Classics
1. Elf
Buddy the human baby, who was accidentally picked up by Santa from an orphanage one Christmas night, is adopted by a childless elf. He grows up to learn the ways of the elves and tries his best to fit in. When he learns the story of his origin, Buddy decides to venture out into the human world and find his birth father.
2. A Christmas Story
This Christmas movie follows the story of Ralphie Parker and his quest to get a Red Ryder Air Rifle. Ralphie’s parents aren’t keen on the idea, but he tries his best to convince them – even talking to the big man himself. At every corner, all the adults are telling Ralphie that he’s ‘going to shoot his eye out’. Raphie doesn’t believe this nonsense because he thinks will be his family’s protector and stop all the bullies and robbers with his brand new rifle. (*Spoiler alert: Ralphie’s totally going to shoot his eye out. )
3. The Santa Clause (series)
This series follows the transition of Scott Calvin into Santa Clause. On Christmas Eve, Scott and his son Charlie accidentally kill Santa (oops) and when Scott puts on the santa suit, he assumes the role. Over the next year, he gains weight and grows a white beard that cannot be shaved off. After accepting his fate, he moves to the North Pole and takes on his new position.
4. Home Alone (1 & 2)
Kevin McCallister has terrible parents. Not really, but honestly who forgets their kid when going on vacation? Kevin is accidentally left behind when his family goes out of town, forcing him to fend for himself as far as food and shelter goes. Then, some robbers try to break into the family home so Kevin gets creative with his defense techniques. After all of that, the same thing happens the next year except he gets left in New York and talks to Donald Trump, who is of little help when directing him to the lobby.
5. The Grinch
For those of you who aren’t particularly Christmas-oriented, you might prefer the story of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The Grinch is an outsider who ran away from his town as a child because he was bullied about his looks. Every year he hates Christmas because the happiness of others sickens him. One year, The Grinch devises a plan to ‘steal Christmas’ by removing all presents and decorations on the night of Christmas Eve. During the process of decoration removal, he meets a girl named Cindy Lou Who, who changes his mind about the holiday and causes his heart to grow three sizes.
Romantic
6. Love Actually
This film follows nine intertwined stories of love in the spirit of Christmas.
Animated Films
7. Frosty the Snowman
A classic cartoon that you surely watched as a kid and possibly your parents when they were children too. Some school kids find a discarded magician’s hat that brings their beloved snowman to life for the day. It’s all fun and games until the temperature starts to rise and Frosty beings to melt.
8. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
This is another classic that your parents likely watched growing up. This is a stop motion special that originally aired in 1964, telling the story of Rudolph and how he became Santa’s number one reindeer.
9. A Charlie Brown Christmas
A Charlie Brown Christmas is an animated special following the Peanuts gang and their Christmas celebrations. Charlie Brown discusses the over-commercialization of Christmas and the kids decide to put on a Christmas play and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.
10. The Polar Express
On Christmas Eve, a magical train picks up all the good boys and girls and takes them to the North Pole where they get to meet Santa in person! Each year one lucky child gets to ask Santa for the ultimate gift. This year a doubting little boy gets picked up by the train and learns the true meaning of Christmas.