Each week, thousands of great movies air on cable TV and over-the-air antenna channels. Your favorites may be among them … but how often do you actually find out in time? Our day-by-day guide to classic movies on TV this week will help you plan; know in advance what classic films are airing on primetime and beyond each evening, and never again miss your chance to watch something wonderful.
This week, viewers can catch everything from the Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder comedy Silver Streak to grim ’70s drama Taxi Driver, and everything in between. Watch Bye Bye Birdie in celebration of Dick Van Dyke’s upcoming 100th birthday, catch James Dean’s cinematic debut with East of Eden, dance along with Shirley Jones in Carousel, or just get your first A Christmas Story viewing of the season in.
Classic Movies & TV Highlights Airing on Monday, December 1
Richard Pryor’s 85th Birthday
TCM, beginning at 8pm
One of comedy’s greatest talents was Richard Pryor, whose career and material drew from a difficult life (he was raised in his grandmother’s brothel and expelled from school at age 14), but he found the absurdity in life and rose above it. In honor of what would’ve been his 85th birthday, TCM presents a primetime lineup that showcases Pryor’s genius in both movies and his comedy performances. Movies showing are as follows: Silver Streak (1976), Brewster’s Millions (1985), Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip (1982) and Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling (1986).
TV We Love: “Touched by an Angel”
The CW, 9pm
Star Roma Downey and executive producer Martha Williamson reflect on the 1990s drama’s moving stories of faith, hope and inspiration that captivated millions.
Paul Anka: His Way
HBO, 9pm
From teen idol to chart-topping songwriter, Paul Anka has spent seven decades as one of the most prolific musicians in the world. Part road movie and part living biography, this documentary traces the iconic Canadian’s journey through stardom and constant reinvention in an ever-changing industry.
Primetime Movies Tonight
5pm Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981, Adventure) Harrison Ford, Karen Allen GSHW2
5pm Point Break (1991, Action) Patrick Swayze, Keanu Reeves IFC
5:35pm My Sister Eileen (1955, Musical comedy) Janet Leigh, Jack Lemmon MOVIES!
5:50pm Big Daddy (1999, Comedy) Adam Sandler, Joey Lauren Adams TMCX
6pm Home Alone (1990, Family) Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci FREEFORM
6pm Mean Girls (2004, Comedy) Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams E!
6pm Scrooged (1988, Comedy) Bill Murray, Karen Allen AMC
6pm Seconds (1966, Science fiction) Rock Hudson, Salome Jens TCM
6:15pm Nutcracker: The Motion Picture (1986, Children) Hugh Bigney, Vanessa Sharp HDNETMV
6:15pm Reindeer Games (2000, Crime drama) Ben Affleck, Gary Sinise FLIX
6:15pm Shaft (2000, Action) Samuel L. Jackson, Vanessa L. Williams SHO
6:29pm Nowhere to Hide (1987, Action) Amy Madigan, Daniel Hugh Kelly RETRO
6:45pm Spaceballs (1987, Comedy) Mel Brooks, John Candy BBCA
6:55pm The Hitcher (1986, Suspense) Rutger Hauer, C. Thomas Howell ACMAX
7pm The Godfather (1972, Crime drama) Marlon Brando, Al Pacino GSHW2
7:18pm Christmas With the Kranks (2004, Comedy) Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis HBO
7:25pm Wayne’s World (1992, Comedy) Mike Myers, Dana Carvey TMCX
8pm A Kid in Aladdin’s Palace (1997, Children) Thomas Ian Nicholas, Rhona Mitra STZK
8pm Bye Bye Birdie (1963, Musical comedy) Dick Van Dyke, Janet Leigh MVIES
8pm Gladiator (2000, Historical drama) Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix STZENC
8pm Mean Girls (2004, Comedy) Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams E!
