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10 Best Christmas War Movies, Ranked

Team EntertainerBy Updated:No Comments18 Mins Read
10 Best Christmas War Movies, Ranked


The overall normal of Christmas films is that they usually options supernatural parts like Santa and elves, the North Pole, and flying reindeer. Or maybe they keep extra grounded in actuality, however for essentially the most half, they’re usually fairly upbeat, and ship messages about why the vacation is well known and why it is very important so many individuals. These films are typically extra common as a result of many in first-world international locations can relate to having a comfortable Christmas with their household and family members.

Sadly, for a lot of others, this is not all the time the case, and lots of haven’t any alternative however to attempt to make the perfect out of their holidays whereas in an lively warzone. There are a handful of movies which have explored this idea, nearly all of that are set throughout both World Conflict I or World Conflict II. These are the perfect Christmas warfare films, that are excellent for people who find themselves on the lookout for one thing a bit bit totally different, or who merely do not benefit from the vibe that almost all Christmas movies have.

10

‘The Victors’ (1963)

Directed by Carl Foreman

American soldiers prepare to fire in 'The Victors'
Picture through Columbia Photos 

The Victors was reamed by critics, and earned many adverse opinions. However for extra informal audiences, it has turn out to be a beloved cult movie set throughout World Conflict II. Over the vacation season of 1942, a number of Allied troopers should combat for survival in occupied France. As for its message, director Carl Foreman said that the film mirrored his private views of the futility and hopelessness of warfare, and it positively reveals.

Probably the most profound moments of the film is when a gaggle of Allied troopers is executed in chilly blood on Christmas Eve by a squadron of Nazis, all whereas Frank Sinatra‘s “Have Your self A Merry Little Christmas” performs within the background. If that does not ship a crystal clear message about what warfare is definitely like, nothing does. It is brooding, darkish, and miserable, however it’s positive to make anybody recognize their very own completely satisfied holidays extra simply by experiencing the nightmarish situations that many in war-torn international locations undergo via. All in all, it is a film that has by no means, ever obtained the appreciation or the eye that it deserves.

The Victors is presently not obtainable to stream, lease, or purchase within the US or Canada.

9

‘Battle of the Bulge’ (1965)

Directed by Ken Annakin

Two soldiers standing in front of a jeep in 'Battle of the Bulge' (1965)
Picture through Warner Bros. 

Battle of the Bulge is known as after the World Conflict II engagement of the identical identify, which lasted from December 16, 1944, to January 28, 1945 within the Ardennes area of Belgium, Germany, and Luxembourg. It was the final, determined offensive made by Nazi Germany in the course of the warfare, meant to stall the Allied advance and presumably flip the tide of the warfare. Happily for us, the Germans misplaced the battle.

Famously, the battle did certainly happen over the Christmas season, and although the vacation is a fairly small a part of the 1965 movie, it’s nonetheless a reminder that this bloody battle ruined Christmas and New 12 months’s Eve. Geez, is nothing sacred? The film is thrilling however has some main historic inaccuracies that are fairly obvious. But, it is nonetheless fairly good, and even served as inspiration for the Battle of Hoth scene in Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Again.

8

‘Battleground’ (1949)

Directed by William A. Wellman

A squad of soldiers gathers in 'Battleground' (1949)
Picture through MGM

One other movie set in the course of the Battle of the Bulge is 1949’s Battleground, centring on the heroics of the one hundred and first Airborne Division of the USA Military who grew to become trapped within the besieged city of Bastogne, Belgium over the Christmas season. The film does have some motion, however is extra involved with character improvement and the private plight of the courageous males within the unit, who should use each asset they’ll discover to make sure their survival.

Every of the troopers is given their very own time to shine, with the film diving deep into their personalities and backstory. Battleground received two Oscars and two Golden Globes and was acquired very properly by critics, who counseled it for its honesty and for its timeless message. Even when it has handed into obscurity, the touching second that the troopers attend service on Christmas Day because the warfare rages on round them is actually exceptional, and is a biting reminder of how the warfare affected each side of regular life.

