It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and one of the main reasons for that is the joy and mystery that comes with Christmas, and nothing represents that feeling better than these five fantasy Christmas films.
The Man Who Invented Christmas
This biographical drama was released in 2017 and followed the story of Charles Dickens as he comes up with the idea and writes one of the greatest Christmas stories ever told, A Christmas Carol, all the way back in 1843. It is directed by Bharat Nalluri, written by Susan Coyne, and based on a book penned by Les Standiford.
It takes a few liberties to add some Christmas magic to the story of how Dickens wrote one of the all-time holiday classic novels and expertly weaves famous characters from the original book, such as Ebenezer Scrooge, into the film. This allows Dickens to interact with them and find inspiration for his new novel. It was well-received by cinema-goers and critics, amassing over $8-million at the box office and is a fine addition to the legend created by Dickens 177 years ago.
The Nutcracker And The Four Realms
This fantasy adventure film was directed by Lasse Hallstrom and Joe Johnston, based on a screenplay by Ashleigh Powell, and is a modern retelling of the story written by Prussian author E. T. A. Hoffman in 1816 titled The Nutcracker and the Mouse King. The story follows a young girl searching for the key to unlock a magical egg left to her by her late mother. The Nutcracker story is one of the most famous Christmas tales ever told and has had a significant mark across different industries and the numerous adaptations are just a proof of that.
The most famous iteration is undoubtedly the ballet created by Marius Petipa and Pytor Illyich Tchaikovsky in 1892. However, there are plenty of other examples, such as Christmas Stories: Nutcracker Collector’s Edition video game released for PC by Elephant games in 2016 and The Nutcracker board game from 2007. There is even The Nutcracker online slot game, which can be found at some brands on the list of Christmas slots such as 888casino and bgo Casino.
The Grinch
This animated comedy was released in 2018 and is based on the 1957 book How The Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss. It was directed by Yarro Cheney and Scott Mosier and featured the voices of Benedict Cumberbatch and Rashida Jones. The story follows the Grinch and his pet dog as they plan to ruin Christmas for Whoville’s residents by stealing everyone’s presents.
It is the third on-screen iteration of the story after the 1966 TV special and the live-action film that came out in 2000 starring Jim Carrey as the Grinch. This is by far the most popular of all versions of the Grinch, though, as it went on to amass over $511-million worldwide, making it the most successful Christmas movie of all time.
Arthur Christmas
Released in 2011, this animated fantasy film is the only original story on this list. Produced by Sony Pictures Animation and directed by Sarah Smith and Barry Cook, Arthur Christmas tells the charming tale of Santa’s son trying to save Christmas for one little girl after learning his father’s hi-tech sleigh failed to deliver her gift.
The movie features the voices of some of the biggest names in British filmmaking, such as James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Bill Nighy, Michael Palin, and even Jim Broadbent. It received rave reviews from critics and the general public alike and brought over $142-million at the box office. Unlike the other films on this list, there is no legacy behind this film, but it proved so popular it wouldn’t be surprising to see a modern remake in the next few years.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
This musical fantasy was written by John August and directed by Tim Burton and was first released in cinemas in 2005. It is based on the world-famous novel of the same name written by Roald Dahl published in 1964. It stars Johnny Depp as the eccentric Willy Wonka, with Freddie Highmore playing the role of Charlie Bucket. It was a huge success, raking in more than $475-million at the box office.
The story follows Charlie, who lives in poverty with his family but is granted an opportunity of a lifetime when he finds a golden ticket to visit his favourite candy factory, run by none other than Willy Wonka. As with many of Dahl’s stories, there are plenty of messages and lessons written into the characters’ antics for those willing to look a little deeper, which has always played a massive role in their success, both on-page and screen.
