Essential Christmas movies ranked by VRHS students

Dylan Bush, Reporter

After walking around our big campus and taking tallies for Christmas movies, I have the evidence and the opinions on what people think are the best Christmas movie. With some people, movies very. I’ve asked 101 people and have concluded which are the top contestants.

1. Elf(2003)

This movie had the most votes from the students around the school.

Directed by: Jon Favreau

Written by: David Berenbaum

Buddy is an elf. Buddy’s actually a baby from an orphanage that snuck into Santa’s gift sack and learned to grow up as an elf. But what happens when he realizes that he isn’t what he was told he was, and who is family really was? That’s why he sets on a quest to New York to find his real father and reunite with him while learning about the real world. It’s charming, hilarious and worth your time.

2. Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas(1993)

Second most votes.

Directed by: Henry Selick

Written by: Tim Burton

Jack Skellington is the reason Halloween is different every year in Halloween Town, but it’s still Halloween. Jack wants something different, and after searching, Jack finds Christmas Town. Jack ultimately becomes inspired by Christmas time and wants to make Christmas out of what he has back at home(Halloween Town)and turn it into the real holiday.

This movie is a classic because it’s music, stop motion, and top-notch story.

3. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation(1989)

Third most votes

Directed by: Jeremiah S. Chechik

Written by: John Hughes

Following the successful ‘Vacation” movie series that began in 1983’s “Vacation”, we get the third installment: “Christmas Vacation”.

Clark Griswold has always been a family man, and sharing the best Christmas possible with his family is a must. But when tons of family, lousy neighbors, terrible Christmas dinner, and sophisticated lights get involved, Clark goes off the rails.

4. Home Alone(1990)

Fourth most voted.

Directed by: Chris Columbus

Written by: John Hughes

When Kevin acts out the night before a family trip to Paris, his mother makes him sleep in the attic. After the McCallister’s mistakenly leave for the airport without Kevin, he awakens to an empty house. After being left alone and it is near Christmas time, he starts to learn the meaning of family.

5. Polar Express(2004)

Directed by: Robert Zemeckis

Written by: Robert Zemeckis

Tom Hanks and director Robert Zemeckis work together again after past projects on “Polar Express,” an adventure based on the children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg. When a boy takes a train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery and the true meaning of belief.

6. Home Alone 2: Lost In New York(1992)

Directed by: Chris Columbus

Written by: John Hughes

Kevin McCallister loses track of his father at the airport, he mistakenly gets on a plane headed for New York City while the rest of the McCallister’s fly to Florida. Now alone in New York, Kevin cons his way into a room at the Plaza Hotel.

7. How The Grinch Stole Christmas(1966)

Directed by: Chuck Jones

The Grinch is a surly character with a heart “two sizes too small” who has especially hated Christmas for 53 years. On Christmas Eve, he finally becomes fed up with seeing the decorations and hearing all the music and caroling in the village and wishes he could stop Christmas Day from coming to Whoville. When he sees his dog, Max, with snow all over his face in the shape of a beard, he decides to disguise himself as Santa Claus and steal Christmas.

8. Gremlins(1984)

Directed by: Joe Dante

Written by: Chris Columbus

Billy Peltzer surprised by his Father when he gives him a creature for Christmas named Gizmo. The “animal” comes with 3 rules: No eating after midnight, no sunlight, and don’t have him come in contact with water. After Gizmo is touched by water, multiplied, and those clones eat after midnight, Gremlins are born and wreak havoc on his home town. Only Billy and his best friend Kate can stop it.

9. Die Hard(1988)

Directed by:  John McTiernan

Written by: Steven E. de Souza

John McClane is visiting his estranged wife (Bonnie Bedelia) and two daughters on Christmas Eve. He joins her at a holiday party in the headquarters of the Japanese-owned business she works for. But the festivities are interrupted by a group of terrorists.

10. A Christmas Story(1983)

Least amount of votes

Directed by: Bob Clark

Written by: Jean Shepard

Based on the  book of author Jean Shepherd, this movie follows Ralphie Parker, who spends most of his time dodging a bully and dreaming of his ideal Christmas gift, a “Red Ryder air rifle.”

Those are the results of “Top Ten Christmas Movies” poll at the Ridge!

 

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