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Best Christmas Movies Ever

1965’s ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas.’ Photo: CBS.

Christmas is finally here again, which means it’s time to watch lots and lots of holiday movies including classics like ‘It’s a Wonderful Life‘, ‘Elf‘, and of course, ‘Die Hard‘!
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While there are many great theatrical and made-for-TV movies to choose from this holiday season, Moviefone has assembled a collection of fun, unique and beloved Christmas classics to make sure you add to your annual holiday watchlist, including a few that were just released this year.

Let’s begin and Merry Christmas!

Related Article: Michelle Pfeiffer and Felicity Jones Talk Holiday Comedy ‘Oh. What. Fun.’

35. ‘Tinsel Town‘ (2025)

(L to R) Kiefer Sutherland and Rebel Wilson in ‘Tinsel Town’. Photo: Brainstorm Media.

A washed-up Hollywood action hero (Kiefer Sutherland) is tricked into starring in a small English town’s chaotic Christmas pantomime, where a straight-talking dance instructor and his estranged daughter just might help him rediscover the magic of the season.
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34. ‘Silent Night‘ (2023)

Joel Kinnaman as Godlock in ‘Silent Night’. Photo Credit: Carlos Latapi.

From legendary director John Woo and the producer of ‘John Wick‘ comes this gritty revenge tale of a tormented father (Joel Kinnaman) who witnesses his young son die when caught in a gang’s crossfire on Christmas Eve. While recovering from a wound that costs him his voice, he makes vengeance his life’s mission and embarks on a punishing training regimen in order to avenge his son’s death. Full of Woo’s signature style, Silent Night redefines the action genre with visceral, thrill-a-minute storytelling.
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33. ‘Spirited‘ (2022)

(L to R) Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell in ‘Spirited,’ premiering November 18, 2022 on Apple TV+.

In ‘Spirited,’ Will Ferrell plays Christmas Present, who is considering retirement after the holidays but chooses to haunt Clint Briggs (Ryan Reynolds), an arrogant public relations executive who is completely aware of Charles Dickens’ famous story and that Present is trying to teach him about the true meaning of Christmas. The result is a fun twist on ‘A Christmas Carol,’ with fantastic musical numbers created by ‘La La Land’s Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.
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32. ‘The Polar Express‘ (2004)

2004’s ‘The Polar Express.’ Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.

No matter where you come down on the “creepy or cute” debate over this film’s CGI characters, Robert Zemeckis’ first animated holiday film has a surprisingly tender and important message for audiences of all ages as a young boy goes on an odyssey to prove that he can hold onto his Christmas spirit in the face of too many reasons not to believe.
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31. ‘The Night Before‘ (2015)

(L to R) Seth Rogen, Anthony Mackie, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt in ‘The Night Before.’ Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.

As quite possibly the only Jewish-themed Christmas movie (at least on this list), Jonathan Levine’s story of three friends (Seth Rogen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Anthony Mackie) searching for the ultimate Christmas party offers tons of laughs but also some surprisingly mature messages, all anchored by an unexpectedly delightful turn by Michael Shannon as the trio’s would-be guardian angel.
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30. ‘Merv‘ (2025)

(L to R) Zooey Deschanel and Gus in ‘Merv’. Photo Credit: Wilson Webb/Prime Video. © Amazon Content Services LLC.

When their beloved dog Merv loses his spark after their split, Anna (Zooey Deschanel) and Russ (Charlie Cox) are forced into the world’s most awkward co-parenting arrangement. Hoping to shake Merv out of his funk, Russ takes him to Florida for a much-needed getaway-only for Anna to show up unexpectedly. As Merv slowly gets his groove back, turns out fixing their dog’s broken heart may lead to a few sparks of their own.
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29. ‘Trading Places‘ (1983)

Dan Aykroyd as Louis Winthorpe III in ‘Trading Places.’ Photo: Paramount Pictures.

A snobbish investor (Dan Aykroyd) and a wily street con-artist (Eddie Murphy) find their positions reversed as part of a bet by two callous millionaires.
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28. ‘Oh. What. Fun.‘ (2025)

Michelle Pfeiffer in ‘Oh. What. Fun.’ Photo: Prime Video.

Claire Clauster (Michelle Pfeiffer) is the glue that holds her chaotic, lovable family together at the holidays. But this year, after planning a special outing for them, they make a crucial mistake and leave her home alone. Fed up and feeling under appreciated, she sets off on an impromptu adventure of her own. As her family scrambles to find her, Claire discovers the unexpected magic of a Christmas gone off-script.
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27. ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas‘ (2000)

(Left) Jim Carrey as the Grinch in ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas.’ Photo: Universal Pictures.

This Ron Howard directed live-action remake of the beloved 1966 animated Dr. Seuss TV movie stars Jim Carrey in the title role and was an instant Christmas classic when it was released in 2000.
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26. ‘The Santa Clause‘ (1994)

Tim Allen as Scott Calvin / Santa Claus in ‘The Santa Clause.’ Photo: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution.

