The top 20 Christmas films have been named - and Elf isn't number one

As December approaches, you might be thinking of wiping the dust off the Christmas DVD collection.

Christmas films are great to watch especially when it's cold outside.

But there are so many to watch these days, you just don't know where to start.

But now a definitive leaderboard of the 'ultimate Christmas movies' has been compiled in excruciating detail with each film being marked in 25 categories to put an end to the argument once and for all, thanks to the Mirror.

Music Magpie chose four key elements to decide each film's ranking: number of Christmas references, performance at the box office, popularity with audience and critics, and it's ability to create a festive buzz year after year.

The guide also tracks the number of shots of Santa in each film, how many Christmas songs are played and when characters don a festive outfit.

With all the results compiled, Home Alone deservedly came out on top to be named the ultimate Christmas film of all time.

The story of lax parenting and multiple serious assaults topped two of the four categories, being the highest grossing having raked in more than £727,000,000 at the box office and leading the way in creating a festive buzz.

Just to make you feel old, the film will be 29 years old in December. You're welcome.

Ultimate Christmas films ranked:

1. Home Alone (1990)
2. Elf (2003)
3. Love Actually (2003)
4. How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
5. The Santa Clause (1994)
6. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
7. Arthur Christmas (2011)
8. Gremlins (1984)
9. The Polar Express (2004)
10. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)
11. Die Hard (1988)
12. Home Alone 2: Lost In New York (1992)
13. Scrooged (1988)
14. Jingle All The Way (1996)
15. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
16. It's A Wonderful Life (1946)
17. Miracle On 34th Street (1994)
18. White Christmas (1954)
19. Bad Santa (2003)

20. The Holiday (2006)

Kevin McCallister edged out Buddy as Elf came in at number two, with Love Actually, How The Grinch Stole Christmas and The Santa Clause completing the top five.

Home Alone 2 also makes an appearance at number 12, just behind the controversial inclusion of Die Hard, which many continue to insist is not a Christmas film at all (it is).

Arthur Christmas is the most recent release to make the list, with It's A Wonderful Life being the oldest to qualify.

That list should keep you pretty busy, for a few days at least.