Below is a completely unbiased (ha ha ha) list of my favorite Christmas Book to Screen adaptations:
The Polar Express
Book by Chris Van Allburg
The Polar Express is a guaranteed cozy watch and comfort read. My parents read me this book every year, and starting at age 5, my public school would play this movie, give us all hot chocolate and allow us to come to school in pajamas. Immediate nostalgia kick. The animation can be terrifying at times, and every character is essentially played by Tom Hanks, but I highly recommend regardless. I will one day terrorize my own kids with this movie, that’s a guarantee.
Let It Snow: Three Holiday Romances
Novel by John Green, Lauren Myracle, and Maureen Johnson
I know we see John Green’s name and all internally sigh, but this is a mostly happy tale of 3 intertwined short stories taking place around Christmas time. I read this book a few years ago and it honestly didn’t leave that much of an impression. The Let it Snow movie came out on Netflix in 2019, and it packs the same punch. It gives you Christmas rom-com, but no one is writing home about it. If you’re looking for a quick watch and read, Let It Snow is perfect.
Dr. Suess’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Film is Jim Carrey’s best performance ever, I will not be taking critiques at this time, thank you. I have many words about what a horrid person Dr. Suess is, but I can also acknowledge that I grew up learning how to read with his books, so take it all with a grain of salt. The movie always puts me in a giggly happy mood, everyone I know can quote this movie off the top of their heads. I would say pass on the book and put on the movie.
Pride, Prejudice, and Mistletoe
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is a classic, and we all fawn over Kiera Knightly in the 2005 film version. I am certainly bewildered over all the versions of Pride and Prejudice that have continually been adapted to screen when the 2005 version exists. It’s perfect, we should have stopped after that. That being said, Pride, Prejudice, and Mistletoe is by far one of the better Hallmark movies I’ve ever seen. Luke and Darcy return home for Christmas to work a charity event together. Absolute classic tale. Honestly, watch it, but then cleanse yourself with the 2005 version or the book which is a timeless classic.
Christmas with the Kranks
Based on Skipping Christmas by John Grishman, a surprisingly beloved novel, Christmas with the Kranks staring Time Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis falls flat in comparison. This has never been one of my favorite movies, it was never in my Christmas Movie Marathon lineup and it won’t be in the future. I didn’t even know it was based on a novel, and the reviews were honestly glowing. If you want to experience this particular story, read the book and skip the movie.
Kendal
Writer
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