Tim Allen’s 1990s hot streak continued with this story of a man who inadvertently inherits the mantle of Santa Claus and must adjust – and adjust his wardrobe – to accommodate the demands of one of the world’s most important jobs.
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25. ‘Die Hard 2‘ (1990)

Bruce Willis as John McClane in ‘Die Hard 2.’ Photo: 20th Century Fox.

Off-duty cop John McClane (Bruce Willis) is gripped with a feeling of déjà vu when, on a snowy Christmas Eve in the nation’s capital, terrorists seize a major international airport, holding thousands of holiday travelers hostage. Renegade military commandos led by a murderous rogue officer plot to rescue a drug lord from justice and are prepared for every contingency except one: McClane’s smart-mouthed heroics.
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24. ‘Arthur Christmas‘ (2011)

2011’s ‘Arthur Christmas.’ Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.

If the movies teach us anything it’s that Santa has a lot of family members – but this might be the first time he not only has kids, but a father of his own. In this delightful animated film, Santa’s son and old, OLD Saint Nick team up to deliver a lost gift to a young girl in time for Christmas.
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23. ‘Lethal Weapon‘ (1987)

(L to R) Danny Glover and Mel Gibson in ‘Lethal Weapon’. Photo: Warner Bros.

You may not remember, but ‘Lethal Weapon’ is totally a Christmas movie as it takes place over the holiday. On the eve of retirement, veteran LAPD detective Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) is assigned a new partner, Vietnam veteran Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson), a recent widower with suicidal tendencies. After initially bumping heads, the two come together to solve a homicide, bring down a group of heroin smugglers, and rescue Murtaugh’s family.
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22. ‘Bad Santa‘ (2003)

Billy Bob Thornton as Willie T. Soke in ‘Bad Santa.’ Photo: Miramax Films.

Terry Zwigoff’s midnight-black comedy offers a rejoinder to the notion that Christmas stories must be cheerful and bright, as alcoholic safe-cracker Willie Soke (Billy Bob Thornton) eats and drinks his way through the holiday season, holing up in the house of an outcast kid name Thurman who think he’s the real article as his partner Marcus tries to keep him in check (and sober enough to complete their annual Christmas Eve heist).
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21. ‘That Christmas‘ (2024)

‘That Christmas’. Photo: Netflix.

It’s an unforgettable Christmas for the townsfolk of Wellington-on-Sea when the worst snowstorm in history alters everyone’s plans — including Santa’s.
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20. ‘Miracle on 34th Street‘ (1947)

1947’s ‘Miracle on 34th Street.’ Photo: 20th Century-Fox.

The best holiday stories are those that remind you what it was like to be a kid – or at least that there’s some magic in the world – and this one is no exception: when a man dressed as Santa Claus and claiming to be him gets institutionalized, a young lawyer sets out to prove that he’s the real thing.
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19. ‘Gremlins‘ (1984)

1984’s ‘Gremlins.’ Photo: Warner Bros.

Joe Dante created this mischievous romp about a mysterious little creature and the trouble caused when his owner (Zach Galligan) fails to obey the very simple and strict rules for taking care of him. Featuring a cavalcade of manic, menacing, oddball creatures and plenty of Dante’s own impish creativity, it’s a highly unconventional holiday film that has earned its place in the canon.
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18. ‘How The Grinch Stole Christmas!‘ (1966)

1966’s ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas!’ Photo: MGM Animation/Visual Arts.

At 26 minutes and using only hand-drawn animation, this television special might lack some of the pizazz of the live-action and computer-animated versions that followed. But its adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ classic children’s book gets all of the details the most right, and features the immortal Boris Karloff as narrator, lending the character’s journey from crank to Christmas superfan a theatrical elegance that’s never been matched.
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17. ‘A Christmas Story‘ (1983)

Peter Billingsley as Ralphie Parker in 1983’s ‘A Christmas Story.’ Photo: MGM/UA Entertainment Co.

Bob Clark’s adaptation of Jean Shepherd’s “In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash” skillfully pays tribute to a bygone era of childhood fantasy and hilariously exposes the simple truth that it never really existed. Peter Billingsley is so good as the kid who wants nothing as much as a Red Ryder BB gun and will engage in any and all subterfuge to obtain one – and protect it even after his parents’ worst fears come true.
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16. ‘Candy Cane Lane‘ (2023)

Eddie Murphy as Chris Carver in ‘Candy Cane Lane.’ Photo: Claudette Barius. © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC.

A man (Eddie Murphy) is determined to win the neighborhood’s annual Christmas decorating contest. After making a pact with an elf (Jillian Bell) to help him win, the elf casts a spell bringing the 12 days of Christmas to life and unexpectedly bringing chaos to town.
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15. ‘The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special‘ (2022)

Chris Pratt as Peter Quill / Star-Lord in Marvel Studio’s ‘The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special.’

