Classic Christmas Movies: When They Actually Take Place

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As the holidays arrive, many people are hoping to watch their favorite Christmas movies again. While these films remain classics, it’s easy to forget the time period and setting of the stories they tell. Often, even though these movies aren’t set in the present day, they use the past to comment on current issues or to explore characters’ cherished childhood memories of Christmas.

As a huge film buff, one of my favorite things about the holidays is revisiting those classic Christmas movies. I’m talking about films like It’s a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Story, and even Miracle on 34th Street. They really capture a specific time and feeling, and watching them always makes me feel warm and nostalgic. So, I love to get comfortable, maybe light a fire, and settle in for a cozy night with these timeless stories!

‘A Christmas Carol’ (1938)

Takes Place in the 1840s, London


Renown Pictures

Charles Dickens’ beloved story, A Christmas Carol, has been made into many movies since it was first published in 1843. Two of the most highly praised versions are the 1938 film directed by Edwin L. Marin and the 1951 film directed by Brian Desmond Hurst. While the story doesn’t state a specific year, Dickens wrote it during the Victorian Era, and the films clearly show what life was like during that time.

Taking place in 1840s London, A Christmas Carol tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge (Reginald Owen), a wealthy and grumpy man who prefers to be alone at Christmas rather than help those in need. As most people know, Scrooge is visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, who help him understand his life – from his beginnings to his current path – and realize how far he’s strayed from kindness and generosity.

Most movie versions of A Christmas Carol keep the story in Victorian London (like the 1970 film Scrooge, which is set in 1860). However, people who grew up in the 1980s often prefer Richard Donner’s Scrooged, which updates the story to the 1980s and focuses on corporate greed. No matter the time period or setting, A Christmas Carol continues to be a beloved and satisfying holiday film.

A Christmas Carol is available to stream on HBO Max.

‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ (1946)

Takes Place on Christmas Eve in 1945


RKO Radio Pictures

Considered one of the greatest films of all time, whether it’s a holiday movie or not, Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life is a beloved tradition for many, known for being both heartwarming and emotionally moving. The film, released in 1945 and set on Christmas Eve, is based on Philip Van Doren Stern’s 1943 story The Greatest Gift, which itself was inspired by A Christmas Carol. It tells the story of George Bailey (played by James Stewart), a kind and generous man who becomes deeply depressed during the holidays and loses his desire to help those around him.

When George is at his most desperate, he’s visited by Clarence Odbody, a guardian angel. Clarence shows George how his life has touched others, revealing the positive impact he’s had on many people. He helps George see how much he’ll be missed and the sorrow his death would cause. Widely considered one of the greatest films ever made, It’s a Wonderful Life is a beloved holiday classic that shares similarities with A Christmas Carol, often evoking strong emotions and heartfelt tears.

It’s a Wonderful Life is available to stream on Prime Video.

‘It Happened on Fifth Avenue’ (1947)

Takes Place in New York in 1947


Allied Artists Pictures

Okay, let me tell you about a charming little Christmas movie from 1947 called It Happened on Fifth Avenue. Written by Everett Freeman and directed by Roy Del Ruth, it’s a delightful romantic comedy set right in the heart of New York City during the holidays. The film centers around Aloysius McKeever, played by Victor Moore, a genuinely kind homeless man who cleverly finds a way to shelter on Fifth Avenue. He discovers this incredibly luxurious mansion and, being the big-hearted soul he is, invites other people down on their luck to come in from the cold. What he doesn’t realize is that the mansion’s owners are about to return! It’s a sweet, funny story, and while it might not be as well-known as some other holiday classics, it’s definitely worth checking out.

Although not as famous as some other films, It Happened on Fifth Avenue was originally planned as a Frank Capra project, but he ultimately decided to make It’s a Wonderful Life instead. The film also didn’t gain much attention because it came out the same year as the popular Christmas movie Miracle on 34th Street, which even won the Academy Award for Best Original Story over It Happened on Fifth Avenue.

It Happened on Fifth Avenue is available to stream on Plex.

‘Miracle on 34th Street’ (1947)

Takes Place in New York in 1947


20th Century Studios

Few Christmas movies are as beloved as George Seaton’s Miracle on 34th Street. The film, which takes place in New York City between Thanksgiving and Christmas in 1947, beautifully captures the magic of Santa Claus. The story centers around Doris Walker (Maureen O’Hara), a single mother who works for Macy’s and organizes the Thanksgiving Day parade. When the department store’s Santa gets fired for being intoxicated, Doris hires a kind, elderly man named Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn), who insists he is the real Santa Claus.

Though initially skeptical, Doris begins to notice the powerful impact this man has on Christmas shoppers, both young and old. Few movies capture the wonder of Christmas and Santa Claus as beautifully as Miracle on 34th Street, a heartwarming story about the power of kindness and generosity. The film was a critical success, winning three Academy Awards, including a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for Edmund Gwenn. A new version of Miracle on 34th Street came out in 1994.

Miracle on 34th Street is available to stream on Prime Video, Hulu, and Disney+.

‘A Christmas Story’ (1983)

Takes Place in Indiana in 1940


MGM/UA Entertainment Company

As a lifelong movie fan, I have to mention Bob Clark’s A Christmas Story from 1983. It’s become a true classic! In fact, it’s been shown on a 24-hour loop every Christmas Eve since 1997 – that’s how beloved it is. The story takes place in Indiana in December 1940, and it follows young Ralphie Parker (played by Peter Billingsley) and his single-minded quest for a Red Ryder BB gun. Everyone – his mom, his teacher, even the grumpy Santa – warns him he’ll shoot his eye out! The movie is basically Ralphie hilariously recounting all the funny things that happened to his family during that Christmas season.

Known for its wonderfully descriptive narration, A Christmas Story is even more remarkable considering it was directed by the same person who made the horror film Black Christmas ten years prior. This beloved American holiday classic is practically memorized by many, and continues to be a timeless source of family-friendly humor. In 2022, a sequel called A Christmas Story Christmas premiered on HBO Max.

A Christmas Story is available to stream on HBO Max and Hulu.

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2025-11-23 23:13