Survey: It’s A Wonderful Life is best Xmas movie
December 22, 2020
It’s a Wonderful Life has been voted by BBC Radio 2 listeners to be their favourite Christmas film of all time. A long list of 25 classics to choose from was created by the network’s resident movie critic, James King.
King said: “It’s a Wonderful Life is what Christmas is all about: friendship, kindness and the importance of family, even in the toughest times. I’m so happy that it’s still warming hearts of all ages 74 years after it first came out and it feels especially poignant after a tough 2020 for so many. It’s great to see other vintage favourites such as White Christmas and Scrooge in the Top 12 too, proving that we’re happy to ignore what’s new or cool in the festive season and just wallow in nostalgia. And as for Die Hard in the runner-up spot? Well, it should finally answer the question as to whether John McClane’s antics in the Nakatomi Plaza constitute a Christmas film or not.”
The top 12 festive films of all time will feature in the countdown programme presented by James is available to listen now on BBC Sounds and on Radio 2 on Christmas Eve. The show will feature plenty of seasonal songs from the silver screen and the thoughts of those who created these classic movies.
Top 12 Christmas films as voted for by Radio 2 listeners:
1 It’s a Wonderful Life (1947)
2 Die Hard (1989)
3 The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
4 Home Alone (1990)
5 Elf (2003)
6 Love Actually (2003)
7 National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1990)
8 Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
9 White Christmas (1954)
10 The Polar Express (2004)
11 Santa Claus: The Movie (1985)
12 Scrooge (1951)