1. “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946) The quintessential holiday movie, about a man who is shown what life would be like if he had never been born. Not just one of the greatest Christmas films, but one of the best movies that has ever been made.

2. “A Christmas Story” (1983) The classic story about a boy and his pursuit of his greatest Christmas present. Funny, original, and perfectly narrated by Jean Shepherd, whose life the events of the movie are based upon.

3. “Miracle on 34th Street” (1947) One of the more iconic of holiday movies about a mall Santa who claims to be the real thing, and has to prove that he isn’t crazy for saying so. This is one of those films that is almost synonymous with Christmas, and it remains so nearly sixty years after it was first released.

4.”Elf” (2004) Will Ferrell stars as a man who was raised as an elf in Santa’s workshop and travels to New York City to be with his father. Ferrell gives one of his best all around performances in this film as it serves as a Christmas classic for a new generation.

5. “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” (1964) The classic animated Christmas movies about the misfit reindeer and his journey to find a place where he will be accepted. Almost impossible not have seen it at least once while growing up.