10 Essential 80s Christmas Films Still Relevant Today

Nothing seems to be working for Ginnie Grainger (Mary Steenbrgen) and her family, as they are on the verge of becoming homeless, and her boss won’t give her a day off to spend Christmas with her family.

As Christmas approaches, the situation becomes worse as she loses her father in mysterious circumstances. Having lost her Christmas spirit, Sain Nicolas decided to come to her aid, sending her a helper that works in the most mysterious of ways.

One Magic Christmas is a straightforward Christmas film suitable for family viewing. The story flows with a mild touch of humor and unexpected twists that keep viewers engaged. It is one of Philip Borsos’s best classics, featuring a somber mood that blends in perfectly with the holiday spirit.

Its unique depiction of Santa as an angel that helps people find the strength within themselves to fix tough situations resonates with viewers of all ages. Designed to embrace the enduring spirit of the family and the need for gratitude in the holiday season, this Canadian film remains one of the most rewatchable Christmas films from the 80s.

Featuring David Huddleston as Santa Claus, Santa Claus: The Movie remains one of the most authentic Christmas films of the 1980s despite being a Box Office bomb. The film follows Santa, his wife Anya and their reindeer from their wood-carving days in the Middle Ages to Santa’s immortality and new role as the head of an elve-led toy factory in the North pole.

The film humanizes Santa to the level of making him vulnerable enough to need the help of children.

Covering contemporary topics of child abuse, corporate greed, and urban poverty, this 1985 masterpiece still resonates with a modern audience just as it did in the 80s. It was one of the last films created by Alexander and Illya Salkind. While it didn’t see instant success upon release, it has garnered a cultic following over the years and continues to draw in viewers every holiday season.

Jim Varney’s Ernest P. Worrell series remains one of the most popular classical films, and Ernest Saves Christmas is the series’ ultimate holiday gem. In the film, Ernest, who has just lost his job as a taxi driver on Christmas Eve, is tasked with helping the outgoing Santa (Douglas Seale) find his replacement.

While typical Santa props, including flying reindeer and the sleigh, are a major part of the film, the narrative is transformative as it makes Santa feel more human. The film also features captivating performances from Oliver Clark and Noelle Parker.

Like other Ernest films, this one starts bleak, but everything becomes vibrant as the film approaches the climax, like a typical holiday season. The film’s diverse cast turns the Christmas tale into a multi-generational masterpiece that resonates with all audiences. With the revelation that Santa is not immortal and that people who teach children good manners and integrity could also become Santas, Ernst Saves Christmas is the warm Christmas film that brings the whole family together.

Starring Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd, Trading Places remains one of the best comedy films of all time. It was Murphy’s second film, but its success catapulted his career significantly, leading to more projects with John Landis, including Coming To America.

In Trading Places, Murphy plays Billy Ray Valentine, a poor hustler who is used in a social experiment by two brothers who own a brokerage firm. The brothers, Randolph and Mortimer Duke make a bet on whether success is based on nature or nature and thereby give Valentine a chance to work as a manager at their firm while relegating their former director Louis Winthorp (Aykroyd) to Valentine’s former status.

The film’s main themes are greed and generosity, amplified by its holiday setting, which makes this one of the most rewatchable Christmas films of all time. Murphy and Aykroyd have an enviable chemistry that keeps the film flowing. The best part of this film is its sharp tone, with endless social satire and laugh-out-loud moments that keep viewers engaged throughout.

Young Lisa Piper (Drew Barrymore) is magically transported into Toyland after a car accident on a snowy road on Christmas Eve. Despite her predicaments in the real world, Piper has the chance to save Mary Contrary (Jill Schoellen) and the rest of Toyland from evil Barnaby Barnicle (Richard Mulligan).

Directed by Clive Donner, this Christmas musical had an overflow of talent from stars, including Keanu Reeves and Eileen Brennan.

Babes in Toyland doesn’t overhype the Christmas spirit from the onset, as it darts with everything looking grim for the protagonist. It immediately invokes the fighting spirit, bringing many contemporary issues to light, including grief. Its emphasis on the power of family makes it rewatchable despite the passage of years. It also allows viewers to revisit some of Hollywood’s greatest names in their budding years.

