45 Easy-To-Miss Hidden Gems In Classic Christmas Movies
We can all agree that there is something so wonderful and unique about Christmas movies. Sure, they might be a little bit predictable at times, and the acting can be a little bit over the top, but the majority of them are undeniably heartwarming and embody the spirit of Christmas. Many of us have a favorite film that we always go running back to when the holiday season is approaching. They are the perfect way to get into the joyful spirit!
However, no matter how many times that you watch your favorite festive flick, there are bound to be some things that you miss. From hidden details to easter eggs that you might not have noticed, here are a few of the most extraordinary things that most viewers miss in popular Christmas movies.
The Muppets’ Christmas Carol
One of the funniest parts of The Muppet’s Christmas Carol is the character of Ebeneezer Scrooge, played by Michael Caine. This is because he played the role so seriously compared to the excitable performances of those around him!
A cool hidden detail in this movie is the name of one of the stores in a particular scene. It is called “Micklewhite,” and this is actually a reference to Michael Caine’s real name, which is Maurice Joseph Micklewhite.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
This film is an excellent one to watch when Halloween is over because it is perfect for getting ready for the Christmas season. But did you know that the creator, Tim Burton, actually worked for Walt Disney as an animator?
This is something he referenced in the film itself. The shot you see here is flashed quickly, but it’s clear that this character is the Evil Queen from Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. She has the poison apple in her hands!
The Santa Clause
This is another film that’s beloved by people everywhere, and it is proof that children can pull off some excellent acting skills! Take a look at this shot of the main character, Charlie, sitting at his desk at school. Notice anything?
That’s right! The boy behind him has elf ears! There are quite a few ‘hidden elves’ in this film, and you probably won’t catch all of them in the first or even second time you watch it. Watch it a few times and see how many you can spot!
Love, Actually
This is another modern Christmas classic that almost feels real – and that is because it is! Okay, so the whole film is not real, but the opening scenes are when we see some people greeting each other at the airport.
None of these people were actors! Instead, the crew used the power of hidden cameras to get shots of real people reuniting at the airport secretly. They asked permission to use each clip to create this fantastic opening scene.
Elf
There’ve been quite a few modern Christmas classics released, and we think that Elf is possibly one of the best. At the time it was released in 2003, there were no streaming or digital versions of films. Instead, buying DVDs was the norm.
Suppose you pause the DVD version of the film at any time, the progress bar of the film on the bottom changes from a traditional design to a candy cane one. We wish it were a cute little feature in the digital version.
The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
Although it may not have been as popular as the previous entries to the franchise, The Santa Clause 3 was still a delightful Christmas movie. This is because of the hidden details in the film that you might have missed, like this one.
Santa Claus’s favorite drink is not a Red Bull, but instead, it’s a “Red Deer,” as you can see in the picture! This is clearly a reference to the reindeer that pulls his sleigh. This attention to detail is just so adorable!
The Santa Clause
Now it is time to take a look at the first film in the hit franchise The Santa Clause, released in 1994. Starring actor Tim Allen, this film was just part of numerous successful ventures in his career, and it’s a part of many people’s childhood.
The film even referenced these successes! If you did not know, Tim Allen used to be on a show called Home Improvement. There’s a scene in The Santa Clause where he wears a toolbelt, which is a clear throwback to the show.
It’s a Wonderful Life
We are taking things right back to the beginning with a true and heartwarming Christmas classic. This film was released in 1946, and it’s called It’s a Wonderful Life. This work of art is just proof that some mistakes can actually be a good thing.
There is a moment when the character of Uncle Billy shouts, “I’m alright, I’m alright.” This was actually a mistake when someone dropped props off-screen. Actor Thomas Mitchell said the phrase, which the director enjoyed and ended up keeping it in the film.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
There are many reasons to love this hit Christmas film, and the number one reason is Jim Carrey. He looks absolutely incredible as the Grinch, especially that evil smile he has! But did you notice this cool easter egg?
There is a scene where we see some of the money used in Whoville. Instead of using American dollars, they use “Whomoney”! The coins have the phrase “e Pluribus whonum” printed on them, too, instead of “e Pluribus Unum.”
Miracle on 34th Street
This film has been remade a number of times, but we think that nothing can quite beat the magic and spirit of the original. Sure, it might be in black-and-white, yet there is something so charming about the whole project.