7

‘Since You Went Away’ (1944)

Directed by John Cromwell

Jennifer Jones sitting with Claudette Colbert in a chair looking at a book while Shirley Temple sits on the floor resting her head on the arm of the chair in Since You Went Away (1944)
Picture through United Artists

Since You Went Away is about throughout World Conflict II, and likewise occurred to come back out whereas the warfare was nonetheless happening. However as a substitute of specializing in the warfare in Europe, it’s as a substitute in regards to the warfare’s impact on the American dwelling, with the primary character being the spouse of a soldier preventing abroad. It’s set within the weeks main as much as Christmas, the place the beleaguered housewife, Anne (Claudette Colbert) is attempting to stay constructive whereas her neighbours’ kids husbands despair on the information that their family members have died within the battle.

Anne makes each effort to assist the Allies from dwelling as a lot as she will be able to, however grows more and more sadder as no information comes of her beloved husband, and Christmas is quick approaching. There’s even a heart-wrenching scene the place Anne locations presents beneath the tree that her husband had purchased for his or her kids previous to his deployment. Happily, this film does have a contented ending (or at the least, for Anne it does), and is way from being essentially the most depressing Christmas film ever made. However it’s a reminder that Christmas simply is not the identical with out those that matter most in our lives, and the way warfare can impression anybody, anyplace on this planet, regardless of how far they’re from the battle.

Since You Went Away is presently not obtainable to stream, lease, or purchase within the US or Canada.

6

‘The place Eagles Dare’ (1968)

Directed by Brian G. Hutton

Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood in 'Where Eagles Dare'
Picture through MGM

The place Eagles Dare is just a Christmas film in the identical sense that The Wizard of Oz is. The content material of the movie itself has zero connection to the vacation and would not even actually point out it, but for some inexplicable motive, it’s all the time aired on tv across the holidays, particularly in the UK. So one would not be improper to assume The place Eagles Dare is a vacation film, and so they definitely would not be improper to observe it in the course of the season.

To its credit score, it does happen within the winter of 1943, spilling over into 1944, in a secluded village in Bavaria, Germany, the place a gaggle of particular forces operators intend to rescue an Allied basic. Based mostly on a novel of the identical identify by Alistair MacLean, The place Eagles Dare was counseled for its thrilling motion and for its general consistency, making for an immediate warfare film traditional that occurs to be generally related to the Christmas season. It has additionally earned a seal of approval from famend movie administrators Steven Spielberg and Quentin Tarantino, cementing itself as a Christmas cult traditional.

5

‘Silent Evening’ (2002)

Directed by Rodney Gibbons

Three soldiers talk in 'Silent Night' (2002)
Picture through Quick Service Photos

To not be confused with John Woo‘s 2023 motion thriller, Silent Evening is a Canadian made-for-television film set throughout World Conflict II. The film is loosely primarily based on true occasions, and is as soon as once more set in the course of the Battle of the Bulge. Most warfare films about Christmas solely have the vacation be a small function or minor scene, however on this film, it’s principally the whole plot.

It centres on a bereaved German lady who misplaced her eldest son within the Battle of Stalingrad three years prior, who seeks refuge in her looking cabin out within the Ardennes together with her husband and youngest son. Nevertheless it seems like everybody and their mom had the identical concept, as a result of the cabin is quickly entered by a gaggle of American troopers and a gaggle of German troopers. Nevertheless, the girl convinces the 2 squads to put down their arms and put apart the preventing for some time to share Christmas dinner with one another. Silent Evening is a film that basically is aware of what the true which means of the season is, exploring the human connection and the few issues that convey folks collectively in instances of turmoil, permitting them to bond over widespread floor.

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4

‘Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence’ (1983)

Directed by Nagisa Ōshima

David Bowie in Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence
Picture through Shochiku Fuji

It isn’t truly fairly clear when precisely in the course of the Second World Conflict Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence takes place. Nevertheless it nonetheless establishes itself as a Christmas film. The film is a couple of group of British prisoners of warfare who’ve been taken captive by the Japanese. Amongst them is John Lawrence (Tom Conti), who’s the one inmate that may truly communicate Japanese. With a view to keep away from violence and dangerous relations, Lawrence seeks to befriend his Japanese captors by speaking with them. The film earns its title attributable to a quote uttered by the Japanese officer Sergeant Hara (Takeshi Kitano), who will get completely hammered and pretends to be Santa Claus someday, abruptly changing into a lot nicer and wishing Lawrence a Merry Christmas, no matter whether or not or not it truly is about in the course of the vacation.

