Nothing gets you into the holiday spirit like some funny Christmas movies! Get your hot cocoa and marshmallows ready for some sweet and fun holiday films. Here’s a list of some of my favorite Christmas movies to watch with my family during the holidays:
- Elf (2003)
- Four Christmases (2008)
- National Lampoons Christmas Vacation (1989)
- Jingle All the Way (1996)
- Christmas with the Kranks (2004)
- Love Hard (2021)
- Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas (2013)
- Deck the Halls (2006)
- Home Alone 1 (1990)
- Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
- Gremlins (1984)
- Love Actually (2003)
- The Santa Claus (1994)
- The Christmas Chronicles (2018)
- The Christmas Chronicles 2 (2020)
- This Christmas (2007)
- Fred Claus (2007)
- Last Christmas (2019)
- Let it Snow (2019)
Studies have shown that people who watch Christmas movies can experience a neurological shift that produces happiness. It has been proved to even reduce stress and anxiety as well as strengthen the relationships with those you are watching them with. Decorating for Christmas has also been shown to have similar effects.
The British holiday film “Love Actually,” (2003) follows the lives of eight couples in London, bringing the viewers the perennial theme of romance and relationships. “Jingle All the Way” (1996) and “Love Hard” (2021) also have a main focus on relationships and have a great storyline. The first film is a comedy about two rival fathers desperately trying to get a Turbo-Man action figure for their respective sons on a last-minute Christmas Eve shopping spree. The more recent film is a light-hearted romantic comedy that chronicles an LA girl who falls for an East Coast guy on a dating app and decides to surprise him for the holidays, only to discover that she’s been catfished by him.
One of my favorites, “Four Christmases” (2003), starring Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon, is about a couple visiting all four of their divorced parents’ homes on Christmas Day. This comedy film is perfect if you want to have some good laughs. Another good comedy is Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas (2013). This comedy-drama film is a classic of Madea getting everyone in order during the Christmas season. She gets talked into getting a job at a local store by her niece and ends up getting fired on her first day on the job.
The 1989 comedy film “National Lampoons Christmas Vacation,” follows the Griswold family as they attempt to plan for a big family Christmas. However, it turns into a disaster, hence the comedy part of the film. “Christmas Vacation” brings its own wholesome charm and makes for the perfect go-to laugher around the holidays. At the same time, the original film is still regarded by several people to be one of the best comedies of all time. If that doesn’t say enough about how much I recommend this film, I don’t know what does.
I hope this list of 19 films gives you some extra movies to consider watching over the holidays. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!