Perhaps it is because the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, shown in this screenshot, was actually real! The crew shot the parade scenes as the real 1946 Parade was happening, so they had to be extra careful to make things perfect.
Home Alone
There have also been quite a few entries to this film franchise too, including an awful version, as popular vote reveals, released in 2021. One of the reasons the original was so capturing was because of hidden details, like the one shown below.
Instead of Little Caesars, the famous American pizza chain, the filmmakers chose the name of a different Roman emperor to make “Little Nero.” This is a really smart decision, and we are seriously impressed by this level of detail!
Arthur Christmas
This film was only released ten years ago, but that does not stop it from being an excellent way to get yourself in the festive spirit for both adults and children alike. One of the coolest features of the film is this secret gem.
Written on Arthur’s mug is the phrase, “I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus.” Not only is this a reference to the hit song, but it also matches Arthur’s own family. After all, his father is Santa Claus, so it checks out!
Klaus
Klaus is one of the most recent entries on this list, released only in 2019 by Netflix. If you look carefully at this scene with Santa’s sled, you might notice some secret writing near the back that says “A113.”
If you did not know, this refers to the name of the classroom where numerous Pixar employees were taught about animation. Pixar usually includes this number in many of their own films, but weirdly enough, they did not create this one!
Gremlins
This film borders on the line between horror and comedy, but we think you cannot deny that it’s a Christmas film – albeit a rather strange one! However, we do not think many people noticed this hidden machine in the background shot.
It seems to disappear in the next shot magically. Why? It’s meant to be the time machine from the 1960 film The Time Machine, which is the reason for its sudden disappearance! This proves the filmmakers are real film buffs.
White Christmas
White Christmas is one of the first major Christmas musicals and films to be released in color. It helped to revolutionize the Christmas film industry and for a good reason. Check out this secret hidden at the film’s end!
Near the beginning of the film, Phil Davis says, “I want you to have nine children.” Well, it looks like this wish came true, as he is later shown standing with all nine of his children. What a clever idea!
Krampus
Like Gremlins, this film crosses the boundary between a horror film and a Christmas movie, though it is pretty clear that it’s scarier than it is festive. This is exactly what the filmmakers intended, as you can see in this shot.
The house from the movie is clearly meant to be the house from The Amityville Horror. This was a horror film about the supposedly true hauntings of the house at 112 Ocean Avenue in Long Island. It is a thoughtful inclusion.
The Santa Clause 2
We’ve looked at the first and third films in the series; now we’re looking at the second film. In this one, Tim Allen played the role of Santa Claus, but you might not realize how much effort he actually put into it…
He was surrounded by child actors who truly believed Tim Allen was Santa Claus in this scene. He decided to do the right thing and pretend to them that he was Father Christmas. He deserves lots of respect for that!
The Santa Clause 2
If that wasn’t enough, the directors also included another hidden gem! A few years before, Tim Allen starred as the famous toy Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story. One of his famous lines was, “you are a sad, strange little man.”
In The Santa Clause 2, Tim Allen actually repeated these lines word-for-word, but this time saying them to someone completely different. Anytime people reference their previous work in a film, it feels absolutely magical, and this is certainly no exception.
A Christmas Story
Films inspired by real events are always a delight to watch, and A Christmas Story is a lovely example of this. There is a shot of a bowling alley that was converted to a Chinese restaurant that is called “Bo Ling.”
This really happened! The director’s mother once took him to a bowling alley as a child, thinking that it was actually a Chinese restaurant. Why? Because the letter ‘w’ in the sign saying ‘bowling’ had actually burnt out! This is so easy to miss!
Home Alone
For some people, the premise of this film is a little unbelievable. After all, how could a mother forget her child at home?! Well, it is more realistic than you would think! Take a look at the ‘headcount’ scene again.
You might notice Heather accidentally counts the neighbor in the van as a member of the family. She also counts herself twice, leading to her thinking that there were 11 people on board. Hopefully, this never happened to any family in real life!
The Polar Express
This one is another modern animated classic made by Castle Rock Entertainment and distributed by Warner Brothers. Neither one of these film studios shy away from referencing previous classics, and that includes The Polar Express. Look at this tiny device…
It might seem like nothing important, but it is actually the famous ‘flux capacitor’ from Back to the Future! The reason for this reference being included is because the director, Robert Zemeckis, actually worked on both of these films.
Home Alone
It seems that the directors of Home Alone just could not help themselves with all of these secrets! When the character of Old Man Marley is first introduced, an old Gregorian chant is played to make him seem a bit creepy.
