With the Christmas season underway, the same few Christmas movies are watched on repeat. With that being said, there are so many great Christmas movies that are overlooked every year. Here are some of our favorite underrated Christmas movies that you should watch this Christmas season.
Logan Leffert: A Christmas Carol
Have you already seen all of the classic holiday movies? Let me remind you of Jim Carrey’s “A Christmas Carol”. This animated film was released in 2009 but is still relatively unknown. It is rated PG and is entertaining for all ages. In “A Christmas Carol” Jim Carrey retells this classic tale and offers a never seen before outlook on the traditional Christmas story.
The 2009 adaptation of “A Christmas Carol ” is often overlooked and underrated. This animated film brings a fresh perspective to the timeless story. The warm feeling that this movie gives while telling such a classic story is why all ages will enjoy watching.
One noteworthy aspect of “A Christmas carol” is the stellar performance of Jim Carrey, who voices the protagonist, Ebenezer Scrooge. Carrey successfully merges his comedic skills with the emotional story of Ebenezer Scrooge. Jim Carrey doesn’t just voice Ebenezer Scrooge but also nearly every other voice in the movie related to Scrooge and the Ghosts of Christmas
The film also incorporates darker and more intense moments that resonate with many of Dickens’ original ideas on poverty and greed. The spectral imagery portrayed through the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come, creates a unique cinematic experience rarely seen in a film appropriate for all ages. In conclusion, this movie deserves more recognition for its innovative use of technology, compelling storytelling, and Jim Carrey’s standout performance.
You can watch “A Christmas Carol” on Disney Plus, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and YouTube TV.
Matthew Gardner: Christmas with the Kranks
“Christmas with the Kranks” is a phenomenal Christmas movie but not many have seen it. This film is older than most if not all students in our school, originally came out the day before Thanksgiving 2004, but the film is definitely an oldie but goodie. “Christmas with the Kranks” is a comedy featuring Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis based on the 2001 novel “Skipping Christmas” by John Grisham.
The movie begins with Luther and Nora Krank sending their daughter, Blair, abroad and not expecting to see her again till after the New Year. As Luther is entering a supermarket, the idea of skipping Christmas and its traditions to go on a tropical cruise during Christmas time pops in his head. This would also mean they wouldn’t host their annual Christmas party or participate in neighborhood traditions like placing a giant Frosty the Snowman on the roof or buying a tree from the Scouts. Their house was bare of Christmas spirit and they prepared to take their cruise. This was until the night before they leave when Blair calls saying she will be coming home for Christmas and now they need to scramble to set up for Christmas and get folks over for their Christmas party.
This Christmas comedy can certainly make you laugh and the last minute drama is hilarious. This movie was a box office success after the film budget was 60 million and the box office was just over 95 million. The movie is very well directed and every character seemingly plays their roles perfectly in such intricate detail to make the movie seem as realistic as possible. With this movie being such a quality film, the low ratings are unwarranted. The creative ingenuity of the plot and the execution by the director should warrant higher ratings.
You can watch “Christmas with the Kranks” on Apple TV, YouTube TV, or Sling TV.
Jack Henry: Daddy’s Home 2
Bored with all of the traditional Christmas movies? Watch the most underrated Christmas movie of all time: Daddy’s Home 2. As the two main characters Dusty and Brad try to make the holidays perfect for their children, their own Dads come into town. The Dads of Brad and Dusty cause so much chaos, forcing the two families to change their own plans and spend the Holidays at a resort together.
“Daddy’s Home 2” (2017) a sequel to the critically acclaimed “Daddy’s Home” (2015), was received very well by the audience. While some may consider “Daddy’s Home 2” a cash grab more than an actual film, it’s so much more than that. It’s full of the holiday spirit mostly because it takes place during Christmas, but is never really seen as a true holiday movie. This sequel takes everything the audience loved from the first film and develops it even more. The characters’ complexity makes for a great movie that shows how families will always be there for each other, even in their lowest moments. The audience sees this theme repeated throughout the movie but specifically whenever all the dads get into a chaotic scheme.
Also, it’s hilarious. The jokes throughout the movie are funny for both adults and children. The movie doesn’t take itself too seriously and decides to have fun, but in some moments, when it matters, it gets serious. In these serious moments, the movie prevails in making the audience laugh and cry simultaneously. Not many movies can be three things at once: emotional, funny, and a Christmas movie. But, “Daddy’s Home 2” accomplishes this without rushing the story.
The plot is simple and refreshing. Each of the characters has a fleshed-out storyline that is easy to follow. The storylines all come together at the end to further establish the theme. The theme is perfect for Christmas time, the season of giving and family. The Mayron and Whitaker families are disjointed, but they make it work. They all love each other, even if they may not always show it.
You can watch “Daddy’s Home 2” on Paramount Plus, Hulu, HBO, or Prime Video.
Brody Peters: Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas
“Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas” is one of the most underrated Christmas movies. This movie has three stories that fully enclose the theme of Christmas by showing family, love, happiness and giving.
The movie begins with Donald Duck stuck on Christmas. Donald’s three kids Huey, Dewey and Louie wake up Christmas morning and open up their gifts immediately, but they are supposed to wait for their family. After playing with their new sleds and eating dinner they pay with their toys while the family sings Christmas carols. When the boys go to bed they wish upon a star that it can be Christmas every day. Their wish is granted, and after realizing every day is the same they begin to play tricks and pranks on their family. After a couple days the boys begin to want everything to go back to normal, so they behave at dinner, they wait to open presents, and that night they wish upon the same star for everything to go back to normal and it does.
That is followed by “A Very Goofy Christmas.” In this story, Goofy’s son Max is told Santa is not real by their neighbor. Max loses even more faith in Santa when he catches his dad dressed up as Santa. Goofy is determined to make Max believe in Santa so, Goofy steaks out on the roof of their house waiting to see Santa proving he is real. After falling off the roof, Goofy is done. He even begins to lose his hope in Santa. Right after all hope seems lost, Santa comes and hand delivers Max his gifts, saving Christmas.
Finally is “Mickey and Minnie’s Gift of the Magi.” Both Minnie and Mickey want to get each other nice gifts for each other on Christmas, but neither of them have the money to do so. Mickey works at Crazy Pete’s Tree Lot where he gets fired because he ruins Pete’s chance of selling a ten foot tree to a poor family. In a fit of rage Pete forgets he is smoking a cigar and he lets a ten foot tree catch on fire which continues to set more and more trees on fire. This gets Mickey fired, completely ruining his chance to buy Minnie the chain he wants to get her for her watch. Minnie is also busy trying to save the money for Mickey’s gift. She is working for her holiday bonus so she can buy Mickey a case for his harmonica. Minnie finally is able to get her bonus, and she is disappointed to find out it is fruit cake. Eventually Mickey sells his harmonica to have money for Minnie’s gift. Minnie sells her watch to have money to get the case for Mickey’s harmonica. They give each other the gifts and realize that both of their gifts are useless, but the could not be happier because their best gift is spending time with each other.
This movie encompasses many themes of Christmas showing the importance of love, family, giving, and happiness. The three stories keep you entertained every moment of the movie, and give the nostalgia of the classic Disney movie.
You can watch Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas on Disney Plus, YouTube TV, Amazon Prime, or Vudu.
