You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out!

On the night of Thanksgiving, I grab my list of holiday must-watch movies and specials and get to work binging the best television Christmas has to offer. While my list grows from year to year (I have added a few Hallmark movies), there is one mainstay that will always stand the test of time: A Christmas Story.

The leg lamp, the pink bunny costume, the coveted Red Ryder BB gun, the Bumpus hounds—all are staples of this beloved film. Based on the humorous writings of author Jean Shepherd, A Christmas Story follows the wintry adventures of 9-year-old Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley), who spends his time dodging bully Scut Farkus and dreaming of his ideal Christmas gift, an official Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-Shot Range Model air rifle. It is a gift that seemingly no one will get Ralphie, although he holds out hope for the big guy himself. At one point or another, we have all related to Ralphie’s trials and tribulations and it is such fun to watch it play out on screen, especially when he goes to great lengths like centering his English theme essay around the hallowed dream gift.