Macaulay Culkin as Kevin McCallister in Home Alone 2 Lost in New YorkImage via 20th Century Studios
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Lisa Nordin
Published 53 minutes ago
Lisa Nordin is an actress, writer, and fan of all things performing arts. Her favorite genres are Sci-Fi and Fantasy. She is a self-published author and enjoys exploring how fictional stories help define and qualify the human experience.
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There's nothing like ‘90s nostalgia to get you in the mood for the Christmas season. Some of the best Christmas movies have come out of the Decade of the Brain. The 1990s were a great time when busy shoppers looked for sales in local stores or large shopping malls, neighbors caroled at nearby houses, and the whole population grew excited as new technology began to flourish. The '90s were an iconic era for not only cinema in general, but for some truly great Christmas films.
From adaptations of beloved books like A Christmas Carol or Little Women to original stories based on beloved IPs like Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too, there is something for everyone on this list. Christmas classics from this decade include Home Alone, The Santa Clause, and The Muppet Christmas Carol. There are also underrated gems like the Arnold Schwarzenegger consumer comedy Jingle All the Way. Whether you've been naughty or nice this year, you can enjoy taking a trip down memory lane and enjoying these superb 1990s Christmas movies.
10 'The Nutcracker' (1993)
Macaulay Culkin as the Nutcracker Prince on stage in The Nutcracker, 1993.Image via Warner Bros. Pictures
Three years after he would star in one of the most successful Christmas movies of all time, Macaulay Culkin would have a role in one of the most enduring Christmas performances with The Nutcracker. Culkin plays the Nutcracker Prince, a pivotal figure in Tchaikovsky's famous ballet. The plotline involves a young girl who falls asleep at a Christmas party and has fantastical visions of living nutcrackers and large mice.
The magic of this version of The Nutcracker is that it is recorded and presented as a play. Audiences who may have never experienced seeing The Nutcracker performed live get a glimpse into what that performance is like. It is enchanting to watch George Balanchine’s choreography and Tchaikovsky's musical score acted out by the superbly talented cast and dance ensemble, and the set pieces and costumes are nothing short of whimsicality realized.
9 'Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too' (1991)
Winnie the Pooh dressed as Santa Claus and Piglet dressed as a reindeer in Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too.Image via ABC
Winnie the Pooh is one of the most cherished children’s characters, and his holiday special, Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too, is as lovable as he is. When Christopher Robin (Edan Gross) sends his wishlist to Santa, Pooh (Jim Cummings) tries to intercept the letter to add a few items of his own. A comedy of errors ensues, and Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too is full of cute and funny moments and blunders that would even make Eeyore (Peter Cullen) smile.
Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too is a great TV movie that is perfect for the youngest Christmas viewers because of its short runtime and sweet themes. The message is a simple but relevant one: time spent with loved ones is one of the best parts of Christmas, not just opening presents or getting material things. Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Children’s Program and is a darling piece of Christmas and cinema history.
8 'The Preacher's Wife' (1996)
Denzel Washington talks to Whitney Houston who is in a car with a Christmas tree atop in The Preacher's Wife.Image via Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection
When a preacher needs some help with his church and his family, his assistance is heaven-sent in The Preacher’s Wife. Denzel Washington stars as Dudley, an angel who is charged with helping the Reverend Henry Biggs (Courtney B. Vance), who has lost his vision and passion for life. Whitney Houston is exceptional as Henry’s wife, Julia. Her singing in the film is absolutely gorgeous, and she captures the internal struggle of a spouse who is frustrated by the apathy and distraction of their partner.
Not without some scandal, as Dudley and Julia come close to being a little too emotionally connected, the film has a lovely ending and a message of hope. The Preacher’s Wife is a great example of how ambitions and devotion can get squelched under the everyday pressures of daily life. And holidays or not, asking for help from heaven is always a good idea.
