Santa Clause was released in November 1994. Tim Allen plays Scott Calvin, who accidentally causes Santa Claus to fall from his roof on Christmas Eve.
12 - National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
Released in December 1989, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation was the third film in National Lampoon magazine's Vacation film series. Chevy Chase plays Clark Griswold, who is trying to have a special family Christmas, but things start to go wrong.
11 - The Holiday
Released in December 2006, The Holiday sees Iris (Kate Winslet) and Amanda (Cameron Diaz) swap houses over the festive season, with the pair both looking to escape heartbreak back home.
10 - The Grinch
Released in November 2018, animated film The Grinch is the third movie adaptation of Dr Seuss' book How the Grinch Stole Christmas, after the 1966 television special and 2000 film How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
9 - White Christmas
Released in October 1954, musical film White Christmas starred Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen.
8 - The Muppet Christmas Carol
Released in December 1992, musical film The Muppet Christmas Carol sees Michael Caine star as Ebenezer Scrooge. The film is an adaptation of the classic Charles Dickens novel A Christmas Carol.
7 - Die Hard
Action film Die Hard was released in July 1988, with Bruce Willis starring as NYPD detective John McClane, who arrives in Los Angeles on Christmas Eve to reunite with his estranged wife. Die Hard is the first in a series of five films.
6 - The Polar Express
Fantasy film The Polar Express was released in November 2004 and is based on a children's book of the same name. In the film, the Polar Express takes children on a magical journey to the North Pole to Santa Claus.
5 - Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
Miracle on 34th Street was released in June 1947 and stars Maureen O'Hara, John Payne, Natalie Wood, and Edmund Gwenn. The much-loved classic Christmas film tells the story of a department store Santa Claus who says he is the real Santa.
4 - The Snowman
Released in December 1982, animated film The Snowman was based on the Raymond Briggs children's book of the same name. The film has no words, except from the song 'Walking In The Air'.
3 - It's A Wonderful Life
It's A Wonderful Life was released in January 1947. The classic film tells the story of George Bailey (James Bailey), who contemplates suicide on Christmas Eve.
2 - Elf
Beloved Christmas film Elf was released in November 2003, with Will Ferrell in the lead role of Buddy, a human who had been raised by Santa's elves. In the film, Buddy travels to New York City to meet his biological father.
1 - Home Alone
Voted the most popular Christmas film, Home Alone was released in November 1990, with Macaulay Culkin in the role of Kevin McCallister, who defends his home from robbers after his family leave him behind when going on a Christmas holiday to Paris.
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