Written and directed by ‘Guardians of the Galaxy‘ James Gunn, the movie follows Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista) and Mantis (Pom Klementieff) as they set out to give Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) the best Christmas ever, after discovering that Yondu (Michael Rooker) ruined the holiday for him as a child. So, the two Guardians travel to Earth to kidnap Peter’s childhood hero, the ‘Footloose’ actor Kevin Bacon (playing himself), as the ultimate gift for Peter.
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14. ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas‘ (1965)

1965’s ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas.’ Photo: CBS.

This would make the list on the strength of Vince Guaraldi’s music alone, but this animated special qualifies as Charles Schulz’ magnum opus, as his beleaguered title character tries to find the true meaning of Christmas in a landscape marred by rampant commercialism.
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13. ‘The Holiday‘ (2006)

(L to R) Cameron Diaz and Jude Law in ‘The Holiday’. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.

Two women, one from the United States (Cameron Diaz) and one from the United Kingdom (Kate Winslet), swap homes at Christmas time after bad breakups with their boyfriends. Each woman finds romance with a local man but realizes that the imminent return home may end the relationship.
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12. ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas‘ (1993)

1993’s ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas.’ Photo: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution.

Tim Burton combines the best of two holidays with this stop-motion animated film about Jack Skellington (Danny Elfman), an authority on all things Halloween who decides to turn his macabre creativity loose on Santa’s favorite day of the year.
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11. ‘Violent Night‘ (2022)

(L to R) Alexis Louder, and David Harbour in ‘Violent Night.’ © Universal Studios.

Asking the age old question: “What would Santa Clause do if he was in ‘Die Hard?’” ‘Violent Night’ stars David Harbour as Father Christmas, who has lost faith in mankind. While delivering gifts to a wealthy family on Christmas Eve, he discovers a group of criminals have taken the family hostage, and its up to Santa to save the day and rescue a little girl and her family, who teaches him that some people still believe in Christmas miracles.
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10. ‘Elf‘ (2003)

(Right) Will Ferrell in ‘Elf.’ Photo: New Line Cinema.

Jon Favreau’s comedic chops balance perfectly with Will Ferrell’s wholesome, silly enthusiasm in this endlessly entertaining story of a human raised at the North Pole who treks to civilization and reconnect with his father, a cynical workaholic book publisher played to perfection by James Caan.
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9. ‘Home Alone‘ (1990)

Macaulay Culkin as Kevin McCallister in ‘Home Alone.’ Photo: 20th Century Fox.

John Hughes transitioned into decidedly more family-friendly territory with this script about a kid who gets left behind while the rest of his family heads out for their Christmas vacation. Macaulay Culkin became a star overnight as the precocious preteen who fends off burglars and holiday loneliness in Chris Columbus’ monster hit film.
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8. ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation‘ (1989)

Chevy Chase in 1989’s ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.’ Photo: Warner Bros.

Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo come clashing back together as Clark Griswold and his loving, long-suffering wife Ellen, this time trying to survive the holiday season that much like every other Clark family gathering seems destined for disaster.
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7. ‘Scrooged‘ (1988)

Bill Murray as Frank Cross in ‘Scrooged.’ Photo: Paramount Pictures.

There have been a lot of great versions of Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol,’ but Bill Murray makes his version of Scrooge one of the wildest, this time a television executive who loses his way in a cutthroat industry and gets visited by three ghosts unafraid to beat him (literally) into a Christmas morning epiphany.
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6. ‘It’s a Wonderful Life‘ (1946)

(Center) James Stewart as George Bailey in ‘It’s a Wonderful Life.’ Photo: RKO Radio Pictures.

Frank Capra’s 1946 film initially achieved ubiquitousness by virtue of endless syndicated showings on television, but it became a classic on the strength of its story – a portrait of sacrifice and generosity – as well as a performance by Jimmy Stewart that utilized both his fragile desperation and scrappy determination.
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5. ‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang‘ (2005)

(L to R) Val Kilmer and Robert Downey Jr. in ‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.’ Photo: Warner Bros.

A petty thief (Robert Downey Jr.) posing as an actor is brought to Los Angeles for an unlikely audition and finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation along with his high school dream girl (Michelle Monaghan) and a detective (Val Kilmer) who’s been training him for his upcoming role.
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4. ‘The Holdovers‘ (2023)

(L to R) Dominic Sessa stars as Angus Tully and Paul Giamatti as Paul Hunham in director Alexander Payne’s ‘The Holdovers,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of FOCUS FEATURES / © 2023 FOCUS FEATURES LLC.

From acclaimed director Alexander Payne, ‘The Holdovers’ follows a curmudgeonly instructor (Paul Giamatti) at a New England prep school who is forced to remain on campus during Christmas break to babysit the handful of students with nowhere to go. Eventually he forms an unlikely bond with one of them — a damaged, brainy troublemaker (newcomer Dominic Sessa) — and with the school’s head cook, who has just lost a son in Vietnam (Da’Vine Joy Randolph).
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3. ‘Love Actually‘ (2003)

(L to R) Emma Thompson as Karen and Alan Rickman as Harry in ‘Love Actually.’ Photo: United International Pictures.

