Megan Moran

Classic Christmas films quiz

From small-town America to a Los Angeles skyscraper, these twenty questions visit the Christmas films and TV specials that families have watched for generations. Test what you know about the stars, the directors and the stories behind holiday favorites released before 1990.

A free quiz from Megan Moran, author of The Ultimate Christmas Quiz Book.

Paper-cut illustration of a vintage film camera and clapperboard by a snowy small-town street
Pick an answer to start20 to go

  1. Question 1 of 20SettingsEasy

    In It's a Wonderful Life (1946), what is the name of George Bailey's hometown?

  2. Question 2 of 20AwardsMedium

    Which actor won an Academy Award for playing Kris Kringle in the original Miracle on 34th Street (1947)?

  3. Question 3 of 20Behind the scenesHard

    White Christmas (1954) was the first film released in which widescreen process?

  4. Question 4 of 20PlotEasy

    In Gremlins (1984), after what time must a mogwai never be fed?

  5. Question 5 of 20MusicMedium

    Who composed the jazz music for A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)?

  6. Question 6 of 20CharactersMedium

    In Scrooged (1988), what is Bill Murray's character Frank Cross?

  7. Question 7 of 20Behind the scenesHard

    It's a Wonderful Life was based on which short story by Philip Van Doren Stern?

  8. Question 8 of 20CastEasy

    Who plays Clark Griswold in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)?

  9. Question 9 of 20TV specialsMedium

    In the 1964 TV special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, what does Hermey the elf want to be?

  10. Question 10 of 20Behind the scenesHard

    Die Hard (1988) was based on which 1979 novel by Roderick Thorp?

  11. Question 11 of 20AnimationEasy

    In the Disney short Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983), which character plays Ebenezer Scrooge?

  12. Question 12 of 20DirectorsMedium

    Who directed Gremlins (1984)?

  13. Question 13 of 20TV specialsMedium

    The Snowman (1982) was adapted from a picture book by which author and illustrator?

  14. Question 14 of 20PlotHard

    In It's a Wonderful Life, how much of the Building and Loan's money does Uncle Billy misplace on Christmas Eve?

  15. Question 15 of 20CastEasy

    Bing Crosby co-starred with which famous dancer in Holiday Inn (1942)?

  16. Question 16 of 20PlotMedium

    In A Christmas Story (1983), what "major award" does Ralphie's father win in a contest?

  17. Question 17 of 20TV specialsMedium

    Which horror film star narrated the 1966 TV special How the Grinch Stole Christmas!?

  18. Question 18 of 20Scrooge adaptationsHard

    Who played the title role in the 1951 British film Scrooge?

  19. Question 19 of 20SettingsEasy

    In Die Hard (1988), what is the name of the Los Angeles skyscraper taken over during a Christmas Eve party?

  20. Question 20 of 20PlotMedium

    In National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, what does Clark receive instead of the Christmas bonus he was expecting?

Answer all 20 to see your score.

Want more? The Ultimate Christmas Quiz Book has over 500 questions like these, ready for your next quiz night.

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Show all the answers
  1. In It's a Wonderful Life (1946), what is the name of George Bailey's hometown? Bedford Falls
  2. Which actor won an Academy Award for playing Kris Kringle in the original Miracle on 34th Street (1947)? Edmund Gwenn
  3. White Christmas (1954) was the first film released in which widescreen process? VistaVision
  4. In Gremlins (1984), after what time must a mogwai never be fed? Midnight
  5. Who composed the jazz music for A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)? Vince Guaraldi
  6. In Scrooged (1988), what is Bill Murray's character Frank Cross? President of a TV network
  7. It's a Wonderful Life was based on which short story by Philip Van Doren Stern? The Greatest Gift
  8. Who plays Clark Griswold in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)? Chevy Chase
  9. In the 1964 TV special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, what does Hermey the elf want to be? A dentist
  10. Die Hard (1988) was based on which 1979 novel by Roderick Thorp? Nothing Lasts Forever
  11. In the Disney short Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983), which character plays Ebenezer Scrooge? Scrooge McDuck
  12. Who directed Gremlins (1984)? Joe Dante
  13. The Snowman (1982) was adapted from a picture book by which author and illustrator? Raymond Briggs
  14. In It's a Wonderful Life, how much of the Building and Loan's money does Uncle Billy misplace on Christmas Eve? $8,000
  15. Bing Crosby co-starred with which famous dancer in Holiday Inn (1942)? Fred Astaire
  16. In A Christmas Story (1983), what "major award" does Ralphie's father win in a contest? A lamp shaped like a woman's leg
  17. Which horror film star narrated the 1966 TV special How the Grinch Stole Christmas!? Boris Karloff
  18. Who played the title role in the 1951 British film Scrooge? Alastair Sim
  19. In Die Hard (1988), what is the name of the Los Angeles skyscraper taken over during a Christmas Eve party? Nakatomi Plaza
  20. In National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, what does Clark receive instead of the Christmas bonus he was expecting? A Jelly of the Month Club membership
Paper-cut illustration of a cosy sofa, popcorn and a TV showing a snowy scene

Modern Christmas films

20 questionsMixed
Paper-cut illustration of lanterns and open songbooks in front of a snowy village church

Christmas carols

20 questionsMixed
Paper-cut illustration of vinyl records, a gold disc and a vintage microphone

Christmas songs and No. 1s

20 questionsMixed
Paper-cut illustration of a globe tied with ribbon among festive decorations

Christmas around the world

20 questionsMixed
Paper-cut illustration of a snowy street with a red post box, a robin and terraced houses

Christmas in Britain

20 questionsMixed
Paper-cut illustration of a plate of roast potatoes, sprouts, pigs in blankets and gravy

Christmas dinner

20 questionsMixed