Best and Worst Coworkers from 12 Hit Holiday Movies

Being stuck at home during the holidays means millions of workers are spending their newfound free time binge-watching hit holiday movies from years past and present.

All of this streaming turned into a game at 1Huddle—like most things here do, and we got to thinking: Which characters from our favorite holiday flicks would make the best and worst coworkers?

So here it is. The article you didn’t know you needed until you found it…The 24 holiday movie characters who would make the best and worst real-life colleagues:

1. HOME ALONE

Best: Kevin McCallister

Kevin McCallister would make a fantastic coworker. Why? At only 8 years old, Kevin is self-sufficient enough to be fully independent AND protect an entire 5,000 sq ft home from being burgled by two seasoned criminals even though he only had a single day to strategize, plan, and execute how he’s going to pull it all off.

Sure, he can be a bit sassy and definitely has a distrust for the authority figures in his life, but can you blame him? Kevin might not be the best collaborator, but he’s quick-witted, creative, clever, and in the end he always gets the job done.

Let’s not forget, Kevin is only 8 years old. He still has plenty of time to sharpen up those collaboration skills and learn how to bite his tongue when he needs to before entering the workforce.

Plus, Kevin is the only 2nd grader we know who’s a pro at balancing his work-life priorities. He can outwit a manager at the Plaza Hotel and still find time for pizza and a movie at the end of a long day. We admire Kevin, and if he ever applies for a job at 1Huddle, we think he’d make a great addition to the team.

Worst: Harry (Joe Pesci)

It would be easy to pick on Marv here by dubbing him as the worst coworker. He’s universally known as the dumber of the two criminals in the Home Alone franchise, after all. But ultimately, Harry would make a far worse coworker than Marv. Why? Because Harry is supposed to be the strategist and the clever ringleader in the Wet Bandits criminal pairing, but all he ever does is sacrifice poor Marv by making him walk straight into all of Kevin’s traps.

Harry only cares about himself, and he’s quick to push Marv under the bus at every turn. If Harry were a manager in a traditional workplace, we know he would be the type to delegate all of his work to unpaid interns and then promptly blame them for his own mistakes.

2. HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS

Best: The Grinch (Jim Carrey edition) 

The Grinch is probably our most controversial pick for best coworker, but hear us out.

After being ostracized and bullied throughout his childhood, The Grinch goes on to single-handedly build a beautiful home on the highest mountain in town. He’s essentially the only entrepreneur in Whoville. He’s entirely self-sufficient, and even though he pushes people away to mask his hurt, The Grinch loves his dog Max and spends his time sewing his best furry friend intricate sweaters to keep him warm. So although he may be a loner, The Grinch’s entrepreneurial spirit and exceptional work ethic prove from the get-go that he has the potential to make a truly amazing coworker.

Consider the fact that many jobs in the future of work will require high levels of independence and may not call for daily collaboration. The Grinch would make a fantastic coder, engineer, data analyst, or any other job that requires top-notch skills and an innovative spirit. Remember the Christmas tree the young Grinch made for Martha May entirely out of spoons and other metal items he found in his house? If that isn’t the pinnacle of inventiveness and resourcefulness, I don’t know what is.

And in the end, The Grinch even manages to forgive those who devoted their lives to mocking him. He clearly shows the most growth of any character in the movie, so we think he’d be a great coworker who could bring a truly unique perspective to any team.

Worst: Cindy Lou Who 

Cindy Lou Who may be the beloved protagonist of How The Grinch Stole Christmas, but she would make for a troublesome coworker in the modern workplace.

Consider this: The Grinch’s only request is to be left alone. Yet, what does Cindy devote literally all of her time to? Not leaving The Grinch alone for a single second.

She trespasses onto his private property, forces him to attend social events that he finds traumatic, and never takes the time to really listen to why he isn’t interested in the normal Whoville lifestyle. Imagine if your manager showed up at your home—uninvited—broke in, and dragged you to social events when you were in the middle of your daily routine.

