Christmas is a holiday celebrated by hundreds of millions, if not billions, of people all over the world. While you don’t have to be religious to celebrate it, it has its origins as a Christian holiday. Christians celebrate it as the birth of Jesus Christ and as a time of gift-giving. It’s a time when Christians rejoice the birth of their Savior. Additionally, it’s a time to remember to slow down and celebrate the importance of family and friends.
As it’s December, the Christmas season is in full swing and the big day is just a week away, which means that you still have plenty of time to watch your favorite holiday films. Here is a collection of some of the best Christian Christmas movies to put you into the holiday spirit. For this list, we are looking at films specifically centered around Christian events, such as the birth of Jesus, as well as movies that promote religious themes and values.
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8 The Star
Sony Pictures
The Star is a fun, funny, family-friendly story of Jesus’ birth from the perspective of the animals. Join Bo the donkey, Dave the dove, and the rest of the animals as they discover a bright star in the sky and follow it to the birth of a mysterious baby boy who has come to save the world. While it’s a Hollywood production, the film stays close to the source material and only takes a few creative liberties that don’t detour much from the Christian story or disrespect it. The Star is an overall great film that appeals to both children and adults.
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7 The Perfect Gift
Kelly's Filmworks LTD
The Perfect Gift is a 2009 Christian movie about the true meaning of Christmas. It stars Christina Fougnie as Maxine Noelle Westray, a spoiled and bratty girl who hates the fact that Christmas just happens to be the same day as her birthday, and sees it only as a day to receive expensive gifts.
However, all that changes when a mysterious drifter, Jess (Jefferson Moore), comes to town. He teaches Maxine, along with the rest of the town, that the best gifts in life don’t come in wrapping paper. The Perfect Gift is full of heart and will put you in the giving spirit!
6 A Charlie Brown Christmas
Lee Mendelson Film Productions
Since first airing in 1965, A Charlie Brown Christmas has become a staple Christmas special for many families, just as many other Charlie Brown holiday specials have become annual viewing. It’s the story of Charlie Brown, who instead of feeling happy about the upcoming holidays, just feels sad and depressed. It seems that the over-commercialized market is to blame for that.
During rehearsal for the gang’s upcoming Christmas school play, Charlie Brown asks the burning question, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?” Linus replies with the story of the birth of Jesus according to Luke (Luke 2:8-14 KJV). Indeed, Jesus’ birth is entirely what Christmas is all about, and A Charlie Brown Christmas does a great job of highlighting that without being too preachy.
5 The Ultimate Gift
20th Century Fox
Grab your tissues for this next entry. The Ultimate Gift follows the life of spoiled brat Jason Stevens (Drew Fuller) who must complete 12 separate assignments in a year to earn his recently deceased grandfather’s multi-billion-dollar inheritance. At first, Jason resents the tasks as they cause him to lose his lavish lifestyle.
However, he soon meets Emily (Abigail Breslin), a young girl dying from leukemia, and her mother Alexia (Ali Hillis), who quickly change his perspective and teach him the values of true friendship and the joy of giving. This tear-jerker of a film is bittersweet and highlights the importance of making every moment count.
4 The Nativity Story
Temple Hill Entertainment
The Nativity Story (starring a young Oscar Isaac) takes viewers back to the beginning, back to when Mary and Joseph were wed and started their life together. It’s a story that has never been told in such detail before and is often compared and contrasted with Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ.
Watch the events that led up to the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem and the uncertainty Mary felt at marrying a man she initially didn’t love. While The Nativity Story does take some creative liberties, especially when it comes to the portrayal of Mary, it stays fairly accurate to the Christian Bible, and it’s a wonderful movie to learn about the birth of Jesus.
3 A Christmas Carol
Nearly everyone knows the tale of a grumpy old man who seems to hate everything, including Christmas. However, after being visited by three spirits, The Ghost of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, cranky Ebenezer Scrooge soon changes his attitude and adopts an entirely new outlook on life, learning the true meaning of Christmas and the joy of giving.
It’s a classic tale that rings true for Christians, as it’s what the season is all about. In addition, A Christmas Carolteaches us that it’s never too late to change your ways and become a better person. After all, if Scrooge can change and love life, anyone can!
2 It’s a Wonderful Life
RKO Radio Pictures
For many people, religious or not, It’s a Wonderful Life is considered to be the ultimate Christmas movie as it has such a meaningful message. Meet George Bailey (James Stewart), a man who always wanted to travel the world but instead, settles down with a wife, Mary Hatch, (Donna Reed), and together, they have four children. Throughout his life, George always tried to be a good person and do what’s right, but when circumstances overwhelm him, George contemplates taking his own life.
To talk him out of his predicament, along comes Clarence (Henry Travers), George’s guardian angel who shows him just how important his life really is and how much he means to the people around him. Of course, George abandons suicide as he has discovered that he has a wonderful life worth living.
1 The Christmas Candle
EchoLight Studios
Based on the novel of the same name by Max Lucado, The Christmas Candle follows the Rev. David Richmond (Hans Matheson) as he begins spiritual work in the fictional town of Gladbury in 1890. He soon discovers that the townsfolk are superstitious and believe that every 25 years an angel visits their candlemaker and blesses a special Christmas Candle with a miracle to whoever lights it.
Rev. Richmond tries to get the people to believe in God and not candle miracles but as time passes, he soon finds himself questioning his own faith. However, there is always hope and room for Christmas miracles to happen as Rev. Richmond will learn. The Christmas Candle is a charming story full of faith, love, and enchanting music by Susan Boyle.
