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Writer's pictureBulldogz Team

Christmas comes early as Die Hard takes the crown

Updated: Oct 18, 2022

The 2018 Christmas film World Cup review





Public demand was extraordinary in late November, after the fun of the 2016 Christmas Song World Cup there was a great deal of anticipation for similar participation a year on for the Christmas Film World Cup. The clamour became so much that Bulldogz made the concession to move the event forward one year and the draw was hastily put together in the last days of November of 2017.


The Draw & Group Stages

The draw produced a fascinating set of encounters as the voting was opened up for the first 12 days of December and some surprises turned up as follows:


Group A


Twice semi finalist Love Actually was placed as first seed with The Snowman enjoying second place. Group stage fodder National Lampoon and debutant Krampus completed the group, What was expected to be a stiff fight between the Snowman and National Lampoon for the second place berth turned out to not be the case as Snowman dramatically piped Love Actually to the top spot and Love Actually came in some distance ahead of third place.


A1

The Snowman

260 pts

A2

Love Actually

259 pts

A3

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

101 pts

A4

Krampus

80pts

Group B


Defending champion It's A Wonderful Life was first seed with three times Last 16 competitor Trading Places in second seed. Underperformer White Christmas was placed in third and the fourth seed from the pot was British comedy Nativity. The seeds proved to be well founded as they matched the final results of the group.


B1

It's A Wonderful Life*

​300pts

B2

Trading Places

230pts

B3

White Christmas

194pts

B4

Nativity

96pts


Group C


Twice runner up and behemoth Die Hard seeded first with How the Grinch Stole Christmas, relentless last 16 also ran in second. Third seed The Nightmare before Christmas and Arthur Christmas made up the group. The two seeds stormed ahead but Nightmare made a second week surge to only narrowly miss out on qualification.


C1

Die Hard

330pts

C2

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

240pts

C3

The Nightmare Before Christmas

231pts

C4

Arthur Christmas

130pts

Group D


Former Champion Scrooged was first seed in this group which looked relatively easy as the rest of the runners came out the out. Family Man had managed to scrap a second seed with Jack Frost in third and Angela's Christmas in the fourth spot. This group ran true to form as well with seeded spots reflecting final slots, Scrooged romping home with ease.


D1

Scrooged*

320pts

D2

Family Man

130pts

D3

Jack Frost

100pts

D4

Angela's Christmas

40pts

Group E


This was the most open group in Christmas Film World Cup history with all competitors running with a Last 16 and Group stage elimination record. Muppets Christmas Carol took the first seed with Jingle All The Way in second. Scrooge was in third and Miracle on 34th Street taking fourth. In the end Jingle stole a late march on the Muppets in a dramatic last afternoon switch.



E1

Jingle All The Way

251pts

E2

Muppet Christmas Carol

247pts

E3

Scrooge

231pts

E4

Miracle on 34th Street

214pts

Group F


Popular comedy Elf was placed first seed and rightly so as a twice semi finalist under it's belt. Nothing in the group draw looked like it would trouble Elf and that proved to be correct as the also ran crowd of Santas battled out for second place. The Santa Clause had enjoyed to Last 16 outings and Santa Claus the Movie had exited in the group stage twice previously. British comedy Get Santa was making it's debut. The form card was reflected in placing

F1

Elf

386pts

F2

The Santa Clause

243pts

F3

Santa Clause the Movie

145pts

F4

Get Santa

80pts


Group G


Home Alone was a confident first seed with a losing finalist and quarter final appearance to it's name. Bad Santa had suffered a group stage elimination improving to a Last 16 appearance last time out. Four Christmases had experienced two group stage eliminations and Polar Express had equally seen a Last 16 and a Group Stage finish. Home Alone fans were complacent and Four Christmases took the group to great surprise. Home Alone limped in with second place as Bad Santa fell short and Polar Express under performed.


G1

Four Christmases

265pts

G2

Home Alone

245pts

G3

Bad Santa

232pts

G4

Polar Express

207pts


Group H


Twice Quarter Finalist Gremlins in first seed was lucky to escape the group after the Holidays flanked the 80s hit. Meanwhile voters remain unconvinced regarding the Christmas credentials of Bridget Jones


H1

The Holiday

289pts

H2

Gremlins

276pts

H3

Holiday Inn

262pts

H4

Bridget Jones Diary

76pts



The Last 16 round

Knock out competition gets underway two weeks into December. The Snowman continuing to represent animated films and the 1980s offerings still the strongest set. It's A Wonderful Life was once again the flag bearer for the Classics.


14th December

The Snowman would see off Trading Places in a tight affair but Bruce Willis saw off Nicholas Cage with ease.


A1 57% - The Snowman

B2 43% - Trading Places


C1 70% - Die Hard

D2 30% - The Family Man


15th December

Jingle All The Way and The Santa Clause were both on a free hit to the Quarter Finals but Gremlins put Four Christmases to the sword after an unsteady group performance


E1 61% - Jingle All The Way

F2 39% - The Santa Clause


G1 31% - Four Christmases

H2 69% - Gremlins


16th December

Love Actually dumped the defending champion out in a stunning result while previous champion Scrooged had no such problem dispatching the Grinch


A2 58% - Love Actually

B1 42% - It's A Wonderful Life*


C2 28% - How the Grinch Stole Christmas

D1 72% - Scrooged*


17th December

Another shock saw twice semi finalist Elf stumble against the Muppets but Home Alone found its stride against The Holiday


E2 53% - Muppet Christmas Carol

F1 47% - Elf


G2 62% - Home Alone

H1 38% - The Holiday


Quarter Finals

The quarter final line up was a slew of familiar faces with Jingle All The Way and Muppet Christmas Carol making their first appearances at this stage having both emerged from the same group.



18th December

​

​

The Snowman

versus

Die Hard

​30%

​

70%

19th December

​

​

Jingle All the Way

versus

Gremlins

15%

​

85%


20th December

​

​

Scrooged*

versus

Love Actually

54%

​

46%

21st December

​

​

Muppet Christmas Carol

verus

Home Alone

40%

​

60%


Semi Finals

Twice finalist Die Hard was facing a determined opponent but booked passage late in the game while former winner Scrooged came unstuck against a Home Alone surge to deny a replay of the 2010 final.



22nd December

​

​

Die Hard

versus

Gremlins

59%

​

41%

23rd December

​

​

Scrooged*

versus

Home Alone

47%

​

53%



Final

As families gathered and mulled wine was quaffed Bruce Willis was busy tossing MaCauley Culkin out a high rise window to finally lift the Christmas Film World Cup crown after two previous final defeats. Justice for Nakatomi souls!



24th December

FINAL

​

Die Hard

versus

Home Alone

74%

​

26%


Check out the Dead Air recommendations for alternative Christmas film entertainment. Available as an audio podcast on all major platforms as well.




2021 was a record year for new Christmas film releases. We reviewed some of the offerings as well as some of the previously little known efforts to help you pick your Christmas film schedule.


All the information you need on the Christmas Film World Cup competitors can be found on the competition homepage here.

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