There are
those Christmas specials and movies that are a staple of the holiday season,
and there are those that come and go without much discussion. As such, I wanted
to stop and highlight 10 alternative Christmas specials and movies that I
rarely see others discuss. To clarify, I’m not trying to make any kind of
official list, as these are in no particular order, I just think 10 is a nice number. Nor is this a list of underrated holiday specials, it’s just
meant to be a conversation starter for some Christmas offerings that for better
or worse, I just don’t see openly discussed that often.
#10 “Prancer” (1989)
When an injured reindeer finds its way to a little girl’s home farm, she is convinced that it’s one of Santa’s sleigh team, and as the title suggests … it’s none other than Prancer. Here’s one of those family films that had a positive impact upon its release but has faded away over the years. While I can’t make any persuasive argument for the film as any kind of underrated family classic, I still feel it represents something humble that’s lacking in kid’s movies today.
It’s simply a
light and gentle little Christmas offering, which doesn’t offer much, but what
it’s got is very sweet, especially with its enduring child lead Rebecca Harrell
Tickell at the helm. The other cast members of Sam Elliott, Cloris Leachman and
Abe Vigoda likewise convey reliable screen appeal.
#9 “Pinocchio's Christmas” (1980)
Pinocchio is one of those characters who always seems to reappear with varying results. His 1980 Christmas outing is an admittedly mixed offering, yet a novelty item of sorts for fans of the Rankin and Bass Christmas universe. The premise follows our wooden boy as he goes off looking for a special gift for his dad, and gets roped up into a holiday adventure, in which his virtues are put to the test. This was Rankin and Basse’s fifteenth Christmas special, and it’s definitely one of their more obscure entries. Pinocchio oddly enough translates to Christmas quite well, as he’s essentially a toy that comes to life, which in-of-itself is a winning formula for Christmas specials.
Being a late Rankin
Bass production, this special admittedly doesn’t have the same quality and
merits of the classics. Yet, it’s undeniably an imaginative spin on the source
material, rearranging events from the book, and giving them a lightened tone,
while set against an atmospheric Christmas back-drop. The animation is also
quiet appealing, with some of the studio’s most detailed and colorful sets on
display. I wouldn’t place it among the best of the Rankin and Bass Christmas
offerings … but it’s so different that I feel it’s worth some acknowledgement.
#8 “Spirited” (2022)
Time for yet another rendition of the Charles Dickens classic “A Christmas Carol”, this time with a wildly original presentation, and featuring the talents of Will Ferrell, Ryan Reynolds and Octavia spencer. Despite the big names and overstuffed production … I barely see any talk about it. Similar to Bill Murray’s 1988 picture “Scrooged”, this film sets the events in modern times, with a comedic overtone, and lots of singing and dancing. At times, it’s almost too overstuffed for its own good, but I can’t dismiss the unique presentation and general enjoyment on display.
It’s
certainly not one of the best films to tackle the classic Charles Dickens
material, and it’s not showing any signs of a strong cult following in the same
way Bill Murray’s “Scrooged” endured, but for any long-time fan of “A
Christmas Carol” or Christmas musicals, I’d still encourage you to give “Spirited”
a single viewing experience, just to determine for yourself if it belongs with
any other Yuletide favorites.
#7 “Nicholas: The Boy Who Became Santa” (1990)
We all know about Santa Claus, right? Well ... let’s hear his story from the point of view of the historical Saint Nicholas for once … that only seems fair. In just 30 minutes, and with a small animation budget, “Nicholas” conveys a touching story about giving to those around you, standing up for your beliefs, and depicts Santa as more than just a colorful holiday icon.
It’s perhaps the most religious depiction of Santa you’ll ever see, and yet, he conveys his morals in a way that feels universal … at least for me. While this has always
been a personal favorite of mine, it’s obviously one of the lesser-known
Christmas titles. In short, I highly recommend checking it out, just to sample
something from Saint Nicholas the man, as opposed to Santa Claus the mascot.
#6 “Tokyo Godfathers” (2003)
From the late animation legend Satoshi Kon, we get an impressively animated, and ambitiously different holiday offering. It’s the journey of three homeless people who discover an abandoned baby, learn it had previously been kidnaped by a desperate woman, and then set off on a holiday adventure to get the baby back home to its real family. The narrative hits familiar beats, but the presentation is about as different as they get. It’s a confusing mix of different tones, juggling sentimental human themes, with comedic mishaps and dark overtones.
