We all have them and we all love them - films that we are strictly forbidden from watching except for on one very special day of the year: Christmas. And when that special day rolls around then watch them we do, every 25th December without fail, no matter what. Everybody has their ‘Christmas Film’, it’s a family event and they are just as much a Christmas tradition as stockings on the fireplace, sherry on the carpet and overdone turkey in your belly.

There’s no set formula for a Christmas film, they can range across genres and certainly aren’t limited to Christmas themes – after a bit of research, the only thing that seems to tie them together is a positive, rounded and all together ‘nice’ ending, perhaps reflecting or representing the innocence and positive nature that Christmas Day itself is suppose to be all about!

During my investigations I asked some of the people of Bristol what their Christmas Films were and why…

Jurassic Park – “It just feels right! Once all the chaos has settled down and my parents are in clean up mode, it’s always time to head round to a friend’s for a few hours and watch Jurassic Park! It takes me back to being a kid again which is what Christmas is all about!”

It’s A Wonderful Life – “I ball like a baby every time I watch it which is every single Christmas Eve without a doubt! It puts me in the mood for Christmas!”

Die Hard 1 – “It’s just fantastic fun; settling down after I’ve stuffed my face to watch Bruce Willis blow the crap out of Nakatomi Towers, shouting things like ‘ho ho ho – now I’ve got a machine gun’ and the end credits with Frank Sinatra singing Let It Snow is unbeatable for that Christmas buzz!”

Muppets Christmas Carol – “It’s just not the same if I watch it any other time! Something about the period, the cold and the moral of the story!”

Edward Scissor Hands – “As soon as I hear the music I think of Christmas Day - opening presents, eating food and taking a break from the family and watching it!”

The Great Escape – “I have no idea why. It’s probably because it’s on every single Christmas but it just always puts me in the festive mood.”

Nightmare Before Christmas – “Although it’s dark and could be considered as scary for kids, it’s just such a family film! It’s the opposite of The Grinch – not wanting to steal Christmas but instead wanting to give it away to all, something we could all learn from!”

What’s your Christmas Film?

Kyle Brown