Christmas Movies and Chill
Who doesn’t love a good Christmas movie? Silly plot lines, cheesy lines, impossible love stories- they’re the best! In honor of spending today lounging around in pjs watching holiday classics, I put together my Top 10 Christmas Movies. (Note: Netflix, Hallmark, and Lifetime movies were not included)
2018 Rockefeller Center tree
Home Alone
Christmas = Home Alone. In fact, I’m watching it right now :)
The family running through the airport, “Merry Christmas ya filthy animal,” “The Wet Bandits,” all synonymous with Christmas. I think it’s safe to say every 90s kid fantasized about the freedom of being left to his or her own devices and creating the most elaborate real-life game of Mouse Trap. Not to mention having all the pizza!
The Santa Clause
I’ll be honest, I almost put this as number one. I’m still waiting for a car that comes with a cookie dispenser like Scott’s/Santa’s sled. Frankly, I have always found the idea of turning into Santa terrifying, nevertheless I watch this movie every holiday season (and during the other seasons too).
Love Actually
Love Actually is more than a good Christmas movie, it’s a good movie. Not to mention Hugh Grant dancing to “Jump (For My Love)” is one of the best scenes of all time. Period.
Home Alone 2
Home Alone 2 might be better than the original, NYC is the ultimate setting for a holiday movie, but this time around we have a sense of what’s going to happen. Living it up in the Plaza, Duncan’s Toy Chest, the turtle doves and the woman in the park- This movie is pure fantasy and heart-wrenching in a way that few, if any, children’s Christmas movies are.
Frosty the Snowman
A childhood favorite which, if memory serves, I watched all year long. It’s so whimsical and makes you want to go out and build a snowman (and hope he comes to life). Plus who doesn’t love singing “Frosty the Snowman?”
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
I’m talking about the original, 1966 classic, no Jim Carey or 2018 iteration for me. What exactly is the grinch, or is his name Grinch? Where did he come from? Why is he so mean? None of it matters. Even from a young age you feel the dramatic irony and also feel sorry for the Grinch. The ultimate story of good conquering evil, the Grinch is a lesson in forgiveness and love.
The Polar Express
A big fan of the book, I couldn’t wait to see this play out on the big screen, and it did not disappoint. (Let’s be honest, anything Tom Hanks touches is pretty much gold.) Like many of the other movies on this list, the fantasy of a magical train that takes you to the North Pole is every child’s (and adult’s) dream. The live action motion capture animation is incredible and at times you almost forget you aren’t watching actual actors. May none of us ever be too old to hear the bells.
A Charlie Brown Christmas
My mom loves all things Peanuts so Charlie Brown specials were always revered as classics but even if that weren’t the case, who could resist Charlie Brown’s desire to understand Christmas. His questioning and desire to go beyond the materialism of the holiday makes me love this movie more and more each year. “What a tree!”
Elf
Truth be told, I like the quotes from this movie more than the actual movie. It’s so absurd and yet, you have to love Buddy’s naivete, joy, and love of all things candy. If anyone can make pasta with maple syrup sound delicious, it’s Buddy.
A Christmas Carol
I find some versions of A Christmas Carol too scary but Disney’s 2009 version is perfect. It uses the same live action motion capture animation as A Polar Express, which again leads to moments of, “Those must be people.” Jim Carey’s Scrooge is miserable yet lovable and in this telling (at least to the extent I remember), we learn much more about Scrooge than we have in any other version. Like The Grinch, A Christmas Carol reminds us to take a hard look at ourselves, and in doing so, I think we end up remembering the best gifts of all, each other.
What are your top holiday movies?