A Christmas Story

Name: A Christmas Story
Genre: Comedy, Family
Released: November 18, 1983
Duration: 94 min
Rating: 77
Cast: Peter Billingsley

1983

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 8 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 191 Ratings

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8.6

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8.6	User Score Universal acclaim based on 191 Ratings

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A Christmas Story

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Movie Details & Credits

American Broadcasting Company (ABC) | Release Date: November 18, 1983 | PG

Starring: Peter Billingsley

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.)

Director: Bob Clark

Genre(s): Comedy, Family

Rating: PG

Runtime: 94 min

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Metascore

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Mixed:

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Critic Reviews

100

Jay Carr

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]

100

Staff (Not Credited)

The cast is wonderful--especially McGavin, Billingsley and Petrella--the laughs are nonstop if rarely subtle, and the whole thing deserves to become a Christmastime classic. Read full review

100

Noel Murray

The affection audiences feel for A Christmas Story is related to the holiday spirit, yes, but specifically to Clark and Shepherd's awareness of how the true meaning of Christmas manifests in the real world, where a warm meal on a cold, dark day—and a surprising moment of parental grace—can ease a troubled mind. Read full review

Roger Ebert

It is pitch-perfect, telling the story through the enthusiastic and single-minded vision of its hero Ralphie, and finding in young Peter Billingsley a sly combination of innocence and calculation. Read full review

Vincent Canby

Though Mr. Billingsley, Mr. Gavin, Miss Dillon and the actress who plays Ralphie's school teacher are all very able, they are less funny than actors in a television situation comedy that one has chosen to watch with the sound turned off. Read full review

J.R. Jones

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. Read full review

Stephen Godfrey

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]

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User Reviews

seancriswell

Dec 25, 2012

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 haveA 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.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

JamesE.

Dec 24, 2007

This is by all accounts a classic holiday movie. Funny from beginning to end at any time of the year!

0 of 1 users found this helpful

SonyaW.

Dec 19, 2008

This is my favorite all time Christmas holiday movie of all times.

0 of 2 users found this helpful

EpicLadySponge

Feb 5, 2016

A Christmas Story develops such a story to one of the best Christmas movies everyone can ever see. How many times do you think about it and how many times do you watch it? If you watch it a lot, you're going to love it.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MovieGuys

Apr 8, 2014

A Christmas story is that holiday movie staple that never comes out of your shelf except around December 25th, yet when it is watched, it is thoroughly enjoyed and looked upon with hilarity and even possibly nostalgia.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

robertoiglesias

Nov 15, 2017

A Christmas Story is a fun and exciting comedy film that is really amazing. The only thing it's not 100% great at is making the plot explain the whole film. But besides that, it is still great and deserves at least a 90 for the user score.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

VampireRawr

Jan 17, 2014

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 narratorA 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".… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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