With the holidays right around the corner, there is no better way to ignite the spirit than cozying up to a holiday film.Networks like Hallmarkand Lifetime start their holiday broadcasts at the end of October, and Netflix usually follows suit soon after. However, Christmas films in particular that are receiving theatrical release often have November or Thanksgiving release dates to kick off the holiday season.
Christmas films are among some of the most frequented for reboot treatments, and Dr. Seuss’How the Grinch Stole Christmasis one of them. The 2000 release featuring Jim Carrey was remade in 2018 as an animated feature and is currently the highest-grossing holiday movie, sitting at $512.9 million in box office earnings. All in all, the holidays are the perfect time for hot beverages, cheery music, and some heart-warming classics. Here are the highest grossing holiday season movies of all time.
6The Polar Express — $314.1M
The Polar Expressis a heart-warming Christmas movie based on a book by Chris Van Allsburg from 1985. It tells the story of a young boy who is on the verge of losing his Christmas spirit and questioning his belief in Santa Claus. On Christmas Eve, he boards a mysterious train that claims it is headed to the North Pole, where he befriends other children and learns the meaning of Christmas. The film was released in 2004 and was the first CGI-animated film produced by Castle Rock Entertainment. Currently,The Polar Expresssits at number six in the highest-grossing holiday movies, with a gross of $314.1 million in box office earnings. The film does the book an immense amount of justice, and is certainly one of thebest Christmas moviesof the 2000s.
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5A Christmas Carol (2009) — $325.3M
Charles Dickens' timeless classic,A Christmas Carol,has been done time and time again. Films likeScroogedandGhost of Girlfriends Pastplay on the story structure, while twisting the narrative. The story is always the same: a person is headed down a dark path and is visited by three ghosts to make them change his ways. However, what sets the 2009 Disney release aside from the rest is an animation technique called motion capture, which is the process of recording movement of people to animate a digital character. Some of thebest motion capture performanceshave been used to blend the movements of reality and screen. Upon its release,A Christmas Carolgrossed $325.3 million in box office earnings.
4Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! — $345.1M
2000’sHow the Grinch Stole Christmasis easily one of Jim Carrey’s most iconic performances of all time. The live-action retelling of the classic Dr. Seuss tale showcases comedy and wit in the most festive form. The introduction to a deeper storyline for the character was perfectly articulated to allow the film to be feature-length, and many would find it hard to believe that the 2000s favorite wasn’t the highest-grossing holiday film.Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmasgrossed $345.1 million in box office earnings, ranking it at number four.
3Home Alone 2: Lost in New York — $359M
After the immense success of the first film,Home Alone 2: Lost in New Yorkwas released only two years later. Kevin (portrayed by Macaulay Culkin) is left once again, and while his family is desperately trying to get back to him, he is enjoying the sites in New York City. Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern reprised their roles as the beloved criminals Harry and Marv for the sequel. Sitting just underneath its predecessor,Home Alone 2grossed $359 million in box office earnings.
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2Home Alone — $476.7M
John Hughes’Home Aloneis easily one of the best Christmas movies ever made. The film tells a story about a young boy named Kevin (portrayed by Macaulay Culkin) who gets left behind by his family when they leave for a Christmas trip to Paris. Little does he realize that his neighborhood is being cased by two thieves who are planning to rob his home. Up until 2018,Home Alonewas the highest-grossing holiday movie of all time, sitting at $476.7 million in box office earnings. 2018 was also the same year thatGooglereleased a hilarious holiday-themed commercial for their Google Smart home that featured Macaulay Culkin reprising his role as Kevin.
1The Grinch (2018) — $512.9M
2018’sThe Grinchcircles back to the animated roots of the Christmas classic and was an absolute box office success. The animated feature earned $512.9 million in box office earnings and is currently the most recent of three movies featuring Dr. Seuss' green Scrooge.The Grinchis currently streaming on Hulu, however, all three films are available on streaming services, just in time for Christmas. The 1966 animated classic can be found on Peacock, while the live-action adaptation can be found onHBO Max. Regardless of your chosen favorite,The Grinchis a timeless classic that will be enjoyed for many Christmas seasons to come.
