- Elf
There’s no better way to kick off December than with Buddy the Elf, a Christmas enthusiast from the North Pole who travels to New York City in hopes of meeting his father, Walter Hobbs. After learning that Christmas spirit is running low and his father is on Santa’s naughty list, Buddy goes on a mission to save Christmas and get his father onto the nice list. A story of love, heartbreak, comedy, and feel-good Christmas spirit, “Elf” is the perfect movie to start off the season with.
- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
We all know someone who’s a little like Clark Griswold when it comes to decorating for the holidays. After chopping down a Christmas tree with his family, hosting relatives who are less than receptive to his attempt to create a nice holiday, and having a decorating disaster, Clark Griswold is feeling down. Bonding over the unusual Christmas but still being together, Clark and his family remember the true meaning of Christmas and appreciate being in each other’s presence. If your holiday season always seems to be chaotic in one way or another, “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” is the perfect movie to watch with your family.
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas
One of the most iconic figures of the holiday season is none other than the Grinch himself. A notorious Christmas-hater, the Grinch holds one goal: destroying Christmas spirit in the town of Whoville, where Christmas season is everyone’s favorite time of the year. If you’re in the mood for a funny, feel-good movie, you can’t miss either the animated or live-action version, the latter of which stars Jim Carrey. Whether you can relate to the Grinch or are just on the hunt for another festive story this holiday season, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” should be at the top of your list.
- Home Alone
Starring the iconic Macaulay Culkin, “Home Alone” is another holiday classic that’s perfect for those snowy movie nights. Eight-year-old Kevin McCallister is supposed to go to France for the holidays with his family, but wishes the night before that his family was no longer his family. Ironically, Kevin oversleeps and the rest of the McCallister family leaves without him, forcing Kevin to fight off burglar cops and survive alone in his house until his family returns. A funny and heartwarming story, “Home Alone” is a Christmas classic.
- Christmas With the Kranks
In this holiday staple, Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis star as empty-nester parents preparing for their first Christmas without their daughter, Blair, who joined the Peace Corps. Deciding to forgo their traditional Christmas practices, Luther and Nora Krank splurge on a cruise during the holiday. However, when Blair calls and surprises them saying she’s coming home after all, the Kranks must scramble to recreate their Christmas traditions before Blair arrives. This movie is perfect for a night-in with family right in the midst of finishing up the decorating and baking essential to every holiday season.
- The Nightmare Before Christmas
Produced by Tim Burton, known for his gothic style and animation, “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is a Halloween-twist on the Christmas holiday. In this stop-motion film loved by children and adults alike, the pumpkin king of Halloweentown, Jack Skellington, comes upon Christmastown. He decides to put his own spin on Christmas this year, even offering to take over for Santa. Jack encounters a series of obstacles that threaten the future of Halloweentown, but is ultimately saved and realizes the true meaning of Christmas when it snows in Halloweentown. This movie is perfect for those with a taste for the darker classics, and features excellent spooky music if you’re not quite ready to let go of Halloween.
- A Christmas Story
One of my personal holiday favorites from the 1980s is “A Christmas Story”, a comedy about a young boy, Ralphie, who wants a BB gun from Santa for Christmas. Featuring the classic line, “you’ll shoot your eye out,” Ralphie challenges his peers, parents, and Santa himself to prove he’s worthy of the BB gun. Eventually receiving the gun from his parents after thinking his Christmas was incomplete, Ralphie drifts off to sleep with the gun and believes it’s the best gift he’s ever received. If you’re in need of a good laugh between the shopping and baking that seems to be constant in December, “A Christmas Story” is the perfect way to end the night.
- The Santa Clause
Another comedy film starring Tim Allen as the father, Scott Calvin, “The Santa Clause” follows Scott after he accidentally causes Santa to fall off his roof when delivering presents on Christmas Eve. Scott and his son must save Christmas by delivering the rest of Santa’s presents, returning to the North Pole after. There they learn that Scott must now overtake the job of Santa permanently in place of the Santa who fell off his roof. Now a series, “The Santa Clause” movies are sure to create an atmosphere of laughter and family values this holiday season. Disney+ is also currently releasing a 6-episode mini-series following the third movie if you want to know what happens next!
- White Christmas
Boasting some of the holiday season’s most iconic songs and dance numbers, “White Christmas” is a 1950s movie-musical featuring well-known actors Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye as Bob Wallace and Phil Davis respectively. The long-time friends travel with the Haynes sisters, Betty and Judy, to a Christmas resort in Vermont on the verge of closing. The friends later discover the resort is owned by their former military general, and must put together a show to keep the resort in business. This feel-good musical is sure to spark interest in both the story and the holiday across many generations.
- A Charlie Brown Christmas
Last but not least is “A Charlie Brown Christmas”, an annual TV special based off of Charles M. Schulz’s comic strip, “The Peanuts.” Social outcast Charlie Brown is not excited for the holiday season despite the festivities and decorations characteristic of Christmas, and decides to help direct the town Christmas play. Charlie attempts to find a centerpiece for the play last-minute, and stumbles upon a small Christmas tree that his peers laugh at. Frustrated, Charlie Brown and his friend Linus decorate the tree and show that it’s more than just its appearance, sending an important message about finding the silver lining when everyone around you is focusing on the negatives, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” has stood the test of time and remains loved by both children and adults.
From Christmas classics such as “Elf” to interesting spins on the holiday featured in “The Nightmare Before Christmas”, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this holiday season. Sit down and relax with some hot cocoa and your family, friends, or significant other, and happy watching!