Classic Christmas Specials & Movies to Brighten Seniors’ Holidays

Getting together with children, grandchildren, and other family members for a classic Christmas special or movie is a favorite tradition for many seniors — and an ideal way to share quality time together during this special time of year. Watching Christmas specials and movies with your elderly loved one can open the door to a more festive and jolly holiday season.

Many popular Christmas classics are available on streaming services — which could make a perfect gift for your senior.

Below is a list of timeless Christmas movies and TV programs, plus modern classics, remakes, and made-for-TV selections to enjoy with your senior loved one this Christmas.

Classic Christmas Movies

The 40s and 50s were the Golden Age of Hollywood. So, it’s no surprise this era was also the Golden Age of Tinsel in Tinseltown. While some of the most well-known movies of this period still receive regular airings on TV, others live on in the memories of those who first fell in love with the holidays while watching them.

• Holiday Inn (1942)
  Remembered for “White Christmas,” this Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire film has stood the test of time.
  
  
• Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)
  A heart-warming family story most famous for Judy Garland singing “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”
  
  
• Christmas in Connecticut (1945)
  Barbara Stanwyck strives to impress her boss and a war hero in this romantic holiday comedy.
  
  
• It Happened on Fifth Avenue (1947)
  Christmas Eve and the spirit of giving play a central role in this classic holiday favorite.
  
  
• It’s a Wonderful Life (1947)
  An angel is sent from heaven to help a frustrated businessman by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed.
  
  
• Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
  After a divorced New York mother hires a nice old man to play Santa at Macy’s, she is startled by his claim to be the genuine Santa Claus.
  
  
• A Christmas Carol (1951)
  The definitive on-screen adaptation of Scrooge’s fateful Christmas Eve.

Classic Christmas TV Specials

Although it can be hard to track down some of these Christmas TV specials, many of them are available for streaming as single episodes online:

• I Love Lucy!: The “I Love Lucy!” Christmas Show (1956)
  One of the first and most beloved of TV’s special Christmas episodes.
  
  
• The Donna Reed Show: A Very Merry Christmas (1958)
  A classic special about how Christmas inspires the best in everyone.
  
  
• The Andy Griffith Show: Christmas Story (1960)
  This heart-warming episode shows that the Christmas spirit can be found anywhere.
  
  
• The Ed Sullivan Show (1948-1971)
  America’s greatest variety show was a stage for some of the most memorable Christmas performances of the ‘50s.

Modern Christmas Selections

In addition to enjoying Christmas movies from their own childhood, seniors may also enjoy watching some of the classics that their kids and grandkids enjoyed in the 80s, 90s, and beyond.

• A Christmas Story (1983)
  Set in the 1940s, this is the story of a young boy named Ralphie Parker, who attempts to convince his parents, teacher, and Santa Claus that a BB gun is the perfect Christmas gift.
  
  
• Home Alone (1990)
  An 8-year-old boy, mistakenly left home alone, must defend his home against a pair of burglars on Christmas Eve.
  
  
• Elf (1990)
  A comedy about Buddy, a human raised by elves, who goes on a journey to New York City to find his real father.
  
  
• The Santa Clause (1994)
  A comedy about a man who inadvertently makes Santa fall off his roof on Christmas Eve and then is magically recruited to take his place.
  
  
• Love Actually (2003)
  A British ensemble film that tells multiple interconnected Christmas love stories.
  
  
• Christmas with the Kranks (2004)
  A comedy about a couple trying to skip Christmas festivities who face unexpected challenges.
  
  
• The Polar Express (2004)
  An animated film based on the beloved children's book that takes viewers on a magical train ride to the North Pole.
  
  
• The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017)
  A film that explores the creation of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" and the inspiration behind the iconic story.
  
  
• Hallmark Channel: Countdown to Christmas
  Popular with all ages, the Hallmark Channel offers an extensive selection of modern, family-friendly Christmas movies.

If you and your family can’t be with your senior in person this year to enjoy Christmas movies, a Visiting Angels caregiver can provide your senior with companionship — and help them access favorite movies, music, and shows.

Learn how a Visiting Angels caregiver can help your loved one maintain cherished holiday traditions and make new memories this Christmas season by calling your local Visiting Angels office for a free consultation.