Christmas is a magical, wonderful time of the year full of good cheer and happiness! Yeah, it gets on my nerves too.

Between last minute shopping and fighting the crowds at the local mall like you’re in the middle of a zombie movie and the atrocious music, I’m usually about ready to take out the nearest Santa. Fortunately, I’m not the only one– and even better than that, there are movies for us bah-humbuggers! Here’s my top 5 Christmas films I actually enjoy watching for the Holidays!

 

Gremlins

Aw yeah. A movie about a cute little furry creature that spawns a horde of evil green gremlins that start killing the townspeople? This is the holidays at it’s finest! Remember kids, never feed your mogwai after midnight.

 

A Christmas Story

Who doesn’t know about Ralphie and his Red Ryder BB gun? Yeah, the film where everyone says he’ll shoot his eye out. If you don’t know it, you must not get TBS. Seriously, they literally have it on for 24 hours. The genius of this movie is that it shows how miserable everyone gets trying to make the holidays happy. Probably one of the most honest looks at the Christmas season as you’re going to get!

 

Rare Exports

This is the newest film on the list, and a brand new tradition for my Christmas watching pleasure. Based off of the two short films of the same name, it tells the tale of the release of Santa Claus who, of course, is an evil supernatural creature that punishes naughty children and devours them. It’s twisted and chock-full of black humor.

 

Scrooged

Bill Murray. A modern re-telling of Scrooge with Bill Murray… how can this not be on my list? Bill Murray plays a television executive who hates Christmas. Yes, his heart grows to 3 times the size by the end of it but– did I mention it’s Bill Murray? Also Marion Ravenwood Karen Allen is in it too.

 

Die Hard

The classic of all Christmas movies ever! Terrorists with bad German accents led by Alan Rickman take over a skyscraper and it’s up to John McClane to take them all out and rescue his wife. The 80’s were the pinacle of action films and this one is, by far, my favorite. Yippee-ki-yay, motherfucker!

 

Bonus Short Film! Treevenge

And because it’s the holiday season, here’s a bonus gift just for you. From the guys who made Hobo With a Shotgun comes the tale of the day Christmas trees got their revenge!

Treevenge from jasoneisener on Vimeo.

So remember kids, just because the tinsel and shopping madness has got you down, there are still great movies to be seen during the holidays!

What are your favorite holiday films? Let us know below!