I’ve been preoccupied with studying for finals these past couple of weeks. If I’m not in the library, I’m in my room writing an essay or studying for the next exam. While I know the month of December is filled with thoughts of finals for many college students, it’s essential to decompress from the workload and start celebrating the holiday season. One thing you could do is watch some of your fave Christmas movies.Â
With the changing of the seasons, all I can think about is getting under my blankets with a hot chocolate in hand before scrolling through all the streaming sites to search for my favorite holiday flick. There’s only one problem: there are too many choices to select from. It’s hard for me to get into the Christmas spirit if I can’t pick the right film to help liven up the mood and experience.Â
That’s when I decided to do some digging and ask fellow Gen Zers what film they consider to be the best Christmas movie to help them prepare for the holiday season. Some may come as no surprise while others may be a complete shock. All I know is that I’m already anticipating some internet debates.Â
- Home Alone
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During the holiday season, the Home Alone franchise can be found playing in the background of many households. The film is a classic, and watching it every year around Christmas time has become a regular tradition for me. I believe the same can be true for Gen Zers, as Home Alone was picked several times by college students as the best Christmas movie to watch during the holiday season. As if the plot wasn’t already etched in our memories, the first two films in the Home Alone series follow Kevin McCallister and his family as they arrange large Christmas vacations, the first one to Paris and the second one to Florida.Â
In the first film, Kevin must devise a strategy to defend his home against burglars. In the sequel, he must stop the same burglars, but this time in New York, as they attempt to steal from an elderly man’s toy store. “It [reminds] me of [my] childhood and happiness,” says Penny Peng who attends San Jose State University.Â
Kevin is what I aspired to be when I was a kid, someone quick-witted, funny, and all-around kind, so watching the movie reminds me of my childhood and gives a sense of nostalgia.
- Klaus (2019)
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The 2019 animated feature Klaus follows Jesper, the postal academy’s worst student, who is stationed on a frigid island above the Arctic circle where he is tasked with distributing letters to a town where they seldom exchange words. Eventually, Jesper meets Klaus, a carpenter who lives alone in his cabin and crafts handmade toys.Â
This movie is a favorite among a few college students. “It gives me a warm feeling. It’s super fun to watch at any age, and has a good message,” says Lillian Lazum, a student at FIDM.Â
If you’re searching for a heartwarming movie this holiday season, this featured Christmas film is a must-see.Â
- A Charlie Brown Christmas
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Despite its short length, the Charlie Brown movie franchise is a seasonal favorite not only around Christmas, but also around Halloween and Thanksgiving. I remember coming home from elementary school to find one of the three movies playing on our shared family television while my parents cooked dinner for my brother and me. Rewatching the movie today reminds me of that time in my childhood that I can still vividly remember (now that I think about it, maybe it’s why I’m such a Snoopy plushie girlie). I believe the film has an important message all of us can take away: Appreciate those around you.
Charlie Brown lacks holiday enthusiasm at the start of the film, and as the holiday approaches, he becomes more and more disappointed by the materialistic value placed on Christmas. It isn’t until Linus shows him the true meaning of Christmas by reading the annunciation to the shepherds that Charlie Brown realizes what Christmas is all about. The others join in on the festivities as they help transform Charlie’s once-hopeless Christmas tree into something incredible. “It’s iconic, and it has a good message without feeling preachy,” says Ellie, a Fullerton College student.Â
- Elf
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Elf is another cult classic that is placed high on many people’s holiday watchlist, and for some college students, it’s unquestionably their favorite Christmas film. “The comedy is top tier, and it’s a good combination [of humor] for children and adults,” says Nevaeh Tillman, a San Francisco State University student. “Plus, it’s very festive!” Who wouldn’t be intrigued by a film about a human raised as an elf?Â
As Buddy travels to New York City (I’m discovering a pattern here) to learn more about life in the real world, it offers a sense of relatability for people attempting to navigate adulthood while also sticking to the typical Christmas message of spreading kindness and admiring those in your life.Â
- The Nightmare Before Christmas
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While The Nightmare Before Christmas is a fun Halloween movie to see, it’s also a Christmas favorite. “It’s creepy, and Halloween is my favorite holiday, but so is Christmas. It’s the best of both worlds for me,” says Parker Redmon, a student at San Jose State University. The film highlights both festive holidays, as Jack Skellington represents the epitome of Halloween as the pumpkin king, but when he stumbles across Christmastown and prepares to kidnap Santa Claus to take over his role, it adds a festive touch.Â
I believe that the inclusion of Jack’s heartwarming up for the children of the town and fulfilling their Christmas wishes helps to brighten up the festive mood for the holidays. It’s undoubtedly a classic!
