

Take a break from gift shopping and decorating the tree. Let these movies put you in the holiday spirit, instead.

1942: Irving Berlin's Holiday Inn
Outside of Jesus and Santa, Bing Crosby is basically the king of Christmas. This musical about an inn that's only open on holidays gave us the song "White Christmas," which of course we're all dreaming of.
Buy It: $10, Amazon.com

1943: The Song of Bernadette
The drama's lead, Jennifer Jones, won an Oscar for her portrayal of a woman having visions of the Virgin Mary. The film however lost the Best Picture race to Casablanca.
Buy It: $8, Amazon.com

1944: Meet Me in St. Louis
Judy Garland stars in this musical featuring the classic holiday tune, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."
Buy It: $23, Amazon.com

1945: Christmas in Connecticut
Holiday romance is the focus of this Barbara Stanwyck film, which was remade for TV in 1992 with the help of director Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Buy It: $10, Amazon.com

1946: It's a Wonderful Life
Every time this movie is on during the holiday season, an angel gets its wings.
Buy It: $10, Amazon.com

1947: Miracle on 34th Street
If you ever spill the beans about Santa to a kid too early, this movie will restore their faith.
Buy It: $10, Amazon.com

1948: 3 Godfathers
The story of the Three Wise Men retold as a Western and starring John Wayne is begging for a remake.
Buy It: $10, Amazon.com

1949: Holiday Affair
Janet Leigh and Robert Mitchum co-star in this romantic comedy set during the holidays. It wasn't a huge success when it was released, but still gets played at Christmastime.
Buy It: $8, Amazon.com

1950: The Great Rupert
Alternately titled A Christmas Wish, this movie involves an animated squirrel who helps improve the lives of two impoverished families.
Buy It: $6, Amazon.com

1951: A Christmas Carol
You know the drill. Guy hates Christmas and ghosts scare him straight.
Buy It, $10, Amazon.com

1952: Pluto's Christmas Tree
The classic Disney gang appears in this short film involving Mickey and Pluto trying to pick out the perfect Christmas tree.
Buy It: $65, Amazon.com

1953: Peter Pan
There isn't much Christmas in Peter Pan, but the magic is definitely there.
Buy It: $11, Amazon.com

1954: White Christmas
White Christmas wasn't just popular during the holiday season. It was the second highest-grossing film of 1954.
Buy It: $12, Amazon.com

1955: We're No Angels
Humphrey Bogart, Peter Ustinov and Aldo Ray play three escaped convicts who learn how to be good while hiding out with a poor family in a French colonial town during Christmas.
Buy It: $25, Amazon.com

1956: Bundle of Joy
It may have nothing to do with Christmas, but try turning on this Eddie Fisher/Debbie Reynolds collaboration while the holiday feast is in the oven and you'll know why it's on the list.
Buy It: $16, Amazon.com

1957: All Mine to Give
Not the most joyful Christmas movie, All Mine To Give is based on the true-life story of six Wisconsin siblings who must take care of each other when both of their parents die.
Buy It: $13, Amazon.com

1958: Bell, Book, and Candle
Jimmy Stewart straps on his Christmas boots again for this love story set during the holiday season. He plays a publisher who falls under the spell of his witch neighbor played by Kim Novak.
Buy It: $9, Amazon.com

1959: Santa Claus
Also known as Santa Claus vs. the Devil, this Mexican import is probably one movie you should watch after the kids have gone to bed.
Buy It: $15, Amazon.com

1960: The Apartment
The action of this Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine Oscar winner culminates at a company Christmas party, which absolutely justifies it as a Christmas movie...right?
Buy It: $10, Amazon.com

1961: Babes in Toyland
Annette Funicello stars in Disney's take on the 1903 operetta of the same name by Victor Herbert.
Buy It: $8, Amazon.com

1962: Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol
Same story, different medium. Magoo claims the honor of being the first animated holiday special ever produced for TV.
Buy It: $45, Amazon.com

1963: The Sword and the Stone
Disney once again ruled the holiday season with this magical tale of King Arthur, which hit theaters on Christmas day.
Buy It: $10, Amazon.com

1964: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
The fact that this movie still entertains kids in the age of Pokémon GO and 3D movies is a testament to how iconic it really is.
Buy It: $23, Amazon.com

1967: Fitzwilly
Dick Van Dyke stars in this heist movie about the household staff of an elderly heiress plotting to rob a department store on Christmas Eve.
Buy It: $20, Amazon.com

1968: The Little Drummer Boy
He had no gifts to bring, but this 1968 NBC TV special is the holiday gift that keeps on giving year after year.
Buy It: $40, Amazon.com

1970: Scrooge
Albert Finney won a Golden Globe for playing Ebenezer in this musical adaptation of the Dickens story.
Buy It: $9, Amazon.com

1971: The Homecoming: A Christmas Story
This Walton family Christmas special aired on CBS.
Buy It: $10, Amazon.com

1973: The Bear Who Slept Through Christmas
Ted E. Bear goes on a quest to look for Christmas while his bear brethren sleep through winter in this NBC animated Christmas special.
Buy It: $10, Amazon.com

1974: The Year Without a Santa Claus
Heat Miser and Snow Miser attempt to ruin Christmas for everyone in this stop motion classic adapted from a 1956 book by Phyllis McGinley.
Buy It: $10, Amazon.com

1975: The First Christmas
Angela Lansbury narrates this stop motion animated TV special about a blind shepherd boy who has never seen snow.
Buy It: $20, Amazon.com

1976: Rudolph's Shiny New Year
Santa needs Rudolph's help to track down Baby New Year on New Year's Eve to prevent it from staying December 31 forever in this ABC TV special.
Buy It: $15, Amazon.com

1977: Nestor
Think Rudolph, but as a donkey with long ears, trying to make his way to Bethlehem.
Buy It: $18, Amazon.com

1978: Benji's Very Own Christmas Story
Benji helps an injured Kris Kringle rediscover the meaning of Christmas in this ABC TV special.
Buy It: $5, Amazon.com
