Seasons Greetings! This holiday season, I set out to compile a list of wholesome Christmas movies to watch while wrapping presents, writing love letters to friends and addressing envelopes. Essentially, movies that don’t require your full attention but are still enjoyable and comforting. But after watching many a Netflix Christmas movie, I realized this was a pipe dream. Why are Christmas movies so bad? And why does Netflix think we need three Princess Switch movies with three different versions of Vanessa Hudgens?
Still, I’ve compiled a list of movies that I feel engage with the Holiday spirit. Some of them are Christmas classics, some are Christmas adjacent, and some are so awful that I included anyway. All of them, I argue – you could probably still craft to. And some of them, you probably will cry to.
Love Actually (2003)
Yes of course this is included. You’ll craft, you’ll cry, it will be great. One time I told a man that my favourite movie was Love Actually and before I could feel embarrassed he said his favourite movie was Top Gun. This is one of those movies that achieved such enormous popularity that it was eventually maligned as obvious or actually not that good. Those people are wrong. It’s Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Keira Knightley, Colin Firth and like ten other people dealing with love, relationships and Christmas-ing it up all over the place.
The Holiday (2006)
Another classic, The Holiday is the ultimate cozy Christmas flick and what I had hoped to base this list on. Alas, nothing could compare. Unhappy with their lives, an uptight LA corporate type and a wholesome/kind of sad English writer, decide to switch homes – and countries – for Christmas. Kate Winslet, Jack Black, Cameron Diaz and Jude Law pair off for the Holidays in the best executed ‘switching lives’ trope to date. You asked for imagery? Kate Winslet’s London cottage is covered in snow.
Serendipity (2001)
While Christmas is not essential to the plot, it is in fact Christmas time when John Cusack meets his dream girl (Kate Beckinsale) in a crowded Bloomingdale. The two bond over a pair of gloves, and dessert at cafe Serendipity 3, leading John to believe its love at first sight. Kate, however, is enamoured with destiny and lets him go with the belief that if it’s meant to be it will be, que será, será. Ten years later, with 3000 miles between them, it’s still Christmas in New York City and John is preparing to marry someone else. Will fate let him?
The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina: A Midwinter’s Tale (2018)
Technically not a movie, but Chapter 11 of Sabrina is around an hour long and background knowledge is not required. In this campy winter episode our resident coven, the Church of Night, prepares to celebrate the winter solstice. Families gather ’round the burning Yule Log while Sabrina orchestrates an emotional seance with eerie consequences. In the quaint town of Greendale, Ghost stories turn to reality and the Santa in the mall is actually a Yule demon. “Satan bless us, every one.”
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)
Robert Downey Jr. is a New York thief turned L.A. actor in this comedic murder mystery. A murder mystery that occurs during what season you ask? Yes, it’s Christmas time. Downey Jr. is paired with a private eye to train for an upcoming movie role but when the two stumble across an actual murder plot, things get messy. Add in a love interest, a high school crush turned struggling L.A. actress, and join the trio as they spend the holidays unearthing Hollywood conspiracies to the tune of Christmas songs.
The Family Stone (2005)
You’ll craft because you’ll want to be looking away at the train-wreck that is this plot, and you’ll cry because it’s so bad. Given the cast lineup – Sarah Jessica Parker, Diane Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Claire Danes etc., this movie should have been amazing. But in this classic Christmas plot – son brings uptight girlfriend (SJP) to meet his eccentric family – there is simply not a single likeable character. SJP’s character in particular will leave you cringing and thankful for your brother’s kind of okay girlfriend Megan.
Moonstruck (1987)
It’s Cher and Nic Cage in a chilly Winter love story that will warm your cold soul. In stark contrast to the Family Stone, every character in this movie is interesting and extremely well cast. Also, Cher. It’s Christmas in Brooklyn, when an Italian widow (Cher) agrees to remarry a man that she is not in love with, but is …you know, there. Of course, she then falls in love with her fiancé’s estranged, moody, and melodramatic brother (Nic Cage). Cher’s winter looks, the family drama, and the severe sense of emotional abandonment – yeah it’s a Christmas movie.
A Letterkenny Christmas: The Three Wise Men (2018)
To be upfront, I suggest this only for those who are already familiarized with the Letterkenny Universe. The Hicks throw a Christmas party …perhaps …uh, the best Christmas party ever? It’s Christmas Eve and Daryl’s round of beers is nixed for Christmas drinks only since it’s tradition and you don’t f–k with tradition. The options are butter ripple schnapps, blue curaçao, and crème de menthe, yum. But pace yourselves – we keep it classy until midnight. Everyone gets a present and Katy tries to decide what Christmas movie to watch, the end.
Carol (2015)
Cate Blanchett plays Carol, a beautiful and elegant mother, who while perusing doll displays in a 1950s department store meets the lovely Rooney Mara (Therese). The two women are instantly drawn to each other and develop a friendship that soon grows romantic. But it’s the 1950s, people aren’t allowed to be gay, Carol’s husband sucks, Therese is a 20 something with no idea what she’s doing, and everything quickly becomes emotionally and legally complicated. Truly intense, truly romantic, and truly an ode to Christmas in snowy Manhattan.
how the Grinch stole christmas! (1966)
A grumpy hermit is determined to steal Christmas from the Whos of Whoville, and that’s all the synopsis you get because you should know the story. It’s snarky, it’s cynical, and there’s plenty of sing-a-longs for you. If you’re watching with a former theatre kid, I’m sorry. I stick to the original 1966 version because I’m a loyalist, but really any remake will work as this has made the list as a crafting viewing. The vibrant colours and characters of Whoville are fun to look at, and inspiring for your craft.
GoodFellas (1990)
Ray Liotta grows up in the mob, makes his way through the ranks, and enjoys the perks of power, money, and luxury until a lifetime of cold-blooded murder and illegal schemes catches up to him. Some of Martin Scorsese’s best and funniest work. And it’s Christmas time at some point. Enter the bar scene post-Lufthansa heist when everyone is in the holiday spirit after having stolen several million dollars. Robert Di Nero (Jimmy) however, gets nervous when the guys show off their newfound wealth and he goes on a Yuletide rampage. Murder ensues. Merry Christmas.
May your holidays be full of movie nights, sparkly tinsel, and at least one Cusack xxx