There is nothing quite like New York atChristmas, as proven by these ten festive classics. There are some things that are inexorably associated with the yuletide season, even if they may not denote Christmas on a practical level. It makes sense for Christmas trees and Santa Claus to be linked to the holiday season, but hot cocoa and gingerbread houses are available all year around, and they still manage to feel unique to Christmas. Similarly, some ofthe best Christmas moviesever aren’t as closely linked to the season as viewers might recall before a re-watch.
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While2019’s critically acclaimedLittle Womenremakemight feature a significant scene set during the holiday, the Louisa May Alcott adaptation’s structure means its story takes place throughout numerous years and doesn’t prioritize the holidays. Similarly, somegreat Christmas movies without Santa Claus, fromHappiest SeasontoBlack Christmas, use everything from cringe comedy to outright horror to subvert standard Christmas movie clichés. However, these movies still feel Christmassy despite their best efforts, much like many Christmas movies set in New York make the environs of the city itself feel unavoidably linked to the holiday season.
Serendipity
John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale Shine In This Sweet Rom-Com
2001’sSerendipityopens with John Cusack’s Jonathan and Kate Beckinsale’s Sara completing their Christmas shopping in New Yorkand proceeds to become one of the most frustrating rom-coms of all time. This may sound like a criticism, but watching Sara and Jonathan constantly near-miss each other and narrowly sidestep potential meetings leaves the viewer desperate for this pair to finally find each other again. Both characters are convinced that the other has likely forgotten all about the brief flirtation they shared on that fateful night, but they still find themselves drawn to the same places at the same time as the years pass.
The rom-com’s sweet ending is a classic Christmas movie moment thanks in large part to New York City.
Eventually, Jonathan and Sara’s respective relationships fall into disarray and, for a brief moment,Serendipityseems like it will be one of those spiky, subversive rom-coms that ends without an upbeat conclusion. However, viewers need not fear.Serendipity’s shamelessly sentimental ending is a Christmas reunion that makes the most of the movie’s New York seeing, turning the iconic city into a character in itself.Serendipity’s story may not be perfect, and its final act feels as frustrating as its ending does enchanting, but the rom-com’s sweet ending is a classic Christmas movie moment thanks in large part to New York City.
Eloise at Christmas Time
The Famous Eloise Series Received A Fittingly Cute Movie Adaptation
Adapting author Kay Thompson and illustrator Hilary Knight’sEloisebooks would be a big ask for any filmmaker, given how well-loved the series of picture books are by numerous generations of readers. However, 2003’s made-for-television movieEloise at the Plazapulled this off thanks to a starry supporting cast including Julie Andrews, Jeffrey Tambor, and Christine Baranski. Disney veteran Kevin Lima makes the sequelEloise at Christmas Timeeven more festive fun as the director behindA Goofy Movieis a perfect fit for this anarchic celebration of the holidays that perfectly captures the spirit of Knight and Thompson’s collaborations.
It’s A Wonderful Life
1946’s Iconic Small-Town Christmas Story Technically Takes Place In New York
Although theending ofIt’s A Wonderful Lifemight celebrate the unique sweetness of small-town life, the movie is secretly another New York Christmas classic. The fictional town of Bedford Falls is in New York, despite how surprising this may seem, soGeorge Bailey’s memorably sweet story of community and family is a New York Christmas moviedespite its comparatively rural setting.It’s A Wonderful Liferemains an essential re-watch and a rare Christmas movie that unabashedly digs into the darker side of the holidays, resulting in a sweet, uplifting ending whose optimism feels uniquely well-earned.
The Apartment
This Iconic Jack Lemmon Vehicle Is Another New York Classic
LikeIt’s A Wonderful Life,1960’sThe Apartmentis a Christmas movie that doesn’t shy away from cynicism and darker themes. Billy Wilder’s classic centers on Jack Lemmon’s insurance clerk Bud, who allows the higher-ups at his corporate job to use his apartment for their extramarital affairs. This setup is inevitably complicated when Bud inevitably falls for Shirley MacLaine’s sharp-witted elevator operator Fran, who is currently embroiled in one such affair with Bud’s boss. With a bittersweet ending that goes down in cinema history as one of the best ever written,The Apartmentis a perfect antidote to overly sweet, sentimental schmaltz.
When Harry Met Sally
Manhattan Hosts This Legendary Rom-Com’s Festive Story
AlthoughWhen Harry Met Sally’s original endingcould have ruined the classic by leaving the central couple apart, director Rob Reiner wisely decided to change this conclusion. As a result, viewers got what could be the greatest New Year’s Eve movie ever made, and what remains one of the best New York Christmas movies. LikeSerendipity’s Jonathan and Sara, Meg Ryan’s Sally and Billy Crystal’s Harry flit in and out of each other’s lives throughout every season. However, their triumphant declaration of love comes during a freeing old New York winter, and it is enough to warm even the coldest heart.
