We know you’re excited, so we won’t make you wait any longer. Go ahead: pick one out from underneath the tree, untie the bow, tear into the gift wrapping, pry open the box and check out what’s inside…

Why it’s a handy list of classic Christmas movies. Oh, Zazzle, you shouldn’t have!

That’s right, a blend of old favorites, modern classics, and often overlooked gems, this should be the only movie guide you’ll need around Christmas time.

Old Favorites

First, we’re going to take a look at some of the stalwarts of the season. You’ve probably seen them a hundred times before, but on a cold, dark winter’s evening, there’s nothing quite like snuggling up in front of the TV to watch something warm, cozy, and comfortably familiar.

It’s a Wonderful Life

Though it’s now widely considered to be the ultimate Christmas classic, this 1946 production was far from an instant success. In fact, the movie was not a success at the box office and it received mixed reviews upon release. It wasn’t until 1974 when Republic Pictures allowed their ownership of the movie’s rights to expire and TV networks began screening it with astounding regularity, that the Frank Capra-directed picture captured the collective imagination of the American public.

It’s not all smiles and snowflakes, but ultimately, this is an uplifting tale featuring magnificent performances from Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

The original Charlie Brown special is considered by many to be the best. Based on Charles M. Schulz’s wildly successful Peanuts comic strip, this animated television special first aired on December 9, 1965. It’s become a Christmas staple ever since.

The 25-minute short follows a melancholy Charlie Brown as he tries to discover the spirit of the season. It’s smart, charming, and heartwarming—a timeless classic.

Home Alone

Accidentally left behind when his family flies to Paris for Christmas, 8-year-old Kevin McCallister is forced to defend his home against a pair of inept, but up until that point, surprisingly successful burglars. This box office behemoth rightly made Macaulay Culkin one of the biggest names in Hollywood, but we can’t say enough about the hilarious performances entered by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern as the ‘Wet Bandits.’

Make sure to set your DVR to record the first time you see Home Alone pop up on the TV schedule because you might only get another 800 chances to do so this Christmas.

Modern Classics

Now for a trio of 21st-century entries that are guaranteed to make your belly shake like a bowl full of jelly on each and every viewing. 

Love Actually

Some might find it sickly sweet at times, but we’ve got a sweet tooth, and this British rom-com satisfies it in spectacular fashion. A moving collage of loosely and not-so-loosely connected love stories, the 2003 smash hit features a star-studded ensemble cast. Hugh Grant is at his, well, Hugh Grantiest as the British Prime Minister and his charmingly uncool dance scene is one of the highlights of the movie. Meanwhile, Andrew Lincoln’s cute, bro code shattering placard scene with Keira Knightley has become equally iconic.

Bad Santa

This certainly isn’t one for all the family, but it might be an ideal movie for when the children are nestled, all snug in their beds, with visions of Nintendo Switches dancing in their heads. Billy Bob Thornton is fantastic as a mean, drunken thief, who works as a department store Santa in order to case the joint. Irreverent, and regularly laugh-out-loud funny, this 2003 comedy was once described by The Washington Times as the “evil twin” of Miracle on 34th Street. It sounds like a good recommendation to us!

Elf

What a year 2003 was for Christmas comedies because we’ve got yet another one here. Directed by the brilliant Jon Favreau and starring the equally brilliant Will Ferrell, this wonderfully wacky movie tells the story of Buddy, an orphaned child who was raised as one of Santa’s elves but wants now to try to strike up a relationship with his biological father in New York. Unashamedly silly and utterly hilarious, this one will ‘sleigh’ you every time.

Overlooked Gems

If you’re looking to freshen up your Christmas viewing schedule by adding a few more titles in amongst the classics, we’ve got some recommendations for you right here…

Gremlins

Though this movie had its original theatrical release in the summer of 1984, it’s actually set at Christmas time and starts with a very special gift. When Randall Peltzer gives his son, Billy, a new pet called a mogwai, which he has just purchased at a mysterious Chinatown store, he passes on three very important rules. The first rule: don’t expose the mogwai, nicknamed Gizmo, to bright light—especially sunlight. The second rule: don’t get him wet. The third and most important rule: never feed him after midnight. Spoiler alert – them there rules get broked! What follows is a chaotic blend of dark comedy and horror that never fails to entertain.

Olive, the Other Reindeer

Based on a kid’s book by Vivian Walsh and produced by The Simpsons’ creator Matt Groening, this 1999 animated short features the voice of Drew Barrymore as the titular character—a slightly confused Jack Russell Terrier who attempts to save Christmas. Dan Castellaneta, the longtime voice of Homer Simpson, serves as this touching tale’s main antagonist, a grumpy and devious postman. Cute, clever and oh-so-funny, this is sure to be a hit with the whole family.

Just Friends

Ryan Reynolds stars as Chris Brander in this 2005 rom-com about a womanizing, Los Angeles-based music producer who unexpectedly finds himself at home in a small town in New Jersey at Christmas time. There, he runs into his high-school crush and former best friend, Jamie Palamino, played by Amy Smart. Brander sets out to win Palamino over with his newfound confidence and charm, but things don’t go as smoothly as planned. This movie is often over the top, and a little lewd at times, but it’s also a lot of fun. Reynolds delivers the goods with his trademark goofy charisma, while Anna Faris and Chris Klein provide plenty of laughs in supporting roles.

We hope you liked our little list and that it keeps you entertained well into the New Year. Let us know what your favorite Yuletide movies are below. Merry Christmas!