But when we learn that he’s a nice guy, the song Carol of the Bells plays instead. This sound actually has the same four notes as the Gregorian chant but is much happier, showing how context changes everything in life!
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Dr. Seuss, the writer of the original How the Grinch Stole Christmas, is famous for having a number of bizarre stories for children. One of these includes Horton Hears a Who, which the makers of the Grinch wanted to include in the film.
If you look above the clock tower in How the Grinch Stole Christmas, you will see a familiar statue of an elephant. It might seem odd, but this is meant to be Horton the Elephant! We love how smart this is.
Arthur Christmas
After Pixar and Disney, Aardman Animations are probably one of the most famous animation studios out there in the world. They have a ton of successful franchises under their belt, including Shaun the Sheep, Chicken Run, and Wallace & Gromit.
So, it is only natural that they decided to reference them in Arthur Christmas! If you look at this small doll on the floor of this scene, you will notice that it is actually Shaun the Sheep. How clever!
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
This 1964 film was one of the first stop-motion animated films ever created for the Christmas period. Although it may be over 55 years old, that does not stop it from being a classic, especially with easter eggs like this.
The character of Hermey hates making Christmas presents, despite being an elf. Or is he really? Check out his hair and ears, and you will notice that they are very different from his elf friends. Maybe he is human instead!
The Year Without a Santa Claus
Here is another old, animated Christmas classic. It was made in 1974 and, like Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, includes a cool hidden feature. Take a look at the character in this shot. Does he look familiar at all?
He is meant to be actor and comedian Charlie Chaplin, in his role as “The Tramp!” You can see his top hat and famous handlebar mustache very clearly. Sadly, he was removed from the 2006 remake of the film.
The Christmas Chronicles
Almost everyone you know has a Netflix subscription, or at least access to one – and for a good reason! In 2018, they released their own Christmas film, titled The Christmas Chronicles. It seems they were inspired by some other film companies…
…as they decided to reference their own successful shows in the film. Look closely at what the valet is watching on his tablet. In case you did not work it out, he is watching Stranger Things, Netflix’s hit T.V. series!
Home Alone
There have been many rumors over the years about the production of this film. One of the most famous ones is the terrifying tarantula scene. Many people believe actor Daniel Stern mimed the scream not to scare the tarantula.
In reality, this isn’t at all true. Daniel Stern screamed for real as the tarantula was on his face. This is because the animal trainer working on the set told him that the spider has no ears, so screaming was safe.
Frozen 2
This one might not exactly be a Christmas movie, but it certainly gets us in the spirit of things! Adults and children all over the world love the story of Elsa, which seems like a fairytale. Check this out!
There’s a scene where Elsa’s father talks about how he has started to read books by “a new Danish author.” This is none other than Hans Christian Anderson, creator of classics like The Little Mermaid. It’s on the book’s cover!
Gremlins
It is a fact – Gremlins is a seriously strange film. From the bizarre plot to the odd creatures in the film, this movie really pushes the meaning of what it means to be a Christmas film to the max.
They included several references in the film. Stephen Spielberg, the director, directed the famous alien film E.T., so they included a doll of this character. There’re also several Looney Tunes characters, referring to Warner Bros, who produced it.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
The makers of Gremlins were not alone in making references to other film studios, though – even Tim Burton did it in The Nightmare Before Christmas! If you look at the kids in this film, you might see some strange pajamas.
They are wearing pictures of famous Disney characters such as Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse on their pajamas! We think a reference like this is so clever, as it is a clear way for animators to show their respect to each other.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Not only did the makers of How the Grinch Stole Christmas include a bunch of references to other films, but they also included lots of subtle things to show the feelings for different characters. Take Martha May’s clothes, for example.
Most of us would assume that stockings are meant to be a bold, red color, but Martha’s May’s stockings are of a pale green shade. This is not a mistake – it’s because she loves the Grinch, who is green!
Elf
Sometimes, when making a film, the cast suddenly changes at the last minute. This can be for a number of different reasons, including sickness or even scheduling conflicts. That is precisely what happened during the creation of the popular movie Elf!
Actress and comedian, Wanda Sykes, was originally meant to star in the hit film, but she had to pull out last minute. She was replaced by the equally funny Faizon Love, who kept the name tag meant for Wanda.
