Most people know classics like “The Little Lord” or “Three Hazelnuts for Cinderella”. But “Bad Santa”? Or “Footprints in the Sand.” Here is our selection of the best Christmas films. Guaranteed to be subjective and worthy of discussion.
“The life is wonderful, is not it?”
Sorry, that was to be expected, but Frank Capra’s fairy tale about the suicidal savings bank clerk (James Stewart), whom an angel gets back on track, is still magical even after more than 70 years. Fun fact: the brilliant professional sarcastic Dorothy Parker also worked on the script for the feel-good classic.
“Die Hard”
We answer the eternal question of whether “Die Hard” is a Christmas movie or not: “Ho ho ho, now I have a machine gun.” And it’s Christmas Eve when John McClane aka Bruce Willis has one Terrorist group pulverized and a high-rise building with it. At the end, Vaughn Monroe sings “Let it Snow”. Any questions?
Still young, with a full head of hair: Bruce Willis in 1991 in “Die Hard” as police officer John McClane
© United Archives / kpa Publicity/ / Picture Alliance
“Love Actually”
“The Simpsons: Favorite Unlucky Family”
“Hey, since when is Christmas just about the presents? Let’s not forget the true meaning of this day – the birth of Santa Claus.” Says Bart Simpson. Just one of many great quotes from the Christmas episode of The Simpsons’ ninth season, where Bart accidentally sets the tree and all the presents on fire, claiming it was burglars. The city’s initial solidarity turns into anger. And Homer Simpson concludes: “God hates us!”
“We are not angels”
Not on paper at first. But because their escape fails, the three escapees Humphrey Bogart, Peter Ustinov and Aldo Rey settle in with a grocery store owner, whom they help out time and time again and celebrate Christmas with him. There is nothing good, unless you do it. By the way, this does not apply to Neil Jordan’s 1989 remake with Robert De Niro and Sean Penn.
“The Feuerzangenbowle”
Perhaps the best recipe in times of homeschooling: the evergreen school comedy with Heinz Rühmann. And since Christmas is always a celebration of drinking more, we end these lines with Professor Crey’s wise words: “The fermenting alcohol then begins to drive away, which is how secret drivel or blueberry booze is created.” Feeling of well-being.
“Bad Santa”
If you were to add up the expletives from all Scorsese and Tarantino films, you would probably only get half the amount of Terry Zwigoff’s raunchy comedy. Billy Bob Thornton as the criminal, drunk, swearing, child-hating department store Santa Claus really, well, hits the shit here. Of course, even he is purified, it’s Christmas, damn it.
“The Soldiers of Fortune”
A film from 1983, a time when Eddie Murphy was still really funny. As part of a bet between two millionaires, he swaps roles as a sneaky beggar with a snobby businessman (Dan Aykroyd). The end result is the answer to the question of whether people’s behavior is determined more by their environment or their genes. Either way: everything will be okay in the end.
“The Life of Brian”
A little blasphemy at the party doesn’t hurt either. Enter Brian Cohen aka Schwanzus Longus, who is worshiped as a messiah against his will. Monty Python’s irreverent 1979 comedy still riles up the right people today. But hey: “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life”.
“Traces in the sand”
Three cattle thieves botch a bank robbery and soon find themselves as guardian angels for a baby whose mother died during childbirth. By far the most unusual and warmest film from the hard man team John Ford (director) and John Wayne.
“The Miracle of Manhattan”
Is that guy working at the Macy’s department store actually the real Santa Claus, as he claims, or not? All of New York mocks him, and his mental state is even being discussed in court. A girl named Susan, played by little Natalie Wood, proves to be the smartest of them all in George Seaton’s classic. The real point, as we have long known, is not about original or fake.
“Merry Christmas”
In the 70s there was a satirical magazine in the USA called National Lampoon, under whose name films were also produced, for example a series with the crazy Griswold clan around Chevy Chase. Whether it’s cutting down a Christmas tree, putting up fairy lights or preparing a turkey, everything here ends in disaster. It’s got a bit of a patina since 1989, but some of the gags are still great.
“The Prince’s Bride”
Still charming, Rob Reiner’s fairytale love story between the stable boy Westley and the beautiful Buttercup. By the way, she plays Robin Wright, who later taught fear to her husband and us as the chillingly cool Claire Underwood in “House of Cards”.
“A Very Murray Christmas”
Small and nice on Netflix: a half-film by Sofia Coppola with Bill Murray and the music of the band Phoenix. Not a big plot, more of a feeling: that you can also celebrate Christmas in a sloppy, casual way. Like a very dry champagne, drunk in a dressing gown.
“Laurel & Hardy: Big Business”
Stan and Ollie sell Christmas trees in Los Angeles. With an unsolicited delivery service. After just 20 minutes everything is in ruins: house, car, nerves. Probably the most realistic film for the holidays.
“Deadly Christmas”
From the makers of “Die Hard 2” and “Lethal Weapon”: a Christmas ball orgy with Geena Davies (mother of a family with amnesia who discovers that she was once a professional killer) and Samuel L. Jackson (private detective who assists her in this discovery stands). Material battle. This is also close to reality.
“Sopranos: Greetings from Santa Claus”
An episode from the third season of the best series of all time. This is how the mafia gets away with things in New Jersey. Or also: What do you give a mafia boss who has already taken everything you could have?
This article comes from the stern archive and was first published at Christmas 2020.