Top 5 Christmas Movies

Here we go. This list is non-negotiable.

Number 5 = A Charlie Brown Christmas

• According to the IMDB Link offered by Google, it is listed as a TV Movie, and therefore, it qualifies for this list. I know, I know, many of you think The Year Without A Santa Clause is the more worthy feature, where Heat Miser turns in a Tony-Award winning performance. Poor old Charlie Brown kick-started the animated tradition that all others emulated. It has an appropriate mix of Capitalism, Christianity, and Social Commentary. And it has Vince Guaraldi piano music.

Number 4 = A Christmas Story

• I'll concede that the "classic-ness" of this feature has been diminished thanks to endless runs of the movie on Turner-hosted cable television stations. Regardless, you'll shoot your eye out enjoying the premise. Also - we have a neighbor who proudly displays his leg lamp in the window.

Number 3 = Less Than Zero

• You are probably wondering why I didn't rate this classic 80s Christmas hit a bit higher? It's a tossup at this point between 1/2/3. We get to spend a few hours watching Clay (Andrew McCarthy) fly home for Christmas (from college out east) to try to save his friend Julian (Robert Downey Jr). James Spader turns in an under-appreciated performance as Rip, the drug-dealing power broker. Michael Bowen's "Hop" is a good "bad guy" as well. Spoiler alert ... not all Christmas movies have happy endings.

Number 2 = Christmas Vacation

• There's no amount of punishment that Clark W. Griswold can't endure! Anybody who ever decorated their yard knows what it is like when a strand isn't working. By the way, Julia Louis-Dreyfus parlayed a stunning performance as neighbor "Margo Chester" into a memorable role on Seinfeld. As Cousin Eddie proudly said, "Save the neck for me, Clark".

Number 1 = Scrooged

• Bill Murray is better remembered for Groundhog Day, but this adaptation of A Christmas Carol from 1988 touches all of the bases. It's the undisputed leader of Christmas features. Turns out it is fun to watch Bill Murray get hit in the face with a toaster.

Honorable Mention

• Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Any story about a youth being kicked out of a community for being different, landing on an island of misfit toys, then re-imagined as the savior of Christmas for having an unusual physical affliction that can be exploited for the benefit of capitalism deserves (at minimum) honorable mention.
• You've Got Mail. A classic treatise about retail failure at the birth of the internet. Based on an old Christmas movie called "The Shop Around The Corner" starring Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullivan, it's a must-see for the omnichannel marketing-loving professional.
• There's another classic animated feature where the central character had his heart grow three sizes ... that one isn't bad either.