Happy Holidays!
by Sitcom_Sally | created - 01 Dec 2013 | updated - 26 Nov 2017 | PublicMovies and television episodes that are either true holiday shows or are set at various holidays throughout the year. (Currently, just Halloween through New Years.)
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1. It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966 TV Movie)
TV-G | 25 min | Animation, Comedy, Family
The Peanuts gang celebrates Halloween while Linus waits for the Great Pumpkin.
Director: Bill Melendez | Stars: Peter Robbins, Christopher Shea, Sally Dryer, Cathy Steinberg
Votes: 22,004
2. The Halloween Tree (1993 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 69 min | Animation, Comedy, Family
Four children learn the origins of Halloween customs while trying to save the life of their friend.
Director: Mario Piluso | Stars: Ray Bradbury, Leonard Nimoy, Annie Barker, Alex Greenwald
Votes: 2,406
Story by Ray Bradbury. You could also read the book, which has twice as many characters. Books are always better.
3. What's Cooking? (2000)
PG-13 | 109 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
Four families in LA of different ethnicity (Latino, Asian/Vietnamese, African and Jewish) gather together for Thanksgiving dinner.
Director: Gurinder Chadha | Stars: Joan Chen, Julianna Margulies, Mercedes Ruehl, Victor Rivers
Votes: 2,916 | Gross: $1.04M
4. Home for the Holidays (1995)
PG-13 | 103 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
After losing her job, making out with her soon-to-be former boss, and finding out that her daughter plans to spend Thanksgiving with her boyfriend, Claudia Larson faces spending the holiday with her family.
Director: Jodie Foster | Stars: Holly Hunter, Anne Bancroft, Robert Downey Jr., Charles Durning
Votes: 14,566 | Gross: $17.52M
5. Pieces of April (2003)
PG-13 | 80 min | Comedy, Drama
A wayward daughter invites her dying mother and the rest of her estranged family to her apartment for Thanksgiving dinner.
Director: Peter Hedges | Stars: Katie Holmes, Oliver Platt, Patricia Clarkson, Derek Luke
Votes: 22,128 | Gross: $2.53M
6. Alice's Restaurant (1969)
GP | 111 min | Comedy, Drama, Music
A cinematic adaption of Arlo Guthrie's classic story-song.
Director: Arthur Penn | Stars: Arlo Guthrie, Patricia Quinn, James Broderick, Pete Seeger
Votes: 4,648 | Gross: $13.99M
7.
WKRP in Cincinnati (1978–1982)
Episode:
Turkeys Away
(1978)
TV-PG | 24 min | Comedy
Feeling left out by all the recent changes, Mr. Carlson decides to launch his own Thanksgiving promotion. With the aid of Herb and Les, the Big Guy turns a routine turkey give-away into a comic catastrophe.
Director: Michael Zinberg | Stars: Gary Sandy, Gordon Jump, Loni Anderson, Richard Sanders
Votes: 1,085
"As God as my witness, I thought turkey's could fly," laments Arthur Carlson
8. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973 TV Short)
TV-G | 25 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
Peppermint Patty invites herself and her friends over to Charlie Brown's for Thanksgiving, and with Linus, Snoopy, and Woodstock, he attempts to throw together a Thanksgiving dinner.
Directors: Bill Melendez, Phil Roman | Stars: Todd Barbee, Robin Kohn, Stephen Shea, Hilary Momberger-Powers
Votes: 12,352
9. Holiday Inn (1942)
Passed | 100 min | Comedy, Drama, Music
At an inn which is open only on holidays, a crooner and a hoofer vie for the affections of a beautiful up-and-coming performer.
Directors: Mark Sandrich, Robert Allen | Stars: Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Marjorie Reynolds, Virginia Dale
Votes: 17,633 | Gross: $8.18M
10. White Christmas (1954)
Not Rated | 120 min | Comedy, Musical, Romance
A successful song-and-dance team become romantically involved with a sister act and team up to save the failing Vermont inn of their former commanding general.
Director: Michael Curtiz | Stars: Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Vera-Ellen
Votes: 51,147 | Gross: $30.00M
11. Tom and Jerry: A Nutcracker Tale (2007 Video)
G | 47 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Tom and his army of stray cats take over Jerry's magical kingdom of living toys. Chased by Tom and his cronies, Jerry must find the Toymaker and get help to win his kingdom back before sunrise when the window of opportunity closes.
