Genre: Family
Family stories turn on the bonds we’re born into — loyalty, friction, inheritance, and the long shadow relatives cast over each other’s lives.
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A Christmas Carol (1984)
George C. Scott plays Scrooge in a faithful television adaptation that became a holiday staple after theatrical release. -
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
Michael Caine plays Scrooge opposite Kermit, Miss Piggy, and the Muppet ensemble in a sincere adaptation of Dickens. -
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
Clark Griswold's plans for a perfect family Christmas at home unravel through extended-family chaos and a frozen pool. -
The Santa Clause (1994)
A divorced father inadvertently kills Santa Claus and discovers a contractual clause requiring him to take over the role permanently. -
Elf (2003)
A human raised by Santa's elves travels to New York City to find his biological father, an embittered publishing executive. -
Mary Poppins (1964)
Disney's 1964 Travers adaptation. Julie Andrews flying with umbrella, Dick Van Dyke as cockney chimney sweep. Live action animation hybrid. -
My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
Hayao Miyazaki's 1988 Studio Ghibli pastoral. Two girls discover forest spirits in rural Japan. Catbus, soot sprites, kindness throughout. -
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Spielberg's 1982 alien-and-boy fable. Bicycle moon, glowing finger, phone home. Highest-grossing film for over a decade. -
WALL-E (2008)
Andrew Stanton's 2008 Pixar masterpiece. Garbage robot finds love on dead Earth. First forty minutes near-silent. Environmental fable. -
Cars 2 (2011)
2011 Pixar sequel with Lightning McQueen and Mater drawn into international espionage. Widely considered Pixar's weakest film.