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It's a Wonderful Life

The holidays mean different things to different people. But if there’s one thing all winter revelers can agree on, it’s that the holidays have inspired some of the most memorable moments in movie and TV history. Without further ado (and a-ho ho ho), we present The Ultimate Holiday Showdown, a bracket-style tournament to determine the best pop culture moment that the month of December has ever produced. Vote early and often! And Happy Holidays!

We’re little more than a week until Christmas, and the holiday madness is already setting in. Not quite mad enough to let The Polar Express take down Elf in the round of sixteen in the Ultimate Holiday Bracket, though! No, Elf managed to squeak by, as did Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, which survived an epic clash with the Grinch to make it to the quarterfinals. That’s right! It’s the Elfin Eight, and there are no more cupcakes left on the schedule. The top two seeds in each region have survived thus far, which only means that these four matchups are probably going to be really close calls.

Feel free to get voting right away, or read on to get a bit more insight into the matchups.

Ye Olde Days

These are the films that most embody the way we’d like to think of the holidays. A time to reflect on family and what really matters, to believe in Santa Claus and angels, and to watch a man get punched in a bar and then contemplate suicide, only to have his mind changed when he realizes his wife would be an old spinster librarian without him. Honestly, though, these are the two titans in this bracket, so formidable that even Ebeneezer Scrooge couldn’t take them down. It’s George Bailey vs. Kris Kringle. Vote your conscience.

#1 seed It’s A Wonderful Life [Where to Stream It’s A Wonderful Life] vs. #2 seed Miracle on 34th Street [Where to Stream Miracle on 34th Street]

VOTE ON IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946) VS. MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (1947)

Modern Holidays

Something must’ve been in the water in 2003 to have produced the two best holiday movies of the modern era. They’re two very different movies scratching two distinct holiday itches. What they have in common is their incredible rewatchability. Elf had a lot of trouble getting past The Polar Express, which makes us wonder if it’s a little too bruised to take down Love Actually. Of course, after Eight Crazy Nights and Bad Santa, Love Actually is facing far tougher competition this time around.

#1 seed Elf [Where to stream Elf] vs.#2 seed Love Actually [Where to stream Love Actually]

VOTE ON ELF (2003) VS. LOVE ACTUALLY (2003)

The 80s and 90s

Two plucky young lads just trying to make the most of their holiday under trying circumstances. Both of them ultimately get the Christmas present they’ve wanted the most after it seeming like it wasn’t going to happen. Kevin McCallister gets his home invaded by burglars. Ralphie gets his home invaded by a leg lamp. The comparisons aren’t great all the way down the line. Though you could certainly say Kevin deserved to have his mouth watched out with soap after telling his mom that “families suck.” Which child avatar of the holidays is the best? YOU DECIDE!

#1 seed A Christmas Story [Where to stream A Christmas Story] vs. #2 seed Home Alone [Where to stream Home Alone]

VOTE ON A CHRISTMAS STORY (1983) VS. HOME ALONE (1990)

The Best TV Specials Ever

Another pair of quarterfinalists who were produced within a year of each other. This time it was the mid-1960s that produced the best in animated television specials. Rudolph survived a hellacious round-of-sixteen struggle in besting How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and with the Grinch in his rearview mirror, he now has no less of an icon than Charlie Brown to contend with. Rudolph is very concerned with misfits, and there’s no bigger misfit than Charlie Brown. One of these outcasts is going to make it to the final four, though. It’s just up to you to decide which one.

#1 seed A Charlie Brown Christmas [Where to stream A Charlie Brown Christmas] vs. #2 seed Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer [Where to stream Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer]

VOTE ON A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS (1965) VS. RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER (1964)

Best of luck to our intrepid quarterfinalists! At this stage, they’re all winners. Except the seven who won’t end up winning.