Richard Curtis’ enchanting tapestry of relationships in the days and weeks leading up to Christmas continues to inspire debates about exactly how healthy the behavior some of its cast of characters are, but that’s sort of the point of the movie itself: what we all want, what we’re pursuing, and at what cost all connects through love, even if in some cases that means the fractured relationship between a husband (Alan Rickman) and wife (Emma Thompson), and others, the recognition of a soul mate in a long-suffering tour manager (Gregor Fisher) and his unpredictable rock-star client (Bill Nighy).
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2. ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol‘ (1992)

1992’s ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol.’ Photo: Walt Disney Pictures.

This “Christmas Carol” adaptation has largely been reduced by the internet to a meme of its Ebenezer Scrooge (Michael Caine) dancing along with one of Jim Henson’s human-sized puppets, but the film remains one of the most magical – and emotional – versions of the story ever told, thanks to a Bob Cratchit, played by Kermit the Frog, who irresistibly embodies the everyman everyone loves.
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1. ‘Die Hard‘ (1988)

Bruce Willis as John McClane in ‘Die Hard.’ Photo: 20th Century Fox.

Before John McClane became a superhero and Bruce Willis descended into super-stardom, his performance in this iconic original installment oozed with everyman charm as the New York cop loses his shoes, battles a skyscraper full of terrorists, and tries to make peace with his estranged wife (Bonnie Bedelia).
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December 24, 2025
Robert Eggers is Planning a ‘Christmas Carol’ Adaptation
(Left) ‘Nosferatu’ director Robert Eggers. (Right) Michael Caine and the Muppets in ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol’. Photo: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution.

Preview:
- Robert Eggers has his eye on ‘A Christmas Carol.’
- He’s aiming to have Willem Dafoe play iconic miser Scrooge.
- The movie is in development at Warner Bros.
Writer/director Robert Eggers delivered a very different sort of festive treat last year with vampire tale ‘Nosferatu’, which was released on Christmas Day, and has since gone on to be his biggest success so far, earning plenty of critical praise and Oscar nominations, plus $181 million worldwide at the box office, including $95 million domestically.

And from the sound of a report by Deadline, he’s looking to stay in a festive mood, with a future plan to go where hundreds of filmmakers have gone before. No, not ‘Star Trek,’ but an adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic story ‘A Christmas Carol.’
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It’s early days for this one, which is in development at Warner Brothers (somewhat surprising given that much of Eggers’ prior output has been for Universal arm Focus Features), and little word on what his plan is to make the story his own, but Deadline mentions a less-than-shocking early casting choice.

While no official offers have gone out, it appears Eggers is ready to work again with Willem Dafoe, who has appeared in every one of the director’s movies since ‘The Lighthouse.’ If Eggers has his way, Dafoe will play Scrooge, the central figure of ‘Christmas Carol’ (more on that below).

Related Article: ‘Nosferatu’ Filmmaker Robert Eggers to Stick With Horror for New Movie ‘Werwulf’

What’s the story of ‘A Christmas Carol’?

1992’s ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol.’ Photo: Walt Disney Pictures.

If you haven’t heard of ‘A Christmas Carol,’ we can only assume you’ve somehow been buried beneath a fallen festive tree.

Dickens’ novella was first published in London by Chapman & Hall in 1843 and illustrated by John Leech.

It’s the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a man whose life has led to him becoming an elderly miser with no time for Christmas traditions or even much human empathy.

A shrewd businessman, he thrives on evicting tenants from the properties he owns and keeps his clerk, Bob Cratchit, working in poverty and cold conditions.

One Christmas Eve, he’s visited by the specter of his dead business partner, Jacob Marley, who warns him that he must change his ways, lest he suffer the same fate as Marley: condemned to wander the world as a spirit, wrapped in chains and heavy, ghostly cash boxes.

Marley has organized a redemptive chance for Scrooge –– he’ll encounter three further spirits, representing Christmas Past, Present and Future, all of whom show him visions intended to teach him the lessons of Christmas.

Scrooge scoffs at the idea, but on his journey with the three ghosts, he sees where his life choices have led him, his negative impact on the world now, and what that might mean going forward.

Spoiler alert! He’s terrified and chastened, resolving to do better in future, and indeed becomes, in Dickens’ words, “as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world.”

Dickens’ work is a moral fable, at once embracing the Christmas traditions (carols, cards and more) that were becoming popular at the time, and helping to spread them further.

It has been adapted countless times for screens both big and small, including famous versions such as a 1951 movie starring Alastair Sim, a 1984 TV movie with George C. Scott, and Robert Zemeckis’ 2009 performance capture CG take, in which Jim Carrey plays Scrooge and a variety of other characters.