Cindy Lou Who might make a great Hollywood starlet, but she would make for an overbearing coworker with no respect for her colleague’s personal boundaries.

3. ELF

Best: Buddy the Elf

Out of all the best coworkers you could have, Buddy tops the list.

He’s enthusiastic, he’s motivated, he’s friendly, and he’s always the first one in line to offer a helping hand. Sure, Buddy can be a little much at times, but his intentions are nothing but good. As an extra bonus, he’d definitely be the guy who’s always bringing sweet treats into the office. Albeit, the treat in question would likely be spaghetti topped with candy and mounds of syrup… but still. Every office needs someone who comes bearing treats.

If you were ever feeling down or needed a quick break to destress during the workday, you could count on Buddy to be the coworker who lifts your spirits. Just think about his enthusiasm when he congratulates the random workers in that NYC coffee shop on having the “world’s best coffee.” That’s the enthusiasm he would have for you and your work, day in and day out.

That’s why the best office buddy is Buddy himself.

Worst: Walter Hobbs (Buddy’s dad) 

Most people write Walter off as a cold, emotionally unavailable workaholic. And you know what? They’re right.

Walter might have a great work ethic, but the meaning of work-life balance is totally lost on him. We know he’s in the middle of Q4 and his demanding job at the Empire State Building requires taking on some extra hours, but no one benefits from having Walter’s brand of perpetual stress in their lives. Walter can’t even manage to take a single night off to bond with his long lost elf son and his real life preteen son on Christmas Eve.

He goes into the office on Christmas Eve of all days—and if he was your manager he would likely expect this same level of relentless workplace dedication from all of his employees. Has Walter ever heard the phrase: Work smarter not harder? Maybe if Walter had better time management skills, he could get everything done and still find time to spend with his family on the days that matter most.

To his credit, Walter does turn things around by the end of the film. It may have taken him roughly 60 years to do it, but we’re happy for him nevertheless.

4. A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS

Best: Charlie Brown

For an elementary school kid, Charlie Brown shows an unmatched level of selflessness and social consciousness in the 1965 hit “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”

Rather than blindly following his classmates’ example and spending the Christmas season beefing up his holiday wish list, Charlie Brown stops to think about the true meaning of Christmas. He’s depressed by the overwhelming commercialism surrounding him, and uses his discontent to think about how we should really be spending the holidays.

Rather than keeping his discontent to himself for fear of being chastised by his gift-loving friends, Charlie Brown takes the initiative to be honest with his friends about how he feels. He confides his troubles to Lucy, which shows that he is a thoughtful communicator and honest person who’s willing to have difficult conversations even if it could cause conflict.

Charlie Brown would make a great coworker because he’s the most thoughtful kid in town—so thoughtful he’s practically a revolutionary. When his fellow cast members ask him to pick out a Christmas tree for the school play, Charlie Brown doesn’t simply choose the shiniest new tree on the lot and call it a day. Instead, he chooses a meager, sickly-looking tree because he knows it could use some extra love and care. And even though Charlie knows his choice of tree will lead to mocking from his classmates, he stands by his principles and puts in the work to transform the tree—and Christmas itself—into something extraordinary.

You couldn’t ask for a better, more thoughtful and caring coworker, than good ole’ Charlie Brown.

Worst: Lucy

Imagine: Your friend is genuinely in need of help. He’s only 8 or 9 years old (at least, I think that’s how old the Peanuts friends are. Who can say for sure?) and he’s already having an existential crisis. Rather than giving him helpful advice like a good friend or coworker would, you pose as a fake psychiatrist and charge him five cents just to speak to you.

Then, once your friend spends his hard-earned allowance to get the psychiatric help you’re offering, you give him the most useless advice on the planet. Charlie Brown tells Lucy that the commercialization of Christmas makes him sad, and Lucy’s response is: You must be crazy. I’m going to diagnose you with a series of terrifying phobias that you probably have. Oh, and you know what you should do since you hate Christmas? Direct the school Christmas play!

