Whether we love or hate it, Christmas has always played a special role in the cinema and Christmas movies like _It's a Wonderful Life_, _Miracle on 34th Street_ and _When Harry Met Sally_ have a special place in popular affections. They almost constitute a mini cinematic genre. So what does Christmas in the movies mean to societies across the Anglo-Saxon and European world and what does it have to say about them? The contributors to _Christmas at the Movies_ take a good look at these popular films, decoding the messages they convey about popular preoccupations and attitudes internationally and about the different societies that produce them. Written in an entertaining and illuminating style, and giving a brand new view of Christmas and its rituals, this is a gift of a book for anyone interested in cinema.