Two perennial favorite versions? The Bill Murray-lead ‘Scrooged’ from 1988 and 1992’s ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol,’ boasting Michael Caine as the main character alongside the fuzzy icons.

What Eggers has planned remains to be seen, though we’d hazard a guess at fewer singing vegetables and more of a mood along the likes of the dark 2019 TV adaptation from Steven Knight, with Guy Pearce playing Scrooge.

Dafoe feels like a solid choice for Scrooge, but will the director maintain another recent tradition and hire a Skarsgård for a role? There are plenty of others in the family waiting in the wings after Alexander appeared in ‘The Northman’ and Bill buried himself under prosthetics for ‘Nosferatu.’

What else does Robert Eggers have in development?

Director Robert Eggers on the set of his film ‘Nosferatu’, a Focus Features release.
Credit: Aidan Monaghan / © 2024 FOCUS FEATURES LLC.

Eggers has been juggling a few projects, but it appears that ‘Werwulf’ is at the front of the line. We don’t know much about the movie, but the title certainly points to some hairy, howling horror.

Elsewhere, he’s got a few other movies bubbling away.

Here’s what he told Indiewire about his process:

“[Medieval movie ‘The Knight’ is] on a shelf with a lot of screenplays. I have five things going on, because you never know what’s going to work, what’s going to appeal to people, what’s going to be greenlit. This movie [‘Nosferatu’] was not greenlit three times. I absolutely thought I was making a movie that has not gotten greenlit twice instead of this, so you never know. You’ve got to have a lot of stuff going on.”

There is also a sequel to 1986 fantasy adventure ‘Labyrinth’, which is still floating around somewhere.

When would Robert Eggers’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ haunt theaters?

This is the first anyone has heard of Eggers’ plan to adapt the Christmas tale, and with ‘Werwulf’ most likely the next project for the filmmaker to shoot, we’re expecting to wait at least a couple of years for ‘A Christmas Carol’ to find screens –– assuming it doesn’t get leapfrogged by another project.

Right now, ‘Werwulf’ is scheduled for release in the ‘Nosferatu’ slot, which is to say December 25th, in 2026.

(L to R) Alexander Skarsgard, Nicole Kidman, director Robert Eggers, Willem Dafoe, and Anya Taylor-Joy at the Los Angeles premiere of ‘The Northman.’

List of Robert Eggers Movies:
- ‘The Witch‘ (2016)
- ‘The Lighthouse‘ (2019)
- ‘The Northman‘ (2022)
- ‘Nosferatu‘ (2024)
Buy Robert Eggers Movies on Amazon
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June 18, 2025
Every Muppets Movie Ranked

(L to R) Zoot, Dr. Teeth, Floyd Pepper, Animal, Janice, and Lips in ‘The Muppets Mayhem.’ Photo: Disney/Mitch Haaseth.

Premiering on Disney+ beginning May 10th is the new series ‘The Muppets Mayhem,’ which stars popular Muppet characters and fictional rock band Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem.

The beloved characters, which include Dr. Teeth, Lips, Floyd Pepper, Janice, Zoot, and Animal, have appeared in almost every Muppet movie and TV series released since their debut on 1976’s ‘The Muppet Show.’

In honor of their new series, Moviefone is counting down every Muppets movie from worst to best! We are only including feature films, whether they were theatrical or home entertainment releases, but we will not be including Muppets television series like ‘The Muppet Show,’ ‘Muppets Tonight,’ ‘Muppets Now,’ or ABC’s ill-fated ‘The Muppets.’

Let’s begin!

10. ‘The Muppets Wizard of Oz‘ (2005)

(L to R) Kermit the Frog, Pepe the King Prawn, and Gonzo in 2005’s ‘The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz.’ Photo courtesy of Disney.

The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz follows a young woman named Dorothy Gale (Ashanti) who dreams of becoming a singer but is unable to pursue her dreams. After being swept up by a tornado with her pet prawn Toto, Dorothy embarks on a journey to meet the Wizard of Oz, the person who both Dorothy and the citizens of Oz believe can help make her dream come true.
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9. ‘Muppets Most Wanted‘ (2014)

The Muppets in 2014’s ‘Muppets Most Wanted.’ Photo courtesy of Disney.

While on a grand world tour, The Muppets find themselves wrapped into a European jewel-heist caper headed by a Kermit the Frog look-alike and his dastardly sidekick (Ricky Gervais).
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8. ‘Muppet Treasure Island‘ (1996)

(L to R) Sam the Eagle, Kermit the Frog, Tim Curry, Kevin Bishop, and Gonzo in 1996’s ‘Muppet Treasure Island.’ Photo courtesy of Disney.

