We're going to settle this once and for all.
Clark Griswold vs. Ralphie Parker. Eddie in his bathrobe emptying a chemical toilet in the sewer vs. Flick sticking his tongue on the flagpole. 25,000 imported Italian twinkle lights vs. the soft glow of electric sex gleaming in the window.
Separated in release by only six years, A Christmas Story (1983) and Christmas Vacation (1989) have been staples in the yearly must-see Christmas movie lineup of Hokies across the globe. Both are classics and both are completely different. Yet, there always seems to be a debate about which one is superior to the other. Even if both are in your family's annual lineup, there has to be one that you like a little more than the other.
Let's take a poll: Which of the two is your favorite? Christmas Vacation or A Christmas Story? Before Christmas, I'll compile the results and determine the favorite of the two within TKP FAM. Then, we can all have the hap, hap, happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny f@#king Kaye.
Comments
Vacation, by far. Much more entertainment there. I feel like people watch Christmas Story just for the sake of tradition.
I'm about to speak that truth.
Christmas Vacation is overrated and only fondly remembered because it has very quotable lines and great actors in it. Outside of like three scenes it's an average or below movie at best.
You wanna know where you can put that opinion?
I wish I could upvote this 1,000,000 times.
BAH GAWD NICK. FROM THE TOP ROPE!
Fact NOT opinion.
I did some extensive research on your assertion and...
Quotable lines, great actors... sounds like you just described the best Christmas movie
The plots not that great, the writing isn't that great, there are large parts of the movie that are boring.
There's no Transformers, it isn't "found footage", not even a forced love interest,. It basically sucks.
You're 100% right
Christmas
VacationStory is overrated and only fondly remembered because it has very quotable lines and great actors in it. Outside of like three scenes it's an average or below movie at best.fixed that for you
So true, but A Christmas Story best conveys the true feeling of Christmas through the eyes of our childhood.
Growing up it was always Christmas Story, but that changed into Christmas Vavation as I got older.
Christmas Story. Mostly because of its sentimental value. Growing up, my next-door neighbors would throw a booze-filled Christmas Eve party every year. Given that my brothers and I were about the only people there under the age of 15 we would relegate ourselves to the basement and watch Christmas Story on ABC family. Once we got through watching it, that meant we had been there long enough and could sneak out and walk home. Great movie and great memories associated with it.
Here's how it rolls for me.
With the family, including kids, A Christmas Story. Later at night while wrapping presents, Christmas Vacation.
They're both mainstays. I wouldn't say one is better than the other for me because I have a want to see both during the holidays.
"Leg" for you
I'm Team Griswold, but that was rather clever there Stro.
A Christmas Story. Both movies are acceptable seasonal viewing, but seeing Christmas through Ralphie's eyes is a recognized classic for it's idealized depiction of America in that time period, and growing up in general.
The triple dog dare to lick the flag pole is hilarious.
Oh cool, bullying kids, what a wonderful Christmas tradition
Triple dog dare bro. That ain't bullying. That shits real life
You gotta learn somewhere.
Better to learn some things from the silver screen.
Yeah, like anatomy
I feel like anatomy is best learned in person.
A few games of Operation usually teaches you enough to do baseline surgeries on patients.
I agree for consenting adults, but uhm...probably not for children
When I first read this I thought you said anatomy is best learned in prison
No wonder that comment didn't get any love.
I learned everything I needed to know about getting promotions from Office Space. Forget everything you've ever read on LinkedIn; just learn from Peter Gibbons.
His technique will either get you fired or promoted.
I'm not going to say which it usually is.
Both of those options sound pretty good to me right now.
Are you writing this from work?
I'm kidding. DO NOT ANSWER.
Choosing between Aunt Bethany's cat vs "fa ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra"? Nope, can't do it.
Could Aunt Bethany's "blessing" break the tie?
They both generally get watched the same night for me. I just think of them as one event at this point.
Neither, It's A Wonderful Life.
Sorry, old guy here.
Concur. in order from best to not-best:
1. It's a Wonderful Life
2. Christmas Story
3. Christmas Vacation
Oh thank god someone here has some sense
Xmas vacation
Christmas Vacation. I identify more w/what Clark is going thru than Ralphie.
Your brother sucks!
The silent majesty of a winter's morn. The clean, cool chill of the holiday air. And an asshole in his bathrobe, emptying a chemical toilet into my sewer.
The Muppet Christmas Carol is the correct answer.
There ya go - now you're all set.
I hadn't seen this movie in forever, but thought I remembered it fondly. Then I watched it the other night with my girlfriend. About 45 minutes in to it, I realized I remembered Muppets Treasure Island fondly, and as far as Christmas Carol goes...
Vacation.
Our friendship will continue.
