Whether you are ready to start celebrating the holidays starting November 1, or firmly believe that the decorations should remain hidden away until December, there’s no denying that the holiday season is fast approaching. With the upcoming holidays also comes the fan favorite tradition of watching Christmas movies.
But, what makes a good Christmas movie? With channels like Hallmark releasing 40 new holiday films each year, and streaming services each having their own line-up of festive movies and TV shows, it can be difficult to narrow down which movies to watch.
We took it upon ourselves to determine the qualities of Christmas movies that make them permanent favorites in the yearly holiday rotation. It was concluded that movies featuring either one or multiple of the following qualities make for a beloved film: family, romance, humor, and Christmas traditions.
Family: There’s no argument that the holiday season prioritizes spending time with family, friends, and other loved ones. Holiday films that feature families gathering together to celebrate often bring feelings of nostalgia, comfort, life lessons, and relatable hilarity. After all, what’s Christmas without a little chaos? Some suggestions for holiday movies centered around family include: Love the Coopers, Arthur Christmas, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, and Four Christmases.
Romance: There’s something extra magical about Christmas romance. Maybe it’s the mistletoe, or the horse-drawn carriage rides through newly fallen snow, or the ice skating and hot cocoa dates. Regardless of what makes holiday movies with romance so special, it’s easy to see that they are loved by most. Whether you lean towards the cheesy Hallmark love stories or more of a classic rom-com, you won’t be disappointed. Some good holiday romance movies include: A Castle for Christmas, The Holiday, Happiest Season, Love Hard, and Let it Snow.
Humor: Try as we might to make it perfect, there are always some mishaps that happen throughout the holiday season. Whether it be a squirrel in the Christmas tree or a pink bunny suit from your aunt, there will always be memories where we look back and laugh. Though it may seem like a disaster in the moment, being able to laugh at ourselves makes it easier. Though a funny Christmas film may not have the same coziness as a romantic one, it surely give us the opportunity to reflect on some of our more memorable holiday moments. If you’re looking for a laugh, check out A Christmas Story (and its recent sequel), Deck the Halls, Jingle All the Way, Christmas with the Kranks, Home Alone or 8-Bit Christmas.
Christmas Traditions: While all the movies mentioned above are full of Christmas Spirit, there’s no denying that the ones that feature fan-favorite characters, holiday activities, and a Christmas playlist have an extra layer of festivity. If you’re looking for a film that’s sure to get you in the holiday spirit and features all of your favorite parts of Christmas, cozy up by the fire with one of these films: The Santa Clause, The Polar Express, Spirited, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Fred Claus, Klaus, Miracle on 34th Street, or How the Grinch Stole Christmas (or its animated version, The Grinch).
While all of these films are the ultimate additions to your holiday watchlist, it can be overwhelming to decide which one to choose. What happens if you want a holiday rom-com, a film with a central focus on both family and Christmas traditions, or a film featuring all four aspects of the perfect holiday film? Well, we have the solution for you. While a majority of these films could fit into more than one category, the best holiday movie overall would have to be Elf. The movie touches on family as Buddy reunites with his birth family, romance as Buddy falls in love with Jovie, humor as he attempts to integrate into the real world, and Christmas tradition with characters such as Santa Claus, elves, and a home base in the North Pole.
It’s difficult to go wrong with a Christmas film, but you are sure to be put in a festive mood if the film has one or more of these featured characteristics. So, what are you waiting for? Grab a cup of hot cocoa and get to watching.