After telling the story of Flint’s last journey to young Jim Hawkins (Kevin Bishop), Billy Bones (Billy Connolly) has a heart attack and dies just as Jim and his friends are attacked by pirates. The gang escapes into the town where they hire out a boat and crew to find the hidden treasure, which was revealed by Bones before he died. On their voyage across the seas, they soon find out that not everyone on board can be trusted.
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7. ‘The Muppets Take Manhattan‘ (1984)

(L to R) Zoot, Miss Piggy, Animal, Dr. Teeth, Kermit the Frog, Scooter, Rowlf the Dog, Janice, The Great Gonzo, Floyd Pepper, and Camilla the Chicken in 1984’s ‘The Muppets Take Manhattan.’

When the Muppets graduate from Danhurst College, they take their song-filled senior revue to New York City, only to learn that it isn’t easy to find a producer who’s willing to back a show starring a frog and a pig. Of course, Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy won’t take no for an answer, launching a search for someone to take them to Broadway.
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6. ‘Muppets Haunted Mansion‘ (2021)

(L to R) Pepe the King Prawn, Gonzo, and Will Arnett in ‘Muppets Haunted Mansion.’ Photo: Disney/Mitch Haaseth.

Gonzo is challenged to spend one night in The Haunted Mansion on Halloween night.
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5. ‘Muppets from Space‘ (1999)

(L to R) Miss Piggy and Gonzo in 1999’s ‘Muppets from Space.’ Photo courtesy of Disney.

When Gonzo’s breakfast cereal tells him that he’s the descendant of aliens from another planet, his attempts at extraterrestrial communication get him kidnapped by a secret government agency, prompting the Muppets to spring into action. It’s hard to believe Gonzo’s story at first, but Kermit and friends soon find themselves on an epic journey into outer space filled with plenty of intergalactic misadventures.
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4. ‘The Muppets‘ (2011)

(L to R) Jason Segel, Amy Adams and the Muppets in 2011’s ‘The Muppets.’

When Kermit the Frog and the Muppets learn that their beloved theater is slated for demolition, a sympathetic human, Gary (Jason Segel), and his puppet brother, Walter, swoop in to help the gang put on a show and raise the $10 million they need to save the day.
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3. ‘The Great Muppet Caper‘ (1981)

Miss Piggy in 1981’s ‘The Great Muppet Caper.’

Kermit and Fozzie are newspaper reporters sent to London to interview Lady Holiday (Diana Rigg), a wealthy fashion designer whose priceless diamond necklace is stolen. Kermit meets and falls in love with her secretary, Miss Piggy. The jewel thieves strike again, and this time frame Miss Piggy. It’s up to Kermit and Muppets to bring the real culprits to justice.
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2. ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol‘ (1992)

1992’s ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol.’

A retelling of the classic Dickens tale of Ebenezer Scrooge (Michael Caine), miser extraordinaire. He is held accountable for his dastardly ways during night-time visitations by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future.
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1. ‘The Muppet Movie‘ (1979)

The Muppets in 1979’s ‘The Muppet Movie.’

A Hollywood agent (Dom DeLuise) persuades Kermit the Frog to pursue a career in Hollywood. On his way there he meets his future muppet crew while being chased by the desperate owner (Charles Durning) of a frog-leg restaurant!
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May 9, 2023
Movie Review: ‘Spirited’

(L to R) Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell in ‘Spirited,’ premiering November 18, 2022 on Apple TV+.

Opening in theaters on November 11th before streaming on Apple TV+ November 118h is the new Christmas movie ‘Spirited’ from director Sean Anders (‘Daddy’s Home’).

The movie is yet another adaption of the Charles Dickens classic ‘A Christmas Carol,’ with Will Ferrell playing the role of Christmas Present. Considering retirement after the holidays, Present chooses to haunt Clint Briggs (Ryan Reynolds), an arrogant public relations executive who is completely aware of Dickens’ story and what is happening.

Briggs soon turns the tables on Present and instead forces him to examine his own past, present, and future, with the PR exec learning lessons himself along the way. Now Present must choose between his duties as a ghost and teaching Briggs a lesson, or finding true love with Briggs’ assistant, Kimberly (Octavia Spencer).

The result is a fun musical twist on ‘A Christmas Carol,’ with fantastic musical numbers created by ‘La La Land’s Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, but the story drags with Ferrell and Reynolds basically just playing their ‘Elf’ and ‘Deadpool’ characters, respectively.

(L to R) Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell in ‘Spirited,’ premiering November 18, 2022 on Apple TV+.

There have been many adaptions of Charles Dickens ‘A Christmas Carol’ over the years, including Billy Murray’s ‘Scrooged,’ ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol,’ and 2009’s ‘A Christmas Carol’ directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Jim Carrey. ‘Spirited’ takes a fun crack at the material but is ultimately stronger as a musical than it is as a Dickens adaption.

In fact, the music is the real star of the movie, with great songs created by ‘The Greatest Showman’s Pasek and Paul. The musical numbers are also fun because the characters know they are in a musical, and for that matter, are also aware of all the ‘Christmas Carol’ adaptions of the past.

