Christmas films by year

Classic Christmas films

Every Christmas film released before 1980 that we have scored, best Festive Factor first.

At a glance

We have scored 9 Christmas films released before 1980. The highest by Festive Factor: Miracle on 34th Street (90), Scrooge (87) and How the Grinch Stole Christmas (84). Certificates: 7 U, 1 PG and 1 18.

Highest ratified score first. A film still waiting for its ratified score comes after them.

1947 · UK certificate Universal · 96 min

The case for believing, argued in a courtroom, and it still holds.

Festive Factor 90 out of 100: Christmas at its heart.

1951 · UK certificate Universal · 86 min

The definitive one, and it is not close.

Festive Factor 87 out of 100: Christmas at its heart.

1966 · UK certificate Universal · 26 min

Twenty-six minutes, and not one of them wasted.

Festive Factor 84 out of 100: Christmas at its heart.

1970 · UK certificate Universal · 113 min

The Carol as a lavish Shepperton musical, and it wears the scale well.

Festive Factor 81 out of 100: Christmas at its heart.

1946 · UK certificate Universal · 131 min

Darker than its reputation, which is exactly why it still works.

Festive Factor 72 out of 100: A different kind of Christmas.

1954 · UK certificate Universal · 120 min

The cosiest film on the list and the least plotted.

Festive Factor 64 out of 100: A different kind of Christmas.

1944 · UK certificate Universal · 113 min

Not really a Christmas film, and here because its Christmas section is one of the great sequences in the form.

Festive Factor 44 out of 100: A different kind of Christmas.

1974 · UK certificate 18 · 98 min

The Christmas horror film a lot of later slashers borrowed from, and it still unsettles.

Festive Factor 37 out of 100: A different kind of Christmas.

1940 · UK certificate Parental Guidance · 99 min

Two shop clerks bicker all day and, without knowing it, write each other love letters by night.

Festive Factor 33 out of 100: A different kind of Christmas.

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