Skip to Content

The Most Popular Christmas Movie the Year You Were Born

The presents are wrapped. The food is cooking. Now go grab some eggnog and cue up one of these festive flicks.

By
Christmas, Tree, Christmas eve, Event, Santa claus, Holiday, Tradition, Fictional character, Christmas ornament,

Take a break from gift shopping and decorating the tree. Let these movies put you in the holiday spirit, instead.

1

1942: Irving Berlin's Holiday Inn

Poster, Vintage advertisement, Movie, Comedy,
Paramount Pictures

Outside of Jesus and Santa, Bing Crosby is basically the king of Christmas. This musical about an inn that's only open on holidays gave us the song "White Christmas," which of course we're all dreaming of.

Buy It: $10, Amazon.com

2

1943: The Song of Bernadette

Poster, Vintage advertisement, Magazine, Album cover, Retro style, Advertising, Publication,
20th Century Fox

The drama's lead, Jennifer Jones, won an Oscar for her portrayal of a woman having visions of the Virgin Mary. The film however lost the Best Picture race to Casablanca.

Buy It: $8, Amazon.com

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
3

1944: Meet Me in St. Louis

Poster, Vintage advertisement, Hair coloring, Font, Advertising,
MGM

Judy Garland stars in this musical featuring the classic holiday tune, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."

Buy It: $23, Amazon.com

4

1945: Christmas in Connecticut

Poster, Romance novel, Movie, Hair coloring, Fiction, Vintage advertisement, Book,
Warner Bros

Holiday romance is the focus of this Barbara Stanwyck film, which was remade for TV in 1992 with the help of director Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Buy It: $10, Amazon.com

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
5

1946: It's a Wonderful Life

Vintage advertisement, Poster, Advertising, Font, Flyer, Album cover, Salsa dance, Photo caption, Tango,
Liberty Films

Every time this movie is on during the holiday season, an angel gets its wings.

Buy It: $10, Amazon.com

6

1947: Miracle on 34th Street

Poster, Movie, Font, Vintage advertisement, Album cover, Photo caption, Advertising,
20th Century Fox

If you ever spill the beans about Santa to a kid too early, this movie will restore their faith.

Buy It: $10, Amazon.com

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
7

1948: 3 Godfathers

Poster, Album cover, Vintage advertisement, Retro style, Movie, Art,
MGM

The story of the Three Wise Men retold as a Western and starring John Wayne is begging for a remake.

Buy It: $10, Amazon.com

8

1949: Holiday Affair

Poster, Movie, Hero, Comedy,
RKO

Janet Leigh and Robert Mitchum co-star in this romantic comedy set during the holidays. It wasn't a huge success when it was released, but still gets played at Christmastime.

Buy It: $8, Amazon.com

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
9

1950: The Great Rupert

Pianist, Poster, Album cover, Movie, Composer, Book cover, Novel, Retro style, Vintage advertisement, Advertising,
Eagle-Lion Films

Alternately titled A Christmas Wish, this movie involves an animated squirrel who helps improve the lives of two impoverished families.

Buy It: $6, Amazon.com

10

1951: A Christmas Carol

Vintage advertisement, Poster, Illustration,
United Artists

You know the drill. Guy hates Christmas and ghosts scare him straight.

Buy It, $10, Amazon.com

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
11

1952: Pluto's Christmas Tree

Animated cartoon, Cartoon, Tree, Poster, Jungle, Organism, Illustration, Plant, Animation, Vegetarian food,
Disney

The classic Disney gang appears in this short film involving Mickey and Pluto trying to pick out the perfect Christmas tree.

Buy It: $65, Amazon.com

12

1953: Peter Pan

Cartoon, Poster, Illustration, Animated cartoon, Fictional character, Games, Fiction,
Disney

There isn't much Christmas in Peter Pan, but the magic is definitely there.

Buy It: $11, Amazon.com

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
13

1954: White Christmas

Poster, Vintage advertisement, Movie, Advertising,
Paramount Pictures

White Christmas wasn't just popular during the holiday season. It was the second highest-grossing film of 1954.

Buy It: $12, Amazon.com

14

1955: We're No Angels

Poster, Movie, Font,
Paramount Pictures

Humphrey Bogart, Peter Ustinov and Aldo Ray play three escaped convicts who learn how to be good while hiding out with a poor family in a French colonial town during Christmas.

Buy It: $25, Amazon.com

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
15

1956: Bundle of Joy

Poster, Romance, Valentine's day, Love, Movie, Vintage advertisement, Retro style, Album cover, Advertising, Illustration,
RKO

It may have nothing to do with Christmas, but try turning on this Eddie Fisher/Debbie Reynolds collaboration while the holiday feast is in the oven and you'll know why it's on the list.

Buy It: $16, Amazon.com

16

1957: All Mine to Give

Poster, Vintage advertisement, Movie, Advertising,
RKO

Not the most joyful Christmas movie, All Mine To Give is based on the true-life story of six Wisconsin siblings who must take care of each other when both of their parents die.

Buy It: $13, Amazon.com

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
17

1958: Bell, Book, and Candle

Vintage advertisement, Poster, Text, Advertising, Retro style, Illustration, Flyer,
Columbia Pictures

Jimmy Stewart straps on his Christmas boots again for this love story set during the holiday season. He plays a publisher who falls under the spell of his witch neighbor played by Kim Novak.

Buy It: $9, Amazon.com

18

1959: Santa Claus

Poster, Illustration, Art,
K. Gordon Murray

Also known as Santa Claus vs. the Devil, this Mexican import is probably one movie you should watch after the kids have gone to bed.

Buy It: $15, Amazon.com

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
19

1960: The Apartment

Facial expression, Text, Forehead, Poster, Smile, Font, Retro style, Advertising, Happy, Photo caption,
United Artists

The action of this Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine Oscar winner culminates at a company Christmas party, which absolutely justifies it as a Christmas movie...right?

Buy It: $10, Amazon.com

20

1961: Babes in Toyland

Cartoon, Poster, Animated cartoon, Movie,
Disney

Annette Funicello stars in Disney's take on the 1903 operetta of the same name by Victor Herbert.

Buy It: $8, Amazon.com

Watch Next 
Christmas, Tree, Christmas eve, Event, Santa claus, Holiday, Tradition, Fictional character, Christmas ornament,
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Page was generated in 5.7108039855957