CLEVELAND — We love our Christmas traditions in Ohio. Whether that means checking out fantastic holiday light displays, going out shopping, or celebrating with our loved ones.
But we also love our Christmas movies. And there are not shortage of great ones to choose from.
BetOhio.com utilized Google Trends to put together a list of the most popular Christmas movies in the state. They analyzed the most popular Christmas movies of state residents by looking at the search results of each movie over the past three Christmases. The movies included the 40 most popular Christmas movies over the past year based on global traffic from AhRefs.
So which holiday film took home the bragging rights of most popular in Ohio? Let's count it down.
5. Elf
"Will Ferrell’s funny turn as Santa’s biggest helper in “Elf” comes in fifth place. It has many great one-liners that get repeated over and over throughout the year, not just at Christmas. Buddy’s quote “you sit on a throne of lies!” works on so many levels no matter the month. It’s hard to go wrong with any Christmas movie you choose as we settle in for family time this holiday season. Grab the blankets, the hot drink of choice and enjoy," writes BetOhio.com's Douglas Pils.
4. The Polar Express
"Close behind in fourth place is “The Polar Express” from 2004. It’s the only animated movie in the top 5 films, and it stars Tom Hanks voicing six different characters. He plays the main two characters, the Hero Boy who has to “Believe” once again in the meaning of Christmas, and the conductor who gets all of the kids to the North Pole just in time to see Santa Claus depart for his trip around the world," Pils says.
Tied at 2. A Christmas Story and How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
"Although the movie wasn’t a big box office success upon its initial release in November of 1983, A Christmas Story has become one of the most beloved holiday films of all time," writes 3News' Ryan Haidet. "It tells the heartwarming tale of 9-year-old Ralphie Parker and his desire to have Santa Claus bring him a Red Ryder BB gun. His Christmas wish takes plenty of twists and turns as the Parker family embarks on a hilarious holiday journey filled with countless lines fans frequently quote, while making leg lamps a must-have item in many households."
Clevelanders especially love A Christmas Story as much of the movie was made here. See behind-the-scenes footage of the film's production in Cleveland with this video pulled from the WKYC archives:
"In the live action version of 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas,' Jim Carrey offers an intense portrayal of the Grinch and it’s a good companion with the original 1966 cartoon based on the Dr. Seuss children’s book," PIls writes.
1. Home Alone
"Not much separated the top three, but “Home Alone,” where 8-year-old Kevin McCallister gets left at home when his family heads to Europe for Christmas, comes out on top in Ohio," writes PIls. “Home Alone” came out in 1990, so it’s been a holiday favorite for a long time. Spolier alert: Even through Kevin would have been a huge Ohio betting apps underdog against the would-be robbers, he emerges victorious in the end."
More from 3News:
- 'Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree' reaches No. 1 after 65 years
- Holiday help: What are the top gift ideas for 2023? What are this year's USPS shipping deadlines? We have you covered
- Medina recognized by HGTV as one of nation's best small towns for Christmas
- Ohio Holiday Lights Trail: Here's your guide to the best light shows in the state
