It’s the Christmas season yet again. Time to put up the tree, bake cookies, and sing Mariah Carey and Michael Bublé Christmas songs all day long. Because this season only comes once a year, we can’t wait to celebrate all-things Christmas—including the movies. Whether old or new, Christmas movies have a way of getting everyone into the holiday spirit. Here is a list (in no particular order) of some of the best Christmas movies—in my opinion. So whether you give yourself a break from studying for finals or wait to reward yourself for making it to break, check out the list, grab some hot chocolate, and enjoy some of these Christmas favorites.
Elf
Who doesn’t love the story of a man who has always thought he was an elf and then goes on a trip to New York City to find his real father? Exactly. This movie is perfect for all ages and is one of the funnier Christmas movies. Buddy the Elf is an innocent character who believes in the magic of Christmas and knows how to make all of us smile (He loves to smile—it’s his favorite). The film is also educational. We learned the best way to spread Christmas cheer, the elves’ four main food groups, and the best way to answer the phone. “Buddy the Elf, what’s your favorite color?”
White Christmas
Yes, this is an older movie, but don’t let that stop you from watching it! It tells the story of Bob Wallace and Phil Davis—who fought in WWII together and then team up and eventually become top Broadway producers. They meet the Haynes sisters—Betty and Judy—who sing in one of the shows, and eventually the four of them head to a small inn in Vermont to perform for Christmas. They find out that their old commander owns the inn and is also on the verge of bankruptcy. Wallace and Davis come up with a special show in order to help their old friend. This musical is a classic that can’t help but put you in the Christmas spirit. You’ll be hooked after just the first scene, when Bing Crosby sings “White Christmas.”
Home Alone
A movie about a family that forgets one of their kids at home before Christmas–Home Alone is a holiday classic. Kevin McAllister lives every kid’s dream when he has the house to himself, but he has to deal with more than he expected when two burglars—Harry and Marv—come to town. The movie tells the story of how Kevin defends his house and of how his mother tries to get back to Chicago to be with her son. It is a feel-good movie for the season.
Love Actually
This film tells the story of several people who are somehow connected during the final five weeks before Christmas in London. The British movie is similar to Valentine’s Day, but Love Actually came out first and is definitely better. While some people fall in love, some lose love. There are affairs, and there are deaths. One story follows a character that has just become Prime Minister and is trying to figure out the job, while another follows a young boy who has fallen in love and wants to find a way to prove his love. The stories range from sad to funny, but the point of the film is to show that love is everywhere. Yes, it sounds cheesy, but this is a great movie. There are many stars in the film you will probably recognize, including Keira Knightley, Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, and more.
It’s a Wonderful Life
This movie tells the story of George Bailey, a man who has spent his entire life in Bedford Falls, helping the people around him. The film begins on Christmas Eve, and the guardian angel, Clarence, learns that George Bailey is thinking about taking his own life. We then follow George from when he was a child to the present, learning about how he has helped everyone in the town—so that Clarence can learn more about the man he has to save. Clarence tries to help George but realizes that George isn’t changing his mind. Clarence comes up with the idea of showing George what life would be like if he was never born. Although the film has sad moments, it focuses on the value of life and how one person can change so many lives. After watching the movie, you cannot help but feel happy, and anytime you hear a bell ring, you will have to smile. This is a classic movie everyone should see.
A Christmas Story
One of the funniest Christmas movies, it tells the story of Ralphie—a young boy growing up in the 1940s. All he wants for Christmas is an official Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot range model BB rifle. That shouldn’t be too much to ask for, but every adult tells him he’ll shoot his eye out. We follow Ralphie through the weeks leading up to Christmas. We see his friend get his tongue stuck to the flagpole. We see his little brother wear so many clothes that he can’t put his arms down. We see Santa push Ralphie down the slide. We even see the most unusual lamp ever. It is a movie you could watch over and over again, which is a good thing, because on Christmas Eve, TBS plays A Christmas Story for 24 hours straight.