The Night Before
Seth Rogen’s Debauched Christmas Comedy Is Set In New York
Sometimes,Bad SantaandBlack Christmasare the only sort of Christmas movies that feel like the right choice.2015’sThe Night Beforeis a crude, goofy, and unashamedly raunchy Christmas comedythat uses its New York setting to highlight the city’s famous nightlife. Seth Rogen’s Isaac, Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s Ethan, and Anthony Mackie’s Chris fear their impending middle age makes them too old and responsible to party, but one chaotic night proves that they still have it in them to raise some hell.A Christmas movie worth rewatching every year,The Night Beforebrings a raucous edge to the usually family-friendly holidays.
Miracle on 34th Street
This Classic Christmas Movie Centers Around A New York Department Store
Both 1947’s originalMiracle on 34th Streetand its 1994 remake need no introduction. The story of a Mall Santa who just might turn out to be the real deal and the lone little girl who still believes him,Miracle on 34th Streetis a quintessential New York Christmas moviethanks to its department store setting. It doesn’t hurt that the movie’s critiques of consumerism and corporate cynicism are perfectly embodied by the bustling urban metropolis of its setting. New York’s mile-a-minute pace is contrasted perfectly with the sweetness and innocence of Santa Claus and his young charge.
Scrooged
Bill Murray’s Christmas Carol Retelling Is Set In Manhattan
Although the mostheartwarming moments inMiracle on 34th Streetare undeniably effective, there is no shortage of movies that point out the contrast between New York’s gritty attitude and the inherent sweetness of Christmas. Director Richard Donner’sA Christmas CarolretellingScroogedpulls off a more complex trick, beginning as a broadly satirical inducement of corporate gred. However, as Bill Murray’s network executive gradually thaws, the romance that he shared in New York takes center stage and the city’s warm heart becomes more important. By the end,viewers would be hard-pressed to leave this Christmas comedy feeling cynical.
Home Alone 2: List In New York
Kevin’s Second Adventure Takes Place In New York
Perhaps the most iconic use of New York in a Christmas movie is 1990’s ingenious sequelHome Alone 2: Lost in New York. WhenHome Aloneproved a historic box office success, it was hard to see how the inevitable sequel could possibly reinvent its admirably simple premise. Macaulay Culkin’s young antihero Kevin protecting his suburban home from thieves was a perfect self-contained Christmas story, but the same character being left at home alone all over again would have stretched credulity. Instead,Home Alone 2: Lost in New York strands Kevin in New York, opening up a world of new possibilities.
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York’s setting results in some of the franchise’s best moments, from Kevin’s elaborate attempts to pretend he has an adult chaperone in his hotel room to his unlikely friendship with a local vagrant.Home Alone 2is arguably more well-lovedthan its predecessor and, if Kevin’s extended family coincidentally having an empty worksite filled with dangerous equipment seems absurdly convenient, it is easy to forgive this plot contrivance in exchange for the movie’s ambitiously cartoony slapstick finale. All in all,Home Alone 2: Lost in New Yorkis almost the perfect New York Christmas movie.
Elf
Will Ferrell’s Breakout Movie is A New York City Story
2003’s Elf might be the ideal New York Christmas moviesince its story uses the city both as a stunning setting and as a comically mean-spirited contrast to its hyper-innocent main character. Will Ferell’s childlike, sheltered Buddy is barely prepared for the moral complexity of a small town from a Hallmark movie, let alone the cynicism and coldness of New York’s residents. However, this makes Buddy’s struggles to acclimate to life in New York all the more hilarious, and his insistent attempts to spread a little Christmas cheer in a uniquely fast-paced, intense urban environment are consistently funny.
Elfworks precisely because of its New York City setting.
Seeing Buddy meet his bitter father in the depths of suburbia might have had comedic potential, but dropping Ferrell’s gangly “Elf” into the world of Wall Street traders and muggers is an ingenious twist.Elfworks precisely because of its New York City setting, which terrifies, enthralls, and confuses Buddy for much of the movie’s opening two acts. When Buddy eventually, inevitably, manages to polish the Big Apple thanks to his relentless cheeriness and unflappable optimism, it is impossible not to find his big hearted joy infectious. If Ferrell’s characters can bringChristmasto New York’s meanest cynics, there truly is hope for us all.
