What constitutes a "Christmas Movie"?

[RedAngie]

Likewise, when did My Favorite Things from Sound of Music become a Christmas song?

Not 100% sure, but I think Barbra Streisand included it on her Christmas album back in the 1960's. It mentions packages tied up with strings, sleigh bells, and snowflakes. For some people, that's more than enough to consider it a Christmas song.

Some people even consider The Sound of Music to be a Christmas movie, since it was often broadcast sometime in the holiday season. Just like The Ten Commandments is a "Easter" movie.

 

[Mizzoufan]

My favorite movie to watch during the holidays and my favorite CD to listen to during the holidays is The Preacher's Wife. Whitney Houston had an amazing God given talent even though she was a deeply flawed individual. I love the message of the movie and most will argue that it isn't even a Christmas movie.

I also love her in the live action Cinderella!

You should watch the original The Bishop's Wife.

 

[MIGrandma]

To me, a movie is a Christmas movie if it revolves around that particular holiday.

My favorites are Christmas Vacation, A Christmas Story, Emmett Otter's Jugband Christmas, and The Homecoming.

 

[L&Lfan]

I love the Homecoming. Does anyone remember The House Without A Christmas Tree? Another '70s Christmas special...

 

[Dis_Fan]

Rifftrax is the only way to watch it though.

 

[rickybobby]

I love the Homecoming. Does anyone remember The House Without A Christmas Tree? Another '70s Christmas special...

That is the pilot for the Waltons, isn't it? Great movie.

 

[22Tink]

It's not Christmas at our house till we've watched Will Ferrell run around in green tights!

Our favourites include:
Elf
Christmas With the Cranks
Santa Clause (all of them)
How the Grinch Stole Christmas

 

[rickybobby]

I read somewhere that Jim Carrey very nearly went insane while making the Grinch, with the uncomfortable makeup and all.

 

[L&Lfan]

That is the pilot for the Waltons, isn't it? Great movie.

Yes, The Homecoming was the pilot for The Waltons series. Actually the idea for The Waltons goes all the way back to the film Spencer's Mountain.

The House Without A Christmas Tree involves totally different characters.

 

[22Tink]

I read somewhere that Jim Carrey very nearly went insane while making the Grinch, with the uncomfortable makeup and all.

Poor guy. Insane or not, he made an awesome grinch!!

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

A Christmas movie is any movie that makes you FEEL like Christmas.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

View attachment 285901

Rifftrax is the only way to watch it though.

MST3K did it first. It's one of my favorite episodes. Let's Have a Patrick Swayze Christmas is the best host segment song ever.

 

[Dis_Fan]

MST3K did it first. It's one of my favorite episodes. Let's Have a Patrick Swayze Christmas is the best host segment song ever.

I'd say Rifftrax did it better (as a Mistie) but different styles so both have there merits.

 

[sam_gordon]

And who decided "Auld Lang's Eye" by Dan Fogelberg is a Christmas song? He just happened to see his old lover in the liquor store on Christmas Eve. I know.

I've thought that more as a "New Year's" song. Never heard it mentioned as a Christmas one.

 

[Imzadi]

Likewise, when did My Favorite Things from Sound of Music become a Christmas song?

Exactly what I was about to write.

Not 100% sure, but I think Barbra Streisand included it on her Christmas album back in the 1960's. It mentions packages tied up with strings, sleigh bells, and snowflakes. For some people, that's more than enough to consider it a Christmas song.

Considering the setting was Austria, which probably has winter 6 months of the year in the mountains, all that could also happen in February.

Some people even consider The Sound of Music to be a Christmas movie, since it was often broadcast sometime in the holiday season.

It doesn't once mention Christmas or even Dec in the whole movie.

Just like The Ten Commandments is a "Easter" movie.

It's actually a "Passover" movie, which falls around the same time.

 

[PollyannaMom]

[The Sound of Music] doesn't once mention Christmas or even Dec in the whole movie.

I know! (Thought the book does. It covers a lot more time.) I remember it being shown at either Thanksgiving or Easter when I was a kid, but not Christmas??

 

[Imzadi]

I know! (Thought the book does. It covers a lot more time.) I remember it being shown at either Thanksgiving or Easter when I was a kid, but not Christmas??

I think I remember it being shown around Easter too, when I was a kid. It made more sense to do it in springtime. That's when the hills come "alive."

 

[Imzadi]

Ok...I will admit I watch way too many Hallmark/Liifetime movies but here goes:
Main character is likeable but has a flaw revolving Christmas
Main character is either looking forward to or dreading Christmas
Main character is single
Wow...main character meets another single person
Awwww.....romance!
Uh oh! Something happens to make the new couple re-think their relationship
Now comes the life lesson/true meaning of the season
Couple back together
Happy ending!

To make sure a Hallmark Christmas movie IS a Hallmark Christmas movie, someone came up with this Hallmark Christmas movie Drinking Game!

 

[RedAngie]

Considering the setting was Austria, (The Sound of Music) which probably has winter 6 months of the year in the mountains, all that could also happen in February.






It's (10 Commandments) actually a "Passover" movie, which falls around the same time.

Apparently many people automatically associate winter-themed movies and songs as Christmas, even though Christmas nor anything about it is ever mentioned.

Let It Snow
Winter Wonderland
Sleigh Ride
Jingle Bells
the aforementioned My Favorite Things
and others


I wouldn't even call The Ten Commandments a "Passover" movie, since the Passover scene is such a tiny part of it. ABC almost always shows it on the day before Easter. Several years ago there was a rare occasion when Passover and Easter were NOT close together. Yet ABC stuck with their normal Easter Eve telecast, apparently because many people consider it a Easter film.

 

[maddiel]

I never understood the rationale behind the Sound of Music being considered a Christmas movie. I kind of get the Harry Potter movies - some of of them at least feature prominent Christmas scenes.

"The Family Guy" is IMO a Christmas movie - it starts and ends at Christmas. "Bridget Jones Diary" is my idea of a New Years's movie.

I wish it was easier to find some of the offbeat older movies/specials to watch at Christmastime - I watched "The Homecoming" a couple of years ago and enjoyed it. I used to watch "One Magic Christmas" every year but it's been hard to find. One of my very favourites is a charming CBC TV movie from the 90s called "Small Gifts", but I haven't been able to find it in years. An older friend introduced us to "Bernard and the Genie" which is a British Christmas show that can be found on youtube. And I have a weird liking for the "Trailer Park Boys Christmas Special", but that's on Netflix.

M.