'Tis the season to be jolly and joyous and many of us can't even get into our cars without crooning out a Christmas carol these days. Not surprisingly, the world of film and TV can't either. That means we have a fine collection of Christmas musical flicks to binge and sing-a-long with to our heart's content.
From jazzy song-and-dance numbers to melodies that absolutely melt our hearts, Christmas musicals have that extra dash of magic for making spirits bright. In celebration of the season, we've selected ten whimsical and wonderful holiday musical movies to enjoy this Christmas season.
10 Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas
The first remake of the 1966 classic, this adaptation of the Grinch might not seem like musical material at first, but thinking back on it, there are moments where the characters are suddenly bursting into songs. True, it's no Chorus Line number or anything, but we think we can count it.
"Welcome Christmas," "Where are you, Christmas," and the oh-so-popular "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" make for stand-out singing moments in this weird but beloved flick. Though it's not nearly the showstopper some of our other list entries might be, it still has it's perks.
9 The Polar Express
It's not exactly ready for Broadway, but The Polar Express is definitely an underrated musical that needs more appreciation for its melodious talents. Though the true musical elements of the film don't even properly begin until after the "Hot Chocolate" number, we'd still like to see how this would do with proper musical treatment.
The soundtrack to this magical movie has more than a few invigorating numbers to keep passengers and viewers entertained as we travel to the North Pole. From its own theme song to Josh Groban's performance of "Believe," the songs might be brief but they're unforgettable nonetheless.
8 Babes in Toyland
Though the original is based on a very famous operetta, Disney's musical version of Babes in Toyland is definitely one of the most stand-out versions there are. Known famously for it's "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers" it's a wild and colorful musical that, though dated, does still give us classic Christmas vibes.
The plot is your standard Disney fairytale, complete with an over-the-top villain and happily-ever-after ending, but it's well-choreographed with many marvelous musical numbers. Though it might be a product of its time, we can still find enough reasons to enjoy it.
7 Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol
Don't let the near-sighted old man fool you, this is actually a first and foremost musical version of A Christmas Carol featuring Mr. Magoo in the title role of Ebeneezer Scrooge. The special is not only somewhat of a cult classic, but features some pretty catchy musical numbers as well.
Songs like "Ringle Ringle" and "Plunderer's March" definitely stick in our heads for more than a little while after the credits roll. It's not the most well-known version of the classic story, but we've got to give it a little love.
6 Meet Me in St. Louis
Now we're starting to get into some truly classic territory with this entry. Though not strictly a Christmas film, Meet Me in St. Louis is a musical film with some serious chops that we had to include on our list.
Though perhaps most well known for Judy Garland's rendition of "The Trolley Song," it also gave us one of our most beloved Christmas carols."Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" was written specifically for Judy Garland and has since become one of the most played songs of the season.
5 White Christmas
Yet another Christmas classic joins our ranks as we leave St. Louis for Vermont with this festive feature starring Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye. Maybe not as popular as it was back in 1954, but it's been aired and performed countless times thanks to it's standard but splendid Hollywood-musical formula.
When two army buddies/performers encounter their old general at his failing country inn, they rig up a big wonderful musical revue to help save the place. The numbers and the plot get a little cliche, but it's hard to beat Crosby, king of the crooners. Especially when he's dreaming of a White Christmas.
4 Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Most, if not all, of the Rankin/Bass specials, are musicals, but we decided to go with one of the originals. That and we simply can't resist a banjo-playing snowman singing "Silver and Gold." Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is an all-time holiday juggernaut that has been played, replayed, and even given a stage adaptation since it's debut in 1964.
Aside from the titular song, other timeless tracks have been incorporated into our current Christmas season. From "Holly Jolly Christmas" to "There's Always Tomorrow," we owe it all to a certain stop-motion reindeer with a glowing red nose.
3 Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas
Though it has a very specific audience of fans, we've got to include Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas for our list of holiday musicals. It's a delightful special from the brilliant imagination of Jim Henson and it's certainly a heartwarming story that desperately needs more attention. At least Kermit will vouch for it.
Emmet and his Ma are two poor, but happy, otters who enter a music contest to win the other one money for Christmas gifts. In a twist on Gift of the Magi, we're given a touching musical that shows off some of the best of Jim Henson's work with great songs and incredible puppetry.
2 The Muppet Christmas Carol
Now we're in some serious Jim Henson excellence with The Muppet Christmas Carol. Definitely one of the most-watched and beloved version of Charles Dickens's classic novel, and certainly one of the most musical versions we've seen. With the colorful Muppet cast alongside Michale Caine as Scrooge, we're totally on board.
It's the catchy tunes that put this version of the Christmas classic near the top of our list, mainly because we still occasionally hum "Marley and Marley" well after the movie's over. Do yourself a favor and greet this film with a thankful heart this holiday season.
1 The Nightmare Before Christmas
Two words, Danny Elfman. Easily Disney's most beloved and celebrated cult film, The Nightmare Before Christmas is by far one of our all-time favorite holiday musicals on this list. With catchy tunes and twisted visuals, it definitely has its fans. Not only is it a perfect film for Halloween, but the holiday season as well!
Jack's Christmas takeover might not be the most successful adventure we watch during our Christmas binging, but it's certainly a wild ride we'd put on repeat. Pair the two conflicting holidays with the magic of Disney and you've got a delightfully demented tale of merry and macabre.
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