The holiday season is finally upon us, and whether you’re with your loved ones in person or over zoom this year, binge-watching some cheesy happy holiday flicks is sure to brighten your day. While Prime Video by no means has the array of holiday options that Netflix has churned out in recent years, if this is the streaming service you subscribe to, Amazon does still boast some classic Christmas flicks. Here’s a handpicked list of the best (and worst) of Prime Video’s smaller selection to make sure you don’t miss out.
- Hit: Home Alone (1990)
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To kick off this list is the classic Christmas action-comedy about Kevin McCallister, a young boy who discovers his family left him behind from their Christmas vacation. This movie is goofy and even heart-warming, and makes for a perfect family Zoom movie night.
- Skip: Die Hard 2 (1990)
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Bear with me here: I think we can all agree that Die Hard is well-regarded as one of the best Christmas movies (possibly of all time). If Prime Video had all of the Die Hard franchise I’d reccomend a marathon, however, it only has the initial sequel. I feel like Die Hard 2 on it’s own is just not as good as the original. This doesn’t mean I don’t still enjoy the film, and if you’re looking for more of an action flick then you really can’t go wrong here, but I would call this the place to start.
- Hit: Christmas with the Kranks (2004)
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This is exactly the kind of mindless nonsense I need to end my 2020 with. A couple causes an absolute neighborhood scandal when they decide to skip Christmas one year, only to change their minds at the last minute and try to somehow pull together a Christmas miracle. It’s over-the-top, it’s ridiculous, it’s got a killer cast – what more could you ask for?
- Skip: The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018)
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While this film does boast some impressive visuals and could make for a good family-friendly viewing option, ultimately I think it’s a miss. It relied on its big-budget CGI and famous cast (a little Morgan Freeman never hurt any movie) but it’s ultimately not that impressive.
- Hit: The Holiday (2006)
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In comparison to Netflix, there’s a distinct lack of the cheesy Christmas romcoms I feel we all deserve on Prime Video. The Holiday serves to at least partially fill this void as Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz decide to switch lives for the holidays to get away from their problems.
- Skip: Scrooged (1988)
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This is actually a pretty funny movie – and I love Bill Murray – but I just don’t need another adaption of A Christmas Carol in my life.
Prime Video should probably step up their holiday movie game next year, but there are a few gems on the platform. Grab you favourite snacks, your favourite blanket, and your favourite movie buddies and enjoy!