8pm National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989, Comedy) Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo AMC
8pm Shaun of the Dead (2004, Comedy) Simon Pegg, Kate Ashfield STZC
8pm Silver Streak (1976, Comedy) Gene Wilder, Jill Clayburgh TCM
8pm Taxi Driver (1976, Drama) Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster SHOWXHD
8:15pm Predator (1987, Science fiction) Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers IFC
8:20pm Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988, Comedy) Steve Martin, Michael Caine HDNETMV
8:25pm Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992, Children) Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci FREEFORM
8:41pm 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968, Science fiction) Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood 5MAX
8:45pm Galaxy Quest (1999, Comedy) Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver BBCA
9pm The Replacements (2000, Comedy) Keanu Reeves, Gene Hackman TRUTV
9pm Wayne’s World 2 (1993, Comedy) Mike Myers, Dana Carvey TMCX
9:03pm Bruce Almighty (2003, Comedy) Jim Carrey, Morgan Freeman STZE
9:45pm Red Eye (2005, Suspense) Rachel McAdams, Cillian Murphy FLIX
9:48pm Terminator Woman (1993, Action) Jerry Trimble, Karen Sheperd RETRO
6pm East of Eden (1955, Drama) James Dean, Julie Harris TCM
6pm Seabiscuit (2003, Drama) Tobey Maguire, Jeff Bridges GSHW2
6pm The Ring (2002, Horror) Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson FLIX
6:12pm The Brothers McMullen (1995, Comedy-drama) Jack Mulcahy, Mike McGlone HBOSIG
6:24pm Destry (1955, Western) Audie Murphy, Mari Blanchard RETRO
6:31pm Minority Report (2002, Science fiction) Tom Cruise, Colin Farrell STARZ
6:34pm Night on Earth (1992, Comedy-drama) Winona Ryder, Gena Rowlands 5MAX
6:59pm Better Off Dead (1985, Comedy) John Cusack, Diane Franklin HBOC
7pm Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey (1991, Comedy) Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter SYFY
7pm The Addams Family (1991, Comedy) Anjelica Huston, Raul Julia BBCA
7:25pm Babes in Toyland (1986, Children) Pat Morita, Drew Barrymore HDNETMV
7:25pm Cujo (1983, Horror) Dee Wallace, Danny Pintauro TMCX
8pm 48 HRS. (1982, Action) Nick Nolte, Eddie Murphy SHOCSE
8pm Calamity Jane (1953, Musical) Doris Day, Howard Keel MVIES
8pm Elf (2003, Children) Will Ferrell, James Caan AMC
8pm Last Stand at Saber River (1997, Western) Tom Selleck, Suzy Amis GRIT
8pm The Dark Angel (1935, Drama) Fredric March, Merle Oberon TCM
8pm The Hunt for Red October (1990, Suspense) Sean Connery, Alec Baldwin SHO
8:15pm Fargo (1996, Comedy) Frances McDormand, Steve Buscemi SHOWXHD
8:20pm Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000, Children) Jim Carrey, Jeffrey Tambor FREEFORM
8:30pm Titanic (1997, Historical drama) Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet GSHW2
8:36pm 50 First Dates (2004, Romance-comedy) Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore HBOC
9pm Addams Family Values (1993, Comedy) Anjelica Huston, Raul Julia BBCA
9:16pm Bad Santa (2003, Comedy) Billy Bob Thornton, Tony Cox HBOZ
9:40pm Another 48 Hrs. (1990, Action) Eddie Murphy, Nick Nolte SHOCSE
9:45pm West Side Story (1961, Musical) Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer HDNETMV
9:48pm The Trail of the Lonesome Pine (1936, Adventure) Sylvia Sidney, Henry Fonda RETRO
9:56pm Ping! (2000, Comedy) Judge Reinhold, Clint Howard STZK
10pm Goodfellas (1990, Crime drama) Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta SHOWXHD
10pm The Quick and the Dead (1987, Western) Sam Elliott, Tom Conti GRIT
10pm The Scarlet Pimpernel (1935, Adventure) Leslie Howard, Merle Oberon TCM
10:15pm Saving Private Ryan (1998, War) Tom Hanks, Edward Burns SHO
10:20pm My Friend Flicka (1943, Children) Roddy McDowall, Preston Foster MVIES
11:28pm One Man’s Justice (1995, Action) Brian Bosworth, Bruce Payne RETRO
11:43pm Judas Kiss (1998, Crime drama) Simon Baker-Denny, Gil Bellows STZCI
11:45pm The Private Life of Don Juan (1934, Historical drama) Douglas Fairbanks, Merle Oberon TCM
Classic Movies & TV Highlights Airing on Wednesday, December 3
The Legend of Frosty the Snowman
Freeform, 12:30pm
This animated special from 2005 is narrated by Burt Reynolds and features SpongeBob SquarePants voice actors Bill Fagerbakke and Tom Kenny. Frosty the Snowman (Fagerbakke) has to prove to Mr. Tinkerton (Kenny), the stodgy mayor of Evergreen, that magic really does exist.
93rd Annual Christmas in Rockefeller Center
NBC, 8pm Live
Happy’s Place star Reba McEntire will headline as the host of this year’s annual tree lighting celebration in Rockefeller Center, which will air over a two-hour telecast.
