Forget 'Elf' and 'It's a Wonderful Life,' 'A Christmas Story' is the best holiday movie of all time

• Of all the holiday movies available to watch this time of year, "A Christmas Story" is the best one.
• The 1983 comedy features a heartwarming message about the magic of childhood.

With all of the holiday movies available to watch this time of year, choosing a favorite can be daunting. After all, who doesn't love the vintage charm of "It's a Wonderful Life" or the zany antics of Will Ferrell's Buddy the Elf in "Elf?" As for holiday rom-coms, nothing beats the cozy romance of "The Holiday" or the intertwining storylines of "Love Actually."

But all of these movies pale in comparison to the 1983 comedy "A Christmas Story," starring Peter Billingsley as weary nine-year-old Ralphie who just really, really wants a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas — much to the consternation and confusion of the adults around him. However, at the heart of the movie lies an endearing message about the magic of childhood, and what happens when we get the gift we've always wanted.

"A Christmas Story" is one of the few holiday movies that I find genuinely funny, even after watching it on repeat during the days leading up to Christmas. Even after the holidays, my family and I still quote numerous lines from the film throughout the year.

Here's why I think "A Christmas Story" is the best holiday movie ever — sorry, "Elf" fans.

The film doesn't sacrifice humor for the sake of its feel-good message

Unlike most Christmas movies I've seen over the years, "A Christmas Story" still makes me laugh every single viewing. Ralphie's efforts to avoid neighborhood bullies Scut Farkus and Grover Gill, care for his frustratingly naive younger brother Randy and do well in school make for some side-splitting moments.

The dialogue alone is hilarious in its own right, but the delivery of Billingsley and his costars make simple lines like "It was... soap poisoning" and "Fragile, that must be Italian" even funnier. And while more recent holiday comedies often try too hard for their moments of levity, part of the magic of "A Christmas Story" comes from the fact that the entire cast seems so dedicated to their roles that their masterful delivery seems effortless.

Also, the film's cheeky sense of humor isn't sidelined in favor of a saccharine holiday theme. Rather, the various jokes, mishaps, and gags present in "A Christmas Story" only make the poignant Christmas morning scene (where Ralphie finally unwraps his beloved BB gun) feel more earned and authentic.

Almost everyone can relate to Ralphie and his efforts to feel seen by the adults in his life

Looking back, it's easy to mythologize childhood and the blissful ignorance that goes along with it, but as Ralphie proves, childhood comes with its own set of challenges. We can all relate to feeling misunderstood and stonewalled at every turn, even by trusted adults. But for those of us who celebrate Christmas, nothing can compare to the magic of unwrapping a special present on Christmas morning, and "A Christmas Story" beautifully captures the rapturous joy of finally getting your hands on the thing you've always wanted.

As we get older, Christmas slowly starts to lose its magic. After all, becoming an adult presents a whole new set of challenges, especially around the holidays.

If we're lucky, though, we can recapture some of that childhood magic in different moments as adults. For me, one of those moments is definitely watching "A Christmas Story" with my family around the holidays — cozy together on the couch, with a fire in the fireplace and a big stack of presents under the tree.