Top Five Christmas Movies of All Time

Christmas movies are part of the celebratory traditions of most households. They provide joy and fun, and they can get some people in the holiday spirit when little else can. For some really great Christmas movies that should be part of your holiday happiness, consider the following flicks, some of which you may never have heard of before.

"A Mom for Christmas" was made for television in 1990, and it brought in a record number of viewers then as part of the Wonderful World of Disney. It has been seen by millions more since its debut on television and in its DVD release. The story has a heart and serious center, but it's a comedy for all ages, something one expects from Disney. It also has something else that not all live action Disney films capture: a sense of magic, wonder and fairy tale-like hope. It's the story of eleven-year-old Jessica who makes a wish in a department store wishing well for a mom for the holidays. When she gets her wish in the form of a mannequin-turned-Mom, the fun of the movie begins. As the young star Juliet Sorcey herself said in a Disney interview from the set, she hoped that it would become a Christmas classic that's played year and year. It has turned out to be the case. It can usually be seen on cable during the holidays, and it's available on DVD exclusively from Disney's DVD club.

Yet another holiday classic is "It's a Wonderful Life." If mentioning that title alone, most people will think that enough has been said. It's easy to catch the movie in color or black and white. Although it wasn't an instant success upon its first release, it has long been a television and video/dvd success story. It's one of the movies most associated with Christmas films, and it's the uplifting story with drama at its heart. George Bailey is a man who has it all, and it takes an angel to make him see that one special Christmas Eve.

"How the Grinch Stole Christmas" must be included in the list. The 1966 cartoon still holds weight and strong entertainment value. It is an iconic Christmas show. It's been spoofed all over pop culture and made into a feature film of the same name, which is great in its own right. However, the cartoon makes for irresistible entertainment. It's hard not to sing right along with the Whos at the film's climax.

Olivia Newton-John stars in another movie that makes the cut of the greatest holiday movies. "A Christmas Romance" is an irresistible tale for the holidays. It's darker in style and content than "A Mom for Christmas," but it has its own delights. It was Olivia's first role that she played after beating breast cancer, and she reveals even greater depth as an actress in the movie. It's about a widow with two young daughters who is struggling to get by at the holidays while making the holidays merry for her children. The Christmas stranger that appears is at first villainous, but there's more to him than meets the eye. It's safe for the whole family. Olivia Newton-John's talented daughter Chloe Lattanzi stars in the film alongside her.

Last but not least is "Miracle on 34th Street." There are a few different versions of this film, but the classic one is the original starring a child Natalie Wood. It's a wonderful and enchanting tale of a child who starts out not believing in Santa Claus or fairy tales, yet who has her eyes opened to holiday magic and faith during a fight over whether the man she knows is the Santa Claus he claims to be.

All of these movies are safe viewing for the entire family, and they all offer something special that's been proven each season as they find their way into the hearts of new viewers and delight those coming back for film reruns.

Sources cited:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100173/
http://www.onlyolivia.com
https://disneymovieclub.go.com/
http://www.myspace.com/chloelattanziofficial
http://www.amazon.com/Miracle-34th-Street-Edmund-Gwenn/dp/B00000K3CK/ref=cm_lmf_tit_3