79 Years Ago Today: the 'Best Christmas Movie Ever' Hit Theaters
Christmas in July?
No, how about Christmas in June? That's what audiences received on this day 79 years ago when holiday classic Miracle on 34th Street starring hit theaters on June 11, 1947.
"In this Christmas classic, an old man going by the name of Kris Kringle fills in for an intoxicated Santa in Macy's annual Thanksgiving Day parade. Kringle proves to be such a hit that he is soon appearing regularly at the chain's main store in midtown Manhattan," the synopsis of the film reads.
"When Kringle surprises customers and employees alike by claiming that he really is Santa Claus, it leads to a court case to determine his mental health and, more importantly, his authenticity."
Since its release nearly 80 years ago, the film has taken on a iconic role during the holiday season, even though it was released in the heat of the summer.
'Miracle on 34th Street' Named 'Best Christmas Movie Ever'
It's About TV named Miracle on 34th Street the "best Christmas movie ever" for its strong story, "satire, not sentimentality," and characters the audience likes and can actually root for.
"For starters, Miracle on 34th Street is well written and tightly plotted. Even though it's classified as a fantasy, there are no major gaps in the plot, no illogical leaps, no unreasonable suspensions of belief," wrote It's About TV, pointing to the strong story as one of the key reasons it rises above the rest.
The Real Miracle Came From the Cold
The movie was shot on location in New York City during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade despite the bitter cold in the region at the time.
"It was a mad scramble to get all the shots we needed, and we got to do each scene only once," Maureen O'Hara recalled in her memoir. "It was bitterly cold that day, and Edmund and I envied Natalie (Wood) and John Payne, who were watching the parade from a window."
It was so cold in New York, in fact, that one of the cameras froze during filming and had to be thawed in a nearby neighbor's house.
Related: 1959 Classic, Which John Wayne Made out of Anger, Named Among Best Westerns of All Time
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 11, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published June 11, 2026 at 12:24 PM.