A recent list compiled by CNBC, using data from Box Office Mojo adjusted for inflation, has found the 10 highest grossing X-Mas movies of all time.
And though some heavy hitters grace the list, there are also a few notable exceptions that will likely catch you by surprise. But here goes…
Note: CNBC did not consider Gremlins OR Die Hard to be Christmas films, so don’t shoot the messenger for the exclusions there.
10) The Nightmare Before Christmas
Domestic Box office gross: 75 million
Inflation-adjusted gross: 125 Million
9) Four Christmases
Domestic Box office gross: 120 million
Inflation-adjusted gross: 135 million
8) Disney’s A Christmas Carol
Domestic Box office gross: 138 million
Inflation-adjusted gross: 155 million
7) The Santa Clause 2
Domestic Box office gross: 139 million
Inflation-adjusted gross: 186 million
6) Elf
Domestic Box office gross: 173 million
Inflation-adjusted gross: 227 million
5) The Polar Express
Domestic Box office gross: 184 million
Inflation-adjusted gross: 235 million
4) The Santa Clause
Domestic Box office gross: 145 million
Inflation-adjusted gross: 236 million
3) Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
Domestic Box office gross: 174 million
Inflation-adjusted gross: 299 million
2) How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Domestic Box office gross: 260 million
Inflation-adjusted gross: 364 million
1) Home Alone
Domestic Box office gross: 286 million
Inflation-adjusted gross: 528 million
BONUS: For those curious what the Top 25 Grossing Christmas movies of all time are (domestic box office) NOT adjusted for inflation, the list provided by Forbes is as follows:
25. The Nativity Story (2006) (New Line)
Final Box Office: $37. 63 million
24. Krampus (2015) (Universal)
Final Box Office: $42. 72 million
23. The Night Before (2015) (Sony)
Final Box Office: $43. 05 million
22. Arthur Christmas (2011) (Sony)
Final Box Office: $46. 46 million
21. The Preacher’s Wife (1996) (Disney)
Final Box Office: $48. 1 million
20. This Christmas (2007) (Screen Gems)
Final Box Office: $49. 12 million
19. Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas (2007) (Lionsgate)
Final Box Office: $52. 54 million
18. Bad Santa (2003) (Dimension)
Final Box Office: $60. 06 million
17. Scrooged (1988) (Paramount)
Final Box Office: $60. 33 million
16. Jingle All The Way (1996) (Fox)
Final Box Office: $60. 59 million
15. The Best Man Holiday (2013) (Universal)
Final Box Office: $70. 52 million
14. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) (Warner Bros)
Final Box Office: $71. 31 million
13. Fred Claus (2007) (Warner Bros)
Final Box Office: $72 million
12. Christmas with the Kranks (2004) (Sony)
Final Box Office: $73. 78 million
11. Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) (Disney)
Final Box Office: $75. 08 million
10. The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006) (Disney)
Final Box Office: $84. 5 million
9. Four Christmases (2008) (Warner Bros)
Final Box Office: $120. 15 million
8. A Christmas Carol (2009) (Disney)
Final Box Office: $137. 86 million
7. The Santa Clause 2 (2002) (Disney)
Final Box Office: $139. 24 million
6. The Santa Clause (1994) (Disney)
Final Box Office: $144. 83 million
5. Elf (2003) (New Line)
Final Box Office: $173. 40 million
4. Home Alone 2: Lost In New York (1992) (Fox)
Final Box Office: $173. 59 million
3. The Polar Express (2004) (New Line)
Final Box Office: $183. 37 million
2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) (Universal)
Final Box Office: $260. 04 million
1. Home Alone (1990) (Fox)
Final Box Office: $285. 76 million