There are time when a neat Christmas pic endurance contest includes some dramatic works instead of high - energy family film or cool action hits likeDie Hard . Sometimes , all audience want is a little morsel of timelessness and emotion to really bring out the intent of the vacation time of year .

UPDATE: 2022/12/22 08:20 EST BY SHAWN S. LEALOS

When Christmastime go far , with it comes a slew of holiday - themed movies . It was no dissimilar in 2022 with whimsy inFalling for Christmasand devastation inViolent Night . However , Christmas has always been a dependable time to determine dramas that might not even have anything to do with Christmas , but still have some of the Christmas spirit when all is state and done . In 2022 , that also happened as Steven Spielberg released his young film based on his puerility style , The Fabelmans . While it is not based on the holiday season , it is a floor of family and the love of movies and dramas like that are always a hit during the most festive metre of the year .

Carol (2015)

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Carolis a period dramatic play about two cleaning woman having an social function in an geological era where this could have destroy both of their sprightliness . Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara both turned in award - bore performances , both picking up Oscar nominations for their role . This is a dramatic event that actually play out during the Christmas season , even though it is not technically a Christmas movie .

The moving picture was sleep together by the critic , with an outstanding 94 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes , even though the Oscars snubbed the movie in the Best Picture category . The movie is a tender level about forbidden love , and with the Christmas time of year on full display , it is a flick that is a thoroughgoing drama for anyone looking for a different sorting of erotic love news report .

Little Women (2019)

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There have been several adaption of Louisa May Alcott’sLittle Women , including the beloved 1994 version with Winona Ryder . However , the2019 version by director Greta Gerwig might be the bestof them all . The cast is fantastic with Saorise Ronan , Florence Pugh , Emma Watson , Meryl Streep and Laura Dern leading the way .

What makes this movie exceptional was the change made to the ending , where viewing audience witness Jo peradventure achieving her lifelong ambition , making that almost more important than the love story . The movie remains a dandy drama to look on at Christmas thanks to the themes that love , hope , and kindness will direct anyone through the darkest of multiplication .

The Family Stone (2005)

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The Family Stonemight be one of thebest holiday pic that most film fans have never seen . That is a shame because it is a marvelous motion picture , if not a little cheerless at time . The tale follow a nonadaptive family getting back together at Christmas . The cast is outstanding , with Diane Keaton and Craig T. Nelson as the parent of a grouping of adult siblings still trying to incur their way .

Sarah Jessica Parker is a standout here as well , as the girlfriend of the eldest Logos ( Dermot Mulroney ) , a fair sex who wants acceptance but does everything wrong . There is a cataclysm brewing in the movie , though , and by the end , the story persist both affecting and lamentable . It is a heavy motion picture about household and finding acceptance even in the bad of time .

Big Fish (2003)

Moving past the consumerism and mercantilism of Christmas , the dead on target meaning of the holidays is mob . In 2003 , Tim Burton made an eclectic movie about a father and son who never really bang each other until it was too late . Most of the movie plays out in the yesteryear , with Ewan McGregor play a young Edward Bloom as he set out to come upon the world .

Throughout his life , his son Will had find out all these tall narrative and " fish stories " from his dada . He soured on the account and left , believing that his don would never live in the literal world . However , when he really dug into all the floor , he found true statement in them that show that his father lived a life no one ever could have dreamed , and he realized he was missing out on live a antic aliveness of his own thanks to his cynicism . It is the gross message for a drama motion picture at Christmas .

Far And Away (1992)

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Real - aliveness couple Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman reunited two years after makingDays Of Thunderto mavin in this motion picture about a new Irish duet who flee to the States for a newfangled life . They face incredible challenges that try out their resolve and provide them the chance to work a raw path for themselves as landowners .

The film is a masterpiece of menses filmmaking that give it a timeless adventure feel with just the right amount of drama fuddle in . It remains one of managing director Ron Howard ’s most underrated dramatic works .

Rain Man (1988)

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Tom Cruise play the self - centered Charlie Babbitt who get out that his autistic savant brother Raymond ( Dustin Hoffman ) has just inherit a $ 3 million dollar bill trust investment company bestowed upon him by their previous beginner . He takes Raymond out of his genial institute in an attempt to get the inheritance , only to be thwart by Raymond .

As Charlie learns more about Raymond , he starts to understand that his own life of swindling , womanizing , and selfishness is entirely meaningless . As he raise to be intimate his pal more , he starts to understand what family is all about - perhaps for the first time .

The Ten Commandments (1956)

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Whether a believer or not , The Ten Commandmentsisone of the great epics of all time , and definitely fits in nicely during a Christmas picture - thon . Believers take it as church doctrine , while non - believers enjoy it as an entertaining work of fabrication , but there ’s no denying the impingement it made on movie making .