But again, this leads to a lot of ‘Deadpool’ breaking-the-forth-wall moments, which now seem tired with Reynolds involved. In fact, as entertaining as he is, Reynolds performance is very one-note and the actor is definitely leaning hard on his charming yet sarcastic public persona.

The same could be said for Will Ferrell, who while equally entertaining, is basically playing his “quiet to angry” character with the innocence of his ‘Elf’ role thrown in for good measure.

(L to R) Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell in ‘Spirited,’ premiering November 18, 2022 on Apple TV+.

That being said, the two movie stars have great onscreen chemistry together and are most entertaining in their musical numbers. Surprisingly, both actors are quite impressive singing and dancing on screen to Pasek and Paul’s music.

It’s also worth mentioning that there is a clever twist to Dickens’ story regarding Ferrell’s character, which I won’t give away, but only say that the actor ends up playing two different characters. His “second role” is more of a stretch for the actor, and while he doesn’t have a lot of screen time as the other character, is completely believable in the role.

Oscar-winner Octavia Spencer shines in the film as both Reynold’s loyal assistant and Ferrell’s love interest. The actress brings a warmth to the film, has great chemistry with Ferrell in their romantic scenes, and also kills it in her musical numbers.

Other supporting performances worth mentioning include Sunita Mani, who is quite funny as the Ghost of Christmas Past. Broadway actor Patrick Page also gives a strong performance as Present’s boss, Jacob Marley, and as one can imagine, is very good in the musical numbers.

Octavia Spencer as Kimberly in Apple TV+’s ‘Spirited .’

There are also a few fun cameos, that I will mention because they are hardly spoilers. Oscar-winner Judi Dench has a funny walk-on role as herself, while Rose Byrne is hilarious as one of Present’s successful hauntings, playing a nasty suburban housewife, aptly named “Karen.”

The screenplay by director Sean Anders and John Morris is very clever, even if it is retreading popular ‘A Christmas Carol’ tropes. While you can see many of the twists coming, it still feels like a fresh take, even if we’ve seen the basic story before.

Anders also does a fantastic job orchestrating the musical numbers, which are by far a highlight of the film. They really pop, not just with the music, but also the lighting, color palette, and the choreography. It’s like watching Christmas come alive on screen!

As far as ‘Christmas Carol’ adaptions go, ‘Spirited’ is at least an original take on the material and may someday be as beloved an adaption as ‘Scrooged’ and ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol,’ or even other Christmas movies like ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ or Ferrell’s ‘Elf.’ Time will only tell if ‘Spirited’ becomes a holiday film that is played at nauseam on cable TV like ‘A Christmas Story.’

But in the end, ‘Spirited’ is a fun holiday musical with a clever twist on the source material, and incredibly enjoyable songs written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.

‘Spirited’ receives 3 out of 5 stars.

(L to R) Ryan Reynolds as Clint Briggs and Will Ferrell as Present in Apple TV+’s ‘Spirited.’
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November 13, 2022
Restored Full Version of ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol’ Arriving

1992’s ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol.’

Christmas is a time for gifts and also for watching ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol’, which originally hit theaters in 1992 and starred Michael Caine as Ebeneezer Scrooge, alongside a smattering of other human actors and most of the key roles played by Kermit and the gang.

It has long since become an annual holiday favorite for many people, as much a part of Christmas tradition as turkey, trees and traumatic shopping experiences.

But for almost as many years, Muppet fans have been wondering when they might see missing song ‘When Love is Gone’ re-integrated back into the movie itself after so much time spent as a poor-quality deleted scene on home entertainment releases and as an extra on the Disney+ version.

It’s always seemed a surprising decision, since the song is a key emotional moment from Scrooge’s past and his heartbreaking decision to eschew true love Belle (Meredith Braun) for his pursuit of financial gain. The melody of the Paul Williams-penned song plays into Miles Goodman’s score and the final song ‘When Love is Found’ directly references it.

There is good news, then, for those that have loved the take on Charles Dickens’ Christmas classic tale of ghosts and redemption. As revealed during a 30-year retrospective panel for the movie at this year’s D23 Expo, the full movie will finally be available to watch for the first time.

Director Brian Henson told the D23 panel audience the story of how then-Disney boss Jeff Katzenberg demanded that the song be edited out of the movie after a test screening where he noticed that kids were getting restless through the mournful (yet also quite lovely) ballad.

Henson negotiated a deal: the song would be removed for the theatrical release but restored for home entertainment. Yet when the time rolled around for that, a proper negative couldn’t be found.

Despite a years-long search, nothing was turned up, at least until just recently, when a print containing the song was discovered, meaning that the full version could be made ready in 4K format for Disney+.

