Every year when the holiday season comes around I have my go to movies that I like to watch. I’ll admit, I even watch some of them other times of the year. I love the winter holiday season and everything it brings. I was curious as to what others favorite holiday movies were and what it is about them they enjoy. I posted on my Facebook “Favorite holiday movie and why? Go!” and I got a nice variety, some I’ve heard of or seen, and a few new ones I’m definitely going to check out before the break is over. Here is my complete list of holiday movies you should watch before the break is over at the end of the week.
1. "The Family Stone"
Reason: “Family can be complicated and love is most important.”
2. "Love Actually"
Reason: “I like sappy movies.”
3. "The Mistle-Tones"
Reasons: “It’s a cute ABC Family musical with sass and ridiculousness.”
“I love singing movies.”
4. "Scrooged"
Reasons: “It’s an old favorite with Christmas nostalgia.”
“The scene where the ghost of Christmas present threatens to fix his mouth so it won’t hold soup and when she clocks him with the toaster are my favorites.”
5. "The Santa Clause"
Reasons: “I have fond memories of watching it as a kid. I can still remember [just about] every word.”
“It’s an old favorite with Christmas nostalgia."
6. "Holiday in Handcuffs"
Reason: “It has Melissa Joan Hart and Mario Lopez.”
7. "White Christmas"
Reasons: “The best things happen while you’re dancing.”
“I love the story and the musical dance numbers.”
“It’s a childhood movie and musical.”
8. "Polar Express"
Reason: “We believe!”
9. "Elf"
Reasons: “It has enough silliness to last for the new year. Also, how can you not love a biologically confused elf in New York City?”
“It’s hilarious and sweet.”
“Smiling is my favorite.”
10. and 11. "Terminator 2" and "Aliens"
Reasons: “I appreciate seeing strong women overcoming monstrous circumstances to prevail. This is how I felt as a single mom of two at Christmas for years.”
12. and 13. "Shop Around the Corner" and "Christmas in Connecticut"
Reason: “I like these old ones and they’re underappreciated.”
14. "Home Alone"
Reason: “I have fond memories of watching it as a kid. I can still remember where the commercial breaks were on our VHS tape.
15. "Die Hard"
Reason: “It’s about redemption and friendship.”
“It has a couple of my favorite lines but I try not to curse on Facebook.”
16. "Holiday Inn"
Reason: “It has awesome dancing, and Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire.”
17. "Meet Me in St. Louis"
Reason: “It’s a childhood movie and musical.”
18. "Joyeaux Noel"
Reason: “It is in French and I am pretentious like that.”
“It is bittersweet.”
19. "It’s a Wonderful Life"
Reason: “Jimmy Stuart is one of my favorites.”
“If you study the movie there are little gems that reveal themselves like the final bridge scene where George prays for another chance. As soon as he says 'please God' the snow starts to fall representing present time. Nice touch.”
20. "A Christmas Carol"
Reason: “The animated 2009 one is the best, it truly captures the magic the Dickens intended. Both the old school versions, 1938 and 1951, are pretty good for their time though. That story best represents what Christmas is: redemption, hope, and forgiveness. The character of Scrooge is in all of us at certain times in our life. Dickens nailed the human condition when he created him.”
21. "A Miser’s Brothers’ Christmas"
Reason: “It has great songs and two brothers fighting over Christmas and then bonding over it. “
22. "The Year Without a Santa Claus"
Reason: “Childhood memories.”
“I love the Miser brothers and the ‘I believe in Santa Claus’ song.”
23. "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn"
Reason: “Even though there are only a few scenes during Christmas the joy the children get just from a simple candy cane and watching the snow from their tenement flat kills me.”
Last I wanted to share my all-time favorite holiday movie.
24. "Annabelle’s Wish"
Reason: “When Billy speaks for the first time I always cry and I love it. I’m a sucker for movies that move me to tears. It’s also one of the first holiday movies I can remember watching so that makes it special, too.
