The Lincoln Center’s Favorite Holiday Movies

We are getting into the holiday spirit here at the Lincoln Center, and we wanted to share it with you. So without further ado, here are our favorite Holiday movies!

A Christmas Story

Jack: A Christmas Story captures the magical memories of childhood Christmas in a way no movie ever has for me. No, I didn’t grow up in the ’40s or ’50s, but something about it just resonates. If you’ve been under some rock and haven’t seen this, do yourself a favor and watch it this year. I TRIPLE-DOG-DARE YOU!

The Lion in Winter

Alison: I know it’s not traditional, but there is nothing like a family backstabbing each other for the crown of England over Christmas dinner to put family holiday squabbles into perspective. Plus, it has Katharine Hepburn, Peter O’Toole, Anthony Hopkins, and Timothy Dalton. It’s hard not to love this movie.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

Mikala: I’m fairly certain my extended family could recreate the entire movie, completely off-book. So long as no one falls down a well, and their eyes go crossed.

Victoria: My favorite Christmas movie ever is Christmas Vacation. The first time I saw it was on VHS while I was still in high school – totally dating myself here – and it was love at first watch! (What can I say? I was, and still am, a sucker for sophomoric comedy.) Since then, this movie has been a holiday staple in my family. (Is digging stupid humor genetic?) We watch it together every year on Christmas Eve while we prep our traditional Mexican Christmas Eve meal. Later, when we start our annual penny poker game, you’re guaranteed to hear gems like “Burn some dust. Eat my rubber, ” “That there’s an RV, ” “Little full, lotta sap” “Sh*tter was full, ” “SQUIRREL!” and “Bend over and I’ll show you” as folks throw down their best hands. Ah, good times!

In parting, I implore you all to have a fun old-fashioned family Christmas and remember, “It’s Christmas and we’re all in misery.”

A Muppet Family Christmas

Eddie: As anyone who knows me would tell you…I’m Christmas crazy! It’s a big challenge for me to tag just one holiday movie as my favorite…there are so many good ones.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Christmas in Connecticut, The Santa Clause….it’s tough. Instinctively I would say the Rankin-Bass classic, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, but if there is a single movie I remember most from my childhood to today, it would have to be A Muppet Family Christmas.

If you’re a Jim Henson/Muppets fan, or even if you’re not…it’s a must-watch Christmas classic. Where else can you get The Muppets, Sesame Street, and Fraggle Rock all in one movie and with a boat-load of holiday songs?

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Gene: How The Grinch Stole Christmas is my favorite Christmas show.  Of course, I’m talking about the cartoon that Dr. Suess worked on with Boris Karloff as the Grinch and directed by Chuck Jones.

There’s no need to talk about the Howard/ Carrey movie. Humbug to that, I say!

The Holiday

Rachael: In terms of modern flicks, I really like the movie The Holiday. I like that it’s more about relationships and friendships coming together, and finding common ground. When it comes to classics, however, I always enjoy It’s a Wonderful Life.

The Family Stone

Jill: No one else would probably vote for this one. Not my ultimate favorite, but I did like the story line and the acting!