14 Best Christmas Films and TV Adaptations 1986-1990
The list includes the best Christmas films and TV adaptations from 1986 to 1990. They are great DVD gifts for the festive holidays to watch with families and friends. The year 1990 alone produced four Christmas films led by the bestseller and most popular Home Alone with Macaulay Culkin.
Resources, facts and information include the year the film was released, film director, writers, leading stars and brief summaries.
Christmas Films and Television (TV), Years 1986-1990
1. A Smoky Mountain Christmas (1986), TV
Director: Henry Winkler)
Writer: William Bleich (co-story and teleplay)
Stars: Dolly Parton, Lee Majors, John Ritter, Bo Hopkins
A western and country singer is on trip through the mountains. On the way, he runs into a reclusive backwoodsman and a witch.
2. The Christmas Star (1986)
Director: Alan Shapiro
Writers: Alan Shapiro and Carol Dysinger
Stars: Edward Asner, Rene Auberjonois, Jim Metzler
The story is about an escaped convict. He hides in a suburban neighborhood. There, he is befriended by two children who think he is the real Santa Claus.
3. Christmas Eve (1986), TV
Director: Stuart Cooper
Writer: Blanche Hanalis (story and teleplay)
Stars: Loretta Young, Arthur Hill, Trevor Howard, Ron Leibman
It’s a heart-warming story of an elderly woman who makes friends with the homeless. She also volunteers her time with children.
4. Miracle Down Under (Aka Bushfire Moon) (1987), TV
Directors: George Miller
Writer: Jeff Peck
Stars: Dee Wallace, John Waters, Charles “Bud” Tingwell
A small boy determines to see that a nasty miser gets the Christmas spirit. Setting is in the Australian outback.
5. The Christmas Wife (1988)
Director: David Hugh Jones
Writers: Helen Norris (short story), Katherine Ann Jones (teleplay)
Stars: Jason Robards, Julie Harris, Patricia Hamilton, Don Francks
It’s not a happy tune in this story. Recently widowed John Tanner is going to spend his Christmas alone. Lonely, he pays an older woman from an ad for “social introductions” to pretend as his wife. Being a made up Christmas “wife” they spent a not-so-happy Christmas.
6. Scrooged (1988)
Director: Richard Donner
Writers: Mitch Glazer and Michael O’Donoghue
Stars: Bill Murray, John Forsythe, Karen Allen
A selfish TV executive is haunted by the three spirits bearing lessons for him on Christmas Eve.
7. Ernest Saves Christmas (1988)
Director: John R. Cherry III
Writers: Ed Turner (story) and B. Kline (screenplay)
Stars: Jim Varney, Douglas Seale, Noelle Parker, Oliver Clark
It’s time Santa Claus looks for his successor. Ernest helps him.
8. It Nearly Wasn’t Christmas (1989), TV
Director: Burt Brinckerhoff
Story writers: Stanley Isaacs and Golda David
Stars: Beverly Rowland, Charles Durning, Risa Schiffman
Santa Claus is feeling so disillusioned, alone and unwanted. He decides to quit Christmas.
9. Prancer (1989)
Director: John D. Hancock
Writer: Greg Taylor
Stars: Sam Elliott, Cloris Leachman, Rutanya Alda
The daughter of an impoverished apple farmer still believes in Santa Claus. When Jessica comes across a reindeer with an injured leg, she assumes it is Prancer who must have fallen from a Christmas display in town. She hides the reindeer in her barn and feeds it until she can return it to Santa. Her father finds the reindeer and decides to sell it as an advertising display.
10. Christmas Vacation (1989)
Director: Jeremiah S. Chechik
Writer: John Hughes
Stars: Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Randy Quaid, Juliette Lewis
The story is about the Griswolds family whose big plan for a big Christmas celebration turns into a fiasco.
11. Home Alone (1990)
Director: Chris Columbus
Writer: John Hughes
Stars: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern
Kevin, an eight year-old boy, is accidentally left behind when his family flies to Paris for their Christmas holiday. Home alone, he is greeted by would-be burglars. He manages to outwit them with booby traps.
12. A Mom for Christmas (1990), TV
Director: George Miller
Writers: Barbara Dillon (novel) and Gerald Di Pego (teleplay)
Stars: Olivia Newton-John, Juliet Sorci, Doris Roberts, Doug Sheehan
It’s another one of those Christmas “miracle” stories. A young girl wants a mom for Christmas. She gets her wish when a department store mannequin comes to life.
13. The Kid Who Loved Christmas (1990), TV
Director: Arthur Allan Seidelman
Story writers: Mark McClafferty and Clint Smith
Stars: Cicely Tyson, Michael Warren, Della Reese, Ben Vereen, Sammy Davis Jr.
This is a wonderful heartwarming Christmas story especially for the family. Both father and son have one single wish, to be together. Despite all sorts of obstacles, they never lose sight of their affections for each other.
14. Guess Who’s Coming for Christmas? (1990), TV
Director: Paul Schneider
Writers: Beth Polson (story), Blair Ferguson (teleplay)
Stars: Richard Mulligan, Beau Bridges, Barbara Barrie
Sometimes the visitor one might not expect for Christmas is one who shows up. In this story, a mysterious stranger befriends a small-town eccentric and confides that he is from another planet.
These Christmas films and TV adaptations from 1977-1985 are timely for the festive season entertainment. DVDs can be rented out at video rental stores or online video rentals.
Resources of Best Christmas Films and TV Adaptations, 1986-1990
The Internet Movie Database (IMDB)
Other Christmas and Holiday Links
11 Greatest Christmas Films (1935-1950)
16 Best Christmas Films and TV Adaptation 1951-1974
18 Best Christmas Films and TV Adaptations 1977-1985
22 Best Christmas Films and TV Adaptations 1991-1999
16 Best Christmas Films and TV Adaptations 2000-2005
Traditional Christmas Cookie Recipes: The History of Cookies and Three Christmas Cookie Recipes
What to Serve for Christmas Dinner: Recipes and Entrees to Serve for Christmas Meals
History of Christmas: Facts, Information, Resources
Christmas Trivia Questions, Lesson Plans, and Recipes
Tel Asiado is a writer, author, and business consultant, previously, IT manager & consultant. Her articles reflect her interests, from small business, biographies & histories, to classical music especially Mozart, art & literature, biographies, and Christian writings. Tel has produced non-fictions, e-books and anthologies. Her education is MBA in Computer Management, BSc Chemistry, Diploma in Small Business & Internet Mktg, and Cert IV Training and Assessment (TAA). Her small office/home site is homebizideasnow.com, and numerous information of Mozart and classical music, mozartandclassicalmusic.com.
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