Classic Christmas movies showing in Milwaukee theaters, from 'Elf' to 'A Christmas Story'
December's not just for blockbusters and Oscar contenders. Each year, Milwaukee movie theaters bring back to the big screen holiday favorites from the past to help make the season bright.
Here's a rundown of what's showing this year.
Christmas movies at Rivoli Theatre in Cedarburg
The Rivoli, the community movie theater in Cedarburg, brings back its Holiday Film Festival in December, with more than 20 Christmas favorites — including some that aren't available on television or streaming services this season. Tickets are $4. Info: rivoliofcedarburg.com.
Dec. 2: 7 p.m. "A Christmas Story"
Dec. 3: 3:30 p.m., "Elf"; 7 p.m., "White Christmas"
Dec. 4: 3:30 p.m., "The Polar Express"; 7 p.m., "The Last Holiday"
Dec. 5: 7 p.m., "A Christmas Carol" (1938 version)
Dec. 6: 7 p.m., "Holiday Inn"
Dec. 7: 7 p.m., "The Bells of St. Mary’s"
Dec. 8: 7 p.m., "You’ve Got Mail"
Dec. 9: 7 p.m., "White Christmas"
Dec. 10: 3:30 p.m., "The Polar Express"; 7 p.m., "Elf"
Dec. 11: 3:30 p.m., "The Star" (2017); 7 p.m., "The Bishop’s Wife"
Dec. 12: 7 p.m., "A Christmas Story"
Dec. 13: 7 p.m., "It Happened on 5th Avenue"
Dec. 14: 7 p.m., "New in Town"
Dec. 15: 7 p.m., "The Holiday"
Dec. 16: 7 p.m., "Elf"
Dec. 17: 3:30 p.m., "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (1964 TV special); 7 p.m., "White Christmas"
Dec. 18: 3:30 p.m., "Dr. Seuss' The Grinch" (2018 animated version); 7 p.m., "National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation"
Dec. 19: 7 p.m., "White Christmas"
Dec. 20: 7 p.m., "A Christmas Story"
Dec. 21: 7 p.m., "Last Christmas"
Dec. 22: 1 p.m., "The Star" (2017); 3:30 p.m., "Meet Me in St. Louis"; 7 p.m., "Holiday Inn"
Dec. 23: 1 p.m., "The Polar Express"; 3:30 p.m., "Elf"; 7 p.m., "White Christmas"
Christmas classics at Marcus Theatres
Marcus Theatres has its Holiday Classics retro series, with eight Christmas favorites showing at various times daily for a full week. Tickets are $5. Info: marcustheatres.com.
Dec. 2-8: "A Christmas Story," at Hillside, Majestic, Menomonee Falls, Ridge, Saukville, Showtime, Southgate and South Shore cinemas.
Dec. 2-8: "Dr. Seuss' The Grinch," the 2018 animated version, at Bistroplex Southridge, Hillside, Majestic, Menomonee Falls, Movie Tavern Brookfield Square, North Shore, Ridge, Saukville, Showtime, Southgate, South Shore cinemas.
Dec. 2-8: "Elf," at Bistroplex Southridge, Hillside, Majestic, Menomonee Falls, Movie Tavern Brookfield Square, North Shore, Ridge, Saukville, Showtime, Southgate, South Shore cinemas.
Dec. 2-8: "Love Actually," at Hillside, Majestic, Menomonee Falls, Ridge, Saukville, Showtime, Southgate and South Shore cinemas.
Dec. 9-15: "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," the 2000 live-action version, at Hillside, Majestic, Menomonee Falls, Ridge, Saukville, Showtime, Southgate and South Shore cinemas.
Dec. 9-15: "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation," at Bistroplex Southridge, Hillside, Majestic, Menomonee Falls, North Shore, Ridge, Saukville, Showtime, Southgate, South Shore cinemas.
Dec. 9-15: "The Polar Express," at Bistroplex Southridge, Hillside, Majestic, Menomonee Falls, North Shore, Ridge, Saukville, Showtime, Southgate, South Shore cinemas.
Dec. 9-15: "White Christmas," at Hillside, Majestic, Menomonee Falls, Ridge, Saukville, Showtime, Southgate and South Shore cinemas.
Christmas movies at Avalon Theater
Bay View's Avalon Theater offers a little different holiday cheer with its Christmas Cinema, made up of movies that don't always get considered holiday films but feature memorable Christmas content. The theater also hosts its annual "Breakfast With Santa" at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 10, with a breakfast, visit with Santa, gifts for kids and a screening of "Arthur Christmas." Tickets for "Breakfast With Santa" are $22; for the other movies, it's $11. Info: avalonmke.com.
Dec. 1: 9:30 p.m., "Trading Places"
Dec. 2: 9:30 p.m., "Gremlins"
Dec. 8: 9:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m., "Just Friends"
Dec. 9: 9:30 p.m., "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation"
Dec. 10: 10:30 a.m., "Arthur Christmas" (part of "Breakfast With Santa")
Dec. 11: 11:30 a.m., "Elf"
Dec. 17: 11:30 a.m., "A Christmas Story"
Dec. 18: 11:30 a.m., "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (2000 version)
Dec. 24-25: 11 a.m., "White Christmas"
Christmas movies at Times Cinema
The Times Cinema in Milwaukee's Washington Heights has its own Christmas Cinema program for December, skewing toward family-friendly holiday fare. Tickets are $11. Info: timescinema.com.
Dec. 2-4, 7: 6:30 p.m., "Gremlins"
Dec. 3-4: 3:30 p.m., "The Nightmare Before Christmas"
Dec. 8: 6:30 p.m., "The Nightmare Before Christmas"
Dec. 9-11, 15: 6:30 p.m., "Elf"
Dec. 10-11: 3:30 p.m., "The Santa Clause"
Dec. 14: 6:30 p.m., "The Santa Clause"
Dec. 17-18, 22: 6:30 p.m., "Home Alone"
Dec. 17-18: 4 p.m., "The Muppet Christmas Carol"
Dec. 21: 6:30 p.m., "The Muppet Christmas Carol"
Dec. 23 and 29: 6:30 p.m., "Miracle on 34th Street" (1994 version)
Dec. 25: 3:30 p.m., "Miracle on 34th Street" (1994 version)
Dec. 24: 3:30 p.m., "White Christmas"
Dec. 24-25, 28: 6:30 p.m., "White Christmas"
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Classic Christmas movies showing in Milwaukee theaters
