And it turns out, sentimental attachment is a tough bind to break.
How dare anyone berate the films we've watched religiously in December since the days when teachers would wheel clunky televisions into classrooms as the year wrapped up.
"Can we watch Christmas Vacation this year, miss?"
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READ NOW"Sorry Tommy, Christmas Vacation is rated M. We have The Santa Clause featuring Tim Allen."
Anyway, here is our list of Christmas movies painstakingly broken down to 12.
If it's stinking hot outside, why not throw on one of these, turn up the aircon and pretend you're frolicking through the snow with Hugh Grant?
Unhappy with our list? Let us know what's missing!
Gremlins (1984, PG)
Biting satire of the super schmaltzy Christmas movies we like to watch with our family during the holidays as cute little fur ball Mogwai spawns a horde of nasty critters (who enjoy Snow White and the Seven Dwarves when not wreaking havoc) when the golden rules are not abided by.
Julian Wright
The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996, MA)
You just can't go wrong with Samuel L. Jackson at Christmas time. Add to that Geena Davis playing a CIA assassin with amnesia (move over, Jason Bourne) among scenes of knife throwing and explosions against the backdrop of Niagara Falls and there's more than enough gratuitous action to make up for the lack of substance.
Arylene Westlake-Jennings
Millions (2004, PG)
After the death of his mother, an imaginative young boy finds a bag of cash that does him more harm than good in the lead-up to Christmas. In Millions, Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle proves he can move us with a beautifully-shot British children's film just as skilfully as he can terrify us with a skin crawler like 28 Days Later.
Mark Donaldson Die Hard (1988, M) Classic Christmas carol soundtrack? Check. Grinch-like villain played by Alan Rickman? Check. Heartwarming message of love, friendship and redemption? Check. All that, and Bruce Willis' hero gives us a great holiday tip about recycling gift-wrapping tape as a gun holster. Rosanna Candler Bad Santa (2003, MA) Bad Santa is the ultimate anti-Christmas movie. Billy Bob Thornton's Santa is a bitter, repulsive alcoholic. It's the dirtiest and funniest Christmas movie out there. It's also highly quotable, not that we can print any of it. Rachel Fenner Home Alone (1990, PG) Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) harnesses the power of toys and household items to fight off baddies in the name of having a decent Christmas. What is cooler than that? "Merry Christmas, ya filthy animal". Joel Kelly The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993, G) Is it a Halloween movie, is it a Christmas movie? No one really knows. Either way it is a fun, family-friendly romp of craziness which is perfect for the festive season. Rebecca Coutts-Smith <stronA teenager buries himself in the back yard using a scuba snorkel for air. Dysfunctional family Christmas chaos reigns while comedian Peter Rows-thorn lopes around at his awkward best. Mark Donaldson Love Actually (2003, M) Love Actually is exactly what Christmas should be about: love, laughter and carols. A star-studded cast, memorable scenes and a lobster in a nativity play make this the perfect festive feel-good flick. Laura Pond