Imagine if you told your manager you hated making Excel sheets and they responded by diagnosing you with Excel-phobia and making you give a company-wide presentation on the importance of Excel sheets. That’s basically what Lucy does here, and it’s why we’ve dubbed her as the worst coworker ever.

5. THE POLAR EXPRESS

Best: Hero Girl (Holly)

This beloved character from The Polar Express is named “Hero Girl,” and it’s easy to see why.

At the beginning of the children’s journey on the Polar Express, Hero Girl seems a bit shy and unsure of herself. But as the movie progresses, Hero Girl gains confidence and becomes the leader of the group. Most of her fellow kids spend the train ride focused on themselves, but Hero Girl is the one character who’s always thinking about how everyone else is doing.

She goes out of her way to befriend Billy the Lonely Boy (yes, these are the character’s actual names) by bringing him a cup of steaming hot chocolate and inviting him to sing the duet “When Christmas Comes to Town,” with her. Hero Girl would make an amazing coworker because she’s selfless, kind, and knows how to inspire those around her.

She’s also the one child who knows the true meaning of Christmas, since she’s the one who can hear Santa’s bells at the end of the movie. Not to mention, the Polar Express conductor punches the word “L-E-A-D” into her ticket when she re-boards the train.

Hero Girl would be a great coworker and an even better CEO.

Worst: Know It All

Do we even need to explain why a character whose literal name is “Know It All” would make a terrible coworker?

On top of his ceaseless mansplaining, Know it All also has what is quite possibly the most annoying voice in cinematic history. I haven’t been able to erase Know It All’s whiny, nasal, perpetually irritating voice from my memory since this movie was released in 2004. I can only imagine how his personality and vocals would progress into adulthood. Imagine sitting in the office, trying to finish a project, when you’re interrupted by this guy coming over to tell you some fact you didn’t want to know in the first place. That would be your daily work life if Know It All was one of your coworkers.

6. RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER

Best: Rudolph

Rudolph never lets the man get him down.

When Santa tells him he can’t be on the sleigh team and when Coach Comet expels him from flight practice after seeing his red nose, Rudolph takes his losses as an opportunity to travel and make new friends.

He befriends fellow misfit Hermey the elf, and the pair runs away together to the Island of Misfit Toys. Rather than finding safety on the island, Rudolph leaves because he’s scared his nose will endanger his friends. This all shows that Rudolph is selfless, brave, and has the ability to quickly make friends even though he’s spent most of his life having to hide who he really is.

He’s also extremely resilient. When Santa needs his help to save Christmas, Rudolph is eager to come to the rescue even though all of the other reindeer “used to laugh and call him names,” as the song goes.

Rudolph’s selflessness and courage would make him the perfect coworker.

Worst: Santa Claus

Bet you didn’t expect to find Santa listed as one of the worst coworkers.

To be fair, there are many different Santas featured in many different Christmas movies, and not all of them would make bad coworkers. But this particular Santa would make a disappointing coworker, and here’s why:

Donner is Santa’s lead reindeer, and his wife has just given birth to a newborn fawn named Rudolph. To everyone’s surprise, Rudolph is born with a glowing red nose. Santa arrives (presumably to congratulate his right-hand reindeer on the birth of his first child) but upon seeing the new fawn, Santa declares that Rudolph will never be able to make the sleigh team because of his nose.

Imagine if your boss came to see your newborn child, and the first thing he says is that your child can never amount to anything because of his physical appearance! It’s bigoted, it’s cruel, and it ends up being downright untrue.

In the end, Rudolph’s the one who ends up saving Christmas from being canceled by using his glowing nose to help Santa navigate through the Christmas blizzard. And yes, Santa does have the idea to stop Christmas from being canceled by using Rudolph’s nose to guide the way, but he only recognizes Rudolph’s talent and worth once he has no other options. Santa didn’t give Rudolph a chance to begin with, which shows us he would make a terrible hiring manager and a rather problematic coworker with an aptitude for judging others before getting to know them.