Love me some Christmas story but vacation wins by a mile
I didn't see Christmas Story until I was in college (I didn't have cable.) I loved Christmas Vacation. But, Christmas Story channels me imagining what my dad was like when he was a kid. I love that movie. Christmas Story wins.
Are you going to provide us a slow-mo, break down and analysis post?
A Christmas Story is a close second, but you can't beat Clark!
This is like asking if I'd rather see the Hokies win the bowl game against Okie St. by watching JJ toss for 300 yards and 4 TDs or by watching us pound the rock for 300 yards and a few TDs.
Uhhh... yes!
Footage from Narduzzi's postgame presser in 2016 talking about Isiah Ford "pushing off."
I enjoy both, but Christmas Vacation isn't just my favorite Christmas movie, it's one of my favorite movies period.
Christmas Vacation by 3 TDs
Vacation
Look. As much as we all know that Christmas Story and Christmas Vacation are both loved films, the truth is that:
Die Hard is the ultimate Christmas movie!
He's right you know
Fixed that for you!
We now know Gritty's take...
It's not Christmas for me until I see Hans Gruber falling slo-mo from Nakatomi tower.
Yippee ki-yay mutha trucker (TBS version)
Its Chrismas Theo. Its the time of miracles.
Bruce Willis is on the Die Hard is NOT a Christmas Movie train, that about wrapped it up for me.
Bruce Willis is actually quite the asshole in real life. I met him at Kings Dominion years ago. Forgive me if I don't buy into his hot takes.
Elf hands down. Vacation is a nice second though
Christmas Vacation, but watch out for Home Alone (1 & 2). Kevin will get after ya.
Yeah can downvote me but I'm about to speak the damn truth
Christmas Vacation is a bad movie that is fondly remembered for a select few scenes. The majority of the movie is cringe worthy cheese that would get eviscerated nowadays. Elf is a better overall film.
Counterpoint: Elf was shit, but people like it because it came out when they were kids. I was one of those kids, and I saw Christmas Vacation well after I saw Elf, and the older movie is still far superior.
How old are you people?!
Elf came out several years after I finished at VT, and it's still the best overall Christmas movie.
That first leg is solely for the "How old are you people?" I'm pretending the second half of your comment was never typed.
I thought "That's what Fireman just said..."
Story. Every line and every scene is funny. I don't watch it for any sentimentality, I watch it because it's a great movie.
Agree. Story all (Christmas) day...
Randy lay there like a slug. It was his only defense...
I've never seen Christmas Story all the way through because the narration reminded me of Wonder Years and I never liked that show.
Vacation. A Christmas Story has never been a movie that has interested me, always got bored and changed the channel. I'm also tired of seeing it played for a day straight every year. Man what ever sentimental value that movie has for people has to be gone by now from seeing it so much.
Nope that movie stays on all 24 hours Xmas day. Nothing can beat A Christmas Story
I would ask the person downvoting comments to come out in the open and be a man about it and tell us who you are. This is a damn funny topic and you are so petty downvoting multiple comments.
chill out, man. It's probably just arnie's ghost.
Nope this is some person who is so petty they are actually downvoting multiple comments on a fun thread. That's the kind of petty bullshit we don't need on TKP.
IT'S ME FIREMAN IT'S ME FIREMAN IT WAS ME ALL ALONG!!! /s if anybody got this reference you're the real MVP
via GIPHY
You guys are really arguing about two movies that are about 10th and 11th at best?! It is almost as ridiculous as arguing cake vs. pie...
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.... I'll play.... Vacation, all day any day.
Die Hard?
Love Die Hard pissed that only Max is showing it so far this month. I thought in years past TNT or TBS showed it.
I am pretty sure it was like 8 bucks last time I was at Best Buy
I can't even name the last none kids movie I bought a physical copy of.
I am pretty sure I got Die Hard 1-3 in a combo pack for cheap. 1 and 3 get watched every now and then. Number 2 has probably never been opened.
I may or may not buy DVDs cheap, rip them and then the dvd disappears into my garage for ever and ever while I copy the ripped file to itunes. Sure, we lose a lot of the functionality of the dvd without a lot of extra work (chapters, etc), but it's no worse than streaming.
I don't watch comedies for the story, I watch comedies for the comedy.
I think the board has spoken, but here's another vote for Christmas Vacation
I'm irrationally pissed off that people are bringing other movies into this thread
Story
Vacation is the funniest Christmas movie ever made and that's just a basic fact.
With that being said though, it's not really family friendly and I'm not going to watch it with my 10 year old daughter. If we are going to sit down together to watch something, it will probably be Elf, Christmas Story, or Home Alone in that order.
I will say that I have some really fond memories of being younger and watching the 24 hour Christmas Story marathon on TV but as I've grown up, I'd much rather watch Christmas Vacation.
Our recent tradition is that my wife and I will sit down and watch Christmas Vacation as we finish wrapping presents on Christmas Eve after the kiddos are asleep.
