The best holiday movies of all time.

It feels a little strange to put on a costume and ask your neighbors for candy in the middle of August. It’s a bit rowdy to drink lots of domestic beer and shoot off loads of firecrackers on a brisk November evening. In addition, something just doesn’t feel quite right about watching a bunch of Christmas videos when it is not the holiday season.

Therefore, right now, we have a week or so left to find and view all of our favorite holiday movies before they lose their relevance. With so many truly great holiday classics, this might seem like am overwhelming task. As a little holiday gift to you—our readers—here’s a totally biased list of the best Christmas videos.

A Christmas Story

This 1984 film is a rare treat: a family film that is hilarious. In this story, set in 1940s America, a young boy named Ralphie is trying to tell his parents and Santa Claus that all he wants for Christmas is a Red Ryder BB gun. Most people should be able to relate to some part of this Christmas classic, from the swearing father—played perfectly by Darren McGavin—to the neighborhood bully named Scut Farkus.

Holiday film factoid: Director Bob Clark III was the mastermind behind the Porky’s movies.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Along with It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, this is a classic television special with Charles Schultz’s Peanuts gang. Probably the most memorable part of this program that aired first in 1965 is the pitiful plant Charlie Brown chooses as a Christmas tree. Actually, it is the wimpy tree and the great score by pianist Vince Guaraldi, that make this a keeper.

Holiday film factoid: this show won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Children’s Program.

Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas

I’m referring to the 26-minute 1966 television production, not the 2000 feature film starring Jim Carrey. In this animated program, the Grinch dresses up like Santa Claus and decks his dog out like a reindeer to take Christmas from the happy Whoville residents. The Grinch wasn’t expecting someone like the adorable Cindy Loo Who, who changes the evil, green monster’s mind about the holiday season.

Holiday film factoid: the Grinch is voiced by ‘60s horror star Boris Karloff.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

In the third installment of National Lampoon’s vacation series, the Griswolds host a disaster-filled Christmas with relatives including Randy Quaid’s hilarious white trash “cousin Eddie.”

Holiday film factoid: a young Juliette Lewis plays Chevy Chase’s teenage daughter in the film.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

There are many things that make this 1964 television special one of the most memorable Christmas programs of all time. There is the stop-motion animation that took a whole year and a half to put together. And Rudolph’s eclectic posse that includes Hermey, an elf who harbors a strange desire to become a dentist, and Yukon Cornelius, a more amiable version of Yosemite Sam. Also, there are a handful of catchy tunes like “Silver and Gold” and “Holly Jolly Christmas.”

Holiday film factoid: folksinger Burl Ives provides the voice for narrator Sam the Snowman.

Elf

A newcomer to the Christmas film pantheon, this 2003 movie stars Will Ferrell as a human adopted by elves. Essentially a fish-out-of-water story, this film tracks Ferrell’s “Buddy” as he tries to rediscover his roots in New York City. Unfortunately, the ending of Elf runs out of creative steam, relying on a typical Hollywood-style resolution.

Holiday film factoid: four-foot-five-inch actor Peter Dinklage, star of the great independent film The Station Agent, makes an appearance as a feisty children’s book author.

Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas

A hard-to-find 1977 HBO special directed by Jim Henson (of Muppets fame) about a poor otter who hopes to win Christmas money at a talent show in nearby Waterville. Unfortunately, Emmet Otter and his jug band are competing against the Riverbottom Nightmare Band, a heavy rock group featuring a bear and a snake. Good luck finding this one—currently, a VHS tape of this heartwarming 48-minute long program goes for  $40 used on Amazon.com; meanwhile a used DVD fetches $80 or more from the Web site.

Holiday film factoid: Kermit the Frog is the narrator of this rare special.