Christmas is a magical time for many. The lights, the snow, the cold, and the cozy fires all contribute to a magical feeling of warmth and happiness. Of course, the movies also play a large role in this. Christmas movies are undoubtedly hit or miss, with many of the misses being cheaply-produced made-for-TV romances.

But many Christmas movies are made with care and love, and these have become annual classics throughout the years. Unfortunately, not everyone agrees on the quality of said classics, and many cinephiles on Reddit find them horribly overrated.

UPDATE: 2022/11/24 23:58 EST BY SHAWN S. LEALOS

While it is one of the most beloved and talked about Christmas movies of all time, Reddit has proved that A Christmas Story is not a movie that everyone loves. Plenty of people feel the movie is highly overrated, even as a Christmas movie. Despite that, there are still enough fans of the original that a new sequel arrived in 2022 with A Christmas Story Christmas, with Ralphie all grown up and all the stars from the original reprising their roles. No matter how overrated some might claim the original is, the sequel was a huge success on streaming and proved that the iconic Christmas movie is as popular today as it was when it came out 40 years ago.

It's A Wonderful Life (1946)

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The big problem with It's a Wonderful Life has nothing to do with whether the movie is good or bad. It has to do with the fact that TV networks play it continuously every holiday season, and for many people, it has run its course. However, others think it is overrated as a story as well, with a possible message that is not as good as many once believed.

One Redditor wrote that they "have a very rocky relationship with that movie" because of its messaging. While the theme is to appreciate what you have and what you have done for others, the problem comes from the thought that a person is better off if they give up their dreams for the good of others. When it comes to movies like this, it is all about what a person brings into it.

The Santa Clause (1994)

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It might seem hard to believe for some, but the first movie in the franchise arrived 28 years ago when Tim Allen's Scott Calvin accidentally killed Santa Claus and took over the role from then on.

However, while the movie has three sequels now, not everyone was on board with the original in the series. A Redditor wrote that this was one of the most overrated Christmas movies ever made. While they didn't leave a reason, the fact is that the movie is mostly an easy watch with old-fashioned storytelling that might not work as well for today's more experienced movie fans.

How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

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For some people of a certain age, the Jim Carrey version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas remains a must-watch year after year. While the original cartoon painted the Grinch as a true holiday villain, the Carrey version showed that he had a genuine reason to hate Whoville. However, not everyone remains on board over two decades later.

While arguing that the movie's fans were kids when it originally came out, BoogieCousinsFather is determined that "If you grew up with the originals however, you know the remakes are crap." It also took some of the charm away by making it live-action instead of the classic animated cartoon.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

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If any Redditor wanted to find a movie that fit the true definition of overrated, they would find a movie that almost everyone loves that they find problems with. That is what one Redditor did when they chose the universally beloved animated holiday movie, The Nightmare Before Christmas. Considered one of the best stop-motion movies ever made, this detractor found little to like about the film.

"A movie I could never get into that people love is the Nightmare Before Christmas," they explained. "It’s fine, but I never found the story overly interesting and I do think long parts of it are boring." That comes down to personal taste, but for most, this is the quintessential holiday masterpiece.

Jingle All The Way (1996)

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Jingle all the Way is another Christmas movie that somehow picked up a lot of fans who have stuck with it through the years. The movie was made when Arnold Schwarzenegger dabbled in comedies, as he played a father who battled with another father, played by Sinbad, for a prized toy for their kids' Christmas.

When looking for overrated Christmas movies, borisdidnothingwrong listed this classic as one they can't stand. The movie is a strong look at consumerism during the holidays. However, despite its mostly generic story, it has some high points, including a Santa Claus union and one of the wildest chase scenes in a holiday movie.

A Christmas Story (1983)

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A Christmas Story is an all-time classic filled with many iconic moments and quotes. But it's not universally beloved. As Reddit themotherflicker writes, "I never understood the hype and love for the film, and I think it's because I got to the movie so late, after years of everyone telling me how great it was."

It could indeed be a case of expectations getting in the way of enjoyment, as A Christmas Story has an enormous reputation as one of the greatest Christmas movies ever. Movies of such caliber are bound to be overrated by some.

Elf (2003)

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best Will Ferrell movies, but it's certainly not for everyone. It's highly overrated in the mind of Uoneeb, who writes, "Elf, definitely, can't stand that movie." While it definitely has charm and a cozy Christmas atmosphere, the enjoyability largely comes down to one's patience for Will Ferrell.

Ferrell is at his most Ferrell in Elf. His character, Buddy, is very loud, childish, and can be very annoying, not only to his biological father in the movie, but clearly to some audience . For some, Buddy's obnoxious personality may be too much to bear.

Miracle On 34th Street (1947)

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Miracle on 34th Street], I don't know why! I think it's boring and the actress who plays the little girl grated on me, even back then!" Old movies like this can be difficult to watch for modern audiences, and it's exactly for the reasons that HadHerses states.

The pacing can prove awkward for some and patience-testing, and screen acting was still experiencing growing pains - an unfortunate leftover of the exaggerated style of stage acting. These two elements can sometimes combine in older movies to make an unpleasant viewing experience for some.

The Polar Express (2004)

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The Polar Express might be a holiday classic, but it might also be a mess. No one really knows for sure. Reddit licensedvigilante is not a fan, writing, "I've always disliked Polar Express, even as a kid I didn't get why people liked it and I'm usually a big fan of Christmas movies."

The Polar Express certainly has its detractors, many of whom bemoan the movie's odd use of visual effects. The movie looks like a strange mix between reality and CGI. For some, that's part of the magic. But for others, it's just too distracting to get behind.

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

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Muppets Christmas Carol. It's a nostalgia trip for sure for people my age but I never liked it, even as a youngster. The Christmas Carol story itself is boring to me and then the songs/jokes by the Muppets are less than inspiring."

A Christmas Carol has been told hundreds, if not thousands of times before, and for some, the Muppet twist is just not exciting enough to get past the well-trodden story. That, and the songs just aren't good enough to make the film a classic in the eyes of a few viewers.