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Few holiday movies are deserving of the title “Christmas Classic.” Some make it, nestled under the Christmas tree with a bow, but some are doomed to repeat on the Hallmark channel for all of eternity. Some holiday flicks are good enough to leave someone asking, “Yeah, but then what?” Here are 10 that deserve a sequel, just to get you into the holiday spirit. If this doesn’t do it for you, then pour yourself a glass of eggnog and just mutter “bah humbug” under your breath until the snow melts.
Looking for more holiday spirit or a last-minute gift? Check out the Best Buy Holiday Gift Guide for ideas and inspiration.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
For those of us who come from a traditional American family, no Christmas movie felt more real than National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Many family mottos are along the lines of “If something could go wrong, it usually does.” One family member’s determination to have a “good old-fashioned family Christmas” always sets them up for disappointment, and annoys the rest of the family by their pathetic attempts at spreading good will towards man.
It was released in 1989, and it sorely needs an update. In September of this year, it was rumored that Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo are on board to create an ABC show with their characters entering their golden years. Fingers crossed that there’s a Christmas episode soon.
Eight Crazy Nights (2002)
Eight Crazy Nights isn’t a perfect movie. There are a lot of easy jokes and eye-rolling humor. But the heart of the movie is actually kind of sweet. Despite rolling out a bunch of films that are less than stellar (try to remember Punch-Drunk Love, try to forget Zohan), Adam Sandler has certainly matured since 2002. It would be interesting to see his take on the holiday now that he has a family of his own.
When Harry Met Sally… (1989)
Besides the dark Funny or Die skit featuring Billy Crystal and Helen Mirren, set in a retirement home after Sally passes away (oh, and they’re vampires grampires), the sequel to the film has never been discussed. It’s a classic, and the point where Harry and Sally finally admit that they’re in love falls on New Year’s—the best holiday to commit to a person. It’s after Christmas and Hanukkah so there are no gifts, but it still falls within cuffing season.
A sequel isn’t needed, we assume they live happily ever after, but it’s always nice to revisit characters that feel like old friends.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Do you watch this during Halloween? Do you watch it during Christmas? The sequel could make this even more confusing. Just brainstorming here, but picture this—The Nightmare Before Hanukkah and After Arbor Day with Halloween Characters. If this sequel ever becomes a reality, invest in Hot Topic, because those tweens are going to make the stocks soar.
Tim Burton apparently stopped Disney from making a sequel to his classic because it wasn’t going to be stop motion, which is understandable since he doesn’t want a sequel to ruin the purity of this film. But stop motion also takes forever, Burton. So give the fans what they want: Jack Skellington dressed up as various holiday characters, like Cupid, a turkey, the Easter Bunny—you get the idea.
Love Actually (2003)
You know Love Actually. It’s that movie your mom watches at least thrice during the holiday season—the one that makes her cry at six different points of the movie. At this point, you can name the points (do not even hum “Bye, Bye Baby (Baby Goodbye)” at this time of year). And, honestly, Love Actually is actually a wonderful Christmas movie. It has multiple plot points of all different types of love, all during Christmas.
The sequel could be equally as cherished. It could follow the characters in their lives now, eleven years later, or it could center on a whole new ensemble cast. Just give us the saccharine sweet Christmas feelings while we cry into some fruitcake.
Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (2004)
The cult classic of Santa being abducted by Martians to give the children of Mars a real Christmas needs a sequel so badly that it practically writes itself. There are so many possibilities for other absurd storylines: Santa Claus Conquers the Sewer People of New York City, Santa Claus Conquers Bigfoot, or Santa Claus Conquers Long Lines at the Supermarket. Santa Claus is magic—he could theoretically conquer everything.
Jingle All the Way (1996)
Arnold, in his comedy-movie prime, teamed up with Sinbad to create a Christmas movie based on toys that are overhyped. Who could ever picture a more beautiful combination? The timing was perfect. It came out the same year as the Tickle Me Elmo, which prompted shoppers to trample each other in toy aisles just so that their grandchild would be happy on Christmas morning.
Here’s our pitch for the sequel—studio heads, get at us through e-mail. Arnold and Sinbad are good buddies now, as Arnold’s near 70, Sinbad, 60. They meet up once a week to play cards and eat dried meat. Their children are grown and coming home to visit for the holiday season, and all they want is (screenwriter will perform a quick Google search for the most popular toy the year the film is released) Anna from Frozen ice skating doll. The feud fires up again, and we watch dudes who are probably afraid that they might break something enter Black Friday crowds.
Bad Santa (2003)
Ever get sick of the feel-good family fest that happens on your TV from the start of December until Christmas Day? How many times can Santa actually prove to a kid that he’s the real deal? How many absent fathers, focused on work, realize at Christmas that they’re missing their kid growing up? Bad Santa is the perfect Christmas film for the cynics. It’s so popular that, six years after its release in 2003, rumors of a sequel began to spread. It was planned for release in 2011, then 2013, and now 2016. Stop teasing and give us Billy Bob Thornton in Bad Santa—now!
Elf (2003)
Every holiday season, a new film tries to claw its way to the top of the box office to become a new Christmas classic. Most fail, miserably. Once and a while, however, there’s magic—in 2003, it came in the form of a 6’3” elf.
Will Ferrell may have turned down $29 million for a sequel, but money is no object. Would he turn down a billion dollars? Get on it, Hollywood—don’t be so cheap. We need to witness Buddy saving Christmas while chugging sixteen bottles of cola, as Zooey Deschanel croons classic Christmas songs.
It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
It’s the most beloved Christmas movie ever made, so why in the world would it need a sequel? Well, after the happiness fades from the viewers, and after the town saves George Bailey when he has selflessly saved them so many times, one thing still looms: Mr. Potter, the guy who stole George Bailey’s money at the bank, and who owns half the town, and is the vilest villain ever, never gets what is coming to him.
There have been talks about a sequel, but unfortunately the plot would likely center around George Bailey’s grandson, and the actress who originally played Zuzu—Karolyn Grimes—is supposed to be the angel who gets her wings. That’s sweet, but can we send Mr. Potter to jail instead? He did steal $8,000 from a small business.