During the holiday season there are always those classic films that people revisit every year and never get tired of them, making them a Christmas cult classic. Lovers of these films come in dedicated droves as there is a spike in interest in these movies every late November through the new year, but what are the ingredients to make a holiday cult classic?
Below is a check list of what a holiday film needs to place it in Christmas cult classic territory.
Nostalgia Overload: A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
The Peanuts characters from Charles M. Schulz iconic comic strip come to life in the TV movie A Charlie Brown Christmas. Charlie Brown (voiced by Peter Robbins) is depressed at the commercialism of Christmas and attempts to find a deeper meaning of the holiday. Not only does this film immediately take viewers back to their childhood, but the music featured in the film by Vince Guaraldi is some of the most beautifully written and easily recognized Christmas music.
An Eccentric Family: A Christmas Story (1983)
Nothing screams Christmas like spending time with your family even if they are a bit unconventional. In A Christmas Story, Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley) dreams of getting his perfect Christmas gift – a Red Ryder Range 200 Shot BB gun – and tries to convince his parents, teachers, and even Santa that he should have one. Ralphie’s eccentric family consists of a contest-obsessed father, doting mother, and brother unwilling to eat, making them one of the infamous families linked with Christmas movies.
Holiday Horror: Black Christmas (1974)
Recently, people have been craving more holiday horror movies and are taking the time to revisit some of the classics. The 1974 movie Black Christmas is one of those films. Black Christmas has all the staples of a true slasher film with an unknown assailant stalking and killing a group of sorority girls over Christmas break. What makes this one a cult classic is despite the many remakes; film aficionados always return to the original during the holiday season.
A Film That Sparks Debate: Die Hard (1988)
Is it a Christmas movie, or isn’t it? That’s a question that sparks much debate when it comes to the 1988 film Die Hard. Bruce Willis stars as John McClane, a New York City police officer who tries to save his estranged wife and others after they are taken hostage by terrorist during a Christmas party. This one may not be a traditional holiday film, but that doesn’t mean lovers of Die Hard”won’t defend it like it isn’t. All great debates happen during the holidays anyway.
A Loveable Character Has an Odyssey in New York: Elf (2003)
Christmas and New York just go hand in hand. Seeing all the holiday lights with the backdrop of the city’s skyscrapers paired with the most famous Christmas tree placed in Rockefeller Center will surely get you in the holiday spirit. In Elf, Buddy (Will Ferrell), the lovable oversized elf, travels from the North Pole to New York City to meet his biological father. Christmas is a time for magical experiences and adventures and the one Buddy faces traveling through the seven levels of the candy cane forest, past the sea of swirly twirly gumdrops, and through the Lincoln Tunnel is a classic.
A Familiar Christmas Character: How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
What do you call someone who hates Christmas? A grinch of course. The green creature from Whoville first appeared in Dr. Seuss’ 1957 children’s book How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Since then, the character became a familiar figure associated with the holidays and appeared on screen multiple times but it’s safe to say Jim Carrey’s take on the Grinch is the most beloved and watched every Christmas.
A Memorable Scene: Love Actually (2003)
Whether you’ve seen the 2003 film Love Actually or not, you automatically know that the “cards on the doorstep” scene is from that movie. The film follows the lives of eight couples during a frantic month before Christmas in London. One story follows Juliet (Keira Knightley) who is newly married to Peter (Chiwetel Ejiofor). Mark (Andrew Lincoln), Peter’s best mate, is secretly in love with Juliet and takes an opportunity to profess his feelings using a boombox and cue cards. That moment remains a memorable scene in movie history for the many times it’s been mimicked and spoofed.
Which films make your Christmas cult classic list?
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