The holiday season is full of traditions, including watching a beloved Christmas movie. This year, PixlParade named the top films by surveying 1,986 American adults. They asked them to choose a favorite film from a curated list and discovered which movies resonated the most nationally and regionally.
They found a clear national favorite: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. The movie received over 31% of the vote, making it the number #1 holiday film in America and the favorite in 31 states. Americans are drawn to the movie’s charming blend of holiday chaos and relatable mix of stress and sentimental family moments. Chevy Chase’s slapstick humor has stood the test of time.
Behind Christmas Vacation lies another comedy, A Christmas Story. This popular classic earned over 16% of the vote, and some channels play a 24-hour marathon of the film on Christmas Day. Home Alone claims the third-most-popular film spot, earning 11.23% of the vote nationwide and the favorite in 5 states.
The national favorites list doesn’t tell the whole story of holiday favorite preferences. Regional variations show that How the Grinch Stole Christmas is the favorite in at least one state, along with Elf and The Holiday. This indicates that holiday traditions can vary across locations and cultures.
The survey methodology asked respondents to choose from a list of 27 Christmas films released in the past 50 years. The films on the list have high ratings on critical movie sites like Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb.
The results show both unity and diversity in American movie tastes. While the top three films seem universally popular, it’s clear that holiday traditions aren’t one-size-fits-all and we can see variety on this map. Next time you prepare a holiday movie binge-watch, turn to this list for the classics.