Primetime Movies Tonight
5pm A Christmas Story (1983, Family) Peter Billingsley, Darren McGavin TNT
5pm The Godfather (1972, Crime drama) Marlon Brando, Al Pacino SHOWXHD
5:05pm Carousel (1956, Musical) Gordon MacRae, Shirley Jones MVIES
5:05pm Major League (1989, Comedy) Tom Berenger, Charlie Sheen MGM
5:27pm Man of the House (2005, Comedy) Tommy Lee Jones STZIB
5:35pm The House of Mirth (2000, Historical drama) Gillian Anderson, Eric Stoltz WOMEN
5:58pm 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968, Science fiction) Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood ACMAX
6pm Corvette Summer (1978, Comedy-drama) Mark Hamill, Annie Potts TCM
6pm Elf (2003, Children) Will Ferrell, James Caan AMC
6pm Lethal Weapon 2 (1989, Action) Mel Gibson, Danny Glover BBCA
6pm Road to Perdition (2002, Crime drama) Tom Hanks, Paul Newman SHO
6:12pm Sleepless in Seattle (1993, Romance-comedy) Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan STZC
6:18pm Jericho (2000, Western) Mark Valley, Leon Coffee RETRO
6:30pm A Night at the Roxbury (1998, Comedy) Will Ferrell, Chris Kattan FLIX
6:30pm Back to the Future (1985, Comedy) Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd USA
6:30pm Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000, Children) Jim Carrey, Jeffrey Tambor FREEFORM
7:25pm The Perfect Score (2004, Comedy) Erika Christensen, Chris Evans TMCX
8pm Beverly Hills Cop (1984, Action) Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold MGM
8pm Hey There, It’s Yogi Bear (1964, Children) Daws Butler, Don Messick TCM
8pm My Fair Lady (1964, Musical) Audrey Hepburn, Rex Harrison MVIES
8pm Some Kind of Wonderful (1987, Romance) Eric Stoltz, Mary Stuart Masterson WOMEN
8pm The Brady Bunch Movie (1995, Comedy) Shelley Long, Gary Cole FAMZ
8pm The Man Behind the Gun (1953, Western) Randolph Scott, Patrice Wymore GRIT
8pm The Polar Express (2004, Children) Tom Hanks, Michael Jeter AMC
8pm The Untouchables (1987, Crime drama) Kevin Costner, Sean Connery SHO
8pm Troy (2004, Adventure) Brad Pitt, Eric Bana SYFY
8pm Two Mules for Sister Sara (1970, Western) Shirley MacLaine, Clint Eastwood RETRO
8:25pm Invitation to a Gunfighter (1964, Western) Yul Brynner, George Segal HDNETMV
8:30pm Lethal Weapon 3 (1992, Action) Mel Gibson, Danny Glover BBCA
9pm Back to the Future Part II (1989, Comedy) Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd USA
9:02pm Kingdom of Heaven (2005, Historical drama) Orlando Bloom, Eva Green STARZ
9:29pm Happy Endings (2005, Comedy-drama) Tom Arnold, Jesse Bradford INDIE
9:30pm A Very Brady Sequel (1996, Comedy) Shelley Long, Gary Cole FAMZ
9:35pm Indecent Proposal (1993, Drama) Robert Redford, Demi Moore WOMEN
9:45pm Beverly Hills Cop II (1987, Action) Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold MGM
9:45pm The Man Called Flintstone (1966, Children) Mel Blanc, June Foray TCM
9:46pm Law and Order (1953, Western) Ronald Reagan, Dorothy Malone RETRO
10pm Goodfellas (1990, Crime drama) Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta SHO
10pm Jumanji (1995, Family) Robin Williams, Bonnie Hunt AMC
10pm Reindeer Games (2000, Crime drama) Ben Affleck, Gary Sinise SHOCSE
10pm Riding Shotgun (1954, Western) Randolph Scott, Wayne Morris GRIT
10:01pm Face the Music (1993, Drama) Molly Ringwald, Patrick Dempsey STZC
10:14pm The Wizard of Oz (1939, Family) Judy Garland, Frank Morgan HBOZ
10:40pm The Running Man (1987, Science fiction) Arnold Schwarzenegger, Maria Conchita Alonso TMCX
11pm The Stepford Wives (2004, Comedy) Nicole Kidman, Matthew Broderick FAMZ
11:07pm Tumbleweed (1953, Western) Audie Murphy, Lori Nelson RETRO
11:15pm Gangs of New York (2002, Historical drama) Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel Day-Lewis FLIX
11:30pm Back to the Future (1985, Comedy) Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd USA
11:30pm Beverly Hills Cop III (1994, Action) Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold MGM
11:35pm Cold Mountain (2003, Drama) Jude Law, Nicole Kidman MVIES
11:43pm Novocaine (2001, Suspense) Steve Martin, Helena Bonham Carter INDIE
11:45pm Anchors Aweigh (1945, Musical) Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly TCM
11:53pm Get Shorty (1995, Comedy) John Travolta, Gene Hackman HBOC
11:54pm Speed (1994, Action) Keanu Reeves, Dennis Hopper ACMAX
Classic Movies & TV Highlights Airing on Thursday, December 4
The Trouble With Angels
FMC, 8pm
In this warmhearted, mischievous 1966 comedy directed by Ida Lupino, two spirited teens — Mary Clancy (Hayley Mills), a sharp-tongued rebel with a flair for trouble and pranks, and Rachel Devery (June Harding), her sweet-natured but equally curious partner in crime — enroll at an all-girls Catholic boarding school run by the dignified yet deeply compassionate Mother Superior (Rosalind Russell). Beneath the laughter and high jinks, the film gently unfolds a story about friendship, guidance and the unexpected places where a young woman might find purpose.
Best Christmas Movies Ever!
The CW, 8pm
Join over 50 stars, writers, athletes, directors and critics as they share the spirit of the season and discuss such beloved classics as Home Alone, Elf, The Santa Clause, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Miracle on 34th Street, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, It’s a Wonderful Life and, of course, Die Hard in this Christmas special feature.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
NBC, 8pm
In this original 1966 animated TV special based on Dr. Seuss’ classic story, Boris Karloff narrates and voices the titular Grinch, who schemes to steal every material vestige of Christmas from the Whos of Whoville. But the Grinch ultimately discovers he can’t remove the spirit of Christmas from the Whos’ hearts. The special will encore on Christmas Day.