Directors: Spike Brandt, Tony Cervone | Stars: Chantal Strand, Ian James Corlett, Kathleen Barr, Tara Strong
Votes: 2,099
12. A Christmas Carol (1951)
TV-PG | 86 min | Drama, Family, Fantasy
Ebenezer Scrooge, a curmudgeonly, miserly businessman, has no time for sentimentality and largely views Christmas as a waste of time. However, this Christmas Eve, he will be visited by three spirits who will show him the error of his ways.
Director: Brian Desmond Hurst | Stars: Alastair Sim, Jack Warner, Kathleen Harrison, Mervyn Johns
Votes: 25,732
13. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
PG | 76 min | Animation, Family, Fantasy
Jack Skellington, king of Halloween Town, discovers Christmas Town, but his attempts to bring Christmas to his home causes confusion.
Director: Henry Selick | Stars: Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, Catherine O'Hara, William Hickey
Votes: 375,335 | Gross: $75.08M
14.
Frasier (1993–2004)
Episode:
Perspectives on Christmas
(1997)
TV-PG | 23 min | Comedy
While receiving massages for their holiday stress, each member of the Crane family relates the story of the last few days, with subtle differences based on their own perspectives.
Director: David Lee | Stars: Kelsey Grammer, Jane Leeves, David Hyde Pierce, Peri Gilpin
Votes: 1,053
As the Christmas Eve bickering intensifies, Frasier shouts, "ALL RIGHT! THAT IS ENOUGH! [they shut up] This is the night we celebrate peace and togetherness! I will not have that ruined!"
15.
Frasier (1993–2004)
Episode:
Merry Christmas, Mrs. Moskowitz
(1998)
TV-PG | 22 min | Comedy
A Jewish woman sets Frasier up with her daughter because she thinks he's Jewish as well.
Director: Kelsey Grammer | Stars: Kelsey Grammer, Jane Leeves, David Hyde Pierce, Peri Gilpin
Votes: 1,211
16.
Modern Family (2009–2020)
Episode:
Express Christmas
(2011)
TV-PG | 22 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
Phil proposes that the entire family celebrate "Express Christmas" together on December 16, when they discover that they won't be spending Christmas Day together.
Director: Michael Spiller | Stars: Ed O'Neill, Sofía Vergara, Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell
Votes: 2,539
Gloria narrates, "Family is family. Whether it's the one you start out with, the one you end up with, or the family you gain along the way. Which makes every day December 16th."
17.
Modern Family (2009–2020)
Episode:
The Old Man & the Tree
(2013)
TV-PG | 21 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
Luke helps Phil try to reach Canada on his elliptical machine, Jay and Manny try to get a Christmas tree in the wild, Gloria is jealous of Claire and her mom, and a mix-up lands Cam and Lily with the homeless at Christmas.
Director: Bryan Cranston | Stars: Ed O'Neill, Sofía Vergara, Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell
Votes: 2,168
Luke narrates, "...But the best stuff has a story behind it..." Watch this episode for the especially nice story behind Claire's slippers.
18.
The Middle (2009–2018)
Episode:
The Christmas Tree
(2013)
TV-PG | 22 min | Comedy, Family
Mike is ecstatic knowing his in-laws are not visiting for Christmas. Frankie looks forward to Axl being home, but he has plans to spend all the time with friends. Brick has to sell fund-raiser items. Sue is allergic to the Christmas tree.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel | Stars: Patricia Heaton, Neil Flynn, Charlie McDermott, Eden Sher
Votes: 305
19. How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 26 min | Animation, Comedy, Family
A grumpy hermit hatches a plan to steal Christmas from the Whos of Whoville.
Directors: Chuck Jones, Ben Washam | Stars: Boris Karloff, June Foray, Dal McKennon
Votes: 59,048
20. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965 TV Movie)
TV-G | 25 min | Animation, Comedy, Drama
Depressed at the commercialism he sees around him, Charlie Brown tries to find a deeper meaning to Christmas.
Director: Bill Melendez | Stars: Ann Altieri, Chris Doran, Sally Dryer, Bill Melendez
Votes: 44,113
21. Frosty the Snowman (1969 TV Short)
TV-G | 25 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
A living snowman and a little girl struggle to elude a greedy magician who is after the snowman's magic hat.
Directors: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr. | Stars: Jackie Vernon, Billy De Wolfe, Jimmy Durante, Paul Frees
Votes: 21,471
22. A Pink Christmas (1978 TV Movie)
TV-Y | 30 min | Animation, Comedy, Family
The Pink Panther employs various strategies in an effort to get himself a big holiday dinner.
