The Christmas season is a time to sit back, relax with a hot cup of cocoa, and sit around the tree with the ones you love. Being a college student, however, the holly jolly month of December can easily be overshadowed by scrooge-like teachers and un-festive finals. During a time when your Christmas spirit is being stomped on by the dull appearance of the library and squished by all those textbooks, you shouldn't be down. The best way to rebuild that holiday spirit is to take a study break and watch some classic Christmas movies. Here are the perfect ones for when you need that extra holiday inspiration.
1. The Polar Express
The Polar Express encapsulates the very feeling of Christmas morning into a film. The stunning animations paired with the musical numbers are downright cheerful and catchy. The film basically leaves you wishing that you were 7 years old on a train to the North Pole drinking hot chocolate.2. Elf
Hands down one of the greatest holiday movies of all time, Will Ferrel is utterly hysterical. This movie is perfect for when you need a good laugh yet still want to be put in the Christmas spirit as well. Plus, what's funnier than a grown man in tights and an elf costume?
3. A Christmas Story
While it is a little older than us millennials, this holiday classic is a must-see for the season. With so many great one liners it isn't a typical Santa movie, rather it focuses on the realistic side of the crazy holiday season.
4. How The Grinch Stole Christmas
Whether it's the animated version or Jim Carrey's, either one is a classic take bringing back memories of when it was Christmas time and our families would read us the classic Dr. Seuss story. The mesmerizing Who's from Whoville and the Grinch turned good tells an important lesson about being in the holiday spirit.
5. The Santa Clause
This is perhaps one of the most memorable Christmas movies from my childhood. Who wouldn't want their dad to be Santa Claus? The North Pole scenes and little Charlie hits you hard with nostalgia for a time when you were young and waiting for Santa Claus to come down your chimney. The best part is that there are two other movies (Santa Clause 2 and 3) so if you're in the mood to binge watch Christmas movies, this is definitely the one for you.
6. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Everyone can agree that the National Lampoon vacation movies were all hysterical, and they only made the series better by adding a Christmas themed one. Although this movie has little to do with Santa or elves, it has something everyone else can relate to: a crazy family coming together during the holiday season and creating chaos.
7. Home Alone
This movie addresses every kid's worst nightmare: being forgotten for the holidays. This Christmas comedy touches upon the importance of family during the holiday season while giving an epic tale of how one little boy was able to take down the "Wet Bandits."
8. Four Christmases
Every couple knows that picking a side to visit for the holidays can be a battle, but Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn show what happens when you have not two but four families to see in one night. A non-traditional Christmas movie, the star studded cast is guaranteed to make you laugh at the comical family situations.
9. The Year Without A Santa Claus
This lively stop motion classic makes every little kid picture the impossible, which is Santa taking a vacation from his job. The animations take you back to your childhood with characters like the Heat Miser and Snow Miser who made you think they were the real reason for weather changes.
10. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
The final movie to lift up your holiday spirit is based on the most famous holiday figure, besides Santa himself. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, another stop motion animation film, from the 1960's is perhaps one of the most well known Christmas movies around. Following the story of Rudolph and his elf friend Hermy who feel like misfits, it tells an important holiday lesson about the special talents we all have, while distracting us with jolly Christmas music and holiday animations.