A Christmas story is way funnier than Christmas Vacation. There are just way too many hilarious moments. You might argue that the best gags in Vacation are funnier than their counterparts, but I'd rather have four 1-yard TD runs than two 80-yard bombs every day. I'd also say that Story is just more credible/relatable than Vacation. I think Vacation really jumped the shark with the kidnapping of the boss and the over-the-top police response. I know that suspension of disbelief is important to enjoying movies, but that one just strains credulity too much for me.
Also noteworthy: A Christmas Story is also higher-rated by Rotten Tomatoes, IMDB, and Metacritic.
Vacation goes off the rails from the very beginning with the overdone drive out to get the tree. Sure, there are some really funny bits in the movie, but its surrounded by a mountain of shit.
The only good Vacation movie is the original. The others are just mildly entertaining cheese that ride the coattails of the first.
Anything with Bev D in it is qualified and well worthy of the time spent. Ralphie just doesn't get it.
The general population also made Justin Beiber popular sooooo
The millennials made Justin beiber popular
I'd never heard of nor seen Vacation until about a year ago. Story has been a family tradition watch since I was just a wee scraggly hair or two. I think they're about the same level of not-my-favorite. Both have genuinely funny moments but I'd give the nod to Vacation for being something fresh and unheard of (somehow).
Talk amongst yourselves. I'll give you a topic.
Christmas Vacation cannot be the better option because of the glaring lack of a vacation.
Nice... Coffee Talk with brickhaus
They aren't working and the kids aren't in school. So, technically they are ON vacation even if they didn't go anywhere.
This is correct. Back in my school days Christmas vacation was the 2 weeks you got for Christmas and new years. It was always called a vacation
In Christmas Vacation, it's the extended family on vacation at the Griswold house. Got any more brain busters for us?
Every frame of both of these movies is a sacred national treasure. I cannot choose ...
But if I must I give the edge to Vacation simply because Clark's attempts to deliver the best experiences to his family only to have things fall apart in a comically tragic manner resembles so many characters and events in my family history. "You serious Clark?" is quoted year round in my family for an easy laugh.
Elf may be the only movie made since these two that I would put in the same category.
Haven't seen Miracle.
Spoilers: We beat Russia and eventually win the gold
Good to know. Just not sure I could believe Jimmy Stewart as Herb Brooks.
Damn straight
Good stuff so far FAM. Love the passionate debating here. One quick thing:
This is between 'Christmas Vacation' and 'A Christmas Story' only. The only votes that will be counted are for one, the other, or a tie. There is another thread by VTFootballGrad for best Christmas movies.
Keeping it to the original debate:
I sat down and watched A Christmas Story ONCE. After watching bits and pieces here and there during TBS/TNT's 24 hours of A Christmas Story, I finally wanted to see what the deal was. I still don't get it. I was bored, and it was dated.
I have watched Christmas Vacation multiple times. It's not a mainstay for my Christmas, but I will watch Vacation over Story any year, and even go through great lengths to avoid watching Story when it's on.
No fact, just opinion, Story just isn't for me.
There are no facts - just opinions - on this topic; glad you highlighted it Phoenix. Good post btw.
Vacation by a mile
Christmas Story never registered on my radar. Plus watching The Christmas Story supports terrorism...or something. In a wrestling match, Christmas Vacation would drop a Stone Cold Stunner on Story so fast you'd ask for your money back.
Regardless of those facts, Bad Santa and Elf are top seeds in Christmas movies.
Christmas Story.
As others have pointed out Vacation has just turned every dysfunctional family trope up to 11 and forces 97 minutes of cringe-worthy awkwardness on the viewer. It's over-the-top and unrelatable to me. To be fair there are a few good laughs in there but not enough to warrant sitting through the rest.
Even though I grew up far outside the 50s/60s in which Story takes place it's way more believable. The storytelling is top-notch and I'd argue it's every bit as quotable as Vacation. Christmas Story gets my vote.
So, in the spirit of fair play, I watched A Christmas Story last night for the first time in a while before casting my vote. I will say it is masterfully narrated, relatable for most guys when they were young, and does have some pretty funny lines. However, I did think it was dry in some places. For those of you that have said Christmas Vacation is dry compared A Christmas Story, I would have to respectfully disagree. One of the huge advantages I think Christmas Vacation has over A Christmas Story is that the plot never fizzles out. Just when you think it'll mellow a bit, Eddie and Co. pull up in the RV.
With that being said, I can confidently place my vote for the GOAT: Christmas Vacation.
hmmmm, I find both to be shallow and pedantic! /s
I got you
Christmas Vacation, by far. Great cast, great one liners, and it really captures the craziness of spending time with the extended family during the holidays.