7. HAPPIEST SEASON

Best: Riley (Aubrey Plaza)

In Clea DuVall’s new queer romantic comedy, Happiest Season, Riley may be a supporting character, but for thousands of fans she stole the show.

Riley is confident, witty, kind, and readily offers emotional support and friendship to Abby (Kristin Stewart) even though they just met. And although it’s obvious Abby and Riley have great chemistry, Riley puts her own feelings aside and acts as a loyal confidante to Abby while she sorts out her relationship. Most people probably wouldn’t think twice about backstabbing their ex in exchange for their own happiness, but Riley always thinks about the needs of others before her own.

In the end, most of Twitter was upset that Riley and Abby didn’t end up together—myself included, but it just means that Riley was headed for greater things. We think Riley’s strong sense of self, loyal friendship, and easy confidence would make her an awesome coworker, friend, and partner.

And yes, maybe this pick isn’t even that work-related. Maybe it’s more about my boundless love for Aubrey Plaza. But come on, can you blame me?

Worst: Tipper (Harper’s mom)

If “Happiest Season” were set in an office, Tipper would be the manager. She’s the one who runs day-to-day operations, she’s the wannabe hostess with the mostess who’s always checking in on everyone else, and she’s the one with huge expectations that most of her family members—or colleagues, in this scenario—feel like they can’t live up to.

By the end of the movie, Tipper’s made some important character growth, but she also calls Abby an orphan at least 17 times in the course of four days. Tipper would definitely be the manager who contributes to most of her team having emotional breakdowns under the unrelenting stress of her impossible expectations. Maybe managers like that eventually come to their senses, but how many employees do they traumatize in their wake?

8. JINGLE ALL THE WAY

Best: Jamie Langston (Arnold Schwarzenegger’s son)

Finding a character in “Jingle All the Way” who would make a truly good coworker proved to be a challenge. The film’s satirical look at the commercialization of Christmas means all the characters spend most of the film ruthlessly fighting and backstabbing one another to get their hands on the season’s most coveted toy: Turbo-man.

At the start of the movie, Myron Larabee (Sinbad) seems like a good candidate for best coworker. He’s a stressed out, underpaid postal worker who just wants to give his son a good Christmas. That might mean sabotaging Howard Langston’s (Arnold Schwarzenegger) chances of getting his hands on a Turbo-man, but Myron’s core intentions are good. Except then Myron sticks a bomb on the police, which I think has to be an automatic disqualifier for being a good coworker.

So in the end, the best coworker has to go to the movie’s only wholesome character. The one who values giving more than receiving. One of the only characters who never resorts to physical violence to get what he wants: 6-year-old Jamie Langston.

Jamie is kind, forgiving, and empathetic. Even though he thinks his dad has abandoned the family on Christmas Eve, he still feels guilty for being hard on him and apologizes. And even though the only thing Jamie wants for Christmas is the Turbo-man doll, he gives his hard-earned doll to Myron so that his son will be happy on Christmas. How many kindergarteners do you know who would do a thing like that?

Jamie is a great kid, and one day we know he’ll make an even better coworker.

Worst: Ted Maltin

Even if you’ve never seen “Jingle All the Way,” this photo of Ted creepily hugging Howard’s wife gives you a glimpse into why we’ve chosen the Langston’s manipulative next door neighbor as the absolute worst coworker.

As Howard scours the city trying to find his son’s Christmas present, newly divorced Ted is trying every trick in the book to cozy up to Howard’s wife Liz. Howard poises himself as the neighborhood nice guy who’s always around to lend a helping hand and spread Christmas cheer, when in reality he’s a total predator who spends Christmas Eve trying to hook up with his married next door neighbor instead of spending time with his own son.

He’s creepy, scheming, and has no moral standards. This guy’s so evil he even has his own Villains Wiki page.

9. A CHRISTMAS STORY

Best: Mother Parker

Randy and Ralphie’s mother “never ate a full meal in her life,” because she’s always tending to someone else in the family. Whether it’s dealing with dad’s “tapestry of profanity that hung in the air,” bundling up the boys for their brutal winter walk to school, or forcing Randy to eat anything—anything at all—Mrs. Parker handles everything that the boys of the family throw at her with grace and poise. Even the godforsaken leg lamp (if you know, you know).

