25 best Christmas movies to watch during the holiday season

NATIONAL LAMPOON'S CHRISTMAS VACATION - Deck the halls with boughs of laughter - the Griswolds are back! Hapless Clark (Chevy Chase), exasperated Ellen (Beverly D'Angelo) and their ever-changing kids (Juliette Lewis and Johnny Galecki) gear up for Christmas in this Vacation installment that became a holiday classic. As usual, all the good intentions in the world can't save them from disaster ... or Cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid), whose unannounced visit throws the house into further disarray. (WARNER BROTHERS)CHEVY CHASE /

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4. Meet Me in St. Louis

A year in the life of a family at the turn of the century is the basis for Meet Me in St. Louis. And yet, while this may be a year in the life, it is also very much a holiday classic. But what makes this one of my all time favorite Christmas movies might just be the fact that it stars the incomparable Judy Garland.

Meet Me in St. Louis might be about the year leading up to the family heading to the World Fair, but the holiday moments have always been what stood out to me the most. I remember watching this movie as a child and being drawn in because of the music and beauty of it all.

And of course, it feels like you can never go wrong with Judy Garland in a film, so this was and always be a favorite for me. The fact that it also features some beautiful music certainly helps sell it as well.

Not only does this movie give us “Auld Lang Syne,” but we also get “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” And the fact that the latter is performed by Garland is the star on top of the tree for me, because her voice has always been breathtaking and scene-stealing really. (If you have never heard the version performed by Judy Garland, it is important to note that it is different from the one Frank Sinatra gave new life to.)

This is a movie loaded with nostalgia and charm, and that is of course part of what makes this a magical Christmas movie.

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