7 Forgotten Christmas Movies That Deserve to Be Classics

Christmas movies, for some time now, have been an essential part of the holiday season, bringing audiences together with their memorable characters, heartwarming stories, and festive humor. While certain holiday films have become timeless gems that are revisited each year, there are plenty of Christmas masterpieces that have gradually been forgotten about despite being incredibly entertaining and quite meaningful. These forgotten favorites capture the magic of Christmas through their unique stories, emotional moments, and wholesome messages about generosity, love, and togetherness.

Quiet holiday standouts like Christmas with the Kranks, which takes on a hilarious approach to the pressures of the festive season while focusing on a couple whose decision to skip Christmas altogether creates absolute chaos throughout their neighborhood, and the charming romantic comedy Last Holiday, which offers a more uplifting and emotional experience while following a woman who decides to embrace life instead of shying away from it, are just two in the long list of underappreciated Christmas essentials that defiantly deserve a chance to shine during the festive season. Compiled on this list are seven films that stand as mostly forgotten but are worthy enough to be hailed as true classics.

1

‘Fred Claus’ (2007)

Image via Warner Bros.

Fred Claus is one of the most cherished Christmas comedies that deserves far more recognition than it’s gotten over the years. The holiday classic follows Fred Claus (Vince Vaughn), a man who has grown incredibly cynical after spending most of his life in the shadow of his younger brother Nicholas Claus (Paul Giamatti), whose transformation into Santa turned sibling comparison into a centuries-long grievance.

Fred Claus is as underrated as they come. During its release, the movie received a pretty low rating critically, but most Christmas lovers who have seen it have dubbed it an underappreciated seasonal favorite. One of the film’s biggest highlights is the way it strays away from the generic “save Christmas” trope, instead making it a family film about measuring siblings against one another. Fred Claus is an extremely watchable, indulgent, and oversized film, but a fantastic Christmas classic nonetheless, with enough wholesome moments, holiday charm, and entertaining comedy to make it a forgotten gem that deserves to reign on anyone’s December watchlist.

2

‘Christmas with the Kranks’ (2004)

Image via Columbia Pictures

This 2004 classic film is an extremely entertaining comedy that explores the absolute absurdity of holiday traditions. Christmas with the Kranks centers around Nora (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Luther Krank (Tim Allen) as they both agree that Christmas is simply not worth the expense or aggravation when their daughter Blair (Julie Gonzalo) leaves home for a Peace Corps assignment.

Christmas with the Kranks expertly turns familiar seasonal pressures into exaggerated comedy. Few comedies in the genre come close to illustrating the gap between the opinions of professional critics and viewers’ enjoyment of festive entertainment. Upon its release, Christmas with the Kranks wasn’t received well by critics, leading it to go mostly unnoticed by mainstream viewers. Despite its underrated status, what makes it such an enjoyable film is how its exaggerated humor eventually leads to a genuinely heartening celebration of community. Christmas with the Kranks stands as a relatable bout of Christmas entertainment, as it delivers those recognizable holiday frustrations and a sentimental conclusion.

3

‘Just Friends’ (2005)

Image via New Line Cinema

Just Friends is definitely not the first movie that comes to most people’s minds when thinking of extraordinary Christmas classics, but its hilarious romantic complications and holiday setting make it a strong contender for this list of underrated gems. The film focuses on Chris Brander (Ryan Reynolds), who, as a teen, was socially awkward, overweight, insecure, and completely in love with his best friend, who broke his heart by insisting they remain “just friends.” Years pass, and Chris has reinvented himself, but unfortunately for him, his visit back home and the presence of his childhood crush bring back all of his adolescent insecurity.

Sure, Just Friends may be marketed simply as a mid-2000s Ryan Reynolds comedy rather than as a true Christmas staple, but it deserves its credit for being an enduring comedy that is honestly pretty perfect for a seasonal watch. The film’s premise works because of Christmas; it’s a returning-home-for-the-holidays bout of fun that blends nicely with other well-known tropes that keep the movie interesting. From the snow and family embarrassment to the decorations and romantic nostalgia, Just Friends makes for a truly captivating and rewatchable early-2000s Christmas classic.

4

‘Better Watch Out’ (2017)

Image Via Well Go USA 

This often overlooked film is an unconventional Christmas classic that avoids the usual holiday cheer and comfort. Set on Christmas Eve, Better Watch Out centers around Ashley (Olivia DeJonge), who arrives at a suburban house to babysit 12-year-old Luke Lerner (Levi Miller).

Better Watch Out isn’t the type of film that needs to be a detailed recommendation, as revealing too much about the movie can severely damage the viewing experience. Because of this, the film stands far apart from the well-known mainstream Christmas watches that audiences usually revisit during the season. Better Watch Out doesn’t rely on warmth and cheer; instead, the movie takes on a much darker approach, using a seemingly innocent premise to deliver quite the unsettling experience. It’s a truly captivating film that may not be the usual, spirited good time, but stands as an unconventional classic for the festive season.

5

‘Unaccompanied Minors’ (2006)

Image Via Warner Bros. Pictures

Unaccompanied Minors is a woefully underrated Christmas classic that most who have seen it have likely dubbed it a fever dream. With a Christmas Eve blizzard stranding hundreds of travelers at an airport, the 2006 film follows a group of children traveling without their parents as they turn the large travel hub into a playground for increasingly elaborate schemes, rebellion, and friendships.

Unaccompanied Minors deserves far more attention than it has received for its ability to turn an ordinary holiday travel disaster into such an entertaining adventure. The movie effortlessly combines genuine Christmas spirit with childhood mischief. With an energetic young cast to keep things hilarious and captivatingly wholesome, Unaccompanied Minors is a terribly overlooked film that wields enough personality and entertainment to be labeled an undeniable holiday classic.

6

‘Last Holiday’ (2006)

Image Via Paramount Pictures

This underrated Christmas gem is the holiday romance that everyone should place on their December watchlist. Last Holiday centers on the reserved Georgia Byrd (Queen Latifah), who mistakenly believes she has only a short time left to live. With that in mind, Georgia chooses to spend her supposed time left traveling and living with less fear.

Last Holiday is one of those uplifting tales that truly deserves to be considered a Christmas classic because it offers the perfect cocktail of discovering happiness, learning to leap without fear, and embracing opportunities with open arms. The film is actually remembered quite fondly by many viewers but is still shoved under the long and brilliant list of Queen Latifah’s romantic comedies instead of being placed on Christmas watch essentials. Last Holiday is genuinely perfect for those searching for a Christmas film that doesn’t revolve around traditional themes of the holiday or Santa Claus, making it a unique, feel-good gem.

7

‘The Preacher’s Wife’ (1996)

Image Via Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

The Preacher’s Wife is a woefully underappreciated Christmas classic that deserves to be among all these Christmas essentials because of its ability to capture the warmth of community and the true spirit of the holiday. The film focuses on a minister’s family struggling with financial difficulties, pressures of maintaining their congregation, and personal frustrations, as they unexpectedly find the answers to their prayers at the arrival of an angel tasked with helping them.

The Preacher’s Wife isn’t a movie that can completely fade into the ether, because there is always someone lingering somewhere who has devoted their time to praising the film, especially among Whitney Houston fans. Unfortunately, despite its star-studded cast, the movie still doesn’t get the attention it deserves. The Preacher’s Wife wields the captivating emotional power of music and stands as a worthy classic due to how seamlessly it blends uplifting storytelling with its musical talent, making it a great addition to this list of Christmas hits.