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It ’s that prison term of class again when we wish to nuzzle up on the couch andbinge ascertain Christmas - theme moviesuntil we ’re well and truly brimming with seasonal sunshine . And when it comes to cinematic Yuletide outings , while we ’re partial to morecynical , grownup - orient transportation , ultimately , we ’re most affectionate of family - friendly motion picture that embrace the heart of the time of year in an unabashedly solemn manner .
Yet even these all - ages affairs are n’t exclusively devoid of glum substance . Indeed , quite a few Christmas movies targeted at untried viewers ( and their parent ) contain scenes that are so sombre , we ’re not quite trusted how they made the final cut . Do n’t believe us ? Then check off out this round - up of the glowering mo in family Christmas movies – we assure you ’ll never attend at several of your gay favorites the same elbow room again !
The Santa Clause – Scott Calvin Inherits The Santa Claus Mantle
The Santa Clausehas pass on to become a New classic since it first arrived in theater back in 1994 , which is a footling odd when you consider the tragical incident that place the film ’s plot in motion . Think about it : smarmy toy dog sales administrator Scott Calvin only inherits the Santa Claus cape after his predecessor is mortally injured falling off a cap , which is … less than gay .
unfeigned , it ’s hardly the most violent of prominent screen departures – Santa even waves goodbye before vanishing – but the big bozo still seize with teeth the bullet here . To be honest , the only thing more distressing than the way Scott lands his new responsibilities is the horrifyingly nonchalant response of everybody up at the North Pole upon discover the news !
The Nightmare Before Christmas – Jack’s Terrifying Christmas Eve Delivery Run
Prior to the expiration ofThe Nightmare Before Christmas , Disney administrator were reportedly worry the movie would be too intense for youthful moviegoer – and these fears were n’t solely unfounded . For while this stop - move animated feature is a optic delight , it ’s also a movie informed by the Gothic sensibility of manufacturer Tim Burton , which is to say that it ’s a bit , well , scarey .
Now , there ’s aloton display here that could frighten more waxy viewer . But for our money , the most alarming sequence must be when wannabe Santa Jack Skellington makes his Christmas Eve deliverance run . Indeed , Jack ’s well - intentioned ( but absolutely atrocious ) macabre “ gifts ” – which let in swarms of bats and at least one Christmas Tree - devouring snake – were more than enough to traumatise a whole generation of kids !
The Polar Express – The Hobo Torments Our Hero
avowedly , virtually every chassis in Robert Zemeckis ’ adjustment of theThe Polar Expressmakes our pelt crawl , thanks to the infamously unnerving CGI used to render the film ’s hurl of characters . Still , it ’s hard to top the sequence where our nameless pre - teen protagonist is cod by an Ebenezer Scrooge puppet operated by the Hobo .
Hands - down one of the scariest dame ever to grace the silver gray screen , this puppet threat gives us the creeps – so we can only imagine the effect it has on tiddler ! Sure , there ’s always room for abitof iniquity in a family film , but this succession arguably die too far , and jolt with the otherwise wholesome vibe that interpenetrate the respite of the picture .
How the Grinch Stole Christmas – The Grinch’s Childhood Trauma
Clocking in at a comparatively slim 69 pages , Doctor Seuss’How the Grinch Stole Christmas!doesn’t really have much room to explore the origins of its nominal Christmastime brigand . As a result , we never con why the Grinch has such an anti - Christmas agendum – the serious explanation we get is that he was stick out with a heart two sizes too small ( so , dude has , like , a experimental condition ) .
By contrast , director Ron Howard had a whopping 105 minutes at his disposal when he was reimagining Seuss ’ storybook asa live - natural action Jim Carrey vehicle in 2000 , which let him to dig into the Grinch ’s past . According to Howard and screenwriters Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman , the green - furred misanthropist ’s hate for the gay season stems from his riotous raising – as interrelate in a bare flashback that we ’re in no hurry to re - visit .
Jingle All The Way – The Black Market Warehouse
Jingle All The Wayis arguably the worst entrance on activity icon Arnold Schwarzenegger ’s filmography – a cringeworthy dud that does n’t ferment as either a heartfelt story about a father con to put his family first , or as a satire of the consumerist aspects of the season .
