It's a debate as old as Christmas movies themselves. (And yes, this is absolutely the kind of important question a legal blog should tackle.)
Before we can answer this vital question, we first must examine what makes a Christmas movie "great." For the best Christmas movies aren't just holiday wallpaper, they must also check a few key boxes:
✨ They have heart. A good Christmas movie leaves you warmer than it found you.
🎄 They feel like the season. Lights, snow, music, awkward gatherings (families and otherwise). They indulge the full sensory experience.
😂 They make you laugh. Not mean-spirited humor, but that familiar, "yep, that's my family, too" kind of laughter.
❤️ They hit an emotional note. Reconciliation. Joy. Second chances. Belief.
🗣️ They are quotable. "You sit on a throne of lies." "I triple dog dare you!" (Fun fact: I went to Hebrew School with the actor who played Schwartz.) "Yippee-Ki-Yay, Mother…"
♻️ And most importantly: they're rewatchable. A great Christmas movie becomes part of your yearly ritual, and you never tire of the annual viewings.
With these criteria in mind, here's my list of the 5 best Christmas movies of all time, the ones I come back to year after year:
Elf — Pure joy. Will Ferrell at peak earnestness and silliness. A modern classic that earned its place fast.
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation — The definitive portrait of holiday chaos. We've all lived some version of this movie.
A Christmas Story — Childhood nostalgia in cinematic form. It's impossible not to see a little of yourself in it.
Die Hard — Yes, it's a Christmas movie. No, I will not be taking questions at this time.
The Muppet Christmas Carol — The best Dickens adaptation ever made, and I'm prepared to die on this hill.
That's my list. Feel free to tell me why I'm wrong, and share your own. 'Tis the season for strong (and good-natured) opinions.
Before we can answer this vital question, we first must examine what makes a Christmas movie "great." For the best Christmas movies aren't just holiday wallpaper, they must also check a few key boxes:
✨ They have heart. A good Christmas movie leaves you warmer than it found you.
🎄 They feel like the season. Lights, snow, music, awkward gatherings (families and otherwise). They indulge the full sensory experience.
😂 They make you laugh. Not mean-spirited humor, but that familiar, "yep, that's my family, too" kind of laughter.
❤️ They hit an emotional note. Reconciliation. Joy. Second chances. Belief.
🗣️ They are quotable. "You sit on a throne of lies." "I triple dog dare you!" (Fun fact: I went to Hebrew School with the actor who played Schwartz.) "Yippee-Ki-Yay, Mother…"
♻️ And most importantly: they're rewatchable. A great Christmas movie becomes part of your yearly ritual, and you never tire of the annual viewings.
With these criteria in mind, here's my list of the 5 best Christmas movies of all time, the ones I come back to year after year:
Elf — Pure joy. Will Ferrell at peak earnestness and silliness. A modern classic that earned its place fast.
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation — The definitive portrait of holiday chaos. We've all lived some version of this movie.
A Christmas Story — Childhood nostalgia in cinematic form. It's impossible not to see a little of yourself in it.
Die Hard — Yes, it's a Christmas movie. No, I will not be taking questions at this time.
The Muppet Christmas Carol — The best Dickens adaptation ever made, and I'm prepared to die on this hill.
That's my list. Feel free to tell me why I'm wrong, and share your own. 'Tis the season for strong (and good-natured) opinions.
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Here's what I read and listened to this week that you should, too.
Brewing a Movement: How the Starbucks Strike is Renewing Labor Power — via The L•E•Jer
The No Robot Bosses Act: Why Employers Should Pay Attention Before the Algorithms Start Making Decisions for You — via Eric Meyer's Employer Handbook Blog
SHRM's $11.5 Million Mistake Shows What Happens When HR Isn't Trained — via Improve Your HR by Suzanne Lucas, the Evil HR Lady
The New Tools That Can Improve Workforce Training — via Harvard Business Review
Trump Wants to Regulate AI On a National Basis — Because What Could Go Wrong There? — via Above the Law
Palantir: the world's 'scariest company'? — via The Guardian
The Trouble with Taprooms — via Beervana
Is It Better to Resign or Get Fired? The Big Workplace Myth That Won't Die — via TalentCulture
Rogue Is a Case Study in Craft Brewery Collapse — via VinePair