Something about the holiday season seems to prompt an urge to snuggle up on the couch under a warm blanket with a cup of hot cocoa in hand while being bathed in the soft glow of Christmas lights. What adds to this cosiest of experiences, however, is the lineup of movies that one would love to watch during the Christmas season. Things2Dolists top 5 movies to watch during Christmas this year!
From classics to modern comic flicks, Christmas movies turn these winter nights into irretrievable moments of pure joy and nostalgia. Be it an endearing love story, out-and-out comedies, or touching tales of family and togetherness, there’s a Christmas movie just waiting to whisk you into its wonderland.
1It’s a Wonderful Life
Among the classic movies to watch during Christmas, one can never go without listing the 1946 film directed by Frank Capra and starring James Stewart, It’s a Wonderful Life. Since then, it has been a time-honoured beacon of hope, embracing the true spirit of Christmas. It is the story of George Bailey, who is so taken up by events that he ends up bitter about life and the season.
“It’s a Wonderful Life” takes the intervention of an angel named Clarence to show him how his existence has positively touched people around him. The film is poignant, elaborating on sacrifice, community, and the beauty of life in a manner threaded by subtle evocations of the differences an individual can make in the world.
It is a classic, not because of nostalgia, but because this general belief in self and kindness transcends generation to generation, decade after decade since the release. As the snow falls gently outside the window, It’s a Wonderful Life reaches out with that simple yet profound feeling of the vital things in life.
2Home Alone
Home Alone is among the top-tier films one would wish to watch during the Christmas season. Since its release in 1990, it has swept the eyes of viewers of different age brackets with its charmingly mischievous antics and adventures. This film shows Kevin McCallister, an eight-year-old boy who was left behind when his family flew to Paris for a holiday during Christmas.
Besides being a comic sequence, Home Alone strikes a note as it unravels the ties of family bonding and independence, adding to the holiday message by appreciating those you love.
3Elf
Among those endearing movies to watch during Christmas, Elf is, in fact, a modern classic because it always manages to amuse. Made in 2003 with Will Ferrell as the lead, this film looks at the refreshing, laugh-out-loud holiday cheer through the eyes of Buddy the Elf, an individual brought up at the North Pole who goes to New York City looking for his biological dad.
What appeals to the audience with Elf is the unapologetic celebration of holiday joy. Buddy’s childlike enthusiasm and endless optimism serve as both comedic relief and a heart-warming reminder of the pure excitement that Christmas can bring.
The film focuses on the importance of family, belonging, and finding your place within. This charming comedy couples its humour with appeal, making Elf an enjoyable holiday custom for many. It’s a guaranteed mood booster, perfect for anyone seeking light-hearted mirth during the colder months.
4The Polar Express
The Polar Express is a visually stunning addition to any list of movies to watch during Christmas, a beautiful children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg. Voiced and motion-captured by Tom Hanks in different roles, this 2004 film whisks viewers into a world of enchantment and dreams.
The storyline is based on a young boy who takes a fantastic voyage by train to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. As the boy meets fellow travellers, he begins an adventure that speaks to the power of believing and the invigorating magic of the holidays.
5Love Actually
For any audience that loves romance or an ensemble, Love Actually is a perfect movie to watch during Christmas. This 2003 British film, with Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, and Liam Neeson leading the all-star cast, intertwines multiple love stories within a few weeks of Christmas in London.
The various storylines of interconnected characters explore love in its abundant forms: romantic, familial, and platonic, often balancing moments of raw emotion with heavy doses of humour. From unrequited love, newly found romance, or established relationships being put through their paces, Love Actually has tales that audiences will be familiar with. It also perfectly captures the turmoil of emotions occurring during the holiday season.
The reason this film is so charming is because it is highly relatable and shows the real complications of love, making it both heart-warming and realistic at the same time. It is an unabashed celebration of love in all its imperfections and glories, and that rings particularly true during the Christmas season.
For every home that has welcomed the festive warmth of the holiday season, the Christmas movie selection is a crucial addition to the festive lists as is decorating the tree or baking cookies.
These films, be they heart-warming classics or side-splitting comedies, offer more than just entertainment but a way to enrich the season with nostalgia, much laughter, and oftentimes a few tears of joy.
From It’s a Wonderful Life to Elf, each movie carries something different that is universal and wraps the viewers in the cosy embrace of storytelling at its best.
This year, prepare your holiday watchlist with these beloved tales that have ignited holiday joy across generations. Through their timeless messages of love, hope, and family, they remind us what it truly means to cherish and celebrate the magic of Christmas.
Light the fire, round up the family, and dig in for a magical dose of cinematic holiday cheer. These aren’t mere movies to watch during Christmas; they are dear traditions that live and breathe to animate yearly rituals of holiday-making. Discover more exciting experiences with Things2Do. Follow our insta handle @things2doexperiences.