10 Books Your Favorite Christmas Movies Are Based On

Published on August 18, 2022

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Library — Photo: Photography: Brooke Fornea Styling: Kendra Surface

When the holiday season arrives, we want to celebrate as much as possible. That means queuing up Christmas movies on our television screens and pulling favorite festive and wintry books from the shelves. Many classic Christmas movies are based on books, which makes it easy to double the holiday fun. From long-loved stories like A Christmas Carol to newer stories like Skipping Christmas and The Christmas Train, you'll find plenty of ways to get your screens and shelves in the holiday spirit this year. Plus, there are some family-friendly ones that will help get everyone in on the celebrations. Add some festivity to your reading lists and movie nights with our picks.

01 of 10

A Christmas Story

Based on: In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash by Jean Shepherd

A funny Christmas classic that has annual marathons during the holiday season, the movie A Christmas Story is based on stories written by Jean Shepherd.

02 of 10

Christmas with the Kranks

Based on: Skipping Christmas by John Grisham

This jolly movie is based on John Grisham's holiday farce about what happens when a couple decides to forgo holiday celebrations and upsets friends and neighbors in the process.

03 of 10

The Christmas Train

Based on: The Christmas Train by David Baldacci

David Baldacci's 2002 book The Christmas Train was adapted into a 2017 Hallmark movie of the same name starring Kimberly Williams-Paisley and Dermot Mulroney.

04 of 10

Eloise at Christmastime

Based on: Eloise at Christmastime by Kay Thompson, illustrated by Hilary Knight

Indomitable Eloise who lives at the plaza has a festive holiday season (and makes some mischief) in this delightful book-turned-film.

05 of 10

The Grinch

Based on: How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss

There have been several adaptations of Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, including animated and live-action versions.

06 of 10

It's a Wonderful Life

Based on: The Greatest Gift by Philip Van Doren Stern

Perhaps the most classic of classic holiday movies, It's a Wonderful Life is based on the story "The Greatest Gift" by Philip Van Doren Stern, which was published in 1943.

07 of 10

The Muppet Christmas Carol

Based on: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

The Muppets take on Charles Dickens' holiday classic in The Muppet Christmas Carol, which sees furry friends take on well-known characters like Ebenezer Scrooge and Bob Cratchit.

08 of 10

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms

Based on: The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E.T.A. Hoffmann

The popular holiday ballet is based on the story in E.T.A. Hoffmann's The Nutcracker and the Mouse King and was adapted into the recent film The Nutcracker and the Four Realms.

09 of 10

The Polar Express

Based on: The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

The magical journey of Chris Van Allsburg's book The Polar Express came to the big screen in 2004 directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Tom Hanks.

10 of 10

Scrooged

Based on: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens' classic Christmas story gets a contemporary update in Scrooged, a story about coming to terms with life and gaining new perspective during the holiday season.

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