2024 Christmas Movie Survey
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays to you dear friend. As you can tell by my last few (& many upcoming) reviews, lists, & posts, I love Christmas movies. But, I’ve grown tired of only hearing my own opinions on things, specifically Christmas movies, so I decided to seek some outside help. I decided to put together a survey to send out to people and get their feedback about Christmas movies. I’m a big fan of statistics & spreadsheets so I’ve combined that with my passion for movies to get some cold, hard facts. I shared my survey with people I know personally and shared it to Facebook, Instagram, & Reddit. I received back 105 responses, which I feel like is an adequate amount to make an assessment with. So each response & percentage is based on 105 answers (you may notice some of the totals add up to >105, that is because on the open ended questions some people put several answers). Also if my math doesn’t add up on the percentages (weird of you to check) I rounded to the nearest percent. Now let’s dive into the results:
Question 1: What actor do you most do you most associate with Christmas movies? (This was an open answer question).
Across 105 surveys, I received back 112 answers with 37 (33%) saying the actor they most identify with Christmas movies is Will Ferrell. I assume this is due to his role in the widely beloved 2023 film, ‘Spirited.’ He also has a small role in another Christmas film, ‘Elf.’
The actor with the second most votes was Tim Allen (‘The Santa Clause’ trilogy, ‘El Camino Christmas,’ & ‘Christmas with the Kranks’) with 24 (21%).
The only other actor who scored in the double digits was Chevy Chase (‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’) with 14 (13%). Other actors who received several votes were:
Macaulay Culkin (‘Home Alone 1 & 2’) with 8 (7%)
Bruce Willis (‘Die Hard 1 & 2’) 5 (4%)
Bing Crosby (‘Holiday Inn,’ ‘White Christmas,’ & ‘Going My Way’), Jim Carrey (‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ & ‘A Christmas Carol’), Jimmy Stewart (‘It’s a Wonderful Life’), & Lacey Chabert (has appeared in a slew of Hallmark Christmas movies) who each earned 3 (3%) votes.
Burl Ives (‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ & a couple of soundtrack that annually recharts) & Peter Billingsley (‘A Christmas Story’) both received 2 (2%) votes. Notably, Billingsley was never identified by name, with both surveyees submitting him as ‘the kid from A Christmas Story.’
Actors who received 1 (<1%) vote are: Bob Hope (‘A Bob Hope Christmas’), Candace Cameron Bure (several movies on the Great American Media channel), Libuše Šafránková (‘Three Wishes for Cinderella’ which is considered a Christmas classic in many European countries), Tom Hanks (‘The Polar Express’), Vanessa Hudgens (‘The Princess Switch’), Vince Vaughn (‘Four Christmases’ & ‘Fred Claus’), Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, & quote ‘Anyone with a Hallmark looking face.’
I was not shocked by Will Ferrell being the most common answer. My answer would also be Ferrell, though Macaulay Culkin would be a close second & I’m shocked he wasn’t in the top three.
Question 2: What actor/movie displays your favorite depiction of Santa? (This was an open answer question). I received back 108 answers on this, with 4 (4%) of those saying they had no answer.
Now I was not shocked by the answer here, but the rate at which he dominated was surprising to me. Receiving a whopping 58/108 votes (58%) was Tim Allen, who portrayed Santa in ‘The Santa Clause’ trilogy. At first, I thought it would mostly be people around my age who put Allen, but the demographic of folks who answered him was cross-generational.
In second place with 11 (10%) was Edmund Gwenn, who played Santa in an Oscar-winning performance in ‘Miracle on 34th Street.’ Many (not all) of the voters who answered this were Generation X or older.
Rounding out the top three is the only other actor who received double digit votes, Ed Asner with 10 (9%). Asner played Santa in ‘Elf’ which is one of the most beloved Christmas films (more on that later).
Next with 6 (6%) votes was Kurt Russell, who plays a much cooler version of Santa in ‘The Christmas Chronicles’ and its sequel.
Then with 5 (5%) votes was Tom Hanks, who is the highest ranking animated Santa, playing the character in ‘The Polar Express.’
