A seasonal television classic, A Christmas Story, was released in 1983 but was set just over 40 years earlier. As a result, the film could better capture that warm, nostalgic vibe often associated with Norman Rockwell paintings. But rather than focusing on positivity, A Christmas Story embraces the chaos that comes with every family. Although the film's themes are timeless, there's still the lingering question: What year is A Christmas Story set in? The question is kept deliberately vague so as to preserve the sense of slightly fuzzy nostalgia that has made the film so beloved. But a few concrete clues appear in the movie itself that provide clarity to the question.

Based on the writings of humorist Jean Shepherd, A Christmas Story follows a boy named Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley) — a stand-in for the author himself — who wants nothing more than to get a Red Ryder Bb gun for Christmas. However,...