Have a merry movie Christmas

1. A MOM FOR CHRISTMAS

In this charmer, a little girl is granted her wish of a mother for Christmas. Olivia Newton-John plays the endearing mannequin-turned-human.

Don’t tell me you don’t pass a store mannequin without thinking of this movie.

2. SCROOGED

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol has been made into plenty of movies and TV shows, but none better than Scrooged, with Bill Murray as the modern day lead.

3. HOME ALONE 2

A young boy is separated from his family during Christmas (again) and has to live in a hotel in New York alone, while again setting traps for the crooks from the first movie. I know it’s not usually the sequel that gets the nod, but it’s Christmas in New York. You can’t beat that.

4. ELF

You would think a grown man playing a character with the mentality of a child would be slightly off. But, no, this film is funny, lighthearted and somehow makes a point about the lost excitement of Christmas that comes with growing up. And of course Will Ferrell excels as the overly excitable Buddy the Elf.

5. CURLY SUE

Yes it’s a romantic comedy, but it is set with Christmas as the backdrop. If it doesn’t make you all warm and fuzzy seeing a homeless man and his daughter taken in and eventually finding a family, then you need to take a hard look at yourself.

6. A SANTA CLAUS: THE MOVIE

This ’80s film is peak Christmas and tells the story of a not only how Santa came to be, but of an overly ambitious elf who almost ruins Christmas. It has magical candy canes. Enough said.

7. DIE HARD

OK, so it may not be about Christmas, but a hostage situation the festive season was enough for it to make the cut. Bruce Willis acts as a sort of Santa-ish superhero — saving hostages, including his wife, from some very bad men.

8. LOVE ACTUALLY

This more recent Christmas hit revolves around falling in and out of love. The porn actors falling for each other during a shoot is particularly memorable and festive.

9. MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET

This is the story of a legal system fighting to prove Santa Claus exists.

Two versions of this movie spring to mind, but my favourite is the original. It embodies a different time and place, and evokes the sweetness of Christmas that’s now hard to find.

10. MUPPETS’ CHRISTMAS CAROL

Yes, another version of the Charles Dickens’ classic, but done with Muppets. Try to resist it.