If there’s one thing I hate about the holidays, it’s the freezing temperatures.Whether it’s layering up every time I want to go somewhere or the cross-campus walks turned trudges, the supposed season of joy becomes the season of despair with every degree dip. . Yet, like everything else in life, there’s a plus side to it: the holiday movies. Being able to bundle up in bed or on the couch with piles of blankets and a cup of hot cocoa while watching a holiday classic makes the weather a small price to pay for festive joy. There are endless options of iconic holiday films to choose from, which raises the question: what are the top five holiday movies? Let’s start with a classic, a movie series everyone and their mom knows: Home Alone. This franchise features six different movies about a young boy whose family is so large that they forget about him everywhere they go. The first one came out in 1990 and the last in 2021. They are memorable because of the wild ways holiday magic gets tied into the story of a normal kid figuring out how to survive on his own. Since there are so many movies in the series, everyone can choose a favorite; I personally prefer the first.
Moving on to someone a little more fictional and green, there’s the notorious The Grinch. For the handful of people who don’t know by now, the Grinch is a big, furry, bright green creature who absolutely despises Christmas. He lives in a town of characters called “Whos” and wants to steal their Christmas. Through his actions, we remember to appreciate the love and community during the holidays, not just the presents. I have noticed that everyone prefers the live-action starring Jim Carrey, which came out in 2000, and I can’t help but agree. He adds humor and warmth to the Grinch that other actors seem to lack.
On the topic of great actors, another movie worth mentioning is Elf with Will Ferrell, who plays Buddy in the family comedy. His character is a middle-aged man who was raised by elves. I mean, that alone makes for an intriguing and hilarious story. Adding to its charm, Buddy spends his time visiting New York City on a mission to find his biological father. The movie came out in 2003 but even today, it is still a family favorite. Buddy’s blissfully-ignorant personality and the kindness he spreads while navigating his way through the city definitely makes this a December must-watch.
Moving down the list with another classic, (maybe even THE classic) is The Polar Express. This one came out in 2004 and is an animated film. For me at least, I used to wait all year to watch this in elementary school. Every pajama day, all the grades would come together in the auditorium and enjoy this magical movie. For those of you who didn’t experience the same, the movie follows a boy taking a magical train to the North pole on Christmas Eve. The goal is to inspire him to believe in Santa and change his mindset on the spirit of Christmas. The second this movie is even mentioned, I instantly teleport back to second grade wearing a onesie and matching with my favorite stuffed animal. It’s such a cozy and nostalgic classic!
This last one might be a bit controversial, though when I asked, many still said it was their favorite: The Nightmare Before Christmas. Another animated kids film that came out in 1993. To those who know it, yes, it is part Halloween, part Christmas, but that’s just another reason it is so loved. For those who don’t, Jack, the main character, is a skeleton figure who lives in a town based on Halloween. He constantly follows the same routine until he discovers Christmas Town and decides to take it over. This one’s unique and full of color, totally worthy of being on the list even if it’s only partially about a December holiday.
I’m well aware that I missed a few others like A Christmas Vacation, but in my defense, I barely remember the plot so maybe it isn’t worth including? The same goes for Die Hard, whose fandom swears this movie belongs in this list. Reread the title because I promise you, it really doesn’t. I would also like to point out that I know most, if not all of these are based on Christmas. However, even from a Jew’s perspective, they are just that good! (And besides, there’re really not a lot of Hanukkah movie.). Regardless, my list is not exhaustive but simply a collection of opinions. Though I am intrigued, are there any classics you hoped you’d see?
