Milwaukee movie theaters get holiday spirit with Christmas classics: What's showing where

Several Milwaukee-area theaters are getting into the spirit of the season by bringing holiday chestnuts back to the big screen.

One movie, 2003's "Love Actually," is getting a wide rerelease for one week starting Dec. 8 to mark its 20th anniversary (and not just its shout-out to Milwaukee).

Here's a look at what's been announced so far. Keep up with additions in the Journal Sentinel's weekly movie guide, online at jsonline.com/entertainment/tv-movies and in each Friday's print editions.

Christmas movies at Rivoli Theatre in Cedarburg

The Holiday Film Festival at the Rivoli Theatre, W62-N567 Washington Ave. in Cedarburg, shows Christmas movies and favorites screening nightly from Dec. 1 through Dec. 23. Tickets are $4. For info, see rivoliofcedarburg.com.

The Rivoli's 2023 Holiday Film Festival lineup:

Dec. 1: 7 p.m., "It's a Wonderful Life"

Dec. 2: 3:30 p.m., "Elf"; 7 p.m., "White Christmas"

Dec. 3: 3:30 p.m., "The Polar Express"; 7 p.m. "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation"

Dec. 4: 7 p.m., "It Happened on Fifth Avenue"

Dec. 5: 7 p.m., "The Holiday"

Dec. 6: 7 p.m., "The Bells of St. Mary's"

Dec. 7: 7 p.m., "A Christmas Carol" (1938)

Dec. 8: 7 p.m., "White Christmas" (singalong version)

Dec. 9: 3:30 p.m., "The Polar Express"; 7 p.m., "Elf"

Dec. 10: 3:30 p.m., "The Star"; 7 p.m., "The Bishop's Wife"

Dec. 11: 7 p.m., "Last Christmas"

Dec. 12: 7 p.m., "It Happened on Fifth Avenue"

Dec. 13: 7 p.m., "White Christmas"

Dec. 14: 7 p.m., "The Holiday"

Dec. 15: 7 p.m., "Elf"

Dec. 16: 3:30 p.m., "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"; 7 p.m., "White Christmas" (singalong version)

Dec. 17: 3:30 p.m., "Dr. Seuss' The Grinch" (2018); 7 p.m., "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation"

Dec. 18: 7 p.m., "It's a Wonderful Life"

Dec. 19: 7 p.m., "White Christmas"

Dec. 20: 7 p.m., "The Bishop's Wife"

Dec. 21: 7 p.m., "Holiday Inn"

Dec. 22: 3:30 p.m., "Dr. Seuss' The Grinch" (2018); 7 p.m., "It's a Wonderful Life"

Dec. 23: 1 p.m., "The Polar Express"; 3:30 p.m., "Elf"; 7 p.m., "White Christmas"

Christmas movies at Marcus Theatres

All eight Milwaukee-area Marcus Theatres are in on the chain's Season's Screenings program, with different holiday-themed movies each week from after Thanksgiving to just before Christmas.

Tickets are $6, unless noted otherwise; a Season's Screenings passport gets you four admissions for $20. Showtimes vary. For details, go to marcustheatres.com.

This year's offerings:

Nov. 26-30: "Dr. Seuss' The Grinch" and "Spirited"

Dec. 1-7: "Dr. Seuss' The Grinch" (2018), "Elf," "It's a Wonderful Life," "Krampus" and "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (2000) (note: tickets for the 2000 "Grinch" are $14)

Dec. 8-14: "The Polar Express," "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation," "Rise of the Guardians," "White Christmas" and "A Christmas Story" (note: tickets for "A Christmas Story" are $14)

Dec. 15-21: "Meet Me in St. Louis" and "Fred Claus"

Christmas movies at Avalon Theater

The Avalon Theater, 2473 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., put together a creative mix of recent and classic Christmas movies for its holiday lineup this year. Tickets are $10 (unless noted otherwise). Info: avalonmke.com.

The 2023 lineup:

Dec. 2: Noon, "Office Christmas Party"

Dec. 3: Noon, "Dr. Seuss' The Grinch" (2018)

Dec. 9: Noon, "Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey" (showing with special Pizza With Santa event; $24, $22 for kids)

Dec. 10: Noon, "Batman Returns"

Dec. 16: Noon, "Spirited"

Dec. 17: Noon, "The Holiday"

Dec. 23: Noon, "It's a Wonderful Life"

Dec. 24: 11 a.m., "It's a Wonderful Life"

Dec. 30: Noon, "Two Lovers"

Dec. 31: Noon, "Four Rooms"

Christmas movies at Times Cinema

The Times Cinema, 5906 W. Vliet St., goes all-in for the holidays in December. Tickets are $11. Info: timescinema.com.

The lineup so far:

"Spirited," 6:30 p.m. Dec. 1-3 and 6:30 p.m. Dec. 6

"Elf": 3:30 p.m. Dec. 2-3 and 6:30 p.m. Dec. 7

"Holiday Inn": 6:30 p.m. Dec. 8-10 and Dec. 13.

"Frozen": 3:30 p.m. Dec. 9-10 and 6:30 p.m. Dec. 14.

"Santa Claus Conquers the Martians": 6:30 p.m. Dec. 15.

"Frozen II": 3:30 p.m. Dec. 16-17 and 6:30 p.m. Dec. 21.

"National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation": 6:30 p.m. Dec. 16-17 and Dec. 20.

"It's a Wonderful Life": 6:30 p.m. Dec. 22, 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. Dec. 23, and 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Dec. 24.

"Sunset Boulevard": 6:30 p.m. Dec. 27.

"An Affair to Remember": 6:30 p.m. Dec. 28.

"Planes, Trains and Automobiles": 6:30 p.m. Dec. 29.

"About Time": 6:30 p.m. Dec. 30-31 and Jan. 3.

"When Harry Met Sally … ": 3:30 p.m. Dec. 30-31 and 6:30 p.m. Jan. 4.

Silverspot Cinema's Flashback Cinema holiday titles

Silverspot Cinema, at The Corners of Brookfield, 20111 W. Blue Mound Road, has turned its Flashback Cinema program over to the Christmas season.

The movies show at on Sunday afternoons and Wednesday nights; start times vary. Tickets are $11.50 on Sundays and $14 on Wednesdays. For info, go to silverspot.net.

The Flashback lineup for the rest of the season:

Nov. 22: "The Polar Express"

Nov. 26 and 29: "White Christmas"

Dec. 3 and 6: "Elf"

Dec. 10 and 13: "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation"

Dec 17, 20 and 24: "It's a Wonderful Life"

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee movie theaters showing classic Christmas movies