Christmas Movies have been struggling in finding a balance between full-on corniness and the saccharinely sweet moral lessons we learn from those movies that we take into everyday life. Someone may dislike them at some points, but after all, watching Christmas movies is regarded as one of the most common things to do on Christmas Eve. Year after year, we return to the same old Christmas movies. They might be a dose of comfort, nostalgia, and Christmas cheer.
It turns out that watching Christmas films is not simply an entertaining activity, it evolves into something like a tradition. And sometimes, we did not notice that those movies were released decades ago and our beloved child actors are actually getting old that we can recognize them anymore. Charlie Chaplin introduced the world to one of the first child stars in the film industry - Jackie Coogan. He was only 7 when he appeared in the silent film named The Kid (1921). Since then, so many gifted kids have starred in movie history.
Now, let’s take a look at how 9 child stars have changed since starring in our favorite Christmas movies. Without a doubt, they will bring us a lot of nostalgia. Keep scrolling down and check them out!
In 2018, she said to Entertainment Weekly, “My role [in Miracle on 34th Street] happened very quickly: Mrs. Doubtfire came out at the end of 1993, and then we started filming Miracle in early spring of 1994. And I remember finding out that I got the part for Matilda while I was in Chicago filming Miracle. So as you can see, it just kind of snowballed. Everything was on top of each other. It was ridiculous and crazy, but fun — I like meeting people and traveling to places.”
spilled coffee on Grimes' dress moments prior to her interview. 'It might have intimidated some little girls, but it gave me something to talk about,' Grimes told the Independent.
In an interview with Rolling Stone in 2014, the director remembered, "Galecki was just an odd kid. He was very young and so dry […] He made me laugh because he has this wack of a sense of humor and that’s what made me really want him.”
“He wasn’t a Hollywood kid who was going for laughs, but he had a nervousness to him that in many ways shows beautifully now as an adult,” he went on. “His comic gifts are absolutely incredible."
In an interview in 2020, Taylor reflected on the movie, calling it, “an impactful moment in [her] life.”
She continued, "I think that people love The Grinch just simply because the core of the story is so sweet and it's so heartwarming and it has such a good message. That no matter what age touches your heart, I think that that’s an amazing thing to be a part of. "
It turns out that watching Christmas films is not simply an entertaining activity, it evolves into something like a tradition. And sometimes, we did not notice that those movies were released decades ago and our beloved child actors are actually getting old that we can recognize them anymore. Charlie Chaplin introduced the world to one of the first child stars in the film industry - Jackie Coogan. He was only 7 when he appeared in the silent film named The Kid (1921). Since then, so many gifted kids have starred in movie history.
Now, let’s take a look at how 9 child stars have changed since starring in our favorite Christmas movies. Without a doubt, they will bring us a lot of nostalgia. Keep scrolling down and check them out!
#1 Peter Billingsley from A Christmas Story (1983)
Source: © A Christmas Story / Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, © A Christmas Story Christmas / Legendary Pictures
#2 Macaulay Culkin from Home Alone (1990)
Source: © Home Alone / Hughes Entertainment, © The Righteous Gemstones / HBO Entertainment
#3 Kieran Culkin from Home Alone (1990)
Source: © Home Alone / Hughes Entertainment, LISA O'CONNOR/AFP/East News
#4 Mara Wilson from Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
Source: © Miracle on 34th Street / Hughes Entertainment, © marawilson / Instagram
In 2018, she said to Entertainment Weekly, “My role [in Miracle on 34th Street] happened very quickly: Mrs. Doubtfire came out at the end of 1993, and then we started filming Miracle in early spring of 1994. And I remember finding out that I got the part for Matilda while I was in Chicago filming Miracle. So as you can see, it just kind of snowballed. Everything was on top of each other. It was ridiculous and crazy, but fun — I like meeting people and traveling to places.”
#5 Karolyn Grimes from It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
Source: © It's a Wonderful Life / Liberty Films, © Dave Allocca / StarPix / Shutterstock.com
spilled coffee on Grimes' dress moments prior to her interview. 'It might have intimidated some little girls, but it gave me something to talk about,' Grimes told the Independent.
#6 Eric Lloyd from The Santa Clause (1994)
Source: © The Santa Clause / Walt Disney Pictures, © Jean_Nelson / Depositphotos.com
#7 Thomas Brodie-Sangster from Love Actually (2003)
Source: © Love Actually / StudioCanal, © Ana Maria Wiggins / Alamy Stock Photo
#8 Johnny Galecki from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
Source: © National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation / Hughes Entertainment, © Matt Baron / Shutterstock.com
In an interview with Rolling Stone in 2014, the director remembered, "Galecki was just an odd kid. He was very young and so dry […] He made me laugh because he has this wack of a sense of humor and that’s what made me really want him.”
“He wasn’t a Hollywood kid who was going for laughs, but he had a nervousness to him that in many ways shows beautifully now as an adult,” he went on. “His comic gifts are absolutely incredible."
#9 Taylor Momsen from How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
Source: © How the Grinch Stole Christmas / Imagine Entertainment, Invision/Invision/East News
In an interview in 2020, Taylor reflected on the movie, calling it, “an impactful moment in [her] life.”
She continued, "I think that people love The Grinch just simply because the core of the story is so sweet and it's so heartwarming and it has such a good message. That no matter what age touches your heart, I think that that’s an amazing thing to be a part of. "