9 Holiday Movies That Make Us Cry Every Year
Across classic musicals, modern comedies, and animated films, the Christmas genre has produced some very emotional films over the years. There are plenty of silly comedies, horror flicks, and character dramas to be found in the genre, especially if you accept more subversive fare or bombastic action movies. Some of the most memorable, though, are the ones that cause any audience to break down crying. Whether they be tears of joy or sadness, these holiday movies are especially emotional examples of how poignant films set during the holiday season can be. Here are 10 holiday films that will leave any audience sobbing.
Elf (2003)
The Will Ferrell comedy might be aiming to get more laughs than tears, but Elf still has some genuinely emotionally stirring material. The film's focus on Buddy the Elf's innocent nature steadily thawing the cooler edges of the people in his life gives the movie its true holiday spirit, even beyond the scenes with Santa and the North Pole. It all builds to the film's most emotional moment, where Buddy's loved ones take inspiration from his efforts and start a chorus of "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" that ends up spreading throughout all of New York City. It's an incredibly sweet moment of community, where the entire city comes together for the sake of believing in something.
Scrooged (1988)
A harsher version of A Christmas Carol than most adaptions, Bill Murray's take on Scrooge reimagines him as a 1980's TV executive with a ruthless streak. The film has a very 80's vibe that builds off the darker elements of the era, but it also has a clear love for the romance and wonder that can come with the holiday. What makes Scrooged so emotionally effective is how hard it contrasts against the darker tone of the comedy. This is most evident at the end of the film, where a haunting vision of the future gives way to a madcap escapade before becoming genuinely heartfelt during Bill Murray's impassioned speech that closes out the film.
It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
One of the quintessential holiday films, It's a Wonderful Life showcases a man on the brink of losing everything, finding out what his life would have been with nothing in it. The vision of George Bailey's alternate world is a somber one that will feel powerful to anyone who has ]felt like the world would be better off without them. It all builds to the joyfully enthusiastic ending, where Bailey's friends and family come through for him in the most important of ways. It's an emotionally rewarding film that will bring a joyful tear to any viewer's eye, especially once the characters in the film find themselves on the verge of tears themselves.
White Christmas (1954)
For the most part, White Christmas is a romantic musical about a pair of sisters and a duo of performers who end up in a romantic quagmire. It's a charming film, especially once the musical numbers come into play. However, the real emotional beat comes with the plot turn that Bob and Phil want to honor their old army commander. While misunderstandings surrounding the performance cause all sorts of drama for the film, the actual finale of the movie is deeply sweet. The stoic retired commander, almost brought to tears by the show of loyalty his former soldiers still show him, is an especially poignant moment for anyone with military members among their loved ones.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)
A classic of the season, the Dr. Seuss short story of the same name has been adapted into two feature films — but neither are anywhere near as well-constructed as the Chuck Jones-directed short film. All three of them play with the same overall narrative, leading ot the same ending where the Grinch is touched by Whoville's seasonal spirit. However, it's the original animated short film that really nails the scene, thanks to impeccable animation and surprisingly delicate voice acting by Boris Karloff as his anger and surprise morphs into something else. It's a sweet moment that lands because of the sheer enthusiasm of the moment, which neither feature adaptation quite replicated.
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1993)
A fan-favorite since it debuted on the big-screen, The Muppet Christmas Carol thrives exactly because it has a spirited approach to the classic material. Michael Caine delivers a terrific performance as a Scrooge realizing the folly of his ways, but it's really the deft emotional voice work that the Muppets have that makes the film sing. This is never more evident than in Scrooge's dark vision of the future, where a mourning Cratchet family deals with their first Christmas after the passing of Tiny Tim. Kermit and Ms. Piggy aren't usually seen as emotional bedrocks, but the understated grief in their vocal performance speaks volumes, especially since Tim's fate isn't seen on-screen.
Carol (2015)
A love story for the ages, Carol is a powerhouse romantic drama that also quietly works really well as a bittersweet Christmas story. The film is focused on a forbidden lesbian affair during the 1950s, with Carol and Therese struggling to keep their emotions in check amid a world that wouldn't understand their relationship. It all builds to the film's somber and sweet ending, where Carol and Therese — despite all the complications the world keeps throwing at them — end up in the same room once more and have a wordless but poignant reunion. It's a scene that could have easily become heartbreaking, but quickly turns into something far more meaningful and romantic.
Klaus (2019)
Klaus is a gorgeously animated film, easily earning its place within the holiday movie pantheon. The film has a deeply somber ending despite the colorful approach, speaking to the bittersweet elements of the season. At the core of the film's finale is the brief splintering of the friendship between Jesper and Klaus. The divide that grows between the pair is plenty emotional too, even after their reconcilation. It's the film's sad ending that seals the deal. With Klaus fading away and Jesper getting the chance to only see him once a year for the rest of his life, there's a somber touch of friendships past that makes the scene so effective.
A Midnight Clear
A Midnight Clear is a heartbreaking fusion of the holiday season and the traditional war movie, with one of the most somber endings of any film themed around the Christmas holiday. Set during World War II, A Midnight Clear sees the American and German soldiers during the midst of winter during the latter half of the war. The film builds to a moment of hope and optimism as the soldiers seem to find an opportunity to find peace with one another. However, human nature shatters that fragile hope, turning the rest of the film into a heartbreaking tale of survival and companionship. It also cements A Midnight Clear as one of the saddest movies for the holiday season.