Like the best coworkers, she makes sure everything is in working order without demanding recognition. She would also make an excellent HR representative, providing free counseling (“No, daddy isn’t going to kill Ralphie…”) and maintaining an expletive-free workspace via the threat of a mouthful of bar soap.

Worst: Scut Farkus

“So help me god, he had yellow eyes…”

Farkus is the archetype of the evil bully—so evil that moviegoers rate him an even worse villain than the Grinch. And just like Ted Maltin, Scut is notorious enough that he has his own Villains Wiki page.

As a kid, Scut’s antics might be played down as juvenile and attention-seeking, but can you imagine having him as a colleague some 15 years later?

As a coworker, Farkus does not spend his time wisely. Instead, he tries to intimidate his other coworkers and sabotage their productivity. Maybe he’s mad that success doesn’t come easy to him; after all, he’s a few grades behind, and his yes-man sidekick is more of a pet than a buddy. Since he doesn’t know how to channel his frustration into productivity, he can never measure up, even to the kids he bullies. Maybe if Farkus had a mom like Ralphie’s, he could have the emotional maturity to pick on somebody his own size!

10. NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION 

Best: Ellen Griswold

There are few holiday films more renowned or iconic than the ‘89 classic “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.” Jam Packed with Lampoon-style wackiness, absurdist antics, and Chevy Chase’s usual brand of goofiness, this movie is the perfect holiday mix of relatable and zany.

That being said, pretty much every character in Lampoon’s is riding their own absurdist rollercoaster. None of them would necessarily make great coworkers, but Ellen would definitely provide some comic relief to the office.

Her signature line: “Well, I don’t know what to say except it’s Christmas and we’re all in misery,” has become a hit meme that remains heavily quoted by fans decades later. Her quote can even be found adorning Christmas sweaters and t-shirts every holiday season.

In addition to being a hilarious coworker, Ellen would also be patient and understanding. She puts up with a lot from Clark, and handles it all with a healthy dose of sarcasm and wit. When Clark nearly gets the family killed by driving their car under a semi, Ellen prays “hallowed be thy name. And forgive my husband, he knows not what he does.” After Clark and the rest of their holiday visitors burn down the Christmas tree and wreck the Griswold family home, Ellen responds with a wry “Welcome to our home—what’s left of it!”

Every good coworker comes equipped with a great sense of humor, and Ellen’s got one of the best around.

Worst: Clark Griswold

For many, Clark Griswold is adored as this film’s quirky protagonist; The silly dad trying to create the perfect Christmas for his family by whatever means necessary. But if we look a little closer at what Clark does to create the so-called perfect Christmas, you’ll find a laundry list of bad, reckless, and at times highly inappropriate behavior.

The movie starts off with Clark driving like a lunatic—illegally racing another car on slick, snowy roads while his children and wife are in the car, begging him to stop. After endangering his family’s lives, Clark goes on to harass and demean an unsuspecting saleswoman who’s just trying to do her job. Now, I know this movie is a bit dated, but come on Clark. Harassing women was never cool. And he even does it in front of his pre-teen son. If Clark is the manager in this scenario, he’s not exactly setting a great example for his new employee.

In the end, the Griswold family shenanigans all turn out alright. But if Clark were a real-life worker in today’s workplace, the film would probably start out with him being reprimanded by HR.

11. IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE

Best: George Bailey

George Bailey has devoted his life to the people of Bedford Falls. He’s given up his dreams of traveling the world and building skyscrapers to make sure the insidious Mr. Potter doesn’t take over the town for his own gain.

If George had a resume filled with his life’s good deeds, it would read something like this:

• • At only 12-years-old, I saved my brother from drowning.
  • I single-handedly prevented Mr. Gower, the town druggist, from accidentally killing a child by poisoning the child’s prescription.
  • I postponed my plans to travel the world to save my late father’s business, Building and Loan. I then donated all my hard-earned tuition money for college to another man so that I could run the family business, forsaking my own dreams in the process.
  • Under my leadership, my company established Bailey Park, an affordable, modern housing development that rivaled the overpriced slums created by Mr. Potter.