7 'Jingle All the Way' (1996)
Arnold Schwarzenegger as Howard and Sinbad as Myron in a crowd looking annoyed in Jingle All the Way.Image via 20th Century Fox
One of the most absurd Christmas movies that is still highly entertaining, Jingle All the Way features Arnold Schwarzenegger as Howard Langston, a busy man who tends to put his family on the back burner. When his son Jamie (Jake Lloyd) asks for a special toy for Christmas, Howard thinks he can just go to a store and get one. Little does he know that the action figure Turbo Man is the hottest-selling Christmas toy ever, and the supply is struggling to keep up with demand.
Jingle All the Way is a delightfully silly and irreverent comedy that pokes fun at consumerism and the toy sales industry, specifically. Sinbad and Phil Hartman are hilarious in their supporting roles, and it is one of the better comedies Schwarzenegger has done. Even though the movie was not without critical disapproval and legal controversy, it is an underrated treat and a cathartic watch for anyone sick of shopping for the holidays.
6 'A Christmas Carol' (1999)
Patrick Stewart as Ebeneezer Scrooge looks perplexed with a ghost behind him in A Christmas Carol.Image via TNT
Inspiring everything from TV episodes to full-length films, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is a haunting tale of life lessons learned in the nick of time. Ebenezer Scrooge is a character type like no other. “Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had struck out generous fire,” his portrayal is masterfully done by the legendary Sir Patrick Stewart in the 1999 adaptation directed by David Hugh Jones. Stewart is a veteran of classic material like Shakespeare, and his gravitas and diction are spot on in A Christmas Carol.
“A squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner!”
The mesmerizing theme of A Christmas Carol blends foreboding warnings with ghostly apparitions. It carries indelible messages about greed, generosity, and human kindness, with some of the best quotes of any holiday tale. Fans of Stewart's work should make this one a must-see.
5 'Sleepless in Seattle' (1993)
Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks look at one another, a young boy beside Hanks in the movie Sleepless in Seattle.Image via TriStar Pictures
What starts as a child’s Christmas wish ends up being one of the greatest romantic comedies of all time in Sleepless in Seattle. Directed by Nora Ephron, Sleepless in Seattle is a brilliant meta-look that both defines and redefines its own genre. It is considered an essential rom-com and one of Meg Ryan’s best films. Though Sleepless in Seattle was not the first film Ryan and Tom Hanks would costar in as romantic leads, it is generally considered their best collaboration. In the film, Ryan stars as Annie, a woman who happens to listen to a radio call-in show. On the show is the young caller Jonah (Ross Malinger), who has called in on behalf of his father, Sam (Hanks). Jonah says it is his Christmas wish to have the radio psychologist Dr. Marcia Fieldstone (Caroline Aaron) help his father, who has been struggling since the death of Jonah’s mother.
What is so unassumingly clever about Sleepless in Seattle is that it is Jonah who is the hero of the story. He is the one who takes the initiative to call the radio station, he is the one who writes back to Annie (posing as his father), and he is the one who risks everything and flies across the country alone to take a chance on (non-romantic) love. Sleepless in Seattle is a great long-distance romance film that will resonate with anyone spending the holidays away from their loved ones. It builds great tension and anticipation, which finally pays off in the last 10 minutes of the movie. Sleepless in Seattle is a great film in and of itself and provides a good palate cleanser if you want some holiday feels without elves and Santa.
4 'The Muppet Christmas Carol' (1992)
Miss Piggy, Kermit the Frog, and their kids eating dinner during The Muppet Christmas Carol.Image via Disney
One of the best live-action movies of the 20th century, The Muppet Christmas Carol puts the iconic Muppet spin on Dickens’ classic. The great roster of Muppet characters is joined by human actors to create a blended performance that works spectacularly well. Michael Caine’s interpretation of Scrooge is well-rounded and exemplary.
