A Christmas Story- 1983

Nine-year-old Ralphie Baker, played by Pete Billingsley, only wants one thing for Christmas: a red Ryder BB gun. When he tells everyone this, he is constantly met with a “no.” Will Ralphie ever get his BB gun? Based on Jean Shepherd’s semi-autobiographical stories, this Christmas comedy was directed by Bob Clark in 1983.

Miracle on 34th Street- 1947

Kris Kringle, played by Edmund Gwenn, a mall Santa,  is convinced he is the real Santa Claus. Although he tries to bring joy to work, he doesn’t avoid making enemies. After being provoked to fight with psychologist Granville Sawyer, played by Porter Hall, Kris is sent to Bellevue Mental Hospital. Can “Santa” prove his sanity? “Miracle on 34th Street” is a 1947 holiday flick directed by Valentine Davies.

Frosty the Snowman- 1969

This heart-warming, cartoon film is about a magical snowman’s race against an angry magician to find a colder place to live as winter slowly becomes spring. This holiday classic, which was directed by Jules Bass and Arthur Rankin Jr., can be seen every year on CBS, the same station it premiered on in December 1969.

A Charlie Brown Christmas -1965

When Charlie Brown thinks that the true meaning of Christmas is forgotten, Lucy, acting as Charlie’s psychiatrist, insists that he remind everyone by directing a Christmas musical. But when Charlie’s most important prop, a real Christmas tree, is scrawny and sparse, all seems lost. First telecast in 1965, “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” directed by Bill Melendez, is a classic and memorable movie.

The Gathering- 1977

As Christmas approaches, Adam Thornton, played by Ed Asner, learns that he is dying. Faced with this news, he wants to reconcile with the family he abandoned. Nothing is easy when it comes to getting his children to come see him, especially when Adam’s not telling them that he is dying. “The Gathering” is a touching, family-oriented movie that came out in 1977 and was directed by Randal Kleiser.