Second is Jingle All the Way....there's just something about Arnold saying Turbo Man that gets me
Y'all about to learn something today...
The best Christmas movies don't include either of those weak ass optionsn (due respect to OP)
The best Christmas movies are:
1) The claymation version of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
This isn't even debatable. You can eat hay if you disagree.
2) The Grinch Stole Christmas
If you don't know about this, you heart is two sizes too small
3) Wonderful Life
This is the quintessential and inarguable, but not my personal favorite and hence number 3
4) Wizard of Oz.
I don't even know why, but this movie seems to come on every first snowfall.
5) Die Hard
Because f*ck you that's why
....
n) Christmas Vacation.
...
z) Christmas Story
This movie is bad and you should feel bad.
EDIT: I totally forgot about Miracle on 34th. That is sad and I should feel sad
Sounds like time for the glue factory.
Best Christmas DVD evar
It's about 33% perfect. And also has Elf and A Christmas Story.
Both are classic Christmas movies. But objectively, A Christmas Story can only be challenged by It's a Wonderful Life as the quintessential American Christmas movie.
For me, Bad Santa is actually the best Christmas movie anyway (seriously it's great).
AND THE WINNER IS! THE VOTES ARE TALLIED!
AS of 7:48 AM:
35 - 19
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EDIT:
Multiple votes by TKPers were counted
The counter of votes is clearly biased against the better movie.
He has even admitted that he regularly participates in a drinking game based on one of the movies.
The one that "won".
1) The official counter hasn't counted the votes yet and will eliminate bias when doing so.
2) The counter gets a vote because he's a TKP member.
3) What does doing a drinking game to Christmas Vacation have to do with anything? I do one to A Christmas Story too.
All this shows is that there are a lot of Vacation loving people in here who have terrible taste in movies.
Anyone who ignores claymation might not have their own best interests in mind. Sounds like something a LOLUVA fan would say...
It depends if you have kids or not.
Don't have kids: Christmas Vacation
Have kids: Christmas Vacation
So I guess it doesn't depend on that, after all.
You have difficulties with sarcasm, don't you?
His is a tautology. Mine was sarcasm.
The original post was what we like to call:
Ummm, OK.
Oh boy, not again. I'm going to walk away from this now.
EDIT: In the future, don't edit your post after my reply for the sole purpose of changing the meaning to make my reply look out of context. Thanks man.
Saw Christmas Vacation on the big screen today and I can confirm: still hilarious and still the best Christmas movie.
Ha, I did too in Richmond. Randomly found it today looking for something to watch with Moviepass.
Christmas vacation. Not even that close.
for me it's much closer than it is for others....
I think I would rank Chirstmas Story a very slight notch above Christmas Vacation but both are absolute classics
This thread got bumped so went back and read it. Holy crap some people took this way too serious there are downvoted everywhere on this thread.
Did you offset them because I don't see a single downvote lol
The ones I could. But some of them were ones I had already upvoted and were at "zero" which means someone had offset my upvote.
That's strange. I remember this being passionately debated last year (myself including admittedly) but I read through the whole thread again before I commented with that Gritty tweet last night and didn't see a single downvote. Must've happened over night after it got bumped.
Everyone... for your consideration I present the Final Answer to this argument.
Either that, or people will be trying to burn my house down.
Merry Christmas From Blacksburg Y'all!
Yippee ki-yay mother******
The Greatest Christmas Story...
Can we sideline this into a Die Hard debate, though? The first one is the best just because it is. But what about the others? Die Hard 2 is garbage, but I love Die Hard 3 and is debatably my favorite.
I will concede that DH 2 is garbage, but it is admittedly a guilty pleasure of mine. DH 3 is a weird one for me, because I think the original is the best movie, but I could watch DH 3 on a loop. I can't really put my finger on what it is, but I could watch that one over and over. I couldn't do that with DH 1.
Agreed on all points. DHWAV is much better than 2 and a damn good movie in its own right.
The answer is actually Bad Santa, which is in the running for best movie of all time, Christmas or otherwise.
But between the two choices, its definitely A Christmas Story.
Back to the original question - I like them both, but Vacation is the better movie. A grew up on Story, but as I got older Vacation easily became the must watch movie. Its now tradition in our home to watch it while we're decorating the tree, with my 6 & 3 yo watching with us.
And where the hell is Krampus in all of this other discussion?
Edit: And Gremlins? Neither has been mentioned ONCE!
Nice! I remember watching Gremlins as a kid and it scared the heck out of me.
"Now it is well known in the midwest that the Old Man is a turkey junky, a bonafide golly turkaconis freak"
The voice over narration is what makes A Christmas Story so great.
Krampus would come down the chimney and destroy ALL of these movies.
Krampus is a bitch, Belsnickel finds him Impish.
We plunged into the cornucopia quivering with desire and the ecstasy of unbridled avarice.