- Eloise at Christmastime
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Another fan favorite is the 2003 film Eloise at Christmastime, which follows 6-year-old Eloise who lives in New York City’s Plaza Hotel. In the film, Eloise helps reunite Rachel Peabody, the hotel owner’s daughter, with a former lover before she marries another. The film has everything that makes it one of the best Christmas movies: romance, mischief, and a lot of adventure.Â
Eileen Flaherty of Fairfield University shares why it’s her favorite.“It’s just so nostalgic. I’ve been watching it for as long as I can remember, and it just gives me all the feels.” As Tyra of Loyola University Maryland points out, having a Christmas movie set in New York might contribute to the holiday mood. “It’s so funny and so cute, she says, “I live for Bill and Rachel’s love story.”Â
- Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas
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Whether you watch the 1966 animated film or the live-action remake from 2000, How the Grinch Stole Christmas is another iconic Christmas movie. The film never fails to get viewers in the Christmas spirit, as it demonstrates that no matter who you are, you have the power to grow and change!
- I’ll be Home For Christmas
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I couldn’t help but include what I believe to be the best Christmas movie — the 1998 film I’ll Be Home For Christmas. The film follows Jake, a college student in California who races home to New York (while experiencing a few hurdles along the way) after his father promises him a new Porsche if he arrives by 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve.Â
The entire movie follows Jake as he devises wacky methods to get back home in time, and this movie used to be played every year in our household. While the film could seem corny at times, its lighthearted fun and romantic aspects keep me entertained, and I consider it a holiday classic in my books. Watching it again makes me nostalgic, especially now as a college student.
- Are We There Yet?
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While Are We There Yet isn’t the first movie that comes to mind when you think of Christmas, the setting and general theme of the film serve to make it festive! The film follows Nick played by Ice Cube as he attempts to woo a newly divorced woman by accompanying her two children to visit their father who lives states away.Â
The only issue is that the kids despise any new guy that their mother introduces them to. Lindsey and Kevin make it their duty to keep Nick from chasing their mother at any cost, evenÂ
if it means missing out on the holiday. The movie’s idea of finding family is a beautiful story, and the numerous obstacles the children come up with make the film so amusing.
- A Christmas Carol
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Is it just me, or do you remember when Disney Channel used to air A Christmas Carol regularly throughout winter break? Hopefully, it’s not just me, because A Christmas Carol is one of those films that’s plot is etched in my mind. The film emphasizes the idea of not taking life for granted by displaying the main character, Scrooge, as unpleasant to others around him while still being unhappy with himself.Â
It isn’t until three ghosts take him on a journey through his past, present, and future that he realizes he needs to change. Every time I watch this movie with my friends or family, I always get a moment of self-awareness to appreciate those around me.
- It’s a Wonderful Life
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This recommendation was definitely made by the high school theater kid in me and I couldn’t resist not adding it to the list. If you’re searching for a classic and slightly retro Christmas film, I highly recommend It’s a Wonderful Life. The 1946 film follows George Bailey who is unhappy and ponders his entire life. Just when it appears that all hope has been lost, he’s greeted by an angel who shows him flashbacks of his life and how his good actions in the past have impacted those around him for the better!
- The Polar Express
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The Polar Express is one of those Christmas movies that I make a point to watch every year. It’s a warm and inviting film that reminds me of when my family and I would set up the Christmas tree and my father would build the train from the movie to go around the tree. My family also compared me to the little girl as a child because we had similar hairstyles when I was growing up. All of those little memories combine to make this a movie I definitely suggest seeing for a dose of Christmas cheer.Â
The film’s premise is simple for younger generations, as it follows a young boy on a train adventure to the North Pole, but it also provides more than just nostalgia for older Gen Zers. It aids in self-discovery and finding magic in the smallest of details!
- Unaccompanied Minors
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Unaccompanied Minors is another childhood favorite of mine and my family, and it’s a film that I’m sure my parents still have on DVD somewhere in our house. The 2006 film follows a group of kids in an airport that’s forced to close due to a sudden blizzard on Christmas Eve. The children are referred to as unaccompanied minors since they are traveling without the presence of a legal guardian.
The kids take advantage of the lack of parental supervision and try to make the best of what looks to be a horrible situation by turning the entire airport into their own playground — while still getting into a bit of trouble along the way. The film is not your typical Christmas film, but it’s definitely a lighthearted watch if you’re looking for something different!
- A Christmas Story
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Another film that I believe wonderfully encapsulates the holiday season is A Christmas Story. And, speaking as a theater kid (I’ll say that whenever I can) who was tasked with reading Jean Sheperd’s essays, the 1983 picture is just as entertaining! The film follows Ralphie Parker, who narrates a Christmas when he was a child in the 1940s while navigating youth with bullies. His biggest Christmas wish is to get a Red Ryder bb gun, which his mother opposes. The movie is entertaining since it depicts Christmas through the eyes of a child, and it’s definitely a film to watch with your family.
- This Christmas
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Last on my list of Christmas movies to watch is This Christmas. The film follows a family as they organize a reunion for the holidays after four years apart. The film is entertaining because it emphasizes the diverse lives of the members of the family as their secrets begin to emerge while they’re together for Christmas.Â
Now that the holiday season is in full effect, I’m looking into some of these recommendations and spending my entire holiday break watching Christmas movies with a hot chocolate in hand!