Anissia White

Anissia eating ice cream and watching holiday movies

Christmas movies are as much a part of the holiday as the trees, the lights, and the food. After all, what else would you do while staying up to see Santa at midnight? Every year, people revisit their favorite holiday movies when December comes around to get into the Christmas spirit. There’s a lot of debate about what the best Christmas movie is, but regardless of your preference, the films discussed in this article are some of the best Christmas classics.

First, and quite possibly the most popular, is Dr. Suess’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000). Jim Carrey’s performance in full costume along with the oddness of Whoville makes for a hilarious and memorable movie. The film did a great job at bringing Dr. Suess to life and acted as a modern adaptation of the original animation. Although it had some innuendo, it’s a great family Christmas movie: 9/10. (Honorable Mention: Dr. Suess’ The Grinch (2018), 9/10)

Another great holiday film is the Polar Express. Notorious for elementary school Christmas parties, this is the one film I’ve watched multiple times without ever actually putting it on myself. Nonetheless, it’s an enjoyable and nostalgic movie and good for younger ages. I personally do find it a little boring, but it has a nice message about keeping the Christmas excitement even as you grow older: 7/10.

Arguably one of the best Christmas movies is Home Alone. Everyone can relate to the excitement of being home alone as a kid and it’s entertaining to see it represented in the movie. Not just that but noticing the creativity of Kevin in setting up his traps and keeping himself safe. His name alone has become an instant reminder of the film. The sequel is also a great movie, which is a rare occurrence. It’s a fun movie for all ages that captures the Christmas feeling and has a great message about the importance of family: 10/10.

One of the longest standing and most remade Christmas stories is A Christmas Carol. I remember watching the 2009 animation quite a few times as a kid and while I enjoyed it, it was also scary. Younger audiences might not understand the message behind it and just be terrified by the ghosts that visit Scrooge and the grim reaper chasing him to his grave. Despite not being much of a cheerful movie, I appreciate its more realistic viewpoint on life and what holidays mean: 8/10. (Honorable Mention: The Muppet Christmas Carol, 7/10)

Another fan favorite during the holiday season is Elf (2003). The ridiculousness of the idea of a human being raised by Santa’s elves and then returning to the real world is exactly what makes it so amusing. Buddy’s innocence makes it easy for viewers to empathize with his Yuletide cheer and reminds us that, despite our age, we should always try to be joyful and friendly: 9/10.

Regardless of what your holiday season looks like, it’s always a great time to cozy up with blankets and hot cocoa and watch your favorite Christmas movies. Movie marathons serve as a great reminder to slow life down and appreciate those around you, especially at this time of year. These are some of the best films to do that to, but what is your favorite Christmas movie?