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Christmas

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Which less common films do you have a family tradition of watching?

154 replies

Pirrin · 07/12/2022 17:58

We enjoy watching a lot of the bog standard Christmas classics- Its a Wonderful Life, Home Alone, Elf, The Polar Express, A Christmas Carol, The Nativity, The Snowman etc.

But my absolute favourite is Beatrix Potter's The Tailor of Gloucester even though it's only 20mins and just watched via YouTube. It's so Christmassy and lovely and made me wonder if any one else has any less obvious gems? I also love 'Santa Claus The Movie' but couldn't decide if that fell into the bog standard or lesser watched category!

OP posts:
The2Omicronnies · 07/12/2022 21:26

Stickman is lovely to watch at Christmas.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is a must in our house too.

linziere · 07/12/2022 21:31

We always watch all The Royal Family Christmas specials. It's not really Christmas without them and we even quote from them throughout the year they've become so ingrained in our tradition.

ThankYouVeryMuchGerry · 07/12/2022 21:32

Christmas with the Kranks. Click & collect - British TV film and its brilliant, Stephen Merchant is really good.

EdvardMunchsMuse · 07/12/2022 21:42

The Great Escape
It was on at Christmas almost every year when I was a child.
Great cast, still love it.

17caterpillars1mouse · 07/12/2022 21:58

Mickey's once upon a Christmas on Disney+

Though it used to be my eldest favourite film year round it is now reserved for Christmas lol

TrufflesForBreakfast · 07/12/2022 22:05

I've just bought the Dawn French / Beatrix Potter meets Roald Dahl Curious Mouse film to watch over Christmas. Films like that, set in the past, involving old styles of dress, steam engines, snow and big houses are my festive thing. If anyone has any suggestions for more let me know!

ShakeABake · 07/12/2022 22:06

The Family Stone, I love it and set at Christmas. Sarah Jessica Parker is so brill at the awkward Meredith!

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 07/12/2022 22:07

Planes Trains and Automobiles

Even though its Thanksgiving they are travelling home for.

Hesleepswiththefishes · 07/12/2022 22:09

Life of Brian
muppets Christmas carol
national lampoons Christmas

then you know it’s Christmas
followed by ransoms like highlander…only watched in the month of December

ApplesForMe · 07/12/2022 22:14

The Bishops Wife, 1947, Cary Grant, Loretta Young and David Niven. Absolute favourite, best Christmas movie ever

UnclearNuclear · 07/12/2022 22:14

@Covetthee we resorted to buying a second hand dvd to get hold of it but OP has found it on YouTube.

Actually we also like Keeping Mum - Rowan Atkinson, Kristin Scott Thomas, Maggie Smith and Patrick Swayze - not Christmassy but good!

Also love Man Up Smile

SirSamVimesCityWatch · 07/12/2022 22:22

duacheapa · 07/12/2022 19:33

The Hogfather with David Jason, Michelle Dockery and Marc Warren.
I always watch it on the 23rd and 24th, ever since I first saw it on Sky in 2006!
It's my absolute favourite, Terry Prachett was an incredible human being.

I re-read The Hogfather every December. Currently at Death explaining to Susan that the Hogfather is dead.

This is Hogswatch! It's supposed to be jolly, with mistletoe and Holly, and - and other things ending in olly!

SirSamVimesCityWatch · 07/12/2022 22:24

Family watching tradition is the 1980s BBC adaptation of The Box of Delights though. Every year, without fail, since I was about five.

Forever42 · 07/12/2022 22:25

DD and I watch Calamity Jane because it is always on between Christmas and New Year.

GoofyIsACow · 07/12/2022 22:33

Some great suggestions!

DH and I always watch Catch Me If You Can

Bbq1 · 07/12/2022 22:36

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 07/12/2022 19:52

The new Scrooge film on Netflix is brilliant btw. As is Spirited.

I love Scrooged too with Bill Murray. Makes me weepy at the end

Ooh, is Spirited on Netflix already?!

Namechangeno25788 · 07/12/2022 22:38

Covetthee · 07/12/2022 20:16

I’ve never met anyone else who has ever heard of this film! I was begining to think I made it up! 🤣 such a great film. Can’t find it anywhere to watch though

my picks are:
uncle buck
the family stone
trading places

Show quote history

Love it! DS mentioned today that it’s on the new ITV player app. I‘ve got it on DVD but the quality is awful. I’m going to try the app to see if it’s any better!

We always watch one of the short animated films on Christmas Eve, like The Snowman or Father Christmas, but my favourites are the Robbie the Reindeer ones. They’re fab! And a brilliant cast too.

Isthisreasonable · 07/12/2022 22:39

Arthur Christmas. There always seems to be another little detail that you spot for the first time.

Isthatascratchonmygrandmother · 07/12/2022 22:40

LOTR
Jason and the Argonauts
Scrooged
Die Hard

Bbq1 · 07/12/2022 22:42

MakingNBaking · 07/12/2022 20:48

Gremlins. Da da da da da da

We always have to same arguments. It is/it's not.

Ds and I going to an 80s film night at our local independent cinema tomorrow to see Gremlins! I saw it first time around but that's a long time ago. Really looking forward to it. Ds will love it.

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 07/12/2022 22:47

Life of Brian. Not just funny, but prophetic in places.

ChicagoBears · 07/12/2022 22:48

Not Christmassy but:

  • Mrs Doubtfire
  • Three men and a baby & three men and a lady
  • The Truman show
  • Dr. Zhivago
  • James Bond
CoffeeBoy · 07/12/2022 22:51

National Lampoons Christmas vacation

SouperNoodle · 07/12/2022 23:02

Bernard and the genie ☺️

Pumpkintopf · 07/12/2022 23:07

A dog named Christmas 🎅🏻