The holidays are such a special time of year. You can feel the sense of cheer and excitement in the air. One of our favorite things about the holidays are all of the timeless holiday movies we watch each and every year. An important part of our holiday tradition includes watching our favorite movies each year. There is something so comforting and nostalgic about putting on your favorite holiday movie. It brings back memories from childhood and growing up and makes us feel the innocent magic of the season all over again. There are so many holiday movies to choose from, sometimes it is hard to know which one to pick. Some are romantic, others will make you laugh or cry and some are kid-friendly. Some holiday movies are incredibly cheesy and predictable and some we watch just because it’s tradition.
Today we are sharing our favorite holiday movies to help get you in the spirit this season. So grab your maple butter popcorn, Christmas cookies and hot cocoa and cuddle up with a blanket to enjoy one of our favorite holiday flicks.
12 Of Our Favorite Holiday Movies
The Holiday
I watch this one every year. I can’t help but love the Cameron Diaz-Jude Law and Kate Winslet-Jack Black chemistry. The Holiday is fun, light and always brings those warm, festive feels. I also love the house swap premise and of course always fall in love with the sweet little country cottage in England each year. This one will make you laugh, cry and feel the love of the season.
Love Actually
“Love Actually is all around us” Some love to hate Love Actually (and there are storylines that are pretty cringe). But I still come back to it each year, adoring the intertwining storylines. Love Actually will break your heart and make you laugh at the absurd storylines. Can’t get enough of Hugh Grant dancing to the Pointer Sisters, “Jump” and I always bawl my eyes out during one particular scene… Love Actually is fun and sentimental and makes for a great holiday watch.
Home Alone
Home Alone is a childhood classic that is always fun and nostalgic to watch. The classic story of Kevin McCallister left home alone when his family accidentally heads on their holiday trip abroad without him– can we talk about how ridiculous this premise is? You will need a great deal of willful suspension of disbelief for this one, but it’s so fun and always brings those cheerful Christmas vibes.
A Charlie Brown Christmas
A Charlie Brown Christmas is another holiday classic that you can’t go the season without watching. I love the messages that touch on commercialism, holiday cynicism and simplicity. You get to see all your favorite Charlie Brown characters in all their holiday glory. This is great for little ones and their loved ones to watch together.
Elf
Elf is silly and ridiculous, but I love it anyway. When Buddy the elf discovers he is in fact not an elf but a human he heads to the big apple to find his father. Chaos ensues as he tries to blend into society with elf-like tendencies and quirks. Will he find love and save Christmas after all? A great, feel good holiday comedy.
How The Grinch Stole Christmas
I know everyone has their favorite version, but I personally love How The Grinch Stole Christmas with Jim Carey. He does an excellent job embodying all that we know and love about the Grinch with so much ridiculous humor. No matter what your favorite version is, throw on this timeless classic and enjoy watching as the community of Whoville discovers the true meaning of Christmas with some help from our favorite Christmas curmudgeon, the… the… the… THE GRINCH!
It’s A Wonderful Life
It’s A Wonderful Life is another traditional Christmas story for those who love an old-school classic. Filmed in 1946, It’s a Wonderful Life tells the story of a man who has lost meaning in his life and is sent angels to show him all the joy and happiness he has shown throughout his life. Sometimes all we need is a little perspective to gain some gratitude and love for the life we live.
The Santa Clause
I remember going to see The Santa Clause in theaters with my mom when it first came out in 1994. My mom was terrified that I was going to discover there wasn’t a Santa Claus through the movie’s premise. But thankfully, I was too young to even notice! The Santa Clause still brings back those warm, nostalgic childhood feels and provides some great entertainment for an easy-going December watch.
A Christmas Story
I’ll never forget “You’ll shoot your eye out!” or the leg lamp or tongue stuck on the frozen pole. A Christmas Story is full of hilarious mishaps and laughs, capturing the best of the holidays in the 1940s. We always watch the all-day Christmas Story marathon on TBS every Christmas day. It’s a special tradition and fun way to sit back and relax during the holidays.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
Quite possibly my favorite Christmas movie, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is simply the best. So laugh out loud, funny and fun. In this holiday classic, the Griswald family is back and hosting Christmas at their house. Between their cousins showing up unexpectedly in their RV, the drama with the neighbors and poor Clark trying to make Christmas perfect, this movie is both humorous and sentimental, touching on all the holiday feels.
Klaus
Klaus is a new addition to the holiday favorites. You can find it on Netflix and it tells the original story of a postman who is sent north, due to his status as the worst student at the academy. In a frozen northern town, The postman meets Klaus, a toymaker. This movie is sweet, kid-friendly and makes a great addition to the holiday franchise.
A Boy Called Christmas
Another Netflix original, A Boy Called Christmas is a magical Christmas film that you’ll fall in love with. With help from friend’s he meets along the way, a boy named Nikolas, sets out to find his father in the snowy north. Little does he know it is his destiny that he finds instead!
The Snowy Day
This animated version of the children’s classic story book by Ezra Jack Keats is narrated by Regina King and Laurence Fishburne. The book is an absolute staple and the short movie brings the story to life with added characters, and the same nostalgia we all love about The Snowy Day.
The Snowman
Also based on the book, The Snowman brings the children’s classic to life. A beautiful film with lovely music and a storyline that brings the magic and wonder of our imagination to life. A great film for generations young and old. This movie is short so great for little ones with short attention spans.
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