Frosty the Snowman
NBC, 8:30pm
Jimmy Durante narrates this classic animated musical special, with Jackie Vernon providing the voice of the “jolly, happy soul” whose old silk hat full of magic brings him to life.
Primetime Movies Tonight
5pm Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004, Comedy) Vince Vaughn, Christine Taylor TNT
5pm Troy (2004, Adventure) Brad Pitt, Eric Bana SYFY
5:02pm A Huey P. Newton Story (2001, Biography) Roger Guenveur Smith, RETRO
5:02pm Casablanca (1942, Drama) Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman 5MAX
5:04pm River Queen (2005, Historical drama) Samantha Morton, Kiefer Sutherland STZCI
5:10pm Seabiscuit (2003, Drama) Tobey Maguire, Jeff Bridges FAMZ
5:55pm Almost Famous (2000, Comedy-drama) Billy Crudup, Frances McDormand FLIX
6pm Back to the Future Part II (1989, Comedy) Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd USA
6pm Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981, Adventure) Harrison Ford, Karen Allen SHO
6pm Predator (1987, Science fiction) Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers BBCA
6pm The Bodyguard (1992, Drama) Kevin Costner, Whitney Houston BET
6pm The Polar Express (2004, Children) Tom Hanks, Michael Jeter AMC
6:15pm Dial 1119 (1950, Crime drama) Marshall Thompson, Virginia Field MVIES
6:15pm When We Were Kings (1996, Documentary) Muhammad Ali, George Foreman TCM
6:23pm Gladiator (2000, Historical drama) Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix STZE
6:25pm Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992, Children) Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci FREEFORM
6:33pm Tales From the Crypt Presents Demon Knight (1995, Horror) Billy Zane, William Sadler RETRO
7:13pm Bad Santa (2003, Comedy) Billy Bob Thornton, Tony Cox HBO2
7:30pm Coneheads (1993, Comedy) Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin FAMZ
7:54pm Street Fighter Alpha: The Movie (1999, Action) Kane Kosugi, Kazuya Ichijo STZK
8pm Deadline at Dawn (1946, Mystery) Susan Hayward, Paul Lukas MOVIES!
8pm Demolition Man (1993, Science fiction) Sylvester Stallone, Wesley Snipes SYFY
8pm Forever Darling (1956, Comedy) Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz TCM
8pm Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984, Adventure) Harrison Ford, Kate Capshaw SHO
8pm Saturday Night Fever (1977, Drama) John Travolta, Karen Lynn Gorney FLIX
8pm Steel Dawn (1987, Science fiction) Patrick Swayze, Lisa Niemi INDIE
8pm The Bourne Supremacy (2004, Action) Matt Damon, Franka Potente STZENC
8pm Thunder Over the Plains (1953, Western) Randolph Scott, Lex Barker GRIT
8:06pm Tales From the Crypt Presents Bordello of Blood (1996, Horror) Dennis Miller, Erika Eleniak RETRO
8:30pm Back to the Future Part III (1990, Comedy) Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd USA
9pm My Cousin Vinny (1992, Comedy) Joe Pesci, Marisa Tomei TNT
9pm Wayne’s World (1992, Comedy) Mike Myers, Dana Carvey FAMZ
9:40pm Serendipity (2001, Romance-comedy) John Cusack, Kate Beckinsale MGM
9:45pm Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941, Fantasy) Robert Montgomery, Claude Rains TCM
9:50pm The Mob (1951, Crime drama) Broderick Crawford, Betty Buehler MOVIES!
10pm Fort Worth (1951, Western) Randolph Scott, David Brian GRIT
10pm Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989, Adventure) Harrison Ford, Sean Connery SHO
10pm Staying Alive (1983, Drama) John Travolta, Cynthia Rhodes FLIX
10:05pm Goodfellas (1990, Crime drama) Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta SHOCSE
10:18pm Monster-in-Law (2005, Romance-comedy) Jennifer Lopez, Jane Fonda HBO2
11:15pm What Women Want (2000, Romance-comedy) Mel Gibson, Helen Hunt MGM
11:26pm Death of a Gunfighter (1969, Western) Richard Widmark, Lena Horne RETRO
11:30pm The Bishop’s Wife (1947, Fantasy) Cary Grant, Loretta Young TCM
11:30pm The Goonies (1985, Family) Sean Astin, Josh Brolin TNT
11:30pm The Longest Yard (2005, Comedy) Adam Sandler, Chris Rock TRUTV
11:43pm The Brothers McMullen (1995, Comedy-drama) Jack Mulcahy, Mike McGlone HBOC
11:45pm Red Light (1949, Crime drama) George Raft, Virginia Mayo MVIES
11:51pm Shaun of the Dead (2004, Comedy) Simon Pegg, Kate Ashfield STZENC
Classic Movies & TV Highlights Airing on Friday, December 5
Bell, Book and Candle
FMC, 8pm
After James Stewart’s and Kim Novak’s thrilling roles in Vertigo in May 1958, audiences could watch the pair again that November in this much lighter fare. Novak stars as Gillian, a Manhattan witch who’s bored with potions and spells until she sets her sights on her handsome upstairs neighbor, book publisher Shepherd Henderson (Stewart). Gillian, however, gets far more than she bargained for when she casts a love spell on him over the Christmas holidays.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
NBC, 8pm
The beloved Rankin/Bass animated production from 1964 continues as the longest-running holiday special in television history. Narrated by Burl Ives, it follows Rudolph and his friends — Hermey the Elf, Yukon Cornelius and others — as they go down in history by saving Christmas.
