Holiday Film Guide

• 'Home Alone'
  This 1990 Christmas film catapulted young McCauley Culkin into a household name. Not only did it create a successful sequel, but other studios were left to duplicate its winning formula to lesser degrees. An 8- year-old, who is accidentally left behind while his family flies to France for Christmas, has to defend his home against idiotic burglars. Directed by Chris Columbus, the film also featured Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, and the late John Candy.
  
  
  
  

  20th Century Fox / ZUMA Press

• 'The Perfect Holiday'
  Produced in 2007 by Queen Latifah, this holiday dramedy had a cast that included Terrence Howard, Gabrielle Union, Morris Chestnut, and Katt Williams. When woman unlucky in love meets the man of her dreams, little does she realize that the man is not what he seems to be. With her kids looking to make their mom, this 'Santa Claus' has to come up with enough 'fables' to keep his charade intact, while her ex-husband, played by Charlie Murphy, is looking to get back into their lives.
  
  
  
  
  

  Yari Film Group

• 'Soul Food'
  Produced in 1997 by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Tracey Edmonds, and Robert Teitel, the film was such a commercial hit and resonated with the African-American community that a TV series was based on the film. The cast included Vivica A. Fox, Nia Long, Michael Beach, Mekhi Phifer, Jeffrey D. Sams, Irma P. Hall, Gina Ravera, and Brandon Hammond. Matriarch Mama Joe has held her family together for 40 years around a Sunday dinner of soul food. When diabetes hospitalizes her, her family must overcome bitter argument to sustain the family tradition.
  
  
  
  
  

  Everett Collection

• 'Elf'
  Five years prior to directing the blockbuster film 'Iron Man', Jon Favreau had a hit with the 2003 Christmas comedy that starred Will Ferrell as a grown man who still believed he grew up as an elf. When he finally finds his family, it takes them a while to get used to his compulsion for getting into trouble. James Caan, Zooey Deschanel and Ed Asner co-starred with Ferrell.
  
  
  
  

  Alan Markfield, New Line

• 'A Diva's Christmas Carol'
  This 2000 film starred Vanessa Williams and Rozonda 'Chilli' Thomas and was a remake of Dicken's classic. The story is about a very nasty pop singer who gets a reality check by three Christmas spirits: Ghost of Christmas Past (Kathy Griffin), Ghost of Christmas Present (John Taylor from Duran Duran), and Ghost of Christmas Future.
  
  
  
  

  vh1.com

• 'It's A Wonderful Life'
  An all-time holiday classic, this 1946 film starred James Stewart and Donna Reed. This is a story of a man who sacrificed his own success and happiness for the lives of others. Many have considered the film a fan favorite and the American Film Institute named it one of the 100 best American films ever made.
  
  
  
  

  AP

• 'This Christmas'
  Produced by Rainforest Films (Will Packer and Rob Hardy) in 2007, this holiday film starred many of today's rising stars with Columbus Short, Idris Elba, Chris Brown, and Lauren London included in the cast. When all the Whitfield's siblings come home for Christmas for the first time in years, they've brought plenty of baggage with them. As secrets are revealed and family bonds are tested, everyone must help each other discover the true meaning of family.
  
  
  
  

  Sony

• 'A Christmas Story'
  This is the film that most people remember growing up with. Directed by Bob Clark, the 1983 film was based on the short stories and semi-fictional anecdotes of author and raconteur Jean Shepherd, including material from his books 'In God We Trust', 'All Others Pay Cash' and 'Wanda Hickey's Night of Golden Memories,' Peter Billingsley played starred in the film as Ralphie Parker, the film's protagonist, a nine year old imaginative dreamer. Ralphie has to convince his parents, teachers, and Santa that a Red Ryder BB gun really is the perfect gift for the 1940's.
  
  
  
  

  TNT

• 'Call Me Claus'
  Whoopi Goldberg starred in this 2001 holiday film as a reluctant participant in the Christmas season. When Lucy Cullins, a successful producer at a home shopping network, hires an actor named Nick to play Santa Claus on the network she gets more than she bargained for. Nick really is Santa Claus, and he faces mandatory retirement after 200 years on the job. Nick must find his replacement by Christmas Eve or the world will face dire consequences, and he has his sights set on Lucy.
  
  
  
  
  

  TNT

• 'A Charlie Brown Christmas'
  This 1965 Christmas classic has been a prime-time animated TV special for over 30 years and continues to draws fans from all ages. Based upon the popular comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz, Charlie Brown tries to find the true meaning of Christmas. Other characters involved in the film are Linus and Lucy.
  
  
  
  
  

  1965 United Feature Syndicate Inc.