Where to see 'Elf' and Christmas movies you've never heard of in Austin

Eric Webb, Austin American-Statesman
·4 min read

You will be watching your favorite Christmas movie at home, in pajamas, I know. But hear me out: What if you watched it while wearing actual pants?

As ever, the holiday season in Austin brings a slate of special film screenings. Here are some you should know about, if you're into merry and bright stuff.

Paramount Theatre

Bing Crosby, from left, Rosemary Clooney, Vera-Ellen and Danny Kaye star in 1954's biggest hit, "White Christmas."
Bing Crosby, from left, Rosemary Clooney, Vera-Ellen and Danny Kaye star in 1954's biggest hit, "White Christmas."

Austin's historic downtown theater is sort of an outpost of the North Pole every December. Among other programming, the home of the city's beloved Summer Classic Film Series screens beloved holiday classics come wintertime.

This year, check out:

  • Nov. 29: “Love Actually”

  • Nov. 30: “It’s a Wonderful Life”

  • Dec. 4: “Miracle on 34th Street" (1947 version)

  • Dec. 6: "Elf”

  • Dec. 14: “White Christmas”

  • Dec. 17: “Home Alone 2”

The annual "Elf" screening is accompanied by a pub run, this year starting at 5:30 p.m. and going to Easy Tiger on East Seventh Street. The party will include caroling, a burping contest, a snowball fight and a costume contest.

For more information and to buy tickets, go to austintheatre.org/holidaycheer.

Alamo Drafthouse

The homegrown cinema chain always brings their Christmas A-game, and this year is no different.

If you need some props, food and booze in your life, look out for movie parties or brunches for these seasonal flicks:

  • Multiple days and locations: “Elf,” “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation," “The Polar Express" and “Gremlins”

  • “The Holiday”: Dec. 3 at Lakeline and Dec. 4 at Mueller

  • “Little Women” (2019 version): Dec. 10 at South Lamar

  • "Christmas In Connecticut": Dec. 11 at Mueller

  • “Love Actually": Dec. 11 at Lakeline

  • "Carol”: Dec. 25 at South Lamar

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Drafthouse also has programmed some holly-decked repertory screenings for the holidays. Along with seasonal classics like "White Christmas" (Dec. 25 at Lakeline), check out deep cuts and off-the-beaten-path movies like:

  • “Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale”: Dec. 8 at Village

  • “Batman Returns”: multiple days and locations

  • “The Jinkx and DeLa Holiday Special”: Dec. 9 at Mueller (or if you want to see those superstar drag queens in person, they'll bring their live Christmas show to the Paramount Theatre on Dec. 11)

  • “Tokyo Godfathers”: Dec. 12 and 14 at Village and Slaughter

  • “Dial Code Santa Claus”: Dec. 20 at South Lamar

  • "Get Crazy": Dec. 21 at South Lamar

  • “Eyes Wide Shut”: Dec. 26 at South Lamar

And back in person this year is "The Master Pancake Xmas Show," running on select dates from Dec. 3-14 at South Lamar. Watch some funny people roast your fave Christmas movies.

Check drafthouse.com for showtimes and to purchase tickets.

Need a newer holiday special in your life? Alamo Drafthouse will play "The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Special" this year, starring "RuPaul's Drag Race" queens BenDeLaCreme, left, and Jinkx Monsoon.
Need a newer holiday special in your life? Alamo Drafthouse will play "The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Special" this year, starring "RuPaul's Drag Race" queens BenDeLaCreme, left, and Jinkx Monsoon.

AFS Cinema

Over the holiday season, Austin Film Society's North Austin cinema is mostly keeping their calendar packed with the arthouse and from-the-vault fare its fans love. (See you at "My Beautiful Laundrette.") But even AFS can't resist the call of Christmas: Catch "The Thin Man" on Dec. 24 and 25 and "Eyes Wide Shut" on Dec. 25 and 26. Well, they're Christmas movies for some of us.

Find more info and get tickets at austinfilm.org.

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Austin Trail of Lights

Austin Trail of Lights on Dec. 15 will turn into a movie watch party, in partnership with Austin Parks Foundation. Admission is free that night. This year, the Trail of Lights will screen "Frosty's Winter Wonderland" and "The Grinch." More info: austintrailoflights.org/specialty-nights/movie-night.

Blue Starlite Mini Urban Drive-In

Blue Starlite Mini Urban Drive-In will welcome you and your car for Christmas classics like "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," "Die Hard," "Edward Scissorhands," "Elf," "Gremlins," "Home Alone" and "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation." There will be holiday screenings at both the downtown and East Austin locations. Go to bluestarlitedrivein.com for showtimes and tickets.

Austin Motel

At the South Congress spot's Winter Wanderland, catch a series of Festive Floats on Fridays throughout December: "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" on Dec. 2, "National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation" on Dec. 9, "The Nightmare Before Christmas" on Dec. 16 and "Jingle All the Way" on Dec. 23. Screenings start at 7 p.m. at the pool. Info: austinmotel.com/regular-event/winter-wanderland.

One more, sort of

OK, this is not a movie, but it's an evening with one of the world's most influential filmmakers. You can catch "A John Waters Christmas," a ribald comedy show from the director of "Hairspray" and other cult classics, on Dec. 5 at the Paramount. We interviewed Waters last year and could listen to him talk for hours, especially about Christmas. More info: tickets.austintheatre.org/8270

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: See Christmas movies in Austin at Alamo Drafthouse and more theaters