It’s finally here. The season we’ve waited all year for is finally coming to fruition. The eggnog, the mistletoes, the smell of Christmas in the air. It’s, as the saying goes, “the most wonderful time of the year.” Finals are finally over and the Christmas movies have been aired. That being said, here’s a list of all of the must-see Holiday movies that are bound to get you in the Holiday Spirit.
1. Polar Express
No Christmas list is complete without this amazing movie that’s bound to fill your heart with that warm, fuzzy feeling. The movie tells the tale of young boy who doesn’t believe in Santa Claus but is whisked away to the North Pole on Christmas Eve where he encounters magic, fun, and of course, the wondrous Santa Claus.
2. Elf
"Elf" is another favorite during the holiday season. Will Ferrell stars as a peculiar, adopted Elf, named Buddy, who goes to New York to find his real father. Chock full of humor and adorable romance, "Elf" is a movie you have to watch very year to get into the Christmas Spirit.
3. Tim Burton’s A Nightmare Before Christmas
Is it a Halloween movie? Is it a Christmas movie? Who knows. All I know is that Tim Burton’s odd take on the holiday has fused into a Christmas classic with this detailed stop-motion film. While a little dark much like all Tim Burton films, it is a movie that must be seen.
4. A Diva’s Christmas Carol
This movie is certainly an underrated gem. Vanessa Williams stars as the narcissistic superstar, Ebony Scrooge. Ebony is visited by the ghost of her old singing partner who died from a drug addiction—Ebony even went as far as to use her to advance her solo career. She’s then visited by three ghosts: the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future, respectively. This creative spin on Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is filled with soul and drama, a guaranteed favorite once you watch it.
5. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
"National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation" is a 1989 comedy about the Griswold family, the third installation in the series. It tells the story of the more than comedic Griswold family as they encounter all of their eccentric mishaps
6. Home Alone
This is, quite honestly, one of the best Christmas movies ever! We’ve all seen it and we all love it. Macaulay Culkin stars as the ingenious Kevin McCallister, a young boy accidentally left home when his family goes to Paris for Christmas. The movie details how Kevin manages to survive amidst burglars trying to break into his home (and subsequently harm him for being there).
7. Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Another Christmas favorite! Jim Carrey plays the world’s greatest Grinch in this childhood classic. We all know the story of the grumpy Grinch who hates all of Whoville because of his childhood bullying, amongst other things. It’s a movie filled with laughter, nostalgia, and that warm feeling that reminds you of childhood Christmases.
8. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
I’ve watched this movie every year since I was a child and every year it brings me the same feelings of happiness and childhood joy every time. We know the song, we know the story, but nothing compares to seeing it in motion.
9. Jack Frost
Talk about a heart-wrenching film! Jack Frost is the very emotional cinematic piece about a man named Jack Frost, lead singer of “The Jack Frost Band.” Frost misses out on key family moments because of his musical career, but, realizing the error of his ways, he hastily returns to his family in the middle of a snowstorm where he crashes fatally. A year later, Jack is reincarnated into a snowman who successfully communicates and reunites with his son where the real events of the movie unfold.
10. The Santa Clause
I remember this movie (and all of its sequels) constantly being played on Disney Channel during the holiday season. Tim Allen stars as a father spending Christmas with his son who accidentally kills Santa. The antics that ensue are comedic, entertaining, and heartfelt. To be quite honest, is there really a Christmas without seeing this film?
11. Holiday in Handcuffs
This is a romantic comedy gone awry. Melissa Joan Hart stars as the always single sister who finally brings home a man for the holidays. Plot twist! The man she brings is one she kidnapped from her job. The man is also already engaged. In some weird turn of events, they end up falling in love during the trip.
