Elf

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday, November 30, 2013

The Top Christmas Holiday Specials

In 2011, the website What To Do With The Kids polled its followers and asked them to give their list of the top Christmas or holiday movies or television sShows that the whole family can watch. The list was well-received and judging by the feedback, very popular.

Two years later, however, they decided to go to their followers again and there has been a shift in popularity of some of those classic movies.

It seems that black and white movies are now out. Many parents suggested that once the movie started, the kids would complain about the color, or lack of it. Many families have said that although they enjoyed watching the old black and white movies in past years, they tend to agree with their kids that it has very little appeal today.

The Frank Capra classic “It’s a Wonderful Life” dropped from second to third place while “Miracle on 34th Street” went from a tie in fifth to a tie for eighth place. “Miracle on 34th Street” fell off the list.

Animated features are as popular as ever but many adults commented that they were not able to watch them on regular television as they normally would because of their busy schedules so they opted to purchase a copy on DVD. Many parents commented that they had purchased DVD or Blue Ray versions of their favorites but made an effort to only bring them out during the holiday season.

Ron Howard’s “The Grinch” went from honorable mention to a tie for number six faster than a runaway sled pulled by a little dog while “A Christmas Story” was shot off the list (by a BB gun) all together.

Most respondents however had said that they still do get the family together to watch at least one holiday movie.

With over 1,400 entries, What To Do With The Kids® presents the updated Top 10 Family Christmas/Holiday Movie or Television Shows:

1. “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” (1966 – Animated) – (#1 in 2011)
2. “The Polar Express” (2004 – Animated) – (#8 in 2011)
3. “It’s A Wonderful Life” (1946) – (#2 in 2011)
4. “Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer” (1964 – Animated) – (#6 in 2011)
5. “Elf” (2004) – (Not ranked in 2011)
6. “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (1965 – Animated) – (#4 in 2011)
“The Santa Clause” (1994) – (Not ranked in 2011)
“Frosty the Snowman” (1969 – Animated) – (#7 in 2011)
7. “The Grinch” (2000) – (Not ranked in 2011)
8. “Miracle on 34th Street” (1947) – (#5 in 2011)
9. “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (1989) – (#8 in 2011)
10. “A Muppet Christmas Carol” (1992) – (#10 in 2011)

Movies that are no longer on the list: “A Christmas Story (1983) – (#3 in 2011); “A Christmas Carol (1951) – (#5 in 2011); “White Christmas” (1954) – (#7 in 2011); “Home Alone” (1990) – (#9 in 2011) (Source: Staten Island Advance)