The magic of the holiday season is just around the corner. To lift the spirits, what better way to do that than to immerse yourself in these good old (or recent) Christmas movies that can warm our hearts? From timeless classics to the genre's best comedies, here are 35 must-see Christmas movies:
Classic
Miracle of 34e street
This “remake” of the 1947 film of the same name, one of the great Christmas classics rebroadcast every year in America, features a friendly old man who claims to be the real Santa Claus.
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Mom, I missed the plane
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This Chris Columbus classic is probably the best adventure comedy to watch with the whole family at Christmas and hasn't aged a bit since its release 30 years ago.
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Boreal Express
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This magnificent tale from Robert Zemeckis, starring Tom Hanks, takes us aboard a mysterious train bound for the North Pole.
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Life is beautiful
It's hard to miss this Frank Capra classic, released in 1946 and telling the story of an angel who descends from heaven to cheer up a depressed father.
► Available on Illico, iTunes and Crave, and premiering on CTV and NBC December 24 at 8:00 pm ET.
Dr. March's Four Daughters
Louisa May Alcott's famous novel, already released in 1994 by Australian Gillian Armstrong, is the subject of a new, much more modern and rhythmic adaptation, produced last year by Greta Gerwig.Lady Bird).
► Available on iTunes
Jack the Snowman
Michael Keaton stars in this quirky comedy, which is based on a rather eccentric premise: a father who dies on Christmas Eve is reincarnated a year later as a snowman created by his son.
► Available on iTunes
In the footsteps of Santa Claus
Tim Allen plays a divorced father who must replace Santa Claus in this 1994 Disney film.
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A Christmas Story
After playing the Grinch, Jim Carrey returns to the role of Scrooge in the film adaptation of Charles Dickens' work directed by Robert Zemeckis.
► Available on iTunes
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms
The main ballet of the holiday season, Nutcracker appeared on screen several times, including in this film by Lasse Hallström, which starred Mackenzie Foy and Keira Knightley.
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Melody of happiness
A classic that we always enjoy revisiting at this time of year, even if the film's plot has no real connection to Christmas.
► Available on iTunes
Comedy
The tree has balls
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Another Christmas comedy that hits the mark every time, this 1980s classic stars the indefatigable Chevy Chase as a bumbling family man willing to do anything to create the perfect Christmas Eve.
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Elf
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Will Ferrell delivers a performance that's both touching and hilarious as a big, naive man raised by elves who comes to New York to find his real father. Probably one of the best Christmas comedies.
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Dr. Seuss: The Curmudgeon Who Wanted to Ruin Christmas
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Best of all, Jim Carrey gets into the skin of the Grinch in this film adaptation of Dr. Seuss' famous Christmas story.
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Bad Santa
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Forget the beautiful image of good old sweet and kind Santa Claus. Billy Bob Thornton plays a dirty, vulgar and nasty Santa Claus in this dark comedy that stands out from other films in the genre.
► Available on Illico, iTunes, Crave and Netflix.
The day before
Did you like the series? The day after (Hangover) ? You'll love this Christmas comedy starring three young people who are all too ready to party.
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Four Christmases
Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn form a powerful comedy duo in this comedy that follows the misadventures of a couple who must tour four Christmas Eves in one day.
► Available on Illico and Netflix.
Christmas with weirdos
Tim Allen (him again!) stars alongside Sigourney Weaver in this comedy that follows the adventures of a couple who hatch a plan to skip Christmas for a year to go on a cruise to the Caribbean.
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Christmas at the Muppets
Charles Dickens' classic A Christmas Carol, reimagined with puppets and starring Michael Caine as Scrooge. Who can say it better?
► Available on iTunes
Race for the toy
Who has never had to go shopping on Christmas Eve looking for the perfect gift for a loved one? In this family comedy from Brian Levant, Arnold Schwarzenegger plays a father who goes on a mad dash to find the precious toy – a Turbo Man action figure – that makes his son dream.
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Ghosts celebrate
The irresistible Bill Murray plays a cynical and egotistical TV boss in this Richard Donner comedyGoonies), which is very loosely inspired A Christmas Carol Dickens.
► Available on iTunes
Comforting films
Really love it
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In the category of heartwarming films for the holiday season, it's hard to do better than this charming British comedy-drama, which tells the love stories of a dozen characters in the run-up to Christmas. A movie that tastes like Christmas candy.
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Holidays
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Two young women (Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet), who continue to be disappointed in men, decide to switch apartments to change their lives during the holidays. Obviously, this is when they will finally find love.
► Available on Illico, iTunes and Netflix.
Stone family
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Sarah Jessica Parker plays the obnoxious and, frankly, overly uptight daughter-in-law in this ensemble film that follows the Christmas of a cancer-stricken woman (played by Diane Keaton) who hosts her adult children for one last New Year's Eve.
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Genre films
Tragic Christmas
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While the holiday season is mostly synonymous with the holiday, Christmas has also inspired several horror films. One of the most famous is certainly this 1974 thriller, which follows a group of young university students dealing with a serial killer.
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Gremlins
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Legend has it that director Joe Dante was inspired Jaws Steven Spielberg to create this iconic 1984 film about little creatures that are as funny as they are terrifying.
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Crystal trap
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Action thriller Crystal trap should it be considered a Christmas movie simply because it takes place on the evening of December 24th? For more than 30 years now, this very serious debate has been raging among fans of the genre. It is obvious to us: Crystal trap a really good Christmas movie.
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Animated films
Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!
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In this animated classic, which has aired annually on American television since its premiere in 1965, Charlie Brown attempts to capture the true spirit of Christmas.
► Available on iTunes
Klaus
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In one of the most beautiful animated Christmas films made in recent years, Klaus tells the legend of the birth of Santa Claus.
► Available on Netflix
The Nightmare Before Christmas
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If you love Halloween as much as you love Christmas, this animated film by Henry Selick based on an original story by Tim Burton is for you. It follows Jack Skelligton, the king of Halloween, as he tries to spread Christmas cheer.
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Quebec films
Thanks for everything
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Directed by Louise Archambault, this dramatic comedy takes place during the holiday season.It was raining birds) tells the adventures of two antipodean sisters (Julie Perrault and Magali Lépine-Blondeau) who leave to scatter their father's ashes on the Ile de la Madeleine.
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Tuquet's War
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“It’s snowing there.” Set during the Christmas holidays, this popular “Everybody's Tale” contains some of the most famous lines in Quebec cinema history.
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Red nose
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This comedy by Eric Canuel is one of the rare true Quebec Christmas films (Good cop, bad cop) stars Patrick Huard and Michelle Barbara Pelletier as a literary critic and writer who must team up for Operation Red Nose.
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My uncle Antoine
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Created in 1970, this masterpiece by Claude Jutra takes us to a small mining town in Quebec on Christmas Eve.
► Available on Illico, iTunes and the NFB website.
French films
Santa Claus is trash
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In this crazy and fun comedy, filmed in 1982, the famous actors of the Splendid troupe (Gerard Jugnot, Thierry Lhermitte, Anemone, Christian Clavier, etc.) invite us to experience a unique Christmas in a call center for people in trouble.
► Offered on the Télé-Québec platform
Merry Christmas
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On December 24, during the First World War, French, German and Scottish regiments decided to put aside their conflict for one evening to celebrate Christmas together. A beautiful film that combines the history and magic of Christmas.
► Available on iTunes
