Twelve Classic Christmas Movies That Have NOT Aged Well
You'll never see your childhood the same way again
Our favourite Christmas movies are like old friends, classic tales that wriggle their way into our hearts and curl up cosily there beside the fire. We remember classic Christmas flicks as those which brought joy and warmth to us during the festive season. Unfortunately, Christmas movies are no more immune to the passage of time than any other genre, and a lot of what warmed the cockles back in the day is, to put it mildly, a little problematic. Here are twelve classic Christmas movies that have definitely NOT aged well.
A Christmas Story (1983)
A truly great movie that has brought families together in gales of relatable laughter over the last four decades, A Christmas Story is renowned for its classic depiction of the spirit of the season and its hilariously on-point recreation of the wonder and agony of childhood, in its tale of poor ten-year-old Ralphie, who wants nothing more than a BB gun for Christmas. But although it features myriad priceless scenes and some of the greatest cinematic Yuletide memories of all time, this movie definitely hits a sour note for modern audiences at the end, when Ralphie’s family goes out for Christmas lunch to a Chinese restaurant, whereupon the staff come out and serenade the diners with a cringeworthy song, in which they declare the inviolable sovereignty of Taiwan and swear never to rest until the island nation achieves full independence. In 1983, maybe this was fine, but today it’s definitely not so innocent.
The Nightmare For Christmas (1991)
This beloved Disney stop-motion classic about Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King, who sets out to bring Christmas to Halloweentown, is a delightful blend of the spooky and the festive, and is always at the top of everyone’s favourite Xmas movie lists. Unfortunately, if you haven’t watched it in a while you might not be prepared for the profoundly uncomfortable feeling you get when you pop it on again, and discover that the character of Jack performs the entire movie in grotesque blackface.
Elf
Modern audiences went off this so-called classic the minute Will Ferrell’s titular man-child began singing “Baby It’s Cold Outside”, a song about a sinister date rapist.
Love, Actually
Many adore this British hit because of its big-hearted depiction of love in its many forms at Christmastime, and we don’t want to spoil anyone’s fun - if you get a kick out of your yearly indulgence in Richard Curtis’s sweet multi-story treat, that’s fine. But you should at least acknowledge that this movie could never be made today, unless major changes were made to the plotline where Andrew Lincoln’s lovelorn loser shows up on Keira Knightley’s doorstep and holds up a series of cards on which he has written obscene white supremacist slogans. You’d also probably have to soften the scene of Liam Neeson murdering his son.
The Grinch Who Stole Christmas
Jim Carrey gives a bravura performance as the furry green creature who takes out his anti-Christmas rage on the citizens of Whoville, and it’s great fun to watch. Less fun is the gigantic furry green erection that director Ron Howard insisted on attaching to Carrey’s costume and on which he lingers for several seconds in almost every scene.
It’s A Wonderful Life
The tale of Jimmy Stewart finding himself at rock bottom, only to be rejuvenated by the realisation of just how much he is loved, has over the better part of a century become known as one of the greatest Christmas traditions, and as uplifting a story as Hollywood has told. However, many modern fans might be shocked to discover that this movie is in black and white, making it basically unwatchable.
Die Hard
Many people like to debate whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie at all, but one thing that is beyond debate is the fact that in 2023, a movie in which a policeman murders several immigrants without even identifying himself or showing his badge is extremely on the nose.
The Santa Clause
When this jolly tale of the death of Santa was made, the producers presumably didn’t realise just how much future audiences would look askance at the once-common practice of casting Tim Allen.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
Filled with memorable scenes and sharp-witted observations on the trials and tribulations of pulling off a harmonious family Christmas in the materialistic modern world, many remember this Chevy Chase festive fave so fondly they don’t even remember that the final half-hour is a dialogue-free montage of the Griswold family setting fire to a homeless shelter.
Miracle on 34th Street
There are two versions of this family classic to choose from, but no matter which one you pick, you still won’t be able to get around the fact that the story is about an old man who pretends to be Santa Claus in order to beat charges of running an illegal puppy farm.
The Muppet Christmas Carol
Everyone loves the Muppets’ take on Charles Dickens’s timeless ghost story, but if they took a closer look they might change their minds. Check out the scene about halfway through the movie, when the Ghost of Christmas Present takes Scrooge (Michael Caine) to see his nephew Fred’s Christmas festivities. It’s easy to miss if you’re not paying attention, but listen closely and you will hear Fred flatly deny that there is any evidence of Israeli war crimes.
The Polar Express
The problematic nature of The Polar Express should probably have been obvious in the first few minutes, when Tom Hanks’s conductor intones his famous opening line, “The blood of children will turn the snow red and not stop running till all is avenged.” Suffice to say that with the benefit of hindsight, it is surprising that this nightmarish tale of child abduction and graphic torture was ever considered a kiddie classic.