Home Alone
Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern
An eight-year-old troublemaker, mistakenly left home alone, must defend his home against a pair of burglars on Christmas Eve.
Why you'll love it
While not centered around a family dinner, the film showcases the chaos of family holiday gatherings and the consequences of accidentally leaving a child behind.
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Juliette Lewis
The Griswold family's plans for a big family Christmas predictably turn into a big disaster.
Why you'll love it
The film humorously depicts a series of disastrous events surrounding the Griswold family's Christmas dinner and holiday plans.
A Christmas Tale
Catherine Deneuve, Jean-Paul Roussillon, Mathieu Amalric
The troubled Vuillard family is no stranger to illness, grief, and banishment, but when their matriarch requires a bone-marrow transplant, the estranged clan reunites just in time for Christmas.
Why you'll love it
This French film explores the complex dynamics of a family gathering for Christmas, including fraught dinner scenes, despite their long-standing conflicts and illnesses.
The Ref
Denis Leary, Judy Davis, Kevin Spacey
A cat burglar is forced to take a bickering, dysfunctional family hostage on Christmas Eve.
Why you'll love it
A burglar takes a bickering couple hostage on Christmas Eve, only to find himself as the referee in their family disputes during dinner.
The Family Stone
Dermot Mulroney, Sarah Jessica Parker, Claire Danes
An uptight, liberal businesswoman accompanies her boyfriend to his eccentric and outgoing family's annual Christmas celebration and finds that she's a fish out of water in their free-spirited way of life.
Why you'll love it
A man brings his girlfriend to meet his eclectic and disapproving family during the holidays, leading to awkward and tense dinner scenes.