My Christmas Movie Scale
Every year we see the debates regarding whether a movie is or isn't a Christmas movie. Usually done with humorous intent, but sometimes it comes from someone's earnest belief. In the case of the latter, then all that matters is that you believe it, and you can proselytize it to others and try to bring them around to your side.
For me, I think it is more beneficial (and with just as much opportunity for comedy) to move from the binary of "Is" and "Isn't" to a scale. I propose 1-7 for ease while also allowing plenty of granularity.
Below are my example rankings, I welcome feedback!
1
Nothing relating to Christmas at all.
- Waterworld
- Rosemary's Baby
- Everything Everywhere, All at Once
2
A very meager suggested connection, but overall the movie avoids anything relating to the holiday season.
- Batman Begins
- The Sound of Music
3
Christmas occurs somewhere inside this movie as a background event.
- Gremlins
- You've Got Mail
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
4
Christmas plays a role, but the movie largely lives outside of the holiday
- Die Hard
- Trading Places
- Iron Man 3
5
Christmas is in the movie and holiday themes are part of it, but it is not the tentpole of the movie
- LA Confidential
- Mean Girls
- Catch Me If You can
6
The movie is about Christmas, but not entirely
- The Nightmare Before Christmas
- Just Friends
- Home Alone
7
Fully about and within Christmas
- Miracle on 34th Street
- White Christmas
- A Christmas Story