Following Hanks, with 4 (4%) votes is Richard Attenborough, who played Santa in the 1994 remake of ‘Miracle on 34th Street.’
Receiving 2 (2%) votes each are Mickey Rooney & David Harbour. Rooney voiced Santa many times, with the two surveyees citing his performance in the animated short ‘The Year Without a Santa Claus.’ Harbour played a rough, tough Santa in 2022’s ‘Violent Night.’
There were 6 other Santa who received 1 (1%) vote each. Billy Bob Thornton in ‘Bad Santa,’ David Huddleston in ‘Santa Claus: The Movie,’ John Goodman in a Christmas episode of ‘Futurama,’ Noah Emmerich who provided the English dub of Santa in the Finnish film ‘Joulutarina,’ W. Morgan Sheppard in ‘Prep & Landing,’ & Paul Giamatti in ‘Fred Claus.’
While I very much enjoy Tim Allen’s Santa, he would come in as #2 for me behind Gwenn’s performance. I also support the Ed Asner pick, but one actor who I personally would’ve shown more love to was Paul Giammati in ‘Fred Claus.’ I’m also shocked that J. K. Simmons didn’t received any love for voicing the character in ‘Klaus.’
Question 3: What is your favorite genre of Christmas movie?
Comedy
Drama
Romance
Horror
Family/Animation
Other
Perhaps the least shocking results, of the 105 answers ‘Comedy’ led the way with 66 (63%) votes. 21 (20%) of people said they like ‘Family/Animation,’ followed by 10 (9%) people answering ‘Romance.’ 3 (3%) people voted for ‘Drama,’ and 5 (5%) people answered ‘Other.’ Of those that said ‘Other,’ two said they preferred rom coms, one person said anything but horror, one person said anything fun, & one person said old classics. 0 people answered horror.
Question 4: Do you watch new Christmas movies every year or just rewatch your favorites?
I actively seek out new ones
I will occasionally watch a new one, but mostly stick to ones I’m familiar with
I only rewatch the classics
Out of 105 responses, 9 (9%) people answered that they actively seek out new Christmas films while 14 (13%) said they only rewatch classic films. The remaining 82 (80%) went down the middle and said they will do either/or.
Question 5: What is your favorite animated Christmas short/special? (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, A Charlie Brown Christmas, etc.) (This was an open answer question).
I received back 111 answers for this one, 4 (4%) of which stated they didn’t have a favorite. 3 (3%) people answered ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ with another 3 (3%) answering ‘The Polar Express.’ These aren’t animated shorts, but perhaps I could’ve worded the question more clearly. I also had 1 (1%) person answer ‘Klaus’ which is in the same boat.
33 (30%) people answered ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ which leads the way in votes.
Trailing behind very closely with 25 (23%) votes was ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas.’
We then drop down to 16 (14%) votes for ‘Frosty the Snowman.’
Following that with 13 (12%) votes is ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas.’
Receiving 5 (5%) of votes was ‘Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town.’
The following shorts/specials received 1 (1%) vote a piece.
‘A Christmas Carol’ from 1971 that starred Alistair Sim as the voice of Scrooge. It won Best Animated Short at the Oscars.
2000’s ‘Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer’
‘A Very Possible Christmas’ which was the Kim Possible Christmas special on Disney Channel.
‘Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey’
‘Prep & Landing’
‘Regular Show: The Christmas Special’
‘The Year Without Santa Claus’
And finally ‘The Snowman.’ This film was the most notable exclusion as I got back results. I watched it for the first time this year and quite enjoyed it. It’s very popular in the UK, with the same level of notoriety that Rudolph, Frosty, & Charlie Brown would have here in the US. It was nominated for Best Animated Short at the Oscars & won a BAFTA. Like I mentioned, the film is beloved across the pond and the surveyee who gave the answer is actually from England (Karen, the mom of my best friend, Edmund), so that was totally on brand.
56 (50%) of the answers were Rankin/Bass Productions (Rudolph, Frosty, Santa Claus is Comin to Town, Nestor the Donkey, & The Year Without Santa).
Question 6: When is it acceptable to start watching Christmas movies?
