X
- 1983
- PG
- MGM/UA Entertainment Company
- 1 h 33 m
- 1983
- PG
- MGM/UA Entertainment Company
- 1 h 33 m
Summary This delightfully funny holiday gem tells the story of Ralphie Parker a 1940's nine-year-old who pulls out all the stops to obtain the ultimate Christmas present. (Warner Bros.)
Directed By: Bob Clark
Written By: Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown, Bob Clark
- 1983
- PG
- MGM/UA Entertainment Company
- 1 h 33 m
- 1983
- PG
- MGM/UA Entertainment Company
- 1 h 33 m
A Christmas Story
77
8.3
Where to Watch
Summary This delightfully funny holiday gem tells the story of Ralphie Parker a 1940's nine-year-old who pulls out all the stops to obtain the ultimate Christmas present. (Warner Bros.)
Directed By: Bob Clark
Written By: Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown, Bob Clark
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 16 Critic Reviews
77
75% Positive
12 Reviews
12 Reviews
25% Mixed
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 16 Critic Reviews
77
75% Positive
12 Reviews
12 Reviews
25% Mixed
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
In short, A Christmas Story isn't just about Christmas; it's about childhood and it recaptures a time and place with love and wonder. It seems an instant classic, a film that will give pleasure to people not only this Christmas, but for many Christmases to come. [19 Nov 1983, p.1]
Best of all, it's just a story of a kid's Christmas. There is no big spiritual redemption, no one has to learn a lesson.
User Score
Universal Acclaim
Based on 199 User Ratings
8.3
88% Positive
175 Ratings
175 Ratings
8% Mixed
16 Ratings
16 Ratings
4% Negative
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
User Score
Universal Acclaim
Based on 199 User Ratings
8.3
88% Positive
175 Ratings
175 Ratings
8% Mixed
16 Ratings
16 Ratings
4% Negative
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
This is the Definition of the Perfect Christmas Movie that everyone should see once. Also Bob Clark, (the guy who directed this movie) 9 years earlier made a horror movie about Christmas.
Report
A perfect Christmas movie, if not a perfect film. This is one of the movies that you revisit every year, and is a joy to do so. A joy to talk about with friends, and a joy to recite your favorite lines. This is one of those movies where when the next scene pops up you think, oh yeah I have been waiting for this part, just delightful throughout. I love the narration in this film, the poetry of of the narration against the story of this young man adds humor in almost every scene. There are also many great tender moments in this comedy. Ralphie's moment with his mom after beating up the bully, and his father giving him the bb gun at the end are my two favorite. I look forward to watching this movie every year, I hope TBS never ends there 24 hours of A Christmas Story.
Report
This richly remembered tale of Christmas past, with writer Jean Shepherd recalling the days when a Red Ryder BB gun really meant something, is already something of a Christmas perennial.
Writer-director Bob Clark had long dreamed of making a movie based on Shepherd’s work and his reverence for the material shows through as detail after nostalgic detail rings true with period flavor.
The director, Bob Clark, has earned a reputation for childish leanings in some of his earlier work, and A Christmas Story does have a few stupid and vulgar touches. But these pass quickly, while the movie's overall sense of goodwill lingers.
Director Bob Clark teamed with nostalgic humorist Jean Shepherd for this squeaky clean and often quite funny 1983 yuletide comedy, adapted from Shepherd's novel In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash.
Needless to say, what's refreshing about A Christmas Story is subversive to the sepia-toned and loving references to the forties which director Bob Clark has provided for the film. The fictional Parker family that Shepherd has written about for 20 years is not as gentle or gauzy as they first appear. It's possible to imagine them so preoccupied with their own problems, whether dealing with the neighbor's dogs or winning a mail- order contest, that they could forget Christmas altogether. [25 Nov 1983, p.E5]
What a wonderful movie! I didn't realise Bob Clark had a movie in him like this. In fact I had to double check that it was Bob Clark who directed this, because while Black Christmas was good, he also did the atrocious Baby Geniuses movies and the lacklustre Rhinestone. Here in A Christmas Story though, this is not only the best I've seen Clark direct but I think it is his best film too.
I love Christmas movies, and while A Christmas Story is not my absolute favourite, I think it fully deserves its title as timeless Christmas treasure. The film looks great with the cinematography skillful and the locations striking. The script is always witty and insightful, I loved the home truths and the lack of smut and saccharin which may have marred the film slightly if included. The story is beautifully structured and an enormous joy all the same. The pace was spot on too, while the entire cast performed impeccably.
In fact, everything I have to say about A Christmas Story is good. It could have been a little longer perhaps, but overall this film is a classic and never less than hugely enjoyable. 9.5/10 Bethany Cox
Report
Cute movie with some great scenes. Especially it was funny to listen to the explanations of the boy and see how he understands the world.
Report
A very creepy holiday movie as a kid growing up even owning the leg lamp from this movie, I can say I hate this movie and it ruins the holidays for me. I will say the father in the movie was great and probably can related to any ones dad but, What I find creepy in this movie is the narrator voice hearing the voice every christmas over and over dramatically explaining his most memorable Christmas is terrible as well as the creepy Santa Claus, his elf, and the little midget bully that until now I realizes he was really a kid. This has a huge Cult following and that makes me wonder in the voice of Kenan Thompson "WHY".
Report
Production Company
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM),
Christmas Tree Films
Release Date Nov 18, 1983
Duration 1 h 33 m
Rating PG
Tagline Sometimes Christmas is about getting what you really want.
Awards
Genie Awards
• 2 Wins & 9 Nominations
Young Artist Awards
• 3 Nominations
National Film Preservation Board, USA
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