Friday Night Vibes: “Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody”
TBS, 8pm
This movie-talk series spotlights some of the most popular films with diverse voices in front of and behind the camera. Hosts Nina Parker and Kevin Fredericks welcome special guest actress Nafessa Williams, who plays Robyn in the film, for a screening of Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody.
Primetime Movies Tonight
5:10pm The Santa Clause (1994, Family) Tim Allen, Judge Reinhold FREEFORM
5:20pm Gladiator (2000, Historical drama) Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix STARZ
5:30pm Demolition Man (1993, Science fiction) Sylvester Stallone, Wesley Snipes SYFY
5:30pm Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005, Fantasy) Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint BRAVO
5:30pm Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993, Musical comedy) Whoopi Goldberg, Kathy Najimy WE
5:35pm Pal Joey (1957, Musical) Rita Hayworth, Frank Sinatra MVIES
5:45pm Ghost (1990, Fantasy) Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore SHO
5:45pm Raging Bull (1980, Biography) Robert De Niro, Cathy Moriarty FLIX
5:55pm Chocolat (2000, Drama) Juliette Binoche, Johnny Depp WOMEN
6pm Judgment Night (1993, Action) Emilio Estevez, Cuba Gooding Jr. SHOWXHD
6pm Meatballs (1979, Comedy) Bill Murray, Chris Makepeace IFC
6:14pm BASEketball (1998, Comedy) Trey Parker, Matt Stone STZC
6:15pm The Bat (1959, Mystery) Vincent Price, Agnes Moorehead TCM
7pm Beauty Shop (2005, Comedy) Queen Latifah, Alicia Silverstone BET
7pm The Godfather, Part II (1974, Crime drama) Al Pacino, Robert Duvall SHOCSE
7:20pm The Santa Clause 2 (2002, Family) Tim Allen, Elizabeth Mitchell FREEFORM
7:45pm El Diablo (1990, Western) Anthony Edwards, Louis Gossett Jr. HBOC
8pm Almost Famous (2000, Comedy-drama) Billy Crudup, Frances McDormand WOMEN
8pm Assault on Precinct 13 (2005, Action) Ethan Hawke, Laurence Fishburne RETRO
8pm Cover Girl (1944, Musical comedy) Rita Hayworth, Gene Kelly TCM
8pm Friday Night Lights (2004, Drama) Billy Bob Thornton, Derek Luke MGM
8pm Mortal Kombat (1995, Action) Robin Shou, Linden Ashby SYFY
8pm National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989, Comedy) Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo AMC
8pm Rain Man (1988, Drama) Dustin Hoffman, Tom Cruise FLIX
8pm Sixteen Candles (1984, Comedy) Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall IFC
8pm Tall Man Riding (1955, Western) Randolph Scott, Dorothy Malone GRIT
8pm The Polar Express (2004, Children) Tom Hanks, Michael Jeter WE
8pm Titanic (1997, Historical drama) Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet SHO
8pm Viva Las Vegas (1964, Musical) Elvis Presley, Ann-Margret MVIES
8pm When Harry Met Sally… (1989, Romance-comedy) Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan
STZENC
8:30pm Goodfellas (1990, Crime drama) Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta GSHW2
8:49pm Casablanca (1942, Drama) Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman 5MAX
9pm Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001, Children) Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint BRAVO
9pm Minority Report (2002, Science fiction) Tom Cruise, Colin Farrell STZE
9:30pm Rush Hour (1998, Action) Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker MTV
9:30pm The Longest Yard (2005, Comedy) Adam Sandler, Chris Rock TRUTV
9:30pm There’s Something About Mary (1998, Romance-comedy) Cameron Diaz, Matt Dillon FXM
9:39pm Sleepless in Seattle (1993, Romance-comedy) Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan STZENC
9:47pm Eulogy (2004, Comedy) Hank Azaria, Jesse Bradford STZC
9:50pm No Name on the Bullet (1959, Western) Audie Murphy, Charles Drake RETRO
9:55pm How to Marry a Millionaire (1953, Comedy) Marilyn Monroe, Lauren Bacall MOVIES!