One of the most dubious scenes in this 1996 drollery necessitate Schwarzenegger ’s Howard Langston visiting a black market warehouse to secure a sell - out legal action figure for his Word . That might vocalize like rock bottom , but things get even worse : Arnie terminate up brawling with the Santa Claus costume - clad counterfeiters – which is straight - up depressing in a Christmas movie aimed at a junior demographic .
Mickey’s Christmas Carol – Scrooge’s Hellish Ordeal
1983 animated shortMickey ’s Christmas Carolis a mostly uninspired thing , content to pad through the familiar narration of Charles Dickens ’ novelette without properly impart the celebrated Disney spin to it . However , that ’s not to say that film is entirely bereft of any creative flare , either .
On the opposite , director Burny Mattinson and his team of vitalizer do a masterful chore of ratcheting up the dramatic play during Ebenezer Scrooge ’s face-off with the Ghost of Christmas Yet To occur . Here , Scrooge finds himself plunging into his own tomb , which soon gives means to reveal the fires of Hell itself – a nightmarish sight that manages to outdo the skittish atmosphere evoke byDickens ’ original text !
Miracle On 34th Street – Kris Kringle Is Committed
The 1994 remaking ofMiracle on 34th Streetis virtually insure to fill your middle with festive cheer – however , it ’s not without its downer moments , either . Take the aftermath of Kris Kringle ’s collar on trumped up rape charges , which is about as down in the mouth as it let .
In a by all odds glum collage , kindly old Kris Kringle – a department shop Santa who may or may not be the genuine clause – wind up committed to a sanitarium , while in the outside worldly concern , nestling and adults likewise agonise over his predicament . It ’s punishing not be moved when face with such imagery , and before too tenacious , poor Kris is n’t the only one feeling a turn depressed !
Jack Frost – Jack’s Fatal Car Crash
Full revealing : Jack Frost ’s darkest minute takes place for the most part off - covert . After all , theatre director Troy Miller was hardly work to picture protagonist Jack ’s fatal car crash in pictorial detail , considering this 1998 comedy - drama is pitched at an all - age audience !
Even so , despite the accident itself unfolding off - camera , its outcome – Jack shambling off this mortal coil , leaving behind a sorrow widow and 11 - year - quondam son at Christmas – is undeniably cruel . But then , we ’re not wholly sure whether starMichael Keaton ’s return as a sentient snowman is n’t an even more horrifying fate , when you retrieve about it …
A Christmas Carol (2009) – Jacob Marley Visits Scrooge
Here ’s anotheradaptation ofA Christmas Carol – this time , Robert Zemeckis ’ all - CGI whirl on Dickens ’ beloved story . Fortunately , unlike Zemeckis ’ previous Christmas offering , The Polar Express , the pixel - powered actors on show here are n’t all that troubling … except when they ’re imagine to be !
Indeed , by leaning heavily into the “ ghost story ” elements of Dicken ’s novelette , this 2009 film regularly ventures into eerie story territory . Scrooge ’s face-off with the liveliness of his former line better half Jacob Marley put this sinister look early on in the small-arm , as Gary Oldman ’s motion capture carrying out and the grotesque digital effects really hammer nursing home anguish of Marley ’s spectral existence .
It’s A Wonderful Life – George Bailey Contemplates Suicide
It ’s A Wonderful Lifeis often drop a line - off by more cynical modern viewers as an employment in schmaltzy storytelling , which could n’t be farther from the truth . Yeah , the frame equipment featuring a tiro saint eager to earn his wings is beyond naff , but the sombre sight of lead fibre George Bailey on the wand of taking his own life quickly eclipses it !
There ’s enough more darkness where that came from , too : the scenes set in an alternate timeline robbed of George ’s good deeds are almost as gritty asa comic book dystopia , for instance . But most significantly , It ’s a grand Lifeis ultimately a movie about how life does n’t always turn out the way you want it to – pretty downbeat , no ?
NEXT:10 Best Family favorable Christmas Movies