It’ll premiere on the streaming service on December 11th, though we’re still waiting to lean if it’ll become the main version of the movie or become part of the extras.
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In related Muppets news, there was also an announcement about a new recording of a classic track from band The Electric Mayhem. With the group preparing to hit Disney+ next year with ‘The Muppets Mayhem’, they’ve released an updated version of “Can You Picture That?”, originally performed in 1979’s ‘The Muppet Movie’.

The new series follows The Electric Mayhem on their journey to record their first ever studio album. The old-school band is helped along the way by Lily Singh’s Nora, a young music executive with her finger on the pulse of the current music scene. Also starring in the series are Tajh Mowry, Saara Chaudry, and Anders Holm.

September 14, 2022
Best Movies Celebrating Their 30th Anniversary

Francis Ford Coppola‘s Oscar-winning classic ‘The Godfather‘ celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. That made us think, what other films are celebrating anniversaries this year?

In this 4-part series we will take a look at the best movies celebrating their 40th, 30th, 20th, and 10th anniversaries this year.

Now that we’ve gone through the 40th anniversaries, its time to countdown the best movies that were released in 1992 and are celebrating their 30th anniversaries.

Let’s begin!

10. Honey, I Blew Up the Kid (1992)

Wayne Szalinski (Rick Moranis) is at it again. But instead of shrinking things, he tries to make a machine that can make things grow. As in the first one, his machine isn’t quite accurate. But when he brings Nick (Robert Oliveri) & his toddler son Adam to see his invention, the machine unexpectedly starts working. And when Adam comes right up to the machine, he gets zapped along with his stuffed bunny.
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9. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)

Blonde, bouncy Buffy (Kristy Swanson) is your typical high school cheerleader. But all that changes when a strange man informs her she’s been chosen by fate to kill vampires.
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8. Sneakers (1992)

When shadowy U.S. intelligence agents blackmail a reformed computer hacker (Robert Redford) and his eccentric team of security experts into stealing a code-breaking ‘black box’ from a Soviet-funded genius (Ben Kingsley), they uncover a bigger conspiracy. Now, he and his ‘sneakers’ must save themselves and the world economy by retrieving the box from their blackmailers.
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7. Aladdin (1992)

Princess Jasmine (Linda Larkin) grows tired of being forced to remain in the palace, so she sneaks out into the marketplace, in disguise, where she meets street-urchin Aladdin (Scott Weinger). The couple falls in love, although Jasmine may only marry a prince. After being thrown in jail, Aladdin becomes embroiled in a plot to find a mysterious lamp with a secret Genie (Robin Williams), which the evil Jafar (Jonathan Freeman) hopes to use to rule the land.
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6. A League of Their Own (1992)

Directed by Penny Marshall, as America’s stock of athletic young men is depleted during World War II, a professional all-female baseball league springs up in the Midwest, funded by publicity-hungry candy maker Walter Harvey (Garry Marshall). Competitive sisters Dottie Hinson (Geena Davis) and Kit Keller (Lori Petty) spar with each other, scout Ernie Capadino (Jon Lovitz) and grumpy has-been coach Jimmy Dugan (Tom Hanks) on their way to fame.
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5. Wayne’s World (1992)

Directed by Penelope Spheeris, the movie follows the adventures of two amiably aimless metal-head friends, Wayne (Mike Myers) and Garth (Dana Carvey). From Wayne’s basement, the pair broadcast a talk-show called “Wayne’s World” on local public access television.

The show comes to the attention of a sleazy network executive (Rob Lowe) who wants to produce a big-budget version of “Wayne’s World”—and he also wants Wayne’s girlfriend, a rock singer named Cassandra (Tia Carrere). Wayne and Garth have to battle the executive not only to save their show, but also Cassandra.
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4. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

A “Muppet” retelling of the classic Dickens tale of Ebenezer Scrooge (Michael Caine), miser extraordinaire. He is held accountable for his dastardly ways during night-time visitations by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future.
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3. Batman Returns (1992)

Directed by Tim Burton, while Batman (Michael Keaton) deals with a deformed man calling himself the Penguin (Danny DeVito), an employee of a corrupt businessman transforms into the Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer).
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2. Reservoir Dogs (1992)

Directed by Quentin Tarantino, a botched robbery indicates a police informant, and the pressure mounts in the aftermath at a warehouse. Crime begets violence as the survivors — veteran Mr. White (Harvey Keitel), newcomer Mr. Orange (Tim Roth), psychopathic parolee Mr. Blonde (Michael Madsen), bickering weasel Mr. Pink (Steve Buscemi) and Nice Guy Eddie (Chris Penn ) — unravel.
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1. A Few Good Men (1992)

Directed by Rob Reiner, when cocky military lawyer Lt. Daniel Kaffee (Tom Cruise) and his co-counsel, Lt. Cmdr. JoAnne Galloway (Demi Moore), are assigned to a murder case, they uncover a hazing ritual that could implicate high-ranking officials such as shady Col. Nathan Jessep (Jack Nicolson).
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May 1, 2022