The visual presentation likewise is equal parts off
beat and beautiful, which makes it hard to categorize, but there’s certainly a
heart of sorts at the center. Like many films on this list, it’s received high
critical praise, and has its devoted fans, but it’s very often overlooked.
Understandably, it’s not going to be a Christmas gift for everyone … but I feel
it’s worth unboxing to see if it appeals to you.
#5 “Joyeux Noël'” (2005)
Based on an incredible true story set during the First World War, this film shows how even the most violent of people caught in a war can still find peace and love in their fellow man. We have three groups of solders, neck deep in the trenches, ready to kill one another, but then on the night of Christmas Eve, they all miraculously stop shooting, and decide to celebrate the holiday together.
While this movie
certainly has its followers, who’d label this as a holiday staple, it’s still
not a household name like most of the other Christmas classics. Perhaps it’s a
little too sentimental at times, but it’s the poignant humanity on display that
really elevates the film into something special. It’s powerful, inspiring, and
it should stand as a benchmark for other Christmas movies to draw inspiration
from … it’s just that good.
#4 “Klaus” (2019)
Through a series of events, we see a desperate postman accidentally bring about the genesis of Santa Claus in this unassuming … yet wholesome holiday offering. When this film first premiered on Netflix, it was a critical hit, nominated at the Academy Awards for Best Animated picture, and was deemed by many to be a new Christmas classic for the ages … and yet, it’s quietly faded away from public awareness, with very few people talking about it or even knowing of its existence.
While I felt
the film got off to a rocky start, it more then won me over and delivered a
very original Santa origin film, with uplifting music, some of the finest hand-drawn animation
I’ve seen in decades, and a heart that can match any Christmas
classic.
#3 “The Snowman and the Snow Dog” (2012)
The 1982, Oscar nominated, animated short “The Snowman” has endured as a Yuletide classic over the decades … meanwhile, it’s 2012 sequel “The Snowman and the Snow Dog” seems to have vanished with the snow. While it’s an unnecessary legacy sequel, it’s still a wholly welcome continuation of “The Snowman”, with new seeds of heart, a cute new snow dog lead, and another uplifting flight scene.
The animation captures the same look of the original, while updating it
with new technology, and it looks wondrous, with warm colors that glow. As far
as music is concerned, nothing can top the originals “Walking in the Air” … but this special
compensates with some really nice music all its own. If you’re a fan of the
original short, I highly recommend giving this sequel a fair chance.
#2 “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” (1983)
The 1972 children’s novel is frequently sighted as a cherished classic, and the recent 2024 movie adaptation has gotten very positive feedback from both fans and viewers calling it a potential new holiday staple. However, I don’t see as many fans discussing the original 1983 TV special. While loud and a little obnoxious at times, it's still a very sweet, even touching tale about a group of juvenile children who are touched by the light of the holiday.
For a shortened film,
made on a budget, I feel it really captures the spirit of the source material
and is a wonderful Christmas offering in its own right … certainly not one to
be overlooked.
Before I
reveal my last pick, here are some honorable mentions that simply couldn’t make
it on a list of 10 …
“Last Christmas” (2019)
“The Christmas Chronicles” (2018)
“Rise of the Guardians” (2012)
“Noelle” (2019)
“Arthur Christmas” (2011)
#1 “The Man Who Invented Christmas” (2017)
Closing off my list, I wanted to highlight yet another film that puts a unique spin on “A Christmas Carol”. We all know the story of Scrooge … but what about the man behind the classic story and character. Well, in this severely overlooked 2017 picture, we explore the personal journey Charles Dickens took to create his beloved novel … and just in time for Christmas. The style is very similar to the 2004 movie “Finding Neverland”, in that we take a dive into the imagination and influence on the authors creation, and we see how various people he encounters become the inspiration for his characters.
The late Christopher Plumer shines as Scrooge, but the real star of this film is Dan Stevens as Charles Dickens. His performance half the time feels larger than life and brings to mind Tom Hulse’s portrayal of “Amadeus”. If you’re a fan of the story, do check this film out, as it gives the immortal, time tested tale of Scrooge miraculous new life, and unique perception from the creative mind of the author. With its engaging lead performance, and heart felt vision, it makes for yet another great holiday staple … and of all the specials and movies I’ve highlighted, I feel this one deserves more attention.
Thanks for reading my list … and continue to enjoy the Christmas movies and specials you Love!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
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