Elf
Near the beginning of the film, there is a scene where Will Ferrell’s character named Buddy arrives in New York and tries to talk to some of the people there. Naturally, they all act like he is pretty strange…
What’s interesting is that all these New Yorkers were not paid actors. They were just going about their daily routines, thinking that it was just going to be a typical, boring day. Will Ferrell was literally interacting with everyday strangers.
Scrooged
Here is an example of another funny accident that was kept in the film. This time, it is Bill Murray in 1988’s Scrooged. In the film, Bill Murray’s character leaves the restaurant and falls straight onto the floor. Ouch!
It turns out that this was completely not meant to happen! Earlier in the scene, Bill threw water at the water, then slipped up on this as he left. Luckily, he stayed in character and managed the rest perfectly.
Elf
Some actors appear in so many different movies that you just become used to seeing them everywhere. Other times, there are actors that you do not even realize starred in another flick! Peter Billingsley is the perfect example of this.
Previously, he starred as Ralphie in A Christmas Story from 1983. Fast-forward exactly 20 years, and Peter was all-grown-up and starred in Elf – yet another Christmas film! Now, Peter is a successful producer and film director, not just an actor.
The Polar Express
When making an animated film, it is very easy to slip in things that most people will not notice. After all, you’re creating everything using the computer, so you don’t have to worry so much about distracting the actors.
Look closely at the scene with the huge Christmas tree. Did you spot what it was? All the points of the compass are pointing South! This makes sense, as there is no other way to go from the North Pole.
It’s a Wonderful Life
One of the difficult things about shooting a Christmas movie is that you rarely shoot during the festive season. Instead, you must film at much earlier points in the year, including during the summer. That is what happened here in It’s a Wonderful Life!
The filming took place during a summer heatwave which forced them to suspend shooting temporarily. If you look closely at actor James Stewart, you can see there is actually sweat on his forehead that was caused by the extreme heat!
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
One of the oddest parts of How the Grinch Stole Christmas is the main character himself. Just how on Earth did they get Jim Carrey to look like that?! Well, we can reveal the truth. It is not just makeup…
The ‘suit’ that Jim Carrey had to wear had yak hair on it! They dyed it green and attached it to the suit, as it was the only type of animal hair that could provide this strange, floating effect.
A Christmas Carol
No matter which version of this classic is your favourite, the message of A Christmas Carol is pretty beautiful. The animated version from 2009 is definitely up there as one of the best. Did you notice this hidden gem?
Towards the end of the film, Scrooge sees his gravestone from a possible future. The date of his death is given as the 7th of February. Why is this important? That is because it is the birthday of the writer, Charles Dickens!
Home Alone
We have already seen one example of how the filmmakers tried to make Kevin being abandoned seem realistic – now here is another one. Very early in the movie, if you look closely at the trashcan, you will notice something…
Kevin’s plane ticket is in the trash! This is a result of Kevin spilling the milk, but we think it’s a pretty smart inclusion. Losing the ticket meant that the family didn’t notice he was missing when boarding the plane.
Home Alone
Continuing on with Home Alone, one of the most famous scenes from the film is when Kevin sees Buzz’s girlfriend in a picture. She is not a particularly attractive girl, and there is a genuine reason for this! What do you think it is?
They used a picture of a crew member’s son wearing a wig! This is because they felt it would be cruel to laugh at a real girl, so they changed it. We approve of this as it avoided some tears.
Just Friends
This one is a great example of filmmakers making the scenery fit the emotion. After the scene when the Christmas decorations are destroyed, a few of the decorations are changed. This fits the mood of the characters walking around.
Look at the bottom left of the frame, and you will see a snowman that is now upset! He appears to have lost the rest of his body and is down in the dumps about how Christmas seems to have been destroyed.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Earlier, we showed you an example of how much Martha May Whovier loves the Grinch in this film. Well, it appears that the filmmakers wanted to make that fact extra clear as they included some more easter eggs in the film!
The Grinch gives her an angel tree topper made from a variety of objects. Later, when she has grown up, you can see that the jewels decorating her hair are actually made from this very angel tree topper! How cute!
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
This one is interesting not because it was in the film but because it was not in the film. In this 1964 stop-motion film, you will notice that Yukon Cornelius has a strange habit of licking his pick axe.
Yukon is actually looking for something really specific underground. He is on the hunt for a peppermint mine! When you see him licking his pick axe, he is just ensuring that he didn’t skip over it by checking to see if it tastes like peppermint.