The State Of Xmas Movies
We all have our favorite holiday movies, the ones we rewatch every Christmas no matter how many times we've seen them. So, we thought it would be fun to see where the ones we love rank amongst the 50 states of the union. What is the most popular Christmas movie in each state? Let's find out...
Alabama: A Christmas Story (1983)
Based on the short story collection In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash, by Jean Shepherd
Alaska: A Christmas Story (1983)
This one is so popular that TBS and then TNT have been airing a "24 Hours of A Christmas Story" event every year where they replay the movie 12 times in a row starting on Christmas Eve.
Arizona: Elf (2003)
You can't go wrong with a little Will Ferrell at Christmas.
Arkansas: A Christmas Story (1983)
Are you picturing the leg lamp right now? We are.
California: Home Alone (1990)
"Kevin!"
Twentieth Century, Home Alone (1990)
Colorado: Elf (2003)
Yup, the Rocky Mountain state loves Elf.
Connecticut: Elf (2003)
We don't know if folks in Connecticut love spaghetti with maple syrup, chocolate syrup, M&Ms, marshmallows, and a chocolate fudge Pop Tart. But we do know they love the Elf movie.
Washington DC: A Christmas Story (1983)
A favorite in the Capital. Yes, we know it isn't a state—but still.
Delaware: Miracle On 34th Street (1947)
We assume it's the 1947 version they love—but maybe some go for the 1994 version.
Twentieth Century, Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
Florida: Elf (2003)
FL loves ELF.
Georgia: A Christmas Story (1983)
In 2012, the film was selected for the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
Hawaii: A Christmas Carol (?)
There have been multiple versions of this movie made over the decades. Not sure which one Hawaii gravitates to. Do you have a favorite?
Walt Disney, The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
Idaho: Home Alone (1990)
They love potatoes and Home Alone.
Twentieth Century, Home Alone (1990)
Illinois: It's A Wonderful Life (1946)
How many were surprised this one hadn't shown up already?
RKO, It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
Indiana: Elf (2003)
We thought this would be an A Christmas Story state given that the film takes place in Indiana. But nope—they love Buddy in Indiana.
Iowa: A Christmas Story (1983)
Did you know they made three sequels: My Summer Story, A Christmas Story 2, and A Christmas Story Christmas.
Kansas: Die Hard (1988)
We agree with Kansas. Die Hard IS a Christmas movie.
Twentieth Century, Die Hard (1988)
Kentucky: A Christmas Story (1983)
For such a beloved film—it only made $19 million at the box office back in 1983.
Louisiana: Home Alone (1990)
People forget that John Hughes wrote Home Alone (but he didn't direct it).
Twentieth Century, Home Alone (1990)
Maine: A Christmas Story (1983)
A Christmas Story: The Musical opened on Broadway in 2012.
Maryland: Home Alone (1990)
Chris Columbus directed the movie and the character of Old Man Marley was his idea.
Twentieth Century, Home Alone (1990)
Massachusetts: Elf (2003)
Chris Farley and Jim Carrey were both early candidates for the role of Buddy.
Michigan: A Christmas Story (1983)
Makes sense since the furnace might still be "hanging in space over Lake Michigan".
Minnesota: A Christmas Story (1983)
The production budget on the film was only $3.3 million.
Mississippi: Elf (2003)
Terry Zwigoff turned down an offer to direct the Elf, in order to make Bad Santa instead (another great Christmas movie).
Missouri: Elf (2003)
Buddy's huge burp after drinking the 2-liter bottle of Coke wasn't actually Will Ferrell—but was dubbed by a voice actor, Maurice LaMarche.
Montana: How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
We assume they're talking about the 2000 Jim Carrey film—as much as we would rather think that Montana loves the awesome 1966 animated short.
Universal, How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
Nebraska: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)
Nebraska is the only state that has this one at the top of their list.
Warner Bros., National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)
Nevada: A Christmas Story (1983)
What would you have bet that the home of Las Vegas would have A Christmas Story as their favorite Christmas movie?
New Hampshire: A Christmas Story (1983)
Live free or watch A Christmas Story.
New Jersey: A Christmas Story (1983)
Director Bob Clark also directed another Christmas movie nine years earlier—the horror holiday film, Black Christmas.
New Mexico: A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
New Mexico is the only state in the union who has A Charlie Brown Christmas as their number one.
CBS, A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
New York: A Christmas Story (1983)
Who else assumed it would be Home Alone 2 for New York?
North Carolina: A Christmas Story (1983)
North and South Carolina don't agree on this one. Wait to see where the south comes down....
North Dakota: A Christmas Story (1983)
Every region of the country loves this movie.
Ohio: A Christmas Story (1983)
What year does the film take place in? The film makers left it purposely ambiguous (going for a sometime in the 30s and 40s feel).
Oklahoma: A Christmas Story (1983)
If only Oklahoma, the musical, took place during Christmas.
Oregon: A Christmas Story (1983)
The famed "Oregon Vortex" doesn't explain why the state loves this Christmas movie. Or does it?
Pennsylvania: Elf (2003)
Rocky has some Christmas scenes. Does it count as a Christmas movie? And if so, would Pennsylvania want to change their answer?
Rhode Island: How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
The smallest state in the union loves the movie with the largest budget on the list ($123 million).
Universal, How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
South Carolina: It's A Wonderful Life (1946)
The southern Carolina goes with Jimmy Stewart over Ralphie Parker.
RKO, It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
South Dakota: A Christmas Story (1983)
Both Dakotas pick A Christmas Story.
Tennessee: The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Another single. Tennessee is the only state to put this Tim Burton classic at the top of its list.
Touchstone, The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Texas: A Christmas Story (1983)
Everything is bigger in Texas. Is this the "biggest" Christmas movie?
Utah: A Christmas Story (1983)
You might've noticed that Utah is the only one of the four "corner states" to pick A Christmas Story.
Vermont: Die Hard (1988)
Can you think of anything else Vermont and Kansas have in common?
Twentieth Century, Die Hard (1988)
Virginia: A Christmas Story (1983)
Roger Ebert gave the movie three out of four stars in his initial review—later upgrading it to four stars and putting it on his "Great Movies" list.
Washington: Elf (2003)
Unlike the District of Columbia, this Washington loves Elf the most.
West Virginia: A Christmas Story (1983)
We're surprised John Denver didn't add a line about this movie in his song.
Wisconsin: Elf (2003)
An Elf Broadway musical ran during the holiday season in 2010.
Wyoming: It's A Wonderful Life (1946)
We expected to see this one in more than three states. Didn't you?
