Are you getting in the Christmas mood yet? It’s actually a little early for me, but for some reason everyone seems to be starting early this year and I am finding myself swept away with it. Last night we watched a Christmas move as it was on TV and the girls were all a bit grumpy and under the weather. It definitely got us looking forward to the holiday season. It made me think of all the movies there are which are lovely to watch as a family.

I ran a competition to win a copy of The Snowman on DVD and the question to win was “what is the best Christmas film?” I thought it would be a nice idea to compile a list of all the movies the entrants listed – as well as a couple they forgot. Top of the list was the Snowman (well that was the prize) – but following pretty closely was Elf – brilliant family fun.

So here are 30 of the best Christmas films for the family. They may not be the most critically acclaimed films of all time, they may not have won any awards or have dissertations written about them. What they are is good family fun. Movies which will get you feeling festive – which you can watch sitting curled up in front of the fire, with pop corn or mince pies to eat and a steaming mug of hot chocolate. Movies to wrap the Christmas presents to. Movies to watch on Christmas Eve – or in the car on the way to visit relatives. Movies you watched when you were a child – which remind you of how you felt as a child, and which you can’t wait to share with your children – or grandchildren. Movies which you will get out every Christmas and which will become a part of your family traditions for years to come.