🕚 Merry 80s Marathon: How I’m Spending December 13 on AMC

This lineup is absolutely worth spending the entire day on, and I’m doing it right with whiskey, cocoa, beef jerky, chocolate bark, and that three-flavor popcorn tin. Here’s how I’m tackling it:

  • 11am – Ghostbusters (1984) – Binge Now
    It broke the mold for paranormal sci-fi action-adventure comedies. Genre-defining, full of charm, and still unmatched in tone. This one’s a must-watch for me — classic Murray magic.

  • 1:30pm – Ghostbusters II – Binge Now
    My favorite Ghostbusters movie. Extremely hopeful, holiday-themed, redeemable, and relatable. Murray is at the top of his game here, and I always come back for this one.

  • 4pm – The Great Outdoors – Binge Now
    Dan Aykroyd is at his yuppiest, scummiest anti-hero relative to John Candy’s lead. It’s chaotic, funny, and perfect mid-afternoon holiday comedy energy — exactly the kind of ridiculous family chaos I live for.

  • 6pm – Planes, Trains & Automobiles – Binge Now
    We already blogged it as one of the top 3 feel-good movies of all time. Road-trip chaos, heart, and humor collide perfectly here. No holiday binge is complete without it.

  • 8pm / 10:15pm – National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation – Binge Now
    It helped establish the Christmas comedy movie sub-genre and is still one of the most iconic seasonal comedies ever made. I can quote half of it from memory, and honestly, I probably will while snacking through both showings.

  • 12:30am – Scrooged – Binge Now (More than Once)
    Possibly my favorite Christmas movie of all time. I watch it every year. It makes me think of my parents, my dreams, work-life balance, and relationships. Funny, chaotic, and comforting — a must-binge multiple times.

Johnny Spoiler PSA: Never stay out in the cold — ask for help, it’s waiting for you. There’s always a second chance. And yes, cocoa and popcorn help. Always.


Check out the full AMC Best Christmas Ever lineup so I don’t miss a single movie this holiday season. Plus, I can stream many of these movies on AMC.com with a cable login or by signing up for AMC+.

Saturday, November 29 – Murray Christmas Marathon

  • 12pm: Caddyshack (Binge Later)

  • 2pm: Groundhog Day (Binge Now)

  • 4:30pm: Ghostbusters (1984) (Binge Now)

  • 7pm: Ghostbusters II (Binge Now)

  • 9:30pm: Scrooged (Binge Now, More than Once)

Sunday, November 30

  • 5pm / 7pm / 9pm: Christmas with the Kranks

  • 11pm: Scrooged

Monday, December 1

  • 6pm: Scrooged

  • 8pm: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

  • 10:15pm: Planes, Trains & Automobiles

Tuesday, December 2

  • 5:45pm: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

  • 8pm: Elf

  • 10pm: Fred Claus

Wednesday, December 3

  • 6pm: Elf

  • 8pm: Polar Express

  • 10pm: Jumanji

Thursday, December 4

  • 6pm: Polar Express

  • 8pm: Four Christmases

  • 10pm: The Holiday

Friday, December 5 – AMC Double Feature

  • 6pm: Four Christmases

  • 8pm: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

  • 10pm: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Saturday, December 6 – Christmas All The Way Marathon

  • 6pm: Four Christmases

  • 8pm: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

  • 10pm: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Sunday, December 7 – Holiday Hijinks Marathon

  • 4pm: The Great Outdoors

  • 6pm: Elf

  • 8pm: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

  • 10:15pm: Trading Places

Monday, December 8

  • 7pm: Elf

  • 9pm: Four Christmases

  • 11pm: Elf

Tuesday, December 9 – Christmas Candy Marathon

  • 4pm: Spaceballs

  • 6pm: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

  • 8pm: Planes, Trains & Automobiles

  • 10pm: The Great Outdoors

  • 12am: Planes, Trains & Automobiles

Wednesday, December 10

  • 6pm: The Great Outdoors

  • 8pm: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

  • 10:15pm: Scrooged

  • 12:15am: Trading Places

Thursday, December 11

  • 5:45pm: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

  • 8pm: Fred Claus

  • 10:30pm: Four Christmases

  • 12:30am: Liar Liar

Friday, December 12 – December the TwELFth Marathon

  • 6pm / 8pm / 10pm / 12am: Elf

Saturday, December 13 – Merry 80s Marathon

  • 11am: Ghostbusters (1984)

  • 1:30pm: Ghostbusters II

  • 4pm: The Great Outdoors

  • 6pm: Planes, Trains & Automobiles

  • 8pm / 10:15pm: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

  • 12:30am: Scrooged

Sunday, December 14 – Best Elf Marathon

  • 4:30pm: Fred Claus

  • 7pm: The Polar Express

  • 9pm / 11pm: Elf

Monday, December 15

  • 7:30pm: The Wizard of Oz

  • 10pm: The Holiday

Tuesday, December 16

  • 6pm: The Polar Express

  • 8pm: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

  • 10:15pm: Elf

  • 12:15am: The Polar Express

Wednesday, December 17

  • 5:45pm: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

  • 8pm: Elf

  • 10pm: Four Christmases

  • 12am: Fred Claus

Thursday, December 18 – AMC Double Feature

  • 5:45pm: Deck the Halls

  • 8pm / 10:15pm: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

  • 12:30am: Planes, Trains & Automobiles

Friday, December 19 – That's Not Santa!

  • 6:30pm: Trading Places

  • 9pm: Elf

  • 11pm: Fred Claus

Saturday, December 20 – Naughty or Nice Weekend

  • 9:45am: Fred Claus

  • 12:15pm: Trading Places

  • 2:45pm: Scrooged

  • 4:45pm: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

  • 7pm: Elf

  • 9pm: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

  • 11:15pm: Elf

  • 1:15am: Scrooged

  • 3:15am: The Polar Express

  • 5:15am: A Christmas Story

Sunday, December 21 – Naughty or Nice Weekend continued

  • 7:15am: Love the Coopers

  • 9:45am: Deck the Halls

  • 12pm: The Great Outdoors

  • 2pm: The Polar Express

  • 4pm: Four Christmases

  • 6pm: Elf

  • 8pm: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

  • 10:15pm: Elf

  • 12:15am: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

  • 2:30am: Four Christmases

  • 4:30am: The Life & Adventures of Santa Claus

Monday, December 22

  • 6pm: Elf

  • 8pm: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

  • 10:15pm: Four Christmases

Tuesday, December 23

  • 5:45pm: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

  • 8pm: Elf

  • 10pm: Scrooged

Wednesday, December 24 – Best Christmas Marathon

  • 9am: Fred Claus

  • 11:30am: Four Christmases

  • 1:30pm: The Polar Express

  • 3:30pm: The Wizard of Oz

  • 6pm: Elf

  • 8pm / 10:15pm: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

  • 12:30am: The Polar Express

  • 2:30am: Deck the Halls

  • 4:45am: Four Christmases

Thursday, December 25 – Best Christmas Marathon continued

  • 6:45am: White Christmas

  • 9:30am: The Wizard of Oz

  • 12pm: The Polar Express

  • 2pm: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

  • 4:15pm: Elf

  • 6:15pm: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

  • 8:30pm: Elf

  • 10:30pm: Four Christmases

  • 12:30am: Scrooged

  • 2:30am: Fred Claus

Friday, December 26 – Holiday Hangover

  • 12pm: Scrooged

  • 2pm: Four Christmases

  • 4pm: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

  • 6:15pm: Elf

  • 8:15pm: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

  • 10:30pm: Elf