This week, we’re taking a break from digital marketing tips… It’s almost Christmas, and my Halloween horror movie video was so popular, I thought it would be the perfect time to do another movie episode. So this week, I’m sharing my list of the top 10 Christmas movies, along with a fun bit of trivia for each one. Check out the list and let us know what you think!
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
Welcome a special Christmas edition of Local Search Tuesdays. My Halloween movie episode was a huge hit, and I had so many requests to do another movie episode, so I figured this was a great week to take a break from digital marketing tips and talk about movies again. So this week, I’m sharing my top 10 list of Christmas movies.
Actually, it’s going to be a quick episode, ‘cause here’s my list of the top 10 Christmas movies:
Ok, ok… I’m kidding – or am I?
Most of the movies on this list are Christmas classics that nearly everyone has seen, so unlike my Halloween list, I won’t need to explain the plot for these. So instead, I’m gonna share a fun bit of trivia for each one.
Let’s start with number 10 – Edward Scissorhands
Ready to freak out a little? This one was released THIRTY YEARS AGO. I don’t really have to explain the plot, cause c’mon, everyone has seen it, and it’s a staple costume for emo cosplay kids. Fun fact: The waterbed scene wasn’t in the original script. Tim Burton asked the writer to change the bed to a waterbed because he thought it would be much funnier.
Number 9 – Krampus
It’s always shocking to me that more people haven’t seen this one. It’s ridiculously awesome and the design of the demon toys was top notch. It was directed by Michael Dougherty, who wrote and directed Trick ‘r Treat, the number 2 best horror movie on my Halloween list. It came out back in 2015, so it’s the most recent release on this list, and it tells the story of a kid who turns his back on Christmas and accidentally unleashes Krampus and his demon toys who end up killing everyone. Fun fact: The material they used for snow is the same stuff they put in baby diapers to absorb liquids.
Number 8 – The Nightmare Before Christmas
Released back in 1993, and the second Tim Burton movie on this list – most people think he directed it, but he just produced it. Killer animation, awesome songs, and a still churning merch machine for Disney. Fun fact: Danny Elfman wrote all the songs before the script was even written.
Number 7 – Gremlins
Released in 1984, and another one I really don’t have to explain, cause everyone’s seen it. So instead, here’s a picture I got with Zach Galligan back in 2015. Fun fact: Frank Welker, the actor who did Stripe’s voice, was also the voice of Megatron in the Transformers cartoons. And another fun fact: the set they used for the town was the same set they used for Hill Valley in Back to the Future.
Number 6 – Home Alone
C’mon, who doesn’t love the Wet Bandits? And it’s time for another freak out – this one was released THIRTY YEARS AGO too! This one’s on pretty much every Christmas movie list, and for good reason. Fun fact: the gangster movie “Angels with Filthy Souls” that Kevin watches and quotes isn’t a real movie – they filmed the scenes specifically for Home Alone.
Number 5 – Scrooged
It’s no surprise to anyone that I’m a huge Bill Murray fan. Released in 1988, it’s one of Richard Donner’s classics, and it’s flat out awesome. And it’s still hilarious. It’s crazy to me, but tons of people haven’t seen this one – so go check it out if you haven’t, it’s awesome. Fun fact: Carol Kane, who played the Ghost of Christmas Present, grabbed Bill Murray’s lip so hard that it ripped the inside of his mouth, and production was halted a few days to allow him to heal.
Number 4 – Christmas Vacation
Released in 1989, it’s still going strong over 30 years later. It’s the third installment in the Vacation series, it wasn’t well received when it was released, but is now considered to be one of the staple Christmas classics.
Fun fact, Rusty Griswold was played by a young Johnny Galecki from the Big Bang Theory.
Number 3 – A Christmas Story
The earliest release on my list, it came out back in 1983. I looked almost exactly like Ralphie when the movie came out – Peter Billingley was 12, and I was 11. My mom even gives me a Christmas Story related gift every Christmas – and I’ve got a tattoo of Ralphie on my arm. Obviously, I’m a big fan. Fun fact: for the scene where Ralphie imagines he’s the sheriff, the prop master gave him actual chewing tobacco.
Number 2 – Elf
Released in 2003, it’s now one of the most-loved Christmas movies of all time, and for good reason. It’s stinkin’ awesome. We love it so much at my house we watch it year round, and at least once a week every December. We’ve even got a Buddy blow up in our front yard. Fun fact: Ming the elf, who supervises Buddy at Santa’s Workshop, is played by Peter Billingley, who played Ralphie in a Christmas Story. Also, do yourself a favor and go find the deleted scene where Buddy plays hockey with the elves.
And the number one Christmas movie of all time: Die Hard
Come on, are you really surprised here? And yes, I’m settling the debate once and for all. Die Hard is a Christmas movie. Not only that, it’s one of the greatest movies ever made. I’ve got a tattoo of Die Hard as well – it actually won an award at a Texas Tattoo Convention. Fun fact: so much glass was broken during filming, the glass budget alone was over $130,000. Bonus fun fact: The signature “Yippie-ki-yay mother f’er” line was actually an ad-libbed joke. Bruce Willis was just trying to make the crew laugh and never thought it would be allowed to stay in the film.
So that’s it for my list of the top ten Christmas movies. I hope you enjoyed this week’s episode, and I hope you have a safe and happy holiday season.
But now it’s that time…
Put your hand on the screen right here:
We totally just high-fived ‘cause you learned something awesome.
Don’t forget to check back next week, when I’ll be sharing this year’s most popular episodes. Thanks for watching, and I’ll see you again next week for the final episode of 2020 of Local Search Tuesdays.
