There’s no better way to get cozy during the holiday season than by getting your comfiest Christmas pyjamas on and watching your favourite holiday movie. We’ve got our top 10 favourite holiday movies to get you in the spirit. (You should probably start popping some popcorn while you read through the list!)
10. A Christmas Story
Even if you haven’t seen this movie you know about the infamous leg lamp from A Christmas Story. Our younger selves related to Ralphie’s excitement to open that one present on Christmas morning that he’s waited all year for. A Christmas Story was released in 1983, and has remained a holiday favourite for many. It’s surprising that it hasn’t been remade yet, though the chances of releasing a holiday movie in which a small child receives a riffle in 2015 is probably slim.
9. Miracle on 34th Street
An oldie but goodie, Miracle on 34th Street is about a man named Kris Kringle who takes on the job of being Santa at Macy’s in New York City. When Kris starts to direct parents to rival stores for present shopping, he gets himself into some trouble. If you’ve ever worked retail, you know how stressful the Christmas season is. Kris ends up being fired,and is helped by some of the kind people of New York City resulting in a miracle. This movie stars a young Natalie Wood, and that’s reason enough to watch it.
8. The Santa Clause
The Santa Clause starring Tim Allen is a 90s Christmas treasure. The movie is actually the first part of the trilogy, though we all know Santa Clause 2, and 3 can’t even touch the first one. I don’t care how hot you thought Bernard the elf was. Santa falls off of Tim Allen’s roof, and then Tim has to fill in for him so all of the gifts can be given out. The best part of this movie is that it was shot in Toronto, and its surrounding suburbs. The Toronto Zoo supplied the reindeer, and chances are you probably know someone who knows someone that was in it. I do.
7. Rudolph
I’m talking the 1964 stop motion made for television special. Rudolph is the greatest underdog story ever told. What can get better than a snowman narrator, a misfit elf becoming best friends with a reindeer with a glowing red nose, an abominable snowman named Bumble, and a whole island of North Pole toy factory rejects? Nothing. You probably saw this for the first time in elementary school, and if you haven’t watched it recently you probably should. It will bring up all sorts of Christmas memories from years past.
6. How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Yes the cartoon version is great, but the live action version is the best. Jim Carrey is the only person on earth that can do the Grinch justice. Based off the Dr.Seuss classic, The Grinch is about a green misfit who was horribly rejected by his childhood crush on Christmas, and therefore tries to ruin the holiday for the entire town of Whoville, who literally live for Christmas. Things to learn from this movie: accept gifts, and green people with kindness, Cindy Lou is #HairGoals forever and always, and there is nothing cuter than the young Grinch. Nothing.
5. It’s A Wonderful Life
It’s a Wonderful Life is the perfect holiday movie to watch to remain humble. The year is 1945, and George Bailey is not having the best time. Clarence the angel is assigned to help George in order to receive his wings. Through flashbacks, we see that George has helped a lot of people, and despite falling on hard times, there is still so much more of a life to live. It’s A Wonderful Life is the Adele of holiday movies, so get the tissues and ice cream ready.
4. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
Christmas with the Griswolds always make your family seem so normal and boring. Christmas Vacation has become a holiday staple, and a cult classic that is perfect to watch with the family this holiday season. Chevy Chase will never fail to amuse us as patriarch Clark Griswold. Highlights include a giant Christmas tree, a city wide power-outage , and other classic Griswold shenanigans.
3. Home Alone
If you watched Home Alone as a child it either made you dream about the days of your overbearing family finally leaving you alone, or traumatized that your parents would actually leave you behind, and you would have to fight off scary robbers all on your own. Kevin McCallister will always be our childhood hero. Whether it’s eating ice cream for dinner, rigging an entire house with traps, or becoming friends with the neighbourhood’s scariest man, Kevin manages to steal our hearts year after year.
2. Elf
Buddy the Elf is a regular man living with the elves of the North Pole. Shortly before Christmas Buddy is told that his real dad works at the Empire State Building in New York City, and worst of all, he’s on the naughty list. Elf is arguably Will Ferrell’s best work on screen, and his dedication to wearing tights through the whole film is admirable. Elf is a modern Christmas classic that also stars a blonde Zooey Deschanel sans-bangs. This movie has so many quotable moments that it’s worth at least one watch this holiday season¦ok 50.
1. Love Actually
There doesn’t need to be an explanation as to why Love Actually is number one on this list. It stars every British Actor ever, and follows different love stories that all tie in with each other. Hugh Grant is the Prime Minister that falls in love with a member of his household staff. Alan Rickman’s character is cheating on his wife (played by Emma Thompson) with his secretary, and Liam Neeson plays a widow, helping his step-son get the girl of his dreams at the Christmas concert. Love Actually is 10 holiday love stories in one, which is why it’s our favourite holiday movie!