Director: Bill Perez
Votes: 453
23. Elf (2003)
PG | 97 min | Adventure, Comedy, Family
Raised as an oversized elf, Buddy travels from the North Pole to New York City to meet his biological father, Walter Hobbs, who doesn't know he exists and is in desperate need of some Christmas spirit.
Director: Jon Favreau | Stars: Will Ferrell, James Caan, Bob Newhart, Zooey Deschanel
Votes: 310,926 | Gross: $173.40M
24. A Christmas Story (1983)
PG | 93 min | Comedy, Family
In the 1940s, a young boy named Ralphie Parker attempts to convince his parents, teacher, and Santa Claus that a Red Ryder Range 200 Shot BB gun really is the perfect Christmas gift.
Director: Bob Clark | Stars: Peter Billingsley, Melinda Dillon, Darren McGavin, Scott Schwartz
Votes: 168,650 | Gross: $20.61M
25. The Twilight Zone (1959–1964)
TV-PG | 50 min | Drama, Fantasy, Horror
Ordinary people find themselves in extraordinarily astounding situations, which they each try to solve in a remarkable manner.
Stars: Rod Serling, Robert McCord, Jay Overholts, James Turley
Votes: 93,248
Join us for the New Year's Eve and Day marathon discussions on the IMDb Twilight Zone board!
26.
Festival of Family Classics (1972– )
Episode:
Jack O'Lantern
(1972)
Not Rated | Animation, Short, Adventure
A leprechaun, who had changed himself into a pumpkin seed to hibernate for the winter, comes to life as Mr. Jack O'Lantern, who then uses his pumpkin shell to help scare away Zelda the Witch and Archibald the Warlock.
Directors: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr. | Stars: Carl Banas, Len Birman, Bernard Cowan, Peg Dixon
Votes: 43
A Rankin/Bass holiday special.
27. The Leprechauns' Christmas Gold (1981 TV Movie)
TV-G | 25 min | Animation, Comedy, Family
An Irish sailor is stranded on an island full of Leprechauns and soon finds himself aiding them in protecting their gold from a greedy Hag.
Directors: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr. | Stars: Art Carney, Peggy Cass, Bob McFadden, Ken Jennings
Votes: 766
A Rankin/Bass holiday special.
28. Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007)
PG | 92 min | Adventure, Comedy, Family
Three musical chipmunks are discovered by an aspiring songwriter who wants to use their amazing singing abilities to become famous.
Director: Tim Hill | Stars: Jason Lee, Ross Bagdasarian Jr., Janice Karman, David Cross
Votes: 94,894 | Gross: $217.33M
29. A Chipmunk Christmas (1981 TV Short)
Not Rated | 24 min | Animation, Short, Adventure
Swept up in a holiday mood, Alvin gives away his cherished harmonica to a sick little boy. Meanwhile, Dave has booked Alvin to perform a harmonica solo at Carnegie Hall. Alvin keeps the ... See full summary »
Director: Phil Monroe | Stars: Ross Bagdasarian Jr., Janice Karman, June Foray, Frank Welker
Votes: 733
30.
The Bernie Mac Show (2001–2023)
Episode:
Road to Tradition
(2003)
Not Rated | 21 min | Comedy, Drama, Family
When the children become obsessed with gifts, Bernie decides to cancel Christmas altogether; Wanda loses the Christmas spirit when she tries to get everyone on her staff a gift.
Director: Ken Whittingham | Stars: Bernie Mac, Kellita Smith, Jeremy Suarez, Dee Dee Davis
Votes: 39
31. Get Santa (2014)
PG | 102 min | Comedy, Family, Fantasy
After Santa Claus is arrested and jailed, a recently paroled prisoner and his young son attempt to save Christmas before it's too late.
Director: Christopher Smith | Stars: Jim Broadbent, Rafe Spall, Kit Connor, Ewen Bremner
Votes: 4,755
32. The Lion in Winter (1968)
PG | 134 min | Biography, Drama, History
1183 A.D.: King Henry II's three sons all want to inherit the throne, but he won't commit to a choice. When he allows his imprisoned wife Eleanor of Aquitaine out for a Christmas visit, they all variously plot to force him into a decision.
Director: Anthony Harvey | Stars: Peter O'Toole, Katharine Hepburn, Anthony Hopkins, John Castle
Votes: 34,231 | Gross: $22.28M
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