The 20 best Christmas movies of all time – readers' picks

What did Monitor readers choose as the best Christmas movie (or TV special) of all time?

12. 'National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation'

In Jeremiah Chechik's 1989 movie, Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) tries his best to celebrate various traditions, including getting a Christmas tree and putting up his lights, despite his own clumsiness and forgetfulness and the hijinks of his other relatives.

The movie was the third in the "Vacation" film series and, as in the second film, Clark's children are played by different actors than in the series' first installment "National Lampoon's Vacation." In "Christmas," "August: Osage County" actress Juliette Lewis plays Clark's daughter Audrey and "The Big Bang Theory" actor Johnny Galecki portrays Clark's son Rusty.

The Staples Singers' Mavis Staples performs the film's theme song, also titled "Christmas Vacation."

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