THE MOST wonderful time of the year can only mean one thing- snuggling up on the sofa and watching some Christmas classics.
But which Christmas film means the most to the highest number of people?
The only logical way to figure this out is to look at the highest-grossing Christmas films of all time, so reporter Ryan Smith did exactly that.
10) The Santa Clause – £154million
Tim Allen could quite feasibly lay a claim to be the King of Christmas on the strength of this marvellously inventive and heartwarming picture.
His transformation from cynical loner Scott Calvin to the jolly man in the red suit is made all the more magical by the beautiful bond he forms with his son Charlie along the way.
9) The Holiday – £162.5million
While I admit, this isn’t my cup of tea, I can completely understand why this festive rom-com is beloved by so many.
This flick is carried by the exceptional star power and magnetic chemistry between Jude Law and Cameron Diaz, while Jack Black gives arguably his most magnetic performance yet by swapping his usual brash rocker dude persona for one of a man with a subdued and sensitive soul.
8) Elf- £177million
The 2000s can quite understandably be dubbed ‘the Will Ferrell era’ of comedy and his magnetically child-like turn as Buddy in ‘Elf’ perfectly encapsulates why.
Given the genius quirky platform of playing a human who has grown up as one of Santa’s helpers, Ferrell feels completely at home as Buddy’s wide-eyed eyes and over-excited juvenile charm burst through the screen and capture our hearts.
7) Love Actually – £200million
Although this festive favourite may have one or two more love stories than it needs, Richard Curtis still does a marvellous job of cramming every romantic cliche in the book into two fantastic hours of fun.
Despite the incredible star power on display, Emma Thompson’s borderline Oscar-worthy portrayal of a heartbroken housewife coming to terms with her husband’s betrayal stands out.
Oh, and practically every line uttered and gesture made by Bill Nighy as Billy Mack is side-splittingly funny.
6) The Polar Express – £251.5million
This ground-breaking technological feat is exceptionally inventive and, although it lacks a hint of magic, it’s tough not to be impressed.
Quite how Tom Hanks manages to display the range needed to play seven characters in one feature film I’ll never know, while the picture’s strong themes of faith and belief are perfect for the festive season.
5) A Christmas Carol – £265.6million
Jim Carrey’s trademark wit and cheeky humour spice up the classic tale of Ebenezer Scrooge in a film which stands on the shoulders of The Polar Express and takes its animation style to frighteningly realistic new heights.
Its magical yet sometimes haunting imagery, dark humour and rousingly uplifting ending have made this a Christmas Eve tradition in the Smith household for the past 13 years.
4) How the Grinch Stole Christmas – £283million
It is back-to-back entries for Carrey as this reimagining of Dr Seuss’s cautionary tale shows both the good and potential pitfalls of Christmas- and why it is so important to show love and kindness to others all year round.
Everything hinges on Carrey in this flick, and he doesn’t disappoint, bringing the Grinch to life from underneath the heavy prosthetics.
3) Home Alone 2 – £293 million
This is one of those rare examples of a sequel repackaging the first film to you without suffering a dip in quality- if anything, it brings even more laughs this time around.
The charm of the first flick is certainly there as Macauley Caulkin shines yet again, and the cartoonish house chase at the end reaches almost farcical levels as you cheer at every electric shock and brick Harry and Marv face.
2) Home Alone £375.2 million
This is, in my opinion, the best-made, most magical and best-acted festive film to be released since It’s A Wonderful Life as it encapsulates everything I love about Christmas.
Macaulay Culkin’s acting in the beautiful church scene with Roberts Blossom’s Marley is, without question, the finest I have ever seen from a child star.
1) The Grinch (2018) – £418 million
There must be something about the Grinch that strikes a chord with people as this classic tale appears for the second time.
Benedict Cumberbatch’s performance creates so much depth to The Grinch in the film’s mere 90-minute runtime as the picture effortlessly takes the formula of Despicable Me, complete with all the modern humour and cute sidekicks, and applies it to this time-old classic.
