Top 5: Holiday Movie Traditions

No matter how many times we've seen them, those Christmas endlessly repeating around the holidays are a tradition for many.

Patch has whittled down the stack of holiday favorites and listed our top five.

But we want to know about your favorites, too. Tell us in the comments what we've missed, which films should not be on the list, and what you do or don't like about a variety of Christmas movies.

Without further ado, our five holiday film picks are:

1. A Christmas Story (1983)

“I want an official Red Ryder carbine-action, 200-shot, range model air rifle with a compass in the stock, and this thing which tells time.”

Who doesn't love this quintessential Christmas movie? Set in the 1940's, it's about 9-year-old Ralphie and his attempts to nab the ultimate Christmas gift; his foul-mouthed father who wins a naughty leg lamp; and a lot more—bullies, hounds and a furnace, just to name a few.

While "The Old Man" and Mom go back and forth over the steamy lamp, Ralphie tries to convince the adults in his life a B.B. gun is the perfect gift for him. But in response, all he hears is "You'll shoot your eye out."

2. It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

"Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?"

Starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed, this classic film follows a suicidal George Bailey, who is facing failure and financial ruin. With the help of angels, he sees how life in Bedford Falls would have been if he had never existed, and it's not a pretty picture.

3. The Polar Express (2004)

"Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can't see."

In this great-for-the-kids holiday film, a young boy doubts the existence of Santa Claus and embarks on a journey to the North Pole on Christmas Eve via a magical train steered by an oddball conductor, masterfully voiced by actor Tom Hanks. Hanks voices six characters in the animated adventure, including Scrooge and jolly old St. Nick.

4. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)

"I don't know what to say, except it's Christmas and we're all in misery."

Things never run smoothly for Clark, Ellen and the Griswold kids. Christmas is no different in this hilarious comedy featuring an over-the-top holiday light display; unexpected guests, cousin Eddy and family; and an overextended father who loses it as what was to be the perfect Christmas unfolds.

5. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

In another Christmas classic, a nice old man who calls himself Kris Kringle and claims to be Santa Claus is institutionalized as insane. As a young lawyer comes to his aid, arguing in court Kringle is the real thing, even the most cynical begin to see something special in the old man.

About this column: Theater, museum and entertainment news Related Topics: Arts and Entertainment, Christmas 2011, Films, Home Guide, Movies, and holidays 2011 Which are your favorite holiday movies? Do you and your family have Christmas film traditions?