Every December, the same question comes up. Not what should we watch. But what kind of Christmas are we actually having?
In our recent Fast Forward Christmas special, we realised something important: Christmas movies aren’t interchangeable. They’re emotional tools. Comfort blankets. Controlled chaos. Childhood memory triggers.
So instead of ranking them again, here’s a better way to choose. We’ve come up with themes and scenarios and then assigned a movie that fits. Rather than question endlessly which film to rewind, let your mood and environment choose for you!
And if you want to find out what weird choices GB and AJ picked for their favorite Christmas movies, check out the pod below or wherever you usually listen.
If Christmas feels heavy and you want reassurance
It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
This is the film you put on when Christmas isn’t quite landing the way it’s supposed to.
On the podcast, this came up as a film tied deeply to memory. Watching it with parents. Watching it every year almost by default. It’s not flashy, it’s not ironic, and it doesn’t apologise for being sincere.
It asks one simple question: what would the world look like if you hadn’t been in it?
That question hits harder as you get older.
Yes, it’s emotional. Yes, it will get you at the end. But it earns it. This isn’t sadness for the sake of it. It’s reassurance that small acts matter, that kindness ripples outward, and that the people around you notice more than you think.
This isn’t a “background Christmas film”.
This is a sit-down-and-watch Christmas film.
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If the kids are excited and you want something that still works for adults
Home Alone (1990)
Few films manage to balance chaos, warmth, and genuinely clever filmmaking as well as Home Alone.
On the pod, we talked about how this film lives differently depending on your age. As a kid, it’s pure wish fulfilment. As an adult, it’s pacing, structure, and the realisation that John Williams’ score is doing a huge amount of emotional work.
Macaulay Culkin carries the entire film, and the Wet Bandits are pitch-perfect villains. Silly enough to be funny, dangerous enough to matter. Every trap lands because the film commits fully to the idea.
Even if some of us have grown slightly out of it, it still earns its place. Especially with kids in the room, this is one of the safest bets Christmas cinema has ever produced.
If you want Christmas magic, but you’re emotionally fragile
The Snowman (1982)
This one can divide people. And that division says everything.
On the podcast, The Snowman sparked a very honest reaction: some people simply can’t watch it anymore. They saw it too young. The ending landed too hard. The damage was done.
And that’s exactly why it’s so powerful.
A silent, animated short that relies entirely on music and imagery shouldn’t work this well. But it does. It captures childhood wonder perfectly, then quietly reminds you that magic doesn’t last forever.
This isn’t a “fun” watch. It’s a reflective one.
Beautiful, haunting, and devastating in the softest possible way.
Choose this if you want to feel like a child again.
And if you’re prepared to feel the cost of that.
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If you want cynicism, laughs, and a heart underneath it all
Scrooged (1988)
This is Christmas for people who don’t fully trust Christmas.
As discussed on the pod, Scrooged works because it doesn’t sand down Bill Murray’s edges. It lets him be cynical, selfish, sarcastic, and occasionally unpleasant, then drags him kicking and screaming toward redemption.
It’s loud, messy, very 80s, and absolutely committed to its tone.
This isn’t Dickens with polish. It’s Dickens with teeth. And when it finally lands the emotional beats, it does so without pretending it hasn’t been cynical the whole time.
If you want a Christmas film that laughs with you about how ridiculous the season can be, this is the one.
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If you want Christmas chaos and zero safety nets
Gremlins (1984)
Yes, it’s a Christmas film. No, it doesn’t behave like one.
On the podcast, Gremlins was praised for its sincerity as much as its madness. Beneath the anarchic energy is a genuine love for old-fashioned storytelling, practical effects, and pushing things just far enough to feel dangerous.
Gizmo is adorable. Everything else is a warning.
This is the choice for when you want something festive but unpredictable. When you want to laugh, wince, and slightly worry about the children who watched this in 1984 and turned out … like this.
If you want pure nostalgia and unapologetic Christmas sincerity
Santa Claus: The Movie (1985)
This one came up with genuine affection on the pod, and rightly so.
It’s easy to dismiss Santa Claus: The Movie because of Dudley Moore’s chaotic subplot. But as discussed, the opening alone earns this film its reputation. A sincere, beautifully staged Santa origin story that treats the mythology seriously.
The world-building is surprisingly rich. The North Pole feels real. The magic has rules. The reindeer aren’t just decorations. And David Huddleston’s Santa remains one of the most convincing ever put on screen.
This is a film that believes in Christmas completely.
No irony. No winking at the camera.
If you grew up with VHS tapes and Sunday afternoon rewatches, this one hits hard.
And yes – about Die Hard (1988)
We talked about it.
We agreed.
We moved on.
Die Hard is a Christmas film. It’s also above this conversation. It lives in the Rewind Christmas Hall of Fame, where it can’t derail everything else.
The best Christmas movie isn’t universal. It’s contextual. Pick the film that matches the night you’re actually having, not the one you think you should be watching. That’s the real tradition.
Oh, and none of these are the choices GB and AJ came up with for either of their Number 1 Favorite Christmas Movies … listen to the pod to find out what they pick.
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