As a cinephile with a penchant for holiday movies and a deep affection for the works of Chris Columbus, I must say that the man is nothing short of a Christmas miracle worker! From his hilarious and heartwarming comedies to his family-friendly dramas with a touch of Yuletide magic, Columbus has consistently delivered films that make us laugh, cry, and everything in between during the most wonderful time of the year.
Chris Columbus, the writer-director, is renowned for his contributions to the “Home Alone” series, yet his body of work brims with Christmas-themed productions. As both a screenwriter and director, Chris Columbus is celebrated for his witty and frequently family-oriented comedies, which subtly incorporate dramatic elements. Among his directorial works are titles such as “Adventures in Babysitting”, “Mrs. Doubtfire”, “Stepmom”, and “Bicentennial Man”.
In terms of Christmas comedies, the Home Alone series stands uncontested as a Yule season titan – notably the first two Home Alone films directed by Chris Columbus, which became box office successes thanks to their storylines about a resourceful child outsmarting bumbling burglars using humorous home traps. Interestingly, Christmas is a recurring theme in Chris Columbus’ filmography, as he has a total of nine Christmas-themed movies under his belt.
Chris Columbus Wrote Two Christmas Movies
From the outset of his film industry career, Chris Columbus immersed himself in the Christmas genre by penning the 1984 horror-comedy “Gremlins” as a screenwriter. This was just his second writing credit, after “Reckless”, which was also released in the same year. The story revolves around Billy Peltzer, a small-town resident (played by Zach Galligan), who neglects the rules for caring for his new pet “mogwai”, leading to a Gremlins outbreak in his town.
Amidst the festive holiday period in 1984, the film Gremlins emerged as one of the top box office earners and has since been cherished as both a horror-comedy and Christmas tradition. Notably, the unexpectedly high level of violence in the PG-rated Gremlins also played a role in establishing the PG-13 rating that year, as the same concern had previously arisen with the PG-rated Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, leading to a reevaluation of its rating.
As a movie buff, I can’t forget that Columbus, the director, penned and produced the 2004 holiday comedy “Christmas with the Kranks.” This film focuses on Luther and Nora Krank, portrayed by Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis, who decide to skip the holidays one year. Their decision rubs their Christmas-obsessed neighbors the wrong way. While it wasn’t one of his most celebrated Christmas movies, “Christmas with the Kranks” still underscores the significant role that the holiday season plays in Columbus’ cinematic work.
Chris Columbus Directed Several Christmas Films (Including The First Two Home Alone Movies)
In 1990, Chris Columbus struck it rich during the festive season with the direction of the blockbuster film “Home Alone“. This movie raked in a staggering $467 million globally on a budget of just $18 million, turning child actor Macaulay Culkin into a household name. To simply call “Home Alone” a Christmas classic would be an understatement; it has become an essential part of Christmas celebrations worldwide. Each new generation enjoys the antics of young Kevin McCallister, who is unintentionally left behind when his family goes to Paris, only to set up creative barriers to protect his home from the clumsy burglars Harry (portrayed by Joe Pesci) and Marv (Daniel Stern), infamously known as “The Wet Bandits”.
The enormous success at the box office during the holidays for Home Alone made a second installment almost certain, and in 1992, it became reality as Columbus resumed directing duties for Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. This time, Kevin McCallister embarked on a fresh adventure in the bustling city of New York, with more traps prepared for Harry and Marv. Much like its predecessor, Home Alone 2 turned out to be another box office smash and seasonal favorite.
Christopher Columbus played a role in initiating a distinct type of annual Christmas film series by directing the initial two “Harry Potter” movies, “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” and “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.” Although not centered around Christmas like the “Home Alone” films, Columbus’ two “Harry Potter” productions do contain significant Christmas scenes and were released near the holiday season. Specifically, they hit theaters during the Christmas season in 2001 and 2002 respectively.
Chris Columbus Was A Producer On Two Classic Christmas Movies
As a die-hard film enthusiast, I can’t help but mention Chris Columbus, a name that rings bells in the hearts of countless Christmas movie lovers like myself. Beyond his impressive roles as screenwriter and director for numerous yuletide flicks, he has also donned the producer’s hat for two more seasonal romps. One of these is the offbeat holiday hit, “Jingle All The Way,” featuring none other than Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sinbad. In this movie, Arnie plays Howard Langston, a father who aims to make amends for his past shortcomings by getting his son the perfect gift. However, typical of Howard, he leaves it until Christmas Eve – a crucial mistake when the toy he seeks is the Turbo Man action figure, “the hottest selling Christmas toy ever!” as Howard discovers too late. Critics and moviegoers gave this film a cold shoulder upon its 1996 release, but over time, its charm seems to have thawed, earning it a more positive reputation.
Chris Columbus’ involvement in Christmas movies extends beyond just directing, as he was also the screenwriter for Netflix’s 2018 holiday film titled “The Christmas Chronicles“. In this movie, a brother and sister named Teddy (Judah Pierce) and Kate (Darby Camp) team up with Kurt Russell’s character, Santa Claus, to retrieve his lost sleigh and hat, ensuring that he can complete his yearly delivery of gifts on Christmas Eve.
In 2020, the success of “The Christmas Chronicles” on Netflix was undeniably a factor in director/co-writer/producer Columbus returning for the second installment, titled “The Christmas Chronicles 2”. The original cast members, Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn, reprised their roles as Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus from the first movie, respectively. This sequel added a delightful dose of holiday cheer to the COVID-19 affected Christmas season in 2020.
It’s evident that Christmas-themed films hold a deep connection to Chris Columbus’ screenwriting and directing abilities, a bond that transcends the boundaries of the popular Home Alone series.
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2024-12-08 16:09