What to Watch on Christmas Day: Marathons include ‘Wonderful Life,’ ‘Christmas Story’
NOTE: Freeform and AMC have Christmas movies and specials running all day and all night (including “Rudolph” at 5:40 on Freeform and more). Plus, the “A Christmas Story” marathon continues on TBS and TNT. Here are some other good options.
It’s a Wonderful Life (6 a.m., E!) — If you’re up extra early, this 1946 Frank Capra classic starts at 6 and runs all day and all night. It can be the background to your Christmas morning festivities. In the movie, a suicidal man ruined by a miser on Christmas Eve sees his life in a new light thanks to his guardian angel. It stars James Stewart, Donna Reed and Lionel Barrymore.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (7 and 9:15 p.m., AMC) - The Griswolds spend the holiday with relatives in this 1999 holiday comedy, including a country cousin who arrives in an RV. It stars Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Randy Quaid and Diane Ladd.
Home Alone (6:45 p.m., Freeform) - Accidentally left behind by his Paris-bound family at Christmas time, an 8-year-old (Macaulay Culkin) makes mincemeat of two burglars (Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern) in the house. (“Home Alone 2” follows at 9:15.)
Writing Around the Christmas Tree (8 p.m., Lifetime) - In this new movie, a romance novelist meets a dashing author at a holiday writer’s retreat who convinces her that to write about love, she must, first, experience it.
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (8 p.m., NBC) - This is the animated (and far superior) version of the story, narrated by Boris Karloff. In it, the lonely and heartless Grinch dresses up like Santa to steal the Christmas decorations, gifts and even the special holiday roast beast from the Whos of Whoville.
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (8:30 p.m., NBC) - Jim Carrey stars as the big green grinch in this live action adaptation that also stars Jeffrey Tambor and Christine Baranski. Narrated by Anthony Hopkins.
Some programming descriptions are provided by networks.
