Now that it is December, Christmas is just around the corner. This month, Barlow has rated movies and compiled the top 10 Christmas movies to watch in December. This list will go from tenth to first to save the best for last.
Starting with an honorable mention: How the Grinch Stole Christmas. This is a 2000 film starring Jim Carrey. It was not provided for Barlow students to vote for, but many mentioned that it should be included in the top 10.
Ranked tenth with a 3.29 rating is The Christmas Chronicles. This is a 2018 film starring Kurt Russell as Santa Claus himself. The Christmas Chronicles is a movie about two siblings who accidentally crash Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve and team up with him to save Christmas before time runs out.
In ninth place is The Polar Express. Barlow, overall, gave this 2004 film a rating of 3.31. The Polar Express follows a young boy, voiced by Josh Hutcherson, who rides a magical train to the North Pole on Christmas Eve, discovering the power of belief along the way.
With a 3.51 rating, The Santa Clause ranks in eighth place. A 1994 film starring Tim Allen as Santa Claus, who ends up becoming the new Santa accidentally, after the old Santa fell off his roof, and now he must take on the magical job.
Ranked seventh, with a 3.54 rating, is Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. This is a 1964 film starring Billy Richards, who voices Rudolph. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a movie about a misfit reindeer with a glowing red nose that saves Christmas by guiding Santa’s sleigh through a storm.
In sixth place is The Nightmare Before Christmas. Barlow gave this 1993 film a 3.60 rating out of 5. The Nightmare Before Christmas stars Danny Elfman, who voices Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, who discovers Christmas Town and tries to take over Christmas, leading to chaos until he realizes he belongs in Halloween.
Now into the top 5, with a 3.70 rating from Barlow, A Charlie Brown Christmas. Produced in 1965, the movie follows the main character, Charlie Brown, voiced by Peter Robbins. Throughout the movie, Charlie Brown searches for the true meaning of Christmas. With help from his friends and a small, simple tree, he learns that the holiday is really about kindness and togetherness.
Ranking fourth place with a 3.73 rating is Frosty the Snowman. This is a 1969 film centered around Frosty, who is voiced by Jimmy Durante.
Making the top three, in third place is the 2018 version of The Grinch, a Christmas-themed animated cartoon perfect for every Christmas. Barlow rated this 2018 film 4.03 out of 5 stars. The Grinch, voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch, tries to steal Christmas from Whoville, but his heart changes when he learns the true meaning of the holiday. One Barlow student said that their favorite part of this movie was, “When the dog pulled the sled.” Another said, “The animation of the movie is just so good, and it is a great movie overall.”
In a very close second place, Home Alone, a movie from 1990, with Barlow’s rating of 4.25 out of 5. Some of our staff joined in on the fun too, and there’s quite a few who picked Home Alone over our top-rated movie and had many favorite parts to share. Mr. Kirstein said his favorite part was, “When the iron falls on the face of the bad guy, it was very hilarious.” Mr. Moffat said, “The mom being able to do so much to get home to her kid, and when she was in the van to get home.” Mr. Bridgnell said, “The bandits were very silly, and it was very funny when the iron swung down onto the bandit’s head.” Lastly, Mr. Stranberg shared that his favorite was when, “They were trying to break in, then Kevin played the sound from the movie he watched.”
Now, last but not least, the number one movie you should watch during this December, in first place, is the movie Elf, a 2003 film starring Will Ferrell as Buddy, which got a 4.33 rating. This film is about a man raised as an elf in the North Pole who travels to New York to find his real father and discover where he truly belongs. Mr. Bailey shared that his favorite part of this movie was, “The depiction of the elf culture this movie includes and the history of this story.” In addition to this, Mr. Eckrich said his favorite part was when, “He was picking gum off of the railing or jumping onto the Christmas tree.”
If you plan on watching movies this Christmas or know people who are, these are very recommended movies from people at Barlow. Next time you take a break, watch one of these movies and have a wonderful holiday.
