The best Christmas movies of all time

Will Ferrell stars in the Christmas movie 'Elf'.

Old favourite It's a Wonderful Life has been voted the best Christmas film of all time.

The 1946 movie, starring James Stewart as suicidal George Bailey, beat the likes of Home Alone and The Muppet Christmas Carol in the poll.

It pushed Richard Curtis' romantic comedy Love Actually, starring Colin Firth and Hugh Grant, into second place, followed by Will Ferrell movie Elf.

The Muppet Christmas Carol and Home Alone took fourth and fifth place in the poll, carried out on RadioTimes.com.

Miracle On 34th Street and traditional Christmas films The Snowman and Scrooge also finished in the top 10.

Writing in the Radio Times, film critic Barry Norman said of It's A Wonderful Life: "Frank Capra's wonderful, life-enhancing film should be shown every Christmas preferably after the Queen's Speech.

"Yes, it verges on the sentimental but never too much so. Far more it's simply heart-warming - the grandaddy of all feel-good movies."

RadioTimes.com top 10 Christmas films

1. It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

2. Love Actually (2003)

3. Elf (2003)

4. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

5. Home Alone (1990)

6. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)

7. Santa Claus: The Movie (1985)

8. Miracle On 34th Street (1994)

9. The Snowman (1982)

10. Scrooge (1951)

- PAA