10pm Cariboo Trail (1950, Western) Randolph Scott, George “Gabby” Hayes GRIT
10pm Elf (2003, Children) Will Ferrell, James Caan WE
10pm Mortal Kombat Annihilation (1997, Action) Robin Shou, Talisa Soto SYFY
10pm New York, New York (1977, Musical) Robert De Niro, Liza Minnelli TCM
10pm Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000, Comedy) Eddie Murphy, Janet Jackson BET
10pm The Breakfast Club (1985, Comedy-drama) Emilio Estevez, Molly Ringwald IFC
10:15pm National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989, Comedy) Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo AMC
10:15pm Witness (1985, Crime drama) Harrison Ford, Kelly McGillis FLIX
10:30pm The Godfather Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone (1990, Crime drama) Al Pacino, Diane Keaton SHOCSE
11pm Red Eye (2005, Suspense) Rachel McAdams, Cillian Murphy TMCX
11pm Saving Private Ryan (1998, War) Tom Hanks, Edward Burns GSHW2
11pm The Preacher’s Wife (1996, Fantasy) Denzel Washington, Whitney Houston TBS
11:08pm The Secret of Roan Inish (1994, Children) Mick Lally, Eileen Colgan RETRO
11:10pm The Perfect Score (2004, Comedy) Erika Christensen, Chris Evans FAMZ
11:15pm Heat (1995, Crime drama) Al Pacino, Robert De Niro SHO
11:28pm Apollo 13 (1995, Historical drama) Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton STZENC
11:29pm The Skeleton Key (2005, Suspense) Kate Hudson, Gena Rowlands STZE
Classic Movies & TV Highlights Airing on Saturday, December 6
Bright Eyes
FETV, 3pm
1934 was Shirley Temple’s breakthrough year (when she only turned 6!). Her slate of films earned her a special Juvenile Academy Award and included tonight’s movie, Bright Eyes, where she plays an orphan (her most-often played character) and features what became her signature song, “On the Good Ship Lollipop.” She then became the top box office draw for the next four years!
Classic Christmas Cartoons
MeTV Toons, beginning at 6pm
If you’re not already full of the holiday spirit, MeTV Toons is ready to help you get there, with hours of Christmas cartoons every Saturday and Sunday from now until Dec. 21, 2025! On weekend evenings, on Saturdays and Sundays, viewers can sit down to Christmas classics featuring your favorite toon stars, including Yogi Bear, the Flintstones, the Smurfs, Casper, the Jetsons, Scooby-Doo, Bugs Bunny, and more. Relive your favorite ’60s, ’70s, ’80s and ’90s holiday memories!
Primetime Movies Tonight
5pm Mortal Kombat Annihilation (1997, Action) Robin Shou, Talisa Soto SYFY
5pm The Polar Express (2004, Children) Tom Hanks, Michael Jeter AMC
5pm Vegas Vacation (1997, Comedy) Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo
BBCA
5:06pm No Name on the Bullet (1959, Western) Audie Murphy, Charles Drake
RETRO
5:10pm An Officer and a Gentleman (1982, Drama) Richard Gere, Debra Winger
TMCX
5:20pm Primal Fear (1996, Crime drama) Richard Gere, Laura Linney
HDNETMV
5:30pm Grumpier Old Men (1995, Comedy) Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau POP
5:30pm Seraphim Falls (2006 removed)**
5:35pm The Band Wagon (1953, Musical) Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse
MVIES
5:40pm Godzilla Raids Again (1955, Science fiction) Hiroshi Koizumi, Setsuko Wakayama
5MAX
5:45pm Licence to Kill (1989, Action) Timothy Dalton, Carey Lowell
MGM
5:55pm Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992, Children) Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci FREEFORM
6pm Forrest Gump (1994, Comedy-drama) Tom Hanks, Robin Wright CMT
6pm Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984, Adventure) Harrison Ford, Kate Capshaw FAMZ
6pm Surviving Christmas (2004, Comedy) Ben Affleck, James Gandolfini
VH1
6:07pm Star Kid (1997, Children) Joseph Mazzello, Joey Simmrin
STZK
6:15pm Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead (1991, Comedy) Christina Applegate, Joanna Cassidy IFC
6:15pm Fargo (1996, Comedy) Frances McDormand, Steve Buscemi
SHOCSE
6:16pm Man of the House (2005, Comedy) Tommy Lee Jones
STZC
6:21pm When Harry Met Sally… (1989, Romance-comedy) Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan ENCORE
6:21pm When Harry Met Sally… (1989, Romance-comedy) Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan
STZENC
6:24pm This Savage Land (1968, Western) Barry Sullivan, Andrew Prine
RETRO
6:30pm Serendipity (2001, Romance-comedy) John Cusack, Kate Beckinsale FLIX
7pm Friday (1995, Comedy) Chris Tucker BET
7pm National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989, Comedy) Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo BBCA
7pm Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981, Adventure) Harrison Ford, Karen Allen PARMT
7pm Rush Hour (1998, Action) Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker MTV
7pm The Wizard of Oz (1939, Family) Judy Garland, Frank Morgan
AMC
7:25pm Jingle All the Way (1996, Family) Arnold Schwarzenegger
FXM
7:30pm Cheaper by the Dozen (2003, Comedy) Steve Martin, Bonnie Hunt E!
