What Christmas movies are most loved in Arizona?

Fact Checked by Young Ruth

It’s time to snuggle up on the couch and enjoy some Christmas movies. The only dilemma is, which one to choose?

In Arizona, residents are torn between a grumpy green man and a mischievous child, both of whom discover the magic of the holiday season.

Yengols.com used Google Trends to pivot from Arizona sports betting to explore the favorite Christmas movies of residents in the state. They studied search trends for each movie during the last three holiday seasons. The list consisted of the top 40 Christmas movies from the previous year, based on global traffic data from AhRefs.

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Arizona’s Favorite Christmas Movies

Rank Christmas Movies Interest Over Time
T1How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)9
T1Home Alone9
3The Polar Express8
4Elf6
T5A Christmas Story5
T5 National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation5

The Grinch and Kevin steal the spotlight

The top three movies were very similar, but the 2000 version of “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” with Jim Carrey and “Home Alone,” where 8-year-old Kevin McCallister is left behind during a Christmas trip to Europe, were in a tie for the first spot.

Since its debut in 1990, “Home Alone” has become a cherished holiday favorite. Jim Carrey’s portrayal of the Grinch in the 2000 live-action adaptation of “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” is equally captivating, giving the original 1966 animated version of the Dr. Seuss book a run for its money.

Released in 2004, “The Polar Express” follows closely behind as the sole animated movie among the top six films. Tom Hanks voices six distinct characters in this heartwarming animated film, including the Hero Boy who rediscovers the magic of Christmas by believing once more, and the conductor who ensures all the children reach the North Pole in time to witness Santa Claus begin his global journey.

Will Ferrell’s hilarious performance as Santa’s main assistant in “Elf” is considered the fourth best on the list. The movie is filled with unforgettable one-liners that are quoted all year long, not just during the holidays.

Arizona has a special fondness for both “A Christmas Story” and “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” placing them in a tie for fifth on the list of favorite holiday classics from the 1980s. The first film, inspired by Jean Shepherd’s stories, follows Ralphie Parker’s mission to acquire a “Red Ryder air rifle,” narrated by Shepherd himself. Meanwhile, the second film features Chevy Chase returning as Clark Griswold from “National Lampoon’s Vacation,” as he deals with the mayhem of his family’s holiday gathering while dreaming of a generous bonus.

Pick any Christmas movie for a fun family bonding experience this holiday season. Get cozy with some blankets and a warm drink, and unwind. And be sure to check out yengols.com for the newest Arizona sportsbook deals once the movie is over!

Author

Roberts Usher

With 30 years of experience in sports journalism, Roberts Usher has worked for reputable publications like the San Antonio Express-News, the Associated Press, The Dallas Morning News, and Newsday in Texas, Arkansas, and New York. He most recently spent eight years as the head of the Student Media Department at Texas A&M.

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