I hear you broke your hip chasin' a blonde

Switch up your Christmas movie slate with these flicks that will have you haulin' out the holly and hangin' up the mistletoe

I adore Miracle on 34th Street, White Christmas, Elf, A Christmas Story, and even have a soft spot for Love, Actually. They are my Christmas viewing perennials. Some years though, I need to shake things up a bit and give certain films a rest. There are so many amazing Christmas flicks available that you need to make time to revisit those you’ve been neglecting or to discover a new favorite.

To be honest, Miracle on 34th Street and White Christmas are so deeply ingrained in my heart that I will never retire them. That said, you should know I will never embrace It’s a Wonderful Life — there, I said it.

So in the spirit of the holiday, I’m sharing a few Christmas films — a mix of classics and those of a later vintage — that I either adore or straight up enjoy. Go on and take a peek. See if you unwrap something you like.

VINTAGE CHRISTMAS

Meet John Doe (1941)

In my opinion, the better Frank Capra Christmas film. Drifter Gary Cooper gets a makeover by shrewd columnist Barbara Stanwyck and becomes an icon to the masses almost overnight. Filled with barbed social commentary and a big beating heart, this features sensational performances from Cooper and Stanwyck, and is one of Capra’s finest — which is saying something if you know his CV.

The Shop Around the Corner (1940)

In my opinion, the better James Stewart Christmas film. If you’ve seen You’ve Got Mail or even In the Good Old Summertime, you know the plot: two coworkers who bicker nonstop are unknowingly romantic pen pals. With this version, you get Stewart and Margaret Sullavan as the love interests and the inimitable Ernst Lubitsch directing. Plus, fantastic supporting turns by Frank Morgan and Felix Bressart.

Holiday Affair (1949)

Janet Leigh and Robert Mitchum meet cute at a department store while both on the clock only for that encounter to turn their lives topsy turvy! In Mitchum’s corner is her adorable son who is not too keen on Mom’s boyfriend usurping him as the man of the house. Against him is said boyfriend who is not too keen on Mitchum usurping him in Leigh’s heart. This sweetheart of a film delights with every viewing.

Remember the Night (1939)

Five years before Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray’s crackling chemistry ignited Double Indemnity, the pair teamed up for this sublime romantic drama written by the great Preston Sturges. Shoplifter Stanwyck gets put in the custody of MacMurray, the prosecuting attorney in her case, over the holiday break through a misunderstanding. They end up road tripping home to meet his family with a few detours along the way.

The Man Who Came To Dinner (1941)

A delightful screwball comedy with bite and warmth in equal measure. Monty Wooley is a popular critic with a scathing tongue who’s happy to stir up trouble while convalescing in a small Midwestern town. Bette Davis is his put-upon assistant who finds the town has its charms, namely in the shape of the local newspaper owner. Standout turns from Jimmy Durante (delivering my title quote), Ann Sheridan, and Mary Wickes only solidify its status as a stone-cold classic.

The Bishop’s Wife (1947)

Bishop David Niven gets more than he bargains for when angel Cary Grant answers his prayers. The stress of raising money for his church, as well as the strain from neglecting his home life while watching his angelic assistant seamlessly slot himself into his life has the bishop feeling besieged. Loretta Young is divine as the titular wife, longing for the man she knows is slipping away while being distracted by the diverting attentions of the besotted angel.

The Thin Man (1934)

Hands down the swankiest and sexiest couple on this list: Nick and Nora Charles aren’t looking for Santa so much as a killer in this comedic mystery gem. One of the best onscreen pairings ever, William Powell and Myrna Loy sizzle in every scene as they banter and bicker while following clues. It all comes down to a “round up the usual suspects” dinner party at Christmas that might have even made Agatha Christie’s pulse race.

COOL YULE FAVES

Carol (2015)

Todd Haynes delivers a gorgeous, forbidden love story between a young, aspiring photographer and an older, married woman in 1950s New York. Their tumultuous affair is one for the ages, the women drawn to one another like moths to a flame despite society’s mores. Rooney Mara and Cate Blanchett are incendiary throughout, even when they aren't together onscreen. Plus, they have a delightful meet cute.

Single All the Way (2021)

Who doesn't love a good fake dating romcom? Michael Urie drafts his best friend Philemon Chambers to be his date when he goes home for the holidays to avoid being set up by his well meaning yet meddling mom (Kathy Najimy in the house!). Cue the always adorable and compellingly irresistible Luke Macfarlane entering the picture to make things interesting. If you’re thinking all that’s missing is for Jennifer Coolidge to show up, then you’re in luck!

Happiest Season (2020)

If you think fake dating is awkward, writer-director Clea Duvall's film ups the ante. Are you still a couple when your girlfriend brings you home as a friend for Christmas only to step back into the closet herself? That's the conundrum Kristen Stewart finds herself in thanks to girlfriend Mackenzie Davis. Good thing she has Aubrey Plaza as Davis' ex to distract her. The stacked cast features Victor Garber, Mary Steenburgen, Alison Brie, and Dan Levy.

Let It Snow (2019)

A more inclusive Love, Actually for the YA crowd without the problematic politics, this charming Christmas Eve romcom has a disparate group of teens navigating the joys and travails of the holiday season as they come together during a snowstorm.  My favorite story is the one featuring Julie and pop star Stuart, who meet on a train before the storm derails their plans. Keep an eye out for Joan Cusack bringing some quirk as the Tin Foil Woman.

This Is Christmas (2022)

The daily commute into London becomes more than just a train ride when Alfred Enoch’s Adam throws caution to the wind and suggests to his fellow passengers, including Kaya Scodelario’s Emma, that they throw a Christmas party. While there’s a romcom conceit baked into its DNA, you also get some lovely character work from Timothy Spall, Joanna Scanlan, Sarah Niles, and Ben Miller.

Riders of Justice (2020)

Let’s wrap this up with a Christmas flick that is decidedly not romantic yet is comedic. Family man Mads Mikkelsen gets called home from active duty after a train crash kills his wife and injures his daughter. He’s soon informed that this may not have been an accident, enlisting an unlikely geek chorus to help him get his revenge instead of focusing on repairing his fractured relationship with his daughter. (I promise there’s an actual Christmas element here and that this is not a desperate ploy to put Mikkelsen on this list. But I don’t blame you for questioning my motives.)