8pm Failure to Launch (2006 removed)**
8pm GoldenEye (1995, Action) Pierce Brosnan, Sean Bean MGM
8pm Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989, Adventure) Harrison Ford, Sean Connery FAMZ
8pm National Security (2003, Comedy) Martin Lawrence, Steve Zahn STZC
8pm People Will Talk (1951, Comedy-drama) Cary Grant, Jeanne Crain TCM
8pm Sweet Home Alabama (2002, Romance-comedy) Reese Witherspoon, Josh Lucas TBS
8pm The Godfather (1972, Crime drama) Marlon Brando, Al Pacino GSHW2
8pm Top Hat (1935, Musical) Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers MOVIES!
8pm Track of the Cat (1954, Adventure) Robert Mitchum, Teresa Wright GRIT
8pm What Women Want (2000, Romance-comedy) Mel Gibson, Helen Hunt FLIX
8pm Wedding Crashers (2005, Romance-comedy) Owen Wilson, Vince Vaughn
HBO
8:01pm Fear (1996, Suspense) Mark Wahlberg, Reese Witherspoon
RETRO
8:45pm Mrs. Doubtfire (1993, Children) Robin Williams, Sally Field
IFC
8:51pm Gone With the Wind (1939, Romance) Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh 5MAX
9pm Braveheart (1995, Historical drama) Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau
SHOWXHD
9:15pm National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983, Comedy) Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo
BBCA
9:25pm Rush Hour 2 (2001, Action) Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker
MTV
9:30pm Elf (2003, Children) Will Ferrell, James Caan AMC
9:30pm Grease (1978, Musical) John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John CMT
9:30pm Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989, Adventure) Harrison Ford, Sean Connery PARMT
9:30pm Pale Rider (1985, Western) Clint Eastwood, Michael Moriarty
SUNDANCE
9:39pm Showdown (1963, Western) Audie Murphy, Kathleen Crowley RETRO
10pm Next Friday (2000, Comedy) Mike Epps BET
10pm The Scarlet Empress (1934, Biography) Marlene Dietrich, John Lodge
TCM
10:10pm Carefree (1938, Musical comedy) Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers MVIES
10:10pm Tomorrow Never Dies (1997, Action) Pierce Brosnan, Jonathan Pryce
MGM
10:15pm Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000, Children) Jim Carrey, Jeffrey Tambor
FREEFORM
10:24pm Christmas With the Kranks (2004, Comedy) Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis
HBOC
10:25pm Primal Fear (1996, Crime drama) Richard Gere, Laura Linney
HDNETMV
10:30pm Jeremiah Johnson (1972, Adventure) Robert Redford, Will Geer GRIT
10:30pm Surviving Christmas (2004, Comedy) Ben Affleck, James Gandolfini
VH1
10:50pm Uncommon Valor (1983, Action) Gene Hackman, Robert Stack
TMCX
10:59pm Pit Pony (1997, Drama) Ben Rose-Davis, Jennie Raymond RETRO
11pm Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004, Comedy) Vince Vaughn, Christine Taylor TRUTV
11pm The Godfather, Part II (1974, Crime drama) Al Pacino, Robert Duvall
GSHW2
11:05pm The Preacher’s Wife (1996, Fantasy) Denzel Washington, Whitney Houston
FXM
11:08pm Dazed and Confused (1993, Comedy) Jason London, Wiley Wiggins
STZC
11:15pm National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989, Comedy) Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo
BBCA
11:30pm Rush Hour 3 (2007 removed)**
11:30pm The Polar Express (2004, Children) Tom Hanks, Michael Jeter
AMC
11:45pm Jumanji (1995, Family) Robin Williams, Bonnie Hunt IFC
Classic Movies & TV Highlights Airing on Sunday, December 7
Shirley Temple Icon-a-Thon
MOVIES!, beginning at 12:15pm
Settle in for a marathon of films starring the smallest (and most popular) triple threat in cinema history. 1934’s Bright Eyes kicks off the day, where Shirley Temple plays a 5-year-old girl named Shirley who lives with her widowed mother Mary (Lois Wilson) in the care of the wealthy Smythe family and wins their hearts after a plane crash. Heidi (1937) follows, starring Temple as a Swiss orphan who is taken from her mountain-dwelling grandfather (Jean Hersholt) to be a companion to a disabled girl named Klara (Marcia Mae Jones). The adventure/drama film Wee Willie Winkie (1937) is next — one of the only films in Temple’s repertoire that doesn’t feature her signature song-and-dance routines. Finish your afternoon with 1938’s Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, based on the 1903 novel, where Temple shines as a young entertainer who is sought after by a radio producer looking for the perfect face and voice — a true parallel of life imitating art.
I’ll Be Seeing You
FETV, 3pm
Two sad souls, each with a secret — he has PTSD from war action, she’s on a brief furlough from prison —meet cute on a train during the Christmas season in a moment that may just bring much needed joy to their lives. This exceedingly popular 1944 drama, with Ginger Rogers, Joseph Cotten and Shirley Temple, tackled some serious subjects with intelligence and sensitivity and remains a popular holiday favorite as two people, both broken in spirit, slowly come to believe in the possibility of second chances.
