There are tons of Christmas movies, from old classics to modern takes, that we love to watch again and again each year. Some are joyful, others hilarious, and some touching, sweet, or even a bit risqué (think Bad Santa).
While the underlying theme of every Christmas movie can stand the test of time, sometimes there are films from our childhoods that don’t quite hold up anymore given the evolution of technology and modern societal shifts.
Which movies from our childhoods still hold up and which ones don’t? Here’s a look.
Holds Up: A Charlie Brown Christmas
No matter what decade or time, this animated television special from 1965 still holds as true today as it did 54 years ago. In the short pseudo-film, which runs just 25 minutes long, Charlie Brown is depressed despite the cheerful holiday season, and is mocked and ignored by his peers.
The sweet films holds up in that even in today’s day and age, kids are still bullied. But in the end, Charlie discovers the true meaning of Christmas and unites with his gang of Peanuts friends to celebrate the season.
Doesn’t Hold Up: A Christmas Story
This 1983 comedy is a must-watch for the holiday season. We all know the premise — a young Ralphie pines for a very specific Christmas gift, the Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-shot Range Model air rifle. Naturally, the idea of a child desperately wanting a gun, even a toy one, wouldn’t fly in today’s society. Nor would the signature phrase from the film, “You’ll shoot your eye out.”
Meanwhile, the traditional household where mom forced Ralphie to keep a bar of soap in his mouth as punishment for swearing, mean school bullies, and Dad’s “major award” of a lamp shaped like a woman’s leg wearing fishnet stockings would be considered totally uncouth today.
Holds Up: It’s a Wonderful Life
From way back in 1946, this fantasy drama is still just as influential as it was back then. While it’s slightly morbid in that it’s about a despondent man who wants to commit suicide, it takes a positive turn when his guardian angel steps in and shows him how many lives he’s touched, convincing him not to go through with it.
The story is still touching and impactful today, which is why it is, not surprisingly, considered to be not just one of the best Christmas movies ever, but also one of the greatest movies of all time.
Doesn’t Hold Up: Home Alone
Let’s be real — there have been memes galore making fun of the premise of this movie and how Kevin would never have had the chance to even fight off the burglars in today’s day and age because, well, cell phones.
Even putting that aside, there’s no way we’d accept the thought of an eight-year-old boy taking criminal matters into his own hands and rivaling a pair of dangerous burglars. The level of violence is unheard of and would never fly in a film today. That being said, it’s still one of the best Christmas movies ever. But in the 21st century, the movie would have stopped before it ever begun as soon as mom used her cell phone or in-flight WiFi to contact Kevin at home.
Holds Up: The Muppet Christmas Carol
From 1992, this musical fantasy comedy-drama, an adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, features the popular Muppets re-telling the original story. Set in 19th Century London, the film depicts a mean, wealthy, and greedy man named Ebenezer Scrooge who, after being visited by three ghosts (Christmas Past, Present, and Future) realizes his wrongful ways and becomes a better person.
Anything to do with the Muppets will stand the test of time, and while this story has been told several ways with a variety of actors and spins put on it, this one is a fun re-telling that anyone will enjoy.
Doesn’t Hold Up: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
While this 1989 comedy is one that everyone loves and will continue to watch again and again during the holiday season, the storylines just don’t hold up. Clark Griswold illegally cutting down a tree, setting up so many lights on the house that they cause a citywide power shortage, and a messenger delivering a letter on Christmas Eve with his “bonus” of a Jelly of the Month Club were suited for the ‘80s but not so much for today.
Then cousin Eddie kidnaps Clark’s boss, the police are called, and all ends happily ever after? This would never happen in real life, nor would someone, after such an ordeal, be given a bigger bonus. But hey, we still love the movie.
Holds Up: Miracle on 34th Street
Even today, more than 70 years later, this comedy-drama, which was remade in 1994, still holds up. The story follows a man named Kris Kringle who gets a job as a department store Santa who brings positive publicity and goodwill to the massive store.
Kris slowly begins morphing into the real Santa, or at least making people believe that he truly is the big jolly man as he attempts to reconcile rivalries and spread joy and happiness all around.
Doesn’t Hold Up: The Santa Clause
Tim Allen stars as Scott Calvin, an ordinary man who accidentally causes Santa’a death — yes, you read that correctly — in this 1994 fantasy comedy. Right there, the story seems far too morbid for modern times.
After this macabre turn of events, Scott learns he must become the new Santa since, you know, he killed the real one. No second-degree murder charge, just “now you need to take over his job.” Sure, it was an accident — but just the idea of seeing Santa dying on the ground, uttering his last words to Scott to put on the suit and the “reindeer will know what to do” might be way too sad for today’s generation of kids to stomach.
Holds Up: Scrooged
Just like the Muppets version of this Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol holds up, so does this 1988 comedy take on the story. It stars Bill Murray as Frank Cross, a selfish and greedy television executive who, as the story goes, is visited by three ghosts — Christmas Past, Present, and Future.
Through his journey, Frank learns how to put people and family before his career, to care for those who are less fortunate, and to understand that others are struggling behind the scenes and his actions can cause negative reactions. All of these lessons are still just as important today, and the story remains one of the best tellings of the tale to date.
Holds Up: The Nightmare Before Christmas
In this 1993 stop-motion animated musical film that combines both Halloween and Christmas themes, Jack, the king of “Halloween Town” discovers a portal to “Christmas Town” and decides to celebrate there.
It’s a fun story that combines monsters, ghosts, and ghouls with positive holiday spirits, showcasing the true magic of Christmas. Today, more than a quarter-century later, the Tim Burton tale still holds up as a perfect story to watch with the family to celebrate both occasions.
