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.
Comments