The film was praised for its distinctive and exquisite soundtrack, made higher by the influences of two of its major actors: British singer David Bowie and Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto. Regardless that the references to Christmas are extraordinarily minor, it is a film that also embodies the true spirit of Christmas, as it’s largely about placing variations apart and treating others with kindness regardless of cultural or regional boundaries. It is becoming as a result of the film itself additionally made use of its message, coming as a joint challenge between British and Japanese filmmakers. General, it is among the finest anti-Christmas films to observe in the course of the vacation season, if Santa and his elves aren’t actually your factor.

3

‘Stalag 17’ (1953)

Directed by Billy Wilder

Two men among a crowd looking intently ahead in Stalag 17
Picture through Paramount Photos

Stalag 17 takes place within the German jail advanced of the identical identify, set throughout December 1944. The jail advanced is primarily used to deal with American pilots and airmen, two of whom are killed after a failed escape try. This causes the Nazis working the place to imagine {that a} shifty inmate and black market supplier named J. J. Sefton (William Holden) could also be an informant for the Allies.

Christmas is a prevalent idea within the film, with lots of the main occasions happening in the course of the Christmas festivites. General, it’s a harsh have a look at the strict and brutal situations endured by American inmates in Nazi prisons, and although it is not essentially in regards to the spirit of Christmas per se, it’s nonetheless a film that may safely be watched in the course of the holidays attributable to how vital the theme is to the general narrative.

2

‘A Midnight Clear’ (1992)

Directed by Keith Gordon

Mel (Kevin Dillon) standing in a battlefield in 'A Midnight Clear'
Picture through InterStar Releasing

A Midnight Clear is the fourth movie on this checklist to be set in the course of the Battle of the Bulge, although this one is by far essentially the most Christmas-y one of many 4. Christmas is form of an enormous a part of it, for the reason that occasions of the film deeply have an effect on the Christmas festivities that the Allied troops try and have throughout this horrific battle. The Allied troops take the highlight, particularly a gaggle of scouts chosen for his or her mind who comes throughout a surrendering German platoon. Although they make each effort to be variety and take the platoon prisoner as they need, issues do not all the time go based on plan.

The film is truthfully fairly glum, as many warfare films will be, particularly when Christmas truly arrives and the scouts are compelled to try to preserve some semblance of normalcy as they mourn their fallen on what needs to be the happiest day of the yr. A Midnight Clear is not only a Christmas film, however it’s additionally a film about loss, sacrifice, the previous, transferring on, and the scars that by no means actually heal.

1

‘Joyeux Noël’ (2005)

Directed by Christian Carion

Two soldiers and a woman on the street in Joyeux Noël - 2005
Picture through Sony Photos Classics

Joyeux Noël (“Merry Christmas” in French) will not be the perfect Christmas warfare film when it comes to sheer high quality, however when it comes to protecting with the Christmas theme, it’s positively the best. The film takes place in December of 1914, just some months after the First World Conflict broke out. It centres on the real-life occasion often known as the Christmas Truce, when British, French, and German troopers all alongside the Western Entrance agreed to an off-the-cuff ceasefire for Christmas Day. The 2 sides met in the midst of no-man’s land, and left their weapons behind in favour of exchanging presents, having dinner, and having fun with one another’s firm.

Joyeux Noël follows the viewpoints of a number of troopers on all sides throughout this truce, and is actually miserable because of the implications behind the truce. Not solely is that this ceasefire proof that the lads on the opposite ends of the battlefield don’t truly hate one another and are solely preventing as a result of they’re being advised to, however it’s also miserable as a result of the lads start to make pals with one another, understanding full properly that they must go proper again to killing their new pals the following day. It is a harrowing and extremely emotional affair, however one which brings the true spirit of Christmas to mild with a unprecedented true story, which is what makes this one the perfect Christmas warfare film ever.

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KEEP READING: 10 Finest Christmas Motion Films, Ranked



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