Charlton Heston play Moses , a man designate by the Lord himself to precede his people out of bondage under the roughshod vitellus of the Egyptian Empire . With potent strength at his side , Moses lock up horns with a barbarous Pharaoh who turn away to back down , until he too finally becomes a truster .

Stand By Me (1986)

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Stephen King penned a unique storycalledThe Bodywhich was translate into a lightsome work ( compared to his other stories ) about a group of young boy who set out to find the body of a vernal boy presumed to be missing . thing get complicated when a group of bullies piece up their lead , however .

The cinema continues to support the trial run of meter not just as a cultus classic , but as a commentary about the importance of friendships , even as people mature . It ’s not for young small fry , but old movie fans will definitely enjoy the spirit of the plastic film .

Edward Scissorhands (1990)

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Johnny Depp seduce a major hit when he starred in this quirky Tim Burton classic about an artificial man whose creator dies just before he is able to have a solidification of hands . Instead , he ’s push to experience out a lone existence in an empty house with pair of scissors for hands that prove to be a danger not just to himself , but to others also .

It ’s a timeless tale about the sadness and sorrow brought on by bigotry and bias , and the passion that can overcome it . Though the story stop on a semisweet note , it ’s still a great convulsion for the Christmas holidays and should be shared with newfangled generation .

Joyeux Noël (2006)

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Gallic theater director Christian Carion took on the wonderful task of telling a true news report about a cease-fire called between forces struggle on the Western Front on Christmas Eve , 1914 . On that Clarence Shepard Day Jr. , the guns were put down , and soldier on both sides fraternise and enjoyed the holiday together .

unhappily , the event would not go unnoticed or unpunished , which highlights the grandness of the appointment . Joyeux Noëlis one of the most important Christmas film ever made , and one with a powerful message that would best be listen by all .

Miracle On 34th Street (1994)

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This 1994 remake of the classical Christmas film manages to update the report for a modern interview without losing the liveliness of what come before . This prison term , Kris Kringle is portrayed by the loveable Richard Attenborough , who goes through relatively the same serial of case , including a lawcourt subject to try and prove he ’s the existent deal .

However , there ’s a flake more magic to this particular storey thanks to Kringle ’s relationship with little Susan Walker , a girl who does n’t conceive Kris is in reality Santa until three of her Christmas wishes on the spur of the moment become unfeigned .

Forrest Gump (1994)

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Tom Hanks shed his 1980s comedy career and translated full to spectacular character after play the loveable Forrest Gump in the 1994 classic . It ’s the timeless story of an intellectually challenged guy who charms the world with his aboveboard and wise views on life .

Not only wasForrest Gumpa technical marvel , but its dramatic story is one for the years . In fact , the film made such an impact that it ’s still remembered fondly today thanks to its pop culture inverted comma and splendid mould performances .

Jerry Maguire (1996)

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Christmas movies are always the best when they have happy end , andJerry Maguireis no exception . This dramatic Tom Cruise smasher get along out of nowhere and made the phrasal idiom " you complete me " part of the ethnic vocabulary .

Cruise plays a sports agent who goes through an epiphany that ends up costing him his job and his elite node roll . With only one left to his name , Maguire set out with fellow former employee Dorothy Boyd to prove and mould a newfangled route . Along the mode , he issue forth to empathise what ’s truly important in life , which was good in front of him the whole clock time .

War Horse (2011)

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Steven Spielberg is no stranger to World War epics , but he ’d never done one from the point of survey of a buck until this 2011 dramatic chef-d’oeuvre arrived . When prized horse Joey is sold to the cavalry at the start of the First World War , he ends up on the front lines before being ingest by German military force .

This is the accelerator for an adventure that assume Joey across Europe and into the hands of a telephone number of dissimilar people before completing a full R-2 back to his original owner . That puts it in good order up there in the pantheon of feel - expert Christmas moving picture .

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Christmas Drama Films - Featured

Roony Mara and Cate Blanchett meeting in the department store in Carol

The cast of Little Women.

Diane Keaton, Sarah Jessica Parker and Rachel McAdams in The Family Stone

Allison Pill and Ewan McGregor in Big Fish (2003)

Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman in Far and Away.

Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman sitting outside in Rain Man.

Moses in The Ten Commandments.

The kids from Stand By Me.

Edward Scissorhands hugging Kim.

The cast from Joyeux Noël.

Richard Attenborough as Santa Claus with Mara Wilson in miracle on 34th street

Forrest Gump talking to Jenny.

Jerry Maguire talking to Dorothy.

The cast of War Horse.

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