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Apple Names Best-Selling Holiday Movies of All Time on iTunes, Including 'Elf' and 'The Polar Express'

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Apple today got in the holiday spirit by announcing the top five best-selling holiday movies of all time on iTunes, ever since the movie rental section of the digital marketplace opened in 2008.

itunes-holiday-movies.jpg

The top five highest grossing iTunes holiday movies are:
  1. Elf [Direct Link] - $9.99 HD Purchase / $3.99 HD Rental
  2. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation [Direct Link] - $9.99 HD Purchase / $3.99 HD Rental
  3. Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas [Direct Link] - $9.99 HD Purchase / No Rental Available
  4. Home Alone [Direct Link] - $9.99 HD Purchase / $3.99 HD Rental
  5. The Polar Express [Direct Link] - $9.99 HD Purchase / $3.99 HD Rental
Apple didn't offer any specifics behind each film's download numbers, but gave snippets about plots, writers, directors, and actors for each holiday favorite.

The company prompted users to ask Siri on an iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV to search for the movies listed today, as well as other seasonal mainstays like Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, The Night Before, A Christmas Story, The Santa Clause, It's a Wonderful Life, Love Actually and Mickey's Christmas Carol.

Article Link: Apple Names Best-Selling Holiday Movies of All Time on iTunes, Including 'Elf' and 'The Polar Express'
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2016/12/22/itunes-best-selling-holiday-movies/
I really don't get why Home Alone is so popular. It's not even close to the level of 'instant timeless classic' as the top three movies.
 
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Interesting. I guess it shows the demographics of most iTunes buyers more than anything else. What you've watched as a child during the holidays will be the videos you look back on fondly when you're older.

I don't like any of their top five. As for the other "mainstays" there are just two that I enjoy. I guess I could view it as, "I think different". Or maybe, "I'm old". :)
 
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Scottsoapbox said:
I really don't get why Home Alone is so popular. It's not even close to the level of 'instant timeless classic' as the top three movies.
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Home Alone is so popular because it's an awesome movie that achieved instant timeless classic like the year it was released.

Also, I was ten when it came out. And I was adorable.

DrewDaHilp1 said:
Where does Die Hard rate?
kUhGnlr.jpg
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I LOVE Die Hard but it's weird that I never think of it has a holiday film. Probably the case for others.
 
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My daughter loves the Polar Express, so fun to watch it with her....while I force the Grinch on her the other ones there she doesn't care much about.

jayducharme said it right, its really what you were exposed to as a kid.

DrewDaHilp1 said:
Where does Die Hard rate?
kUhGnlr.jpg
Click to expand...

You are so right DrewDaHilp1. I think we lost Hans (Alan Rickman) this year didn't we, might be worth a watch in honor....
 
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Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966) for the win out of that group,

But there as so many better options.
headhurts_zpsj6nutjce.gif
 
Sasparilla said:
My daughter loves the Polar Express, so fun to watch it with her....while I force the Grinch on her the other ones there she doesn't care much about.

jayducharme said it right, its really what you were exposed to as a kid.



You are so right DrewDaHilp1. I think we lost Hans (Alan Rickman) this year didn't we, might be worth a watch in honor....
Click to expand...
Yes sadly he passed away in 2016. Great actor.:(
 
I read the headline as "ET" at first and was REALLY confused. Yeah, I'm dumb.
 
I saw the polar express on an elementary school field trip to IMAX! It was so cool as a kid.
 
Daws001 said:
I LOVE Die Hard but it's weird that I never think of it has a holiday film. Probably the case for others.
Click to expand...

There are two types of people in this world: Those who think Die Hard is a Christmas movie; and those who are wrong.
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Scottsoapbox said:
I wonder if the fact that A Christmas Story plays non-stop on certain networks this time of year, reduces the need to buy it on iTunes.
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I bet you're right. I only own it on Blu-Ray because it was on sale for like $2.99. Otherwise you're guaranteed to get your fix from cable TV every year.
 
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Not sure why anyone is debating what should be on the list. It is simply fact based list of what were the best-selling holiday movies on iTunes. It is not saying these are the best movies, just that for whatever reason the people who buy their movies on iTunes bought these more than any others. Now what would be interesting is to see how similar or dissimilar corresponding lists from Amazon and other sources to buy movies are. Might say something about the type (or at least tastes) of people who use each source are.
 
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I don't know why The Sound of Music is considered a Christmas movie, but we just picked it up on iTunes.

My younger kids who usually can't sit through a non-animated movie, loved all 3 hours and were singing along.
 
Seriously... I mean, where is:
Scrooged?
The Muppets Christmas Carol?
Die Hard?

What a bogus list. I'm calling shenanigans
 
People on here apparently don't understand the difference between facts (the top 5 list) vs. opinions (but that movie sucks!).

The list is what it is.
 
Daws001 said:
I LOVE Die Hard but it's weird that I never think of it has a holiday film. Probably the case for others.
Click to expand...
I love Die Hard, and I watch it around Christmas, but it's an action movie set at Christmas time, rather than a Christmas movie per se. For another great movie (a black comedy) set at Christmas time, see The Ref. Denis Leary at his very best, dealing with a wonderfully dysfunctional family.

The real crime here is that "Miracle on 34th Street" isn't on the list. The original 1947 version, in black & white. It very much is a Christmas movie, and so charming.

The Grinch, on the other hand... ugh, the live action version is awful, it loses all the charm of the original. Watch the original animated version, it's in an entirely different league.

My votes for actual Christmas movies would be Elf, and Miracle on 34th Street.
 
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