A True Taste of the Christmas Classics

10 Dec A True Taste of the Christmas Classics

Imagine being draped in a cozy blanket on your sofa–feet kicked up on the ottoman, curled up in front of a warm, wood-burning fireplace. It’s evening time, and light flurries of snow are just beginning to hit the ground outside. There’s just one thing missing…

A Christmas movie!

And not just ANY Christmas movie. If you want to get into the true spirit of Christmas, where you’re left feeling all the warm fuzzies and Christmas joy, you need to pull out an old school classic.

Not sure where to start? Let us help you! Here are 12 classic Christmas films that moviegoers can enjoy over and over and over again. After all, they’re called “classics” for a reason.

1. It’s a Wonderful Life – This comedy-drama was released in 1946 and was produced and directed by Frank Capra. In it, the character George Bailey has so many problems he considers suicide – and it’s Christmas! As he is about to jump from a bridge, he ends up rescuing his guardian angel, Clarence – who then shows George what his town would have looked like if it hadn’t been for all his good deeds over the years. It is considered one of the greatest films ever made. (Ironic considering when it was first released, it was a box office disaster– putting director Capra in the hole over half a million dollars).
2. Miracle on 34th Street – This classic film was released in 1947 and portrays an old man going by the name of Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) who subs in for a drunk Santa in the Macy’s annual Thanksgiving Day parade. Kringle ends up being well-liked and loved by man, and subsequently appears regularly at the department chain’s main store in Manhattan. Kringle surprises customers and Macy’s employees by claiming to be the real Claus. This leads to a court case to determine his sanity and authenticity.
3. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation – This hilarious comedy stars Chevy Chase (as Clark Griswold) and his family as they prepare for the Christmas season. Everything that can go wrong goes wrong including unexpected family showing up, destroying a neighbor’s house, and a kidnapping that leads to a SWAT team breaking in. This movie is relatable for a love of people and will have you laughing over and over again.
4. White Christmas – This romantic comedy was released in 1954 and stars Bing Crosby.  It’s a musical about two veterans from World War II who discover their commander is having financial difficulties post war. They, along with two sisters, plan a musical show in rural Vermont to help put their beloved general back in business.
5. Scrooged – This movie is a modern version of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” Frank Cross (Bill Murray) is a wealthy television executive who’s pompous and egotistical attitude pushes the love of his life away.  After he fires a staff member on Christmas Eve, he is visited by a series of ghosts who give him a chance to re-evaluate his actions and correct the mistakes of his past.
6. A Christmas Story – Released in 1983, this favorite holiday movie follows the life of a young boy named Ralphie. He spends most of his time evading a neighborhood bully and frequently dreaming about his ideal Christmas gift–a “Red Ryder BB Gun.” Ralphie fights to make it to Christmas morning all while not shooting his eye out. (Just a fun fact: Ralphie says he wants the Red Ryder BB Gun a total of 28 times throughout the course of the movie.)
7. Home Alone – This 1990 comedy stars Macaulay Culkin as bratty, 8-year old Kevin McCallister who accidentally gets left behind on a family Christmas trip to Paris, France. He finds himself alone in his home in Chicago and assumes his wish of not having a family must have come true. His excitement over his newfound independence quickly fades as he learns of two ex cons planning to rob his house. Kevin, through his wittiness and creativity, masters a plan to protect his family’s home.
8. A Christmas Carol – This classic film is based off the 1843 novel by Charles Dickens. The main character, Ebenezer Scrooge, is a wealthy businessman who hates Christmas and treats others poorly. After treating a good employee, Bob Cratchit poorly, he is visited by a ghost named Jacob Marley (who used to be his business partner before passing). Three other Christmas ghosts visit him and prompt him to change his ways and become more generous and kindhearted.
9. The Muppet Christmas Carol – This fun movie isn’t just for kids. Adults love this take on the classic “A Christmas Carol” by Dickens. Throughout the movie, muppets playing different characters come in and out of the plot including Kermit the Frog as Bob Cratchit, and many others including Miss Piggy, Gonzo, Fozzie Bear, and Sam the Eagle.
10. A Charlie Brown Christmas – This Peanuts cartoon released in 1965 portrays Charlie Brown and his distaste for the commercialism of Christmas. After complaining about the overwhelming materialism during the holiday season, Lucy suggests he direct the school Christmas pageant. Directing the pageant, however, proves to be a real struggle. When an attempt to restore the proper spirit with a forlorn little fir Christmas tree fails, he enlists Linus’ help to learn the true meaning of Christmas. (Fun fact: This movie is credited with killing the aluminum tree business. Aluminum Christmas trees were a big hit in the 1960s, but the annual airings of this movie swayed public thinking because in the movie, Charlie Brown refuses to get a fake tree. By 1959, aluminum trees had phased out and now remain collector’s items).
11. Frosty the Snowman – This children’s favorite was released in 1969. It stars a snowman (named Frosty) built by children, who magically comes to life after a special top hat is placed on him. Frosty’s life becomes a danger when the hat’s original owner, a magician named Professor Hinkle, tries to get it back. That, along with the warming temperatures threatening Frosty to melt, persuade Frosty to jump aboard a train headed to the North Pole. (Fun fact: the song “Frosty the Snowman” was created before the movie.)
12. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer – Another children’s favorite, Rudolph is a young reindeer who doesn’t fit in because of his red-nose. After being ousted from the reindeer games he teams up with two friends who encounter the Abominable Snowman and find a whole island of misfit toys. Rudolph vows to see if he can get Santa to help the toys, and he goes back to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. When Rudolph discovers Santa’s sleigh is fogged in, Santa gets an idea using Rudolph’s uniqueness.

You can never go wrong by sticking with the classics. That’s why we love FatBoy Ice Cream — it’s a cool treat that will never get old. Try our seasonal flavors to enjoy a true Christmas miracle.