Clearly, George has an impressive track record. His leadership style is never self-serving, and he’s always thinking about how to improve the lives of others. Forget colleague—we’re ready to elect George Bailey as our next president.

Worst: Mr. Potter

Every character on this list who’s been dubbed as a terrible coworker started off evil, corrupt, or misguided, but eventually had a change of heart and turned into a better person. Every character except for Mr. Potter that is. That old curmudgeon is steadfastly sinister, heartless, apathetic, and cruel without regret.

Mr. Potter is essentially the reason we had to create anti-monopoly laws. His life’s mission is to take control of—or destroy— George Bailey’s Building and Loan company so that he can seize control over the town. Driven solely by greed, Mr. Potter sneers at George’s request for help. He’s so cruel, he drives George’s suicide attempt, telling George: “What are you but a warped, frustrated young man? A miserable little clerk… crawling in here on your hands and knees and begging for help. You’re worth more dead than alive!”

Mr. Potter is so evil, he occupies slot #6 on the American Film Institute’s list of the ‘50 Greatest Villains in American film history.’ An entire organization chose him as the sixth most evil character out there. Not just in the Christmas movie category, but for all movies in general. That’s saying something.

Of all the terrible coworkers there could be, Mr. Potter is the worst of them all.

12. A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Best: Tiny Tim

Tiny is severely crippled, deathly ill, and his family doesn’t have the money to pay for his treatment. Yet, Tiny is still focused on helping others and spreading holiday cheer. At Christmas dinner, Tiny declares: “God bless us, every one!” which is repeated at the end of the movie as a symbolic showing of how much Scrooge changes throughout the story.

Tiny is the most selfless hero on our list, the one who’s primarily responsible for Scrooge’s transformation (which clearly shows she’d make a spectacular manager), and he’s quick to forgive Scrooge’s greed. Who wouldn’t want a coworker like that?

Even though Tiny Tim only makes a brief appearance in “A Christmas Carol,” he makes a mighty impact.

Worst: Ebenezer Scrooge

“Bah! Humbug!”

No matter which version of “A Christmas Carol” you watch, Ebeneezer Scrooge prevails as one of the most notorious Christmas villains of all time. Scrooge starts out as the quintessential antihero: he’s a selfish, greedy, stingy, and an all around cold-hearted miser who despises Christmas and all the joy that comes along with it. In Charles Dickens’ original 1843 novella A Christmas Carol, Dickens describes Scrooge in an unforgiving light as “a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner! Hard and sharp as flint,… secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster.”

Scrooge is basically the original Jeff Bezos—he has plenty of personal wealth, yet he underpays his clerk and relentlessly hounds his poor debtors. Scrooge is so notorious that his character serves as a symbol against greed to modern businessmen and workaholics some 200 years later.

Of course, Scrooge has a change of heart and pledges to turn things around after the three ghosts of Christmas visit him and reveal what a monster he’s become. Still, Scrooge would have been a nightmare boss and coworker for most of his life and career. Let’s not forget, after two charity goers approach him on Christmas Eve, Scrooge refuses to donate and tells the men they might as well die to reduce the surplus population. Big yikes. But by the end of the story, Scrooge has transformed into the embodiment of the Christmas spirit.

We can only hope that the modern day scrooges hoarding their wealth and underpaying their workers in 2020 will soon have their own Scrooge-like revelations this holiday season.

If this article got you into the Christmas spirit, then you’re in luck. 1Huddle’s new on-demand game marketplace features games based on all the movies we’ve listed here, and after reading these in-depth character explanations, you should be ready to ace all of our holiday movie games.

Still waiting for access to the shop? This is one present you don’t have to wait to open. Just head over to our website to learn more about how you can get started with 1Huddle today.