POLL RECAP: 2-way race for best Christmas movie

Our unofficial poll this week was on merry movies.

We asked readers for their favorite Christmas flick. We listed a dozen that show up on the annual lists and invited readers to list their own favorites in the comments.

We received 217 votes through Saturday night and it was a race between a silly, well-meaning man, Clark Griswold Jr. played by Chevy Chase, and an innocent, idealistic kid, Ralphie Parker played by Peter Billingsley.

The winner was “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” with 43 votes, followed by “A Christmas Story” with 34 votes. A close race early became less close with a flurry of late votes for the Griswold family Christmas.

“It’s A Wonderful Life” garnered 30 votes followed by “Home Alone” with 28 and “Die Hard” with 22.

The votes fell off sharply for the seven remaining movies on our list.

“Elf” had 16 votes, “A Christmas Carol,” the 1951 version, had 14, “Polar Express” with 11 and “Miracle on 34th Street,” the 1947 version, with 10.

“Trading Places” had five votes, followed by “Muppet Christmas Carol” and “Love Actually” each with two.

In the comments, Marijke Cuffe threw in a vote for “White Christmas” and Bo Johnson tossed out “Batman Returns.”