Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
The holidays mean different things to different people. But if there’s one thing all winter revelers can agree on, it’s that the holidays have inspired some of the most memorable moments in movie and TV history. Without further ado (and a-ho ho ho), we present The Ultimate Holiday Showdown, a bracket-style tournament to determine the best pop culture moment that the month of December has ever produced. Vote early and often! And Happy Holidays!
What would the holidays be like without the classics of “Ye Olde Days” gone by? Forget your Rudolph and your Love, Actually. The stories and songs that define our holiday experience are the same ones that have bound us together since the 1930s and 1940s. These are the films that have warmed the hearts of numerous generations. These are the films that our grandparents — and possibly grandchildren — have loved. Which is why we are pitting them against each other (and our favorites from other decades) in a brutal showdown to determine what the greatest holiday special of all time is. It’s up to you to vote and help us decide which classic holiday film will make it to championship later this month.
You can head over to The Ultimate Holiday Showdown and cast your vote, or you can get some analysis and check out the round match ups below.
Jimmy Stewart vs. Jimmy Stewart
You might think that Jimmy Stewart owns Christmas simply because he stars as George Bailey in It’s A Wonderful Life. The thing is Stewart stars in two holiday classics. He also plays a lovelorn Hungarian sales assistant in the pitch perfect romantic comedy The Shop Around the Corner. Even if you’ve never seen this delightful film, you know the story; it’s the inspiration for the Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan classic You’ve Got Mail. Still, what’s more indicative of the holiday spirit? Two sales assistants who don’t know they’re in love with each other or a suicidal depressive brought back from the brink by an angel? It’s up to you to decide!
#1 seed It’s A Wonderful Life [Where to Stream It’s A Wonderful Life] vs. #8 seed The Shop Around The Corner [Where to Stream The Shop Around The Corner]
VOTE ON IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946) VS. THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER (1940)
The Real Santa vs. A Fake Cooking Star
Christmas is built on a foundation of lies! Or is it? That’s what both Miracle on 34th Street and Christmas In Connecticut seek to uncover. Miracle on 34th Street is the gorgeous film where Maureen O’Hara plays a bitter divorcée determined to prove that Santa isn’t real. Christmas In Connecticut focuses on a different kind of charade: Barbara Stanwyck plays Elizabeth Lane, a single New York city gal who has created a popular false persona. Her tales of domestic bliss with her husband and baby and Connecticut farm enchant a war vet and soon Elizabeth is tasked with entertaining the hero. Naturally, they fall for each other and shenanigans ensue. So, who better embodies Christmas? The real Santa or a fake domestic goddess?
#2 seed Miracle on 34th Street [Where to Stream Miracle on 34th Street] vs. #7 seed Christmas In Connecticut [Where to Stream Christmas In Connecticut]
VOTE ON MIRACLE ON 34th STREET (1947) VS. CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT (1945)
Ebenezer Scrooge & Tiny Tim vs. Bing Crosby & Fred Astaire
Has there ever been a better holiday duo than Ebenezer Scrooge and Tiny Tim? Charles Dickens warmed all our hearts when he wrote A Christmas Carol. Old miser Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by three spirits who hope to convince him to change his ways and embrace the Christmas spirit. Really, it’s the sickly, spritely son of his employee who lights his way. Who could compete with such a great story? How about Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire? The musical heavyweights solidified their legacies in the classic film Holiday Inn. Note: White Christmas is a sequel to Holiday Inn. The popular melody debuted in the original movie and gave its name to the sequel.
#3 seed A Christmas Carol [Where to Stream A Christmas Carol] vs. #6 seed Holiday Inn [Where to Stream Holiday Inn]
VOTE ON A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1938) VS. HOLIDAY INN (1942)
The Ghosts Of Christmas Past vs. An Angel From Heaven
Two adaptations of A Christmas Carol in one bracket? Are you out of your mind? It’s true. There are two adaptations of Dickens’ classic novel on this list. The second is Scrooge, the first film adaptation of the book that had sound! That makes it not just a classic, but an historical experience! Who could topple Scrooge? How about Cary Grant? The Hollywood heartthrob stars in The Bishop’s Wife as Dudley, the sexiest angel who never modeled for Victoria’s Secret! He comes down to earth to help a troubled bishop and winds up falling in love with his charming wife.
#4 seed Scrooge [Where to Stream Scrooge] vs. #5 seed The Bishop’s Wife [Where to Stream The Bishop’s Wife]
VOTE ON SCROOGE (1935) VS. THE BISHOP’S WIFE (1947)
Good luck to all of the contenders! Cast your votes now and look out for our next round of voting on December 8.