Prancer is a Christmas fantasy by John Hancock which wasn’t an instant success upon release but has garnered a cultic following. It follows 8-year-old Jessica Riggs (Rebecca Harrell), who has little to celebrate on Christmas Eve, having lost her mother and her grieving father struggling to provide for the family.

However, everything changes when she meets an injured deer, who she believes to be Prancer, one of Santa’s reindeer. As she races to save Prancer, she realizes that there are more evils in her town and that her family is on the verge of being split apart until Prancer steps in.

Despite being a fantasy film, Prancer retains a high level of realism, stepping away from the traditional approach to Santa. The story of Prancer is about the process of healing, both for the protagonists and society at large. The plot is quite simple and straightforward, but Rebecca Harrell, Cloris Leachman, and Sam Elliot deliver charming performances that bring every scene to life. Everything about the film is realistic and relatable for most families in the holiday season, hence the film’s sustained popularity over the years.

Known for transforming Bruce Willis into an action legend, Die Hard remains one of the best action films ever made. Bruce Willis plays NYPD detective John McClane, who goes to Los Angeles on Christmas Eve hoping to reconcile with his estranged wife, Holly.

While in LA, he gets caught up in a terrorist attack led by the German radical Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman). The film was a huge Box Office success despite heavy criticism from marketers, becoming one of the highest-grossing films that year.

Despite being in transition from the small screen, Bruce Willis put up a hearty performance, turning McClane into a relatable figure showing both strength and vulnerability. Alan Rickman also portrays a well-rounded villain with a storyline that keeps viewers guessing. Die Hard remains a nostalgic film for the holiday, especially because of the careers the stars went on to enjoy over the years.

A Christmas Story was the third installment of Parker Family comedies that continues to enjoy huge popularity today. It tells of the innocence of Christmas displayed through the story of young Ralphie Parker, set in the 1940s. Parker desperately wants a BB gun and won’t enjoy any of the presents he is given until he gets it.

He continues on his quest despite warnings from the local Santa, his parents, and his teacher that he would shoot his eye out with the rifle. The entire film is presented through narration by the now-older Parker (Jean Shepherd).

Jean Shepherd’s warm-hearted narration draws viewers into the Christmas mood with a hypnotizing touch that captures the magic of the holiday spirit. The film perfectly captures the innocence of children during Christmas and how true happiness sometimes lies in the simplest of desires. Bob Clark used warm, timeless humor to portray the innocence of the childhood spirit that is relatable to all generations.

Starring the humorous duo of Chevy Chase and Randy Quaid, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation fits the definition of a perfect Christmas comedy. It follows the series of mishaps that befall the Griswold family despite efforts by their patriarch, Clark (Chevy Chase), to give the family a perfect Christmas.

From malfunctioning lights that cause a city-wide blackout to an overzealous relative who abducts Clark’s boss, everything that could go wrong seems to do so at the very last minute for the family, but Clark just won’t let the mishaps ruin Christmas.

Directed by Jeremiah Chechik, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation remains popular with modern audiences because of its universal appeal. Combining humor with deep-seated messaging for family values, the film has all the makings of a timeless masterpiece.

Billy Peltzer receives a strange creature called Mogwai from his father as a Christmas present. The docile creature comes with three rules that Billy must never break to prevent calamity from befalling the town. However, Billy’s friend has other ideas, and when he finally breaks these rules, the creature spawns destructive Gremlins that threaten the entire city. It was based on a script by Chris Columbus, who drew from British and European Folklore about the titular destructive creatures.

The film was directed by Joe Dante, and its enviable classical makeup and special effects make it an authentic Christmas horror movie. It is still considered one of the scariest horror films ever made, especially because of the harrowing appearance of the Gremlins and their capability for evil. However, the film retains a universal appeal mostly because of the eccentric performances from its diverse cast led by Zach Galligan.

Conclusion

Passion and Creativity ruled the film industry in the 80s, resulting in the timeless blockbusters that the world still enjoys today. The decade’s long list of Christmas films was not left behind in this aspect. Each of these films has a depth in storyline and a relatable message that modern audiences still enjoy. Whether you are in it for nostalgia or just the warm reminder of what the holidays mean for the family as a whole, a trip back in time with any of these films will suffice.

Written by Billy Oduory