Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin Residents Share Their Favorite Christmas Movies

With Christmas less than two weeks away, Christmas movie season is also in full-swing. Turn on the TV and you're liable to find a holiday favorite, classic or contemporary, of some kind on basic cable.

The folks at Looper spent this Christmas season looking at Google search data to find each state's favorite Christmas movies. Looper data shows that there's been a 300% increase in Google searches for "best Christmas movies" in the past month alone, along with a 130% increase in demand for "best Christmas movies streaming."

Looper's Methodology:

Here's how Looper compiled their study:

With this in mind, a new study by Looper looked into IMDb’s list of best Christmas movies of all time and analyzed Google search trends data to find the most searched-for holiday movie in every U.S. state in 2023 and reveal America’s favorite Christmas films - and the ones you should add to your list this festive season. So, which Christmas movies dominated household television screens throughout 2023?

As a result, they've compiled a study that looks at each state's favorite Christmas movie. Here's the Tri-States' answer to that question:

Iowa's Favorite Christmas Movie:

According to Looper, Iowa's favorite Christmas movie is the 1946 classic It's a Wonderful Life. This is one of those movies I feel like we're all born having seen, but if you haven't, here's IMDb's plot description of the film:

A young George Bailey, overwhelmed by family obligations and a sense of responsibility toward his community, feels tied down to a company he never had an interest in working for, and a life he never wanted to live. As he ages, he sees his youth, dreams and opportunities pass him by. Unknown to George, all of his friends and family have been praying for him to get through those hard times. Told through the point of view of a group of angels, he is met by his guardian angel, Clarence Odbody, as he contemplates ending his life. - per Marielle, IMDB

Illinois' Favorite Christmas Movie:

Looper found that Illinois residents have a fondness for another Christmas classic in the same vein as It's a Wonderful Life. That movie is A Miracle on 34th Street from 1946, which tells the story of a mother who hires a man to play Santa Claus at a local Macy's before being stunned when he claims that he's indeed the real big man in red:

An old man going by the name of Kris Kringle fills in for an intoxicated Santa Claus in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. He proves to be such a hit that he is soon appearing regularly at the main store. When he surprises customers and employees alike by claiming that he really is Santa Claus, it leads to a court case to determine his mental health and, more importantly, his authenticity. - per Jwelch5742, IMDb

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Wisconsin's Favorite Christmas Movie:

Now, Wisconsin has gone more contemporary with their favorite Christmas movie. The overwhelming choice amongst residents is the plucky 2008 comedy Four Christmases, which has a heavy-hitting cast of A-listers: Vince Vaughn, Reese Witherspoon, Mary Steenburgen, Robert Duvall, and Tim McGraw:

Brad and Kate have been together three years, in love, having fun, doing all sorts of things together with no intention of marriage or children. Christmas morning, they're on their way to Fiji, having told their two sets of divorced parents that they're off to do charity work. Through a fluke, they have no choice but to visit each of their four idiosyncratic parents. As the day progresses, Brad and Kate remember growing up, each learns more about the other, and Kate realizes that her life may not be as good as it could be. Do they know each other well enough to weather the storms families bring? - per JHailey, IMDB

The Overwhelming Favorite Christmas Movies By State:

Looper also included some of the most beloved Christmas movies by multiple states. Four Christmases, for example, is the favorite movie of five states. Maybe most surprising is It's a Wonderful Life didn't crack the top five. 4/5 films were made after 1983:

See Looper's full study of each state's favorite Christmas movie on their website.