As the calendar turns to December, the holiday season shifts from Thanksgiving to Christmas. The Christmas season brings many traditions, from the decorations to the meals to the family gatherings and much, much more. Every family has their own special traditions, and one shared by many is watching Christmas movies.
There are numerous Christmas movies, giving viewers many options when it comes to enjoying this holiday entertainment. BetMichigan.com took a break from covering Michigan sports betting to try and determine which Christmas movies are favored in the state of Michigan. We did this by using AhRefs.com to determine the 40 most popular Christmas movies worldwide and then utilized Google Trends to analyze search results of each movie over the past three Christmases. Here is our list of the top five Christmas movies in the state.
Michigan’s Top 5 Christmas Movies
The University of Michigan making the College Football Playoff and the Detroit Lions having their best season in years is keeping Michigan sports betting apps busy. Here is a list you won’t find on those apps, for sure.
Home Alone Is No. 1 in State
“Home Alone,” which premiered in 1990, took the top spot. Viewers love the exploits of Kevin McAllister as he navigates spending the holiday season home alone as burglars attempt to rob his family's home. Macaulay Culkin is the star in this timeless classic that is enjoyed by adults and children alike. The Home Alone franchise currently includes six movies with titles coming out in 1990, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2012 and 2021. With so many storyline options, it will come as no surprise if more Home Alone movies are made in the future.
The 2000 adaptation of the Dr. Seuss' classic book “‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas” ranks second. Viewers enjoy watching the Grinch learning an important lesson while trying to ruin Christmas for the residents of Whoville. Jim Carrey stars as the Grinch and delivers a timeless performance that has been beloved for more than 20 years. The Dr. Seuss story was originally adapted into film in 1966, with the 26-minute animated television special that still runs during the holiday season to this day.
“The Polar Express,” “Elf” and “A Christmas Story” round out the top five in Michigan and each film brings something unique to the table. If you are looking for a timeless classic, “A Christmas Story” has been rewatched year after year since its production in the 1980s and it follows a storyline based in the 1940s.
If you are looking for a bunch of laughs with family and friends, “Elf” is the perfect choice. Will Ferrell delivers a stunning performance as Buddy the Elf and uses humor to teach some important lessons about holiday spirit.
Finally, “The Polar Express” has launched into popularity since its production in 2004. The animated classic features the voice of Tom Hanks and teaches viewers about friendship and holiday spirit.
The beauty of Christmas movies is that there is no limit to how many movies one can watch over the holidays. With these five leading the way, Michigan residents have a great start to enjoying several wonderful shows over the holiday season.