October 1
November 1
Black Friday
December 1
Whenever you want
Other
I received back 105 answers that were pretty evenly dispersed.
3 (3%) people answered October 1, one of whom was my brother, Sawyer, which is no shock to me.
23 (22%) people said November 1.
34 (32%) people said Black Friday, which was the most selected response.
17 (16%) people said December 1.
26 (25%) people said whenever you want.
2 (2%) people answered other, with one person saying ‘all year long’ and the other saying ‘when the weather starts changing,’ which is honestly so fair.
Personally I am in the camp that you can watch any movie any time you want to, but I would probably answer November 1 if I had to pick an exact day. However, in years past I started listening to Christmas music as early as September, so I could be swayed earlier.
Question 7: What are your thoughts on Hallmark Christmas movies?
I love them!
I can enjoy watching them
I’m indifferent towards them
I hate watch them/think they’re so bad they’re good
I despise them
Other
Another one that was very across the board, the 105 answers were as follows:
13 (12%) answered that they love them.
22 (21%) answered that they can enjoy watching them.
33 (31%) answered that they are indifferent towards them.
9 (9%) answered that they hate watch them and I personally was shocked this wasn’t a tad higher, because this is where I fall.
14 (13%) answered that they hate them.
14 (13%) answered other, with various explanations:
2 (2%) people said they had never seen one.
2 (2%) guys said they will only watch them with their wife.
1 (1%) person said she ‘doesn’t mind them when she’s feeling girly, but otherwise thinks they’re dumb.’
1 person said they either ‘make me cry or I turn them off halfway through.’
1 person said they ‘have them on for ambience.’
1 person said they ‘always regret watching them.’
1 person said they think they are ‘cheesy & predictable.’
1 person said they ‘love them because they remind me of my grandma, but I do love to make fun of them.’
1 person said they ‘love to fall asleep to them.’
1 person said they ‘totally get the appeal, but they’re not for me.’
1 person said they ‘watch the Great American Family Channel instead.’
And 1 person said his wife watches them so he either ‘tolerates, mocks, or naps.’
Question 8: What Christmas movie(s) is/are a must watch for you every year? (This was an open answer question).
On this one I got back 296 total responses with 4 (1%) saying they had none.
In an absolutely dominating (but not shocking) performance, ‘Elf’ received 55 (19%) responses.
Also scoring in the double digits were ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’ with 29 (10%), ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ (Jim Carrey version) with 22 (7%), ‘The Santa Clause’ (& sequels) with 18 (6%), ‘Home Alone’ with 17 (6%), ‘The Polar Express’ with 14 (5%), & ‘A Christmas Story’ with 10 (3%).
Receiving 9 (3%) votes a piece were ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ & ‘The Grinch’ (2018 animated version), followed by ‘Four Christmases’ with 7 (2%).
‘Miracle on 34th Street’ & ‘The Holiday’ both received 6 (2%) votes and ‘Die Hard’ & ‘White Christmas’ both received 5 (2%).
‘Christmas with the Kranks’ got 4 (1%) votes, with ‘Jingle All the Way,’ ‘Love Actually,’ & ‘The Family Stone’ each receiving 3 (1%).
Receiving 2 (1%) votes each were ‘Arthur Christmas,’ the ‘Harry Potter’ films, ‘Home Alone 2,’ ‘Krampus,’ ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol,’ ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas,’ & ‘While You Were Sleeping.’
And finally, all of the following films received 1 (<1%) vote each: ‘3 Wishes for Cinderella,’ ‘A Bad Moms Christmas,’ any version of ‘A Christmas Carol,’ Disney’s 2009 ‘A Christmas Carol,’ ‘Bad Santa,’ ‘Eloise at Christmastime,’ ‘Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas,’ ‘Holiday in Handcuffs,’ ‘Klaus,’ the 1980 version of ‘Little Lord Fauntleroy,’ ‘Office Christmas Party,’ ‘Santa Jaws,’ ‘Scrooge,’ ‘Snowglobe,’ ‘The Bishop’s Wife,’ ‘The Christmas Chronicles’ duology, ‘The Family Man,’ ‘The Holdovers,’ ‘The Mistle-Tones,’ ‘To Grandmother’s House We Go,’ & ‘We’re No Angels.’
