What's Louisiana's favorite holiday movie?
The answer may or may not surprise residents of the Bayou State.
Certainly, one would guess such classics as "White Christmas" would not be the top choice for a state that rarely sees flurries in time for St. Nick or "Miracle on 34th Street," either. "Miracle on Canal Street," maybe.
But a classic story of redemption, holiday spirit and a feast most certainly appeals to Louisiana residents.
Indeed, a national survey by the entertainment website Looper showed "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" is Louisiana's favorite holiday movie and the second favorite nationwide.
'How the Grinch Stole Christmas.'
Based on the 1957 Dr. Seuss book, the CBS animated holiday mainstay debuted in December 1966. The story involves a green Grinch who, angered by the joy exhibited by the Whos in Whoville during Christmas, decides to "keep Christmas from coming" by stealing everything (trees, garland, tinsel, roast beast), enlisting his pet Max the dog to play reindeer while he spirits everything away. Much like "A Christmas Carol," the Grinch changes heart and becomes an honored guest at the feast.
While "Grinch" took second-place honors, "Christmas With the Kranks" was the top in seven states, stretching coast to coast. The film stars Academy Award-winner Jamie Lee Curtis and Tim Allen.
Reese Witherspoon as Kate warns Vince Vaughn as Brad there might be a problem with their Christmas presents in New Line Cinema’s romantic comedy, 'Four Christmases,' distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.
New York, home to "Miracle," "Home Alone," "Elf" and "Scrooged," opted for "Four Christmases" with New Orleans-native and Oscar-winner Reese Witherspoon, the third-most popular movie in the list.
For neighbor Arkansas, "Grinch" was also a fave, while Texas and Mississippi viewers liked "The Santa Clause," also starring Allen.
And the above-mentioned "White Christmas"? The Irving Berlin musical was tops in Alaska and Nevada (plenty of snow there), and "Miracle" was most-liked in Georgia and Illinois.
British films and stories fared well on the list, with the newer "Last Christmas" about a heart transplant recipient the favorite in New Hampshire, New Mexico and North Dakota; the 1951 Alastair Sim "A Christmas Carol" was Kansas and Utah's fave; and "Love Actually," the 2003 star-packed interwoven story of the prime minister, his sister and an aging rocker, was the choice in Nebraska, though character Colin Frizzle jets to Wisconsin in the movie.
Animated and stop-action flicks did well on the list, with "Grinch" joined by "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" as tops in Missouri, Ohio and Oregon; "Frosty the Snowman" in Alabama and Oklahoma; and "The Polar Express" chugging to No. 1 in Maine.
The study looked at movie information website IMDB's list of best Christmas movies of all time. It also factored in Google data about the most searched-for holiday movie in every state in 2023.