Each of these films has a special part in every holiday season. I hope that, regardless of what holidays you celebrate or don’t celebrate during the month of December, you can enjoy at least a couple of these cult classics.
A Charlie Brown Christmas
This is a cartoon my grandmother will always sit me and my brother down to watch on Christmas Eve. When it’s snowy outside and warm blankets are surrounding you, this is the perfect film with which to enjoy the holiday spirit. Charlie Brown is timeless with his frumpy Christmas tree and Linus’ “what Christmas is all about” speech. The caroling and simplicity of the classic makes it a special film to revisit during the holiday season.
It’s a Wonderful Life
This tearjerker has stood the test of nearly seventy years. I might’ve spent half the film wondering why there was no snow and why suddenly there were glimpses of film noir and horror, but there is no movie that ties the Christmas ending together like this one. The production will bring you to tears of sadness and joy, all in the last thirty minutes of the film. If you’re in for a history lesson about the Great Depression, if you want to laugh and cry and notice how every woman in the film has the exact same hair, or if you want to see James Stewart embracing his children (making you feel warm and fuzzy), this is the movie for you. This movie is a Christmas miracle, one I hope you get the chance to watch this holiday season.
Home Alone
This story of a young boy who’s left home alone by his large family traveling to Paris is iconic for every time of the year, yet this movie is special when watched during Christmas. The ten-year-old spends a whole week trying to take care of himself while simultaneously keeping relentless burglars out of his house—only to grow lonely as he decorates the mansion alone. The reunification of the family is a much-beloved holiday ending.
The Polar Express
You may remember the quote: “The bell still rings for me, as it does for all who truly believe.” When a young boy who doesn’t believe in Santa gets transported onto a wonderful train to the North Pole, he comes to have many adventures in this animated classic. Tom Hanks plays the beloved conductor, who has the whimsical and mysterious “all-knowing gaze.” Two kids travel hand in hand to the magical North Pole where they begin to believe in Santa again. Scenes of delighted kids on a magical train with instant refills of hot chocolate are crucial to watch on a snowy December evening.
Love Actually
This is a cult classic for everyone thirteen and up. The adorable tale connects a dozen heartwarming love stories in London during Christmas. The cast is star-studded, with Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Keira Knightly, and Liam Neeson playing roles in the movie. Yes, this has the time-honored stunt of the large cards professing love. The romantic-comedy wraps up warmly with scenes showing the ties each story has to the other and interconnecting all of the holiday magic.
Almost Christmas
This comedy about a dysfunctional family coming together for Christmas is one that has been done before, but it always works. The story centers around a family’s first Christmas without their mother, a politician, a single mother going through law school, two sisters who haven’t spoken in years, a cheating scandal, a high schooler struggling with football, and a grandfather’s attempts to cook a dish just like his wife did. There is nothing more like the holidays than a family bonding over memories and food.
Die Hard
It’s controversial as a Christmas movie, but Die Hard is a Christmas movie, no matter what anyone says. Besides, there is nothing more endearing than a man flying back to his wife’s Christmas work party, only to face a European gangster group with loads of machine guns while climbing through numerous elevator shafts. With at least ten dead and plenty of office workers scarred for life, the movie ends with Christmas cheer. I believe this is where the phrase “All’s well that ends well” comes in handy.
Elf
I’m not a Will Ferrell fan, but this movie is the one holiday exception. If you haven’t already watched it a dozen times, the movie is about a human (Will Ferrell) who was raised by elves, trying to find his birth parents in the human world. An enormously tall Ferrell tries to navigate his way in the real world after living a life of elf-ish customs. From random singing to large amounts of candy consumption with a heartwarming romance on the side, this film crafts one of the greatest Christmas movies of all time. The timeless plot of someone trying to fit into a culture that is not their own never seems to get too old for laughs. My suggestion—rewatch every holiday season.
Last Christmas
Just released this year on November 8, this film is a sweet romance between an unstable woman, who dreams of a singing career, and a man, who is mysterious and kind. The endearing charisma of the main character, Kate, is well-used throughout the film. The plot, conceived by Emma Thompson, is playful and lovable and makes you want to put on George Michael for the holidays.
Rocky IV
If you aren’t a holiday fan but want something on theme with the December traditions, try Rocky IV, where Rocky challenges Russian boxer Ivan Drago to a fight. The film’s climax is on Christmas day, so this fits the standards for a Christmas movie. The Rocky series is about a rising boxer in Philadelphia through the years as he wins titles, has a family, and apparently, celebrates the holidays. Watch Sylvestor Stallone train in the snow and next to a fireplace to get into the holiday spirit.
The Grinch Who Stole Christmas
The original edition of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas came out in 1957 when Dr. Seuss published the book. I’m suggesting you watch the 2000 film, starring Jim Carrey as the reindeer-abusing villain. The playful haircuts, the depressing dog/reindeer Max, and the light decorating contest of a town that is obsessed with Christmas make for the perfect Christmas film. Who wouldn’t want to live in the world Dr. Seuss created, with its wild houses, funny noses, and gorgeous colors? Who can say no to a persistent seven-year-old who loves the holiday season and convinces a green grinch to love it too?
Mean Girls
Is this a Christmas film? It contains one of the most adored Christmas scenes of the 2000s, in which Regina George and the others dress up as Santas and perform “Jingle Bell Rock” in the school auditorium. If you don’t care for the biggest Christmas film, or if you just love the iconic Tina Fey movie, here’s one everyone can stand to watch. Besides, what’s more in tune with the holidays than Cady Heron belting out “Jingle Bell Rock” following an awkward silence?