Primetime Movies Tonight
5pm The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962, Western) James Stewart, John Wayne GRIT
5:16pm Two Brothers (2004, Adventure) Guy Pearce, Jean-Claude Dreyfus STZK
5:20pm Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985, Action) Sylvester Stallone, Richard Crenna SHOWXHD
5:25pm Serendipity (2001, Romance-comedy) John Cusack, Kate Beckinsale FAMZ
5:59pm 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968, Science fiction) Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood ACMAX
6pm Angels in the Outfield (1994, Children) Danny Glover, Joseph Gordon-Levitt TRUTV
6pm Elf (2003, Children) Will Ferrell, James Caan AMC
6pm Hoosiers (1986, Drama) Gene Hackman, Barbara Hershey HDNETMV
6pm How to Marry a Millionaire (1953, Comedy) Marilyn Monroe, Lauren Bacall TCM
6pm Road to Perdition (2002, Crime drama) Tom Hanks, Paul Newman FLIX
6pm Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993, Comedy) Cary Elwes, Richard Lewis BBCA
6pm The Matrix (1999, Science fiction) Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne VICE
6:15pm Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1938, Musical) Shirley Temple, Randolph Scott MVIES
6:17pm Bruce Almighty (2003, Comedy) Jim Carrey, Morgan Freeman STZC
6:30pm Ocean’s Eleven (2001, Comedy-drama) George Clooney, Matt Damon PARMT
6:30pm The Magnificent Seven (1960, Western) Yul Brynner, Eli Wallach SUNDANCE
6:35pm The Hunt for Red October (1990, Suspense) Sean Connery, Alec Baldwin GSHW2
6:35pm The Spoilers (1956, Adventure) Anne Baxter, Jeff Chandler RETRO
7pm Braveheart (1995, Historical drama) Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau SHO
7pm Rush Hour 2 (2001, Action) Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker MTV
7pm The Ring (2002, Horror) Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson TMCX
7pm Titanic (1997, Historical drama) Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet FAMZ
7:15pm Home Alone (1990, Family) Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci FREEFORM
7:35pm Pearl Harbor (2001, War) Ben Affleck, Josh Hartnett FXM
8pm Christmas in Connecticut (1945, Comedy) Barbara Stanwyck, Dennis Morgan TCM
8pm Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004, Comedy) Vince Vaughn, Christine Taylor TRUTV
8pm Mystery Street (1950, Crime drama) Ricardo Montalban, Sally Forrest MVIES
8pm National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989, Comedy) Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo AMC
8pm Night Passage (1957, Western) James Stewart, Audie Murphy GRIT
8pm Saving Private Ryan (1998, War) Tom Hanks, Edward Burns FLIX
8:28pm Casablanca (1942, Drama) Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman ACMAX
8:30pm Just Friends (2005, Romance-comedy) Ryan Reynolds, Amy Smart E!
8:30pm The Princess Bride (1987, Children) Cary Elwes, Robin Wright BBCA
8:45pm Fiddler on the Roof (1971, Musical) Norma Crane HDNETMV
9pm Shaft (2000, Action) Samuel L. Jackson, Vanessa L. Williams GSHW2
9pm The Matrix (1999, Science fiction) Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne VICE
9pm The Santa Clause (1994, Family) Tim Allen, Judge Reinhold ABC
9:15pm Ocean’s Twelve (2004, Comedy-drama) George Clooney, Brad Pitt PARMT
9:30pm El Dorado (1966, Western) John Wayne, Robert Mitchum SUNDANCE
9:45pm Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992, Children) Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci FREEFORM
10pm A Night to Remember (1958, Historical drama) Kenneth More, David McCallum TCM
10pm Casino (1995, Crime drama) Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone STZCI
10pm The Rare Breed (1966, Western) James Stewart, Maureen O’Hara GRIT
10:05pm Split Second (1953, Suspense) Stephen McNally, Alexis Smith MVIES
10:11pm Singin’ in the Rain (1952, Musical comedy) Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds ACMAX
10:14pm Dances With Wolves (1990, Historical drama) Kevin Costner, Mary McDonnell HBO2
10:15pm Ghost (1990, Fantasy) Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore FAMZ
10:15pm Trading Places (1983, Comedy) Dan Aykroyd, Eddie Murphy AMC
10:30pm Selena (1997, Biography) Jennifer Lopez, Edward James Olmos VH1
10:30pm The Three Musketeers (1993, Adventure) Charlie Sheen, Kiefer Sutherland BBCA
10:30pm You’ve Got Mail (1998, Romance-comedy) Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan E!
10:50pm Fargo (1996, Comedy) Frances McDormand, Steve Buscemi SHO
10:58pm Gladiator (2000, Historical drama) Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix STZIB
11pm Anaconda (1997, Suspense) Jennifer Lopez MTV
11pm The Terminal (2004, Comedy-drama) Tom Hanks, Catherine Zeta-Jones FLIX
11:30pm Pearl Harbor (2001, War) Ben Affleck, Josh Hartnett FX