A great aspect of this version of A Christmas Carol is that it is narrated. This third-person perspective is more akin to the wording and viewpoint of the original book. It makes the story feel more like what it was originally presented as — a vignette of morality and a cautionary tale to be viewed surreptitiously and with reverence. Narrated by The Great Gonzo (Dave Goelz), The Muppet Christmas Carol blends plenty of humor and heart into the movie, making it accessible to children as well as adults. It is a great Christmas movie that the whole family can enjoy watching together.
3 'Little Women' (1994)
The March sisters caroling and carrying food in the snow in the 1994 Little Women.Image via Columbia Pictures
Nominated for three Oscars and Certified Fresh with an impressive 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, Gillian Armstrong’s 1994 rendition of Little Women is a precious masterpiece. Louisa May Alcott’s timeless novel follows the four sisters of the March family, who come of age during one of America’s most tumultuous periods — the Civil War. The film shifts the narrative to the first person, and the audience predominantly experiences the events through the viewpoint of the second-eldest, Josephine “Jo” (Winona Ryder).
Little Women has a superbly talented cast that includes Kirsten Dunst, Claire Danes, Gabriel Byrne, Christian Bale, and Susan Sarandon. Every actor is expertly cast and does great credit to their characters. As the film opens at Christmastime, immediate lessons about generosity, sacrifice, and hope are evident. A lovely scene involves the once-affluent March daughters having to choose whether to enjoy a Christmas breakfast themselves or share it with a poor family nearby. Little Women captures the voice of Alcott’s story wonderfully and tries not to be heavy-handed with modern deviations (like other interpretations have a tendency to do). It is a beautiful treasure of a film and perfect to watch around the holidays.
2 'The Santa Clause' (1994)
Tim Allen as Scott/Santa and Eric Lloyd as Charlie look at each other in a sleigh in The Santa Clause.Image via Buena Vista Pictures
When Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) puts on a Santa suit after an unfortunate accident outside his home, he has no idea what he is in for in The Santa Clause. It is only after Scott has gone on a whirlwind adventure delivering presents and flying to the North Pole in a magical sleigh with reindeer that he learns the truth. The head elf, Bernard (David Krumholtz), informs him that he has inadvertently agreed to a legal clause that makes him Santa’s stand-in, permanently.
The Santa Clause is clever, cute, and everything a Christmas movie should be. It is easily one of Allen’s best works, and his on-screen chemistry with Eric Lloyd, who plays his young son Charlie, is authentic and sweet. The Santa Clause was originally scripted to be a much darker and more serious take on the concept. Luckily, rewrites and reimagining the idea into a family-friendly film proved golden. Even after a bizarre accident of its own led to children calling an adult phone line, The Santa Clause remains one of the best ‘90s Christmas movies.
1 'Home Alone' (1990)
When it comes to the 1990s and Christmas movies, nothing can top Home Alone. A family movie that is amazing from start to finish, it blends action, humor, and heart. It is one of the highest-grossing Christmas movies of all time and a beloved and nostalgic chef-d'oeuvre for so many great reasons. The second sequel, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, which was released in 1992, was as successful, and many fans consider it equal to the first movie. Home Alone tells the story of young Kevin McCallister (Culkin). When Kevin is fed up with his annoying relatives, he wishes they would all disappear. In what appears to Kevin to be Christmas magic, he gets his wish. But his fun and games are soon turned to high-stakes action as he has to defend his home from robbers.
The cast, which includes Catherine O'Hara, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, and John Candy, is legendary in their roles, and many of the scenes and quotes are indelibly etched into the holiday movie milieu. It's hard to imagine enjoying the holidays without watching Home Alone at least once. As family members get on each other’s nerves and temptations to avoid them or wish them into oblivion grow strong, Home Alone reminds viewers that Christmas, like our loved ones, is unique, special, and worth cherishing.
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Home Alone
PG
Comedy
Family
Release Date
November 16, 1990
Runtime
103 minutes
Director
Chris Columbus
Writers
John Hughes
Cast
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Macaulay Culkin
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Joe Pesci
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