#161 What's your favorite Christmas movie? Most overrated Christmas song?
Your Ultimate Christmas Tier Lists
It’s that time of year. No holiday has aura like Christmas. The entire world is transformed. There's joy in the air. Architecture everywhere is elevated. Beauty is back. For a brief moment, utility isn't all there is to the world. Christmas magic.
To add to the joy of Christmas, we thought we should - in typical WARKITCHEN fashion - drop some opinionated tier lists. These were built with the input of our friends in our Instagram channel.
Let’s start with movies. There’s a lot of debate that went into this one. Is American Psycho a Christmas Movie? Well, yes it is. Would I watch it with the family? Probably not.
Before we get into this, to those of you wondering what the letters mean, S stands for “Superior,” and then A, B, C, and F follow the typical grading system you’re familiar with from school.
Ultimate Christmas Movies Tier List
Is Die Hard S tier? You can bet it is. Home Alone? Absolutely. A Christmas staple. It’s a Wonderful Life? A shoo-in.
S Tier Christmas Movies:
Home Alone (1990)
Die Hard (1988)
It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
A Tier Christmas Movies
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
The Iron Giant (1999)
The Santa Clause (1994)
The Holdovers (2023)
A Christmas Story (1983)
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
The Holiday (2006)
Gremlins (1984)
Bad Santa (2003)
A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
Love Actually (2003)
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
B Tier Christmas Movies
Klaus (2019)
Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
Krampus (2015)
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
The Snowman (1982)
The Family Stone (2005)
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
Scrooged (1988)
Trading Places (1983)
Just Friends (2005)
Edward Scissorhands (1990)
Silent Night (2002)
Frosty the Snowman (1969)
Jingle All the Way (1996)
White Christmas (1954)
Eight Crazy Nights (2002)
Fred Claus (2007)
A Christmas Prince (2017)
Santa Jaws (2018)
Happiest Season (2020)
Surviving Christmas (2004)
Last Christmas (2019)
C Tier Christmas Movies
The Grinch (2018)
Deck the Halls (2006)
The Christmas Shoes (2002)
F Tier Christmas Movies
The Polar Express (2004)
The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978)
Elf (2003)
Ultimate Christmas Song Tier List
Now, let’s move on to Christmas songs! Mariah Carey was unanimously voted down this year, largely due to just how repetitive All I want for Christmas is You has become. These days you can just be going about your day in early November and you’ll randomly start hearing it somewhere. There’s no surprise that Sinatra tops the list with Jingle Bells with a few more classics in A tier as well. We don’t even need to talk about what’s on F tier…
S Tier Christmas Songs
Jingle Bells – Frank Sinatra
Last Christmas – Wham!
O Holy Night – Josh Groban
A Tier Christmas Songs
Arrival – Hillsong United
Step Into Christmas – Elton John
Carol of the Bells – Cathedral Choir
Let It Snow! – Frank Sinatra
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year – Andy Williams
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) – Darlene Love
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town – Michael Bublé
Jingle Bell Rock – Bobby Helms
Feliz Navidad – José Feliciano
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree – Brenda Lee
White Christmas – Michael Bublé
Mary, Did You Know? – Mark Lowry
The Little Drummer Boy – Harry Simeone Chorale
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing – Frank Sinatra (version)
B Tier Christmas Songs
Greensleeves – A Charlie Brown Christmas
Silent Night – Michael Bublé
Silver Bells – Dean Martin
Blue Christmas – Elvis Presley
Fairytale of New York – The Pogues
This Christmas – Donny Hathaway
Do You Hear What I Hear? – Bing Crosby
Snowman – Sia
Christmas Waltz – Frank Sinatra
Zat You, Santa? – Louis Armstrong
I’ll Be Home for Christmas – Frank Sinatra
Santa Baby – Eartha Kitt
Winter Wonderland – Laufey
The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) – Nat King Cole
Wexford Carol – Yo-Yo Ma
Santa Tell Me – Ariana Grande
Happy Xmas (War Is Over) – John Lennon
Snow – Bing Crosby
Christmas Shoes – Newsong
Dominic the Donkey – Lou Monte
Marshmallow World – Jo Stafford
Man With the Bag – Kay Starr
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – Frank Sinatra
C Tier Christmas Songs
Wonderful Christmastime – Paul McCartney
All I Want for Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey
F Tier Christmas Songs
Mommy Kissing Santa Claus – Jackson 5
The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late) – Alvin & the Chipmunks
I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas – Gayla Peevey
What should be bumped higher? What’s overrated? Share your favorites in the comments!
Maximalist sinks
Every little thing is an opportunity for unlimited artistic expression
My love language
Back into my old ways again
A glorious Winter arc is upon us
This vegan pesto bread wreath has layers of brioche-style dough and easy macadamia pesto. It’s the perfect centerpiece for celebrations such as Christmas!
❋ 30 FESTIVE CHRISTMAS DESSERTS TO MAKE THIS SEASON
Bring a little extra cheer to your holiday table this season. Our collection of the best Christmas desserts features more than two dozen wintry treats to round out your holiday dinner. Treat your guests or hosts to traditional Christmas desserts, from the simple pleasure of gingerbread to the pageantry of Bûche de Noël and Croquembouche, with these festive recipes.
❋ MY 10 FAVORITE FRENCH CHRISTMAS RECIPES TO SAVOR AT HOME
Some of you have asked for easy French Christmas recipes to make at home. So here are a few of my favorites that I love to make and enjoy during the winter season—whether for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or New Year’s Eve. One recipe especially close to my heart is my mother’s rissoles, passed down from my grandmother, Léonce Chenal—who inspired the name of this blog—and even further back from my great-grandmother. My mother kindly shared this cherished recipe with me, allowing me to bring it to you here. Rissoles are small puff pastry turnovers filled with pear or apple compote, a specialty from my native region, Haute-Savoie.
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