Ten best Christmas films

The Independent's film critic selects the ten best festive flicks

Family values: 'It's a Wonderful Life' (AP)

A yearly staple to help ease you into the festive period, the Christmas film is best enjoyed in front of the television with a good supply of wine and seasonal fare.

But with such a large range of films to choose from, it's hard to know which sentimental titles to stay clear of, and which have just the right amount of seasonal schmaltz.

The Independent's film critic Geoffrey Macnab gives his definitive list, with a good mix of titles to satisfy even the biggest scrooge.

The 1951 take on Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol is well worth a watch if you fancy a vintage film to entertain the grandparents and children alike, while Nicolas Cage's performance in The Family Man is a more modern derivative of the classic, complete with a heavy dose of necessary Christmas emotion.

From festive favourites such as It's A Wonderful Life and Macaulay Culkin's Nineties hit Home Alone, to Bruce Willis' fast-paced action movie Die Hard, look no further than the gallery below.