There were also 32 (11%) answers that were animated shorts: ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ with 9 (3%), ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ with 5 (2%), ‘Frosty the Snowman’ & ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ with 4 (1%) each, ‘Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town’ with 3 (1%), ‘Prep & Landing’ & ‘The Year Without Santa Claus’ with 2 (1%) each, and ‘A Miser Brothers’ Christmas’ & ‘Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey’ with 1 (<1%) each. There was also one responder who said they will watch any/all Rankin/Bass Productions.
While there are many Christmas movies I personally love, I would have to say the ones I truly rewatch every year are ‘Elf,’ ‘Arthur Christmas,’ ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,’ ‘Home Alone,’ ‘Home Alone 2,’ ‘Die Hard,’ ‘Four Christmases,’ ‘Fred Claus,’ ‘The Holiday,’ ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol,’ ‘Miracle on 34th Street,’ & ‘Love Actually.’
Question 9: What is your personal favorite Christmas movie? (This was an open answer question).
I received back 113 responses, because some people couldn’t just choose one which is fair enough. 1 (1%) person said they don’t have a favorite.
In another commanding victory, ‘Elf’ came out on top with 24 (21%) votes.
The only other film to received 10+ votes was ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’ with 13 (12%).
Following that is ‘Home Alone’ with 9 (8%) & ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ with 7 (6%).
Receiving 6 (5%) votes each were ‘The Polar Express,’ ‘The Santa Clause,’ ‘White Christmas,’ & the 2000 version of ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas.’ As an aside, one individual who answered the Grinch said word for word ‘It’s a masterpiece. I’ll fight anyone who says it’s not unless they’re a girl or stronger than me.’ So if you disagree, let me know & I’ll send you this person’s address so you can take that up with them.
‘A Christmas Story’ received 5 (4%) votes and ‘The Holiday’ received 3 (3%).
Receiving 2 (2%) each were: ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas,’ ‘Christmas with the Kranks,’ ‘Die Hard,’ ‘Love Actually,’ ‘Miracle on 34th Street,’ & 2018’s ‘The Grinch.’
And rounding us out with 1 (1%) vote each are: ‘3 Wishes for Cinderella,’ Disney’s ‘A Christmas Carol,’ ‘A Madea Christmas,’ ‘Eloise at Christmastime,’ ‘Four Christmases,’ ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol,’ ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,’ ‘Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town,’ ‘Scrooge,’ ‘The Christmas Chronicles,’ ‘The Family Stone,’ ‘The Santa Clause 2,’ ‘To Grandmother’s House We Go,’ ‘While You Were Sleeping,’ & ‘The First Holiday Film Written by Bots’ to which the responder told me to look it up on YouTube.
I personally was disappointed to not see my favorite Christmas movie (‘Arthur Christmas’) receive even a single mention, thought I guess this would place with all the unique individuals in the last category. A random trend that I noticed as I collected answers were that many people would list either one film or a few as films they rewatched, but then a different film would be their favorite. That is totally fine and all, it’s just curious to me that there is a decent chunk of people who don’t rewatch their favorite.
Question 10: Finally and most importantly, is ‘Die Hard’ a Christmas movie?
Yes!
No!
I don’t know
The actual inspiration for this whole survey came from this question. I very passionately stand on the side of it being a Christmas film (I have an essay coming out 12/22 that presents my case), but I was curious what the masses thought.
25 (24%) of the 105 responders said they didn’t know.
So of the remaining 80 (76% of the total 105), 28 (35% of 80, 27% of 105) people said they do NOT believe ‘Die Hard’ is a Christmas film while 52 (65% of 80, 50% of 105) people saying they DO believe ‘Die Hard’ is a Christmas film. Majority rules!
Thank you so much for reading this article! I had a lot of fun putting it together & I greatly appreciate you making it this far. If you filled out the survey, thank you so much for doing so! If you missed out, don’t fret, because I plan to make this a yearly tradition! Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays folks!
