Black Friday is over which means the holidays are finally here! What better way to be festive than by watching some of your favorite Christmas movies. Regardless of whether you’re enjoying it alone, with family, friends, acquaintances or crushes, here are six Christmas mood movies to make you feel your most festive holiday mood.
Home Alone
Starting this list with a classic, “Home Alone” is the perfect holiday movie for families to enjoy together. Starring Macaulay Culkin, “Home Alone” portrays a young boy named Kevin who gets left home alone in Chicago by his family, the McCallisters, as they leave to spend Christmas in Paris. Since flights are booked for the next two days, Kevin is left home alone until his family can return. Stuck on opposite sides of the world, Kevin is excited to have the house to himself but he ends up running into a problem: burglars! Kevin now has one objective—he must prevent them from breaking in. “Home Alone” has many significant elements in its story that make it greatly appreciated for its comedic and heartwarming moments.
The Grinch
“The Grinch” (2018) is an animated film adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ book “How The Grinch Stole Christmas.”. This is another classic that has been rebooted into the highest-grossing Christmas film of all time. The protagonist, the Grinch, lives in isolation from Whoville with his dog Max. Besides the Grinch, everyone in Whoville loves Christmas making the Grinch hate them by association with the holiday. The Grinch devises a plan to steal Christmas by stealing the Whos’ Christmas decorations and presents. With the help of Max, they embark on a night of breaking into the Whos’ homes to ruin their Christmas. To his surprise, the Whos’ were not affected and still enjoyed their Christmas together. This movie has great animation and an energetic soundtrack that is compelling to watch. Most importantly, “The Grinch” tells a beautiful story about how resilient the Christmas Spirit is.
Love Actually
“Love Actually” is the perfect holiday movie for those who love romantic films. This film shows the love stories between a variety of people, who are interconnected in some way through friendship, family, careers etc. The movie opens up with the narrator acknowledging the “uncomplicated love” of people at the airport who are greeting their loved ones. The plot is set five weeks before Christmas and the plot develops over time, playing out in a weekly countdown until the holiday. The movie continues to show the stories of over 10 very different couples who still have sweet, heartwarming stories that will make you feel sappy.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is a spooky holiday film with musical elements. This movie is known for its captivating stop-motion animation and whimsical soundtrack. We learn the story of Jack Skellington and his mission of taking over Christmas after stumbling upon Christmas Town around the start of the movie. After seeing the beautiful and vibrant colors of Christmas Town compared to Halloween Town, he creates a plan to take over the holiday, improving it to his own liking. This movie is great for those who want a fantastical and creepy twist to their holiday film of choice.
The Night Before
“The Night Before” is about three best friends who have an annual tradition to gather together on Christmas Eve to prevent the main character, Ethan Miller (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt), an orphan, from being alone on Christmas Eve. For this tradition, they like to go to bars and get drunk. This tradition has been followed since 2001 and his best friends Isaac Greenberg (played by Seth Rogan) and Chris Roberts (played by Anthony Mackenzie) decide that it’s best to end the tradition 14 years later. While Isaac and Chris are caught up in their crazy lives, Ethan works as one of Santa’s elves — who works in the coat closet at a hotel. While he’s at work, Ethan steals three tickets to the Nutcracker Ball Party, which the three attend, and have a night full of chaos and fun. “The Night Before” is a great movie to watch with friends. This movie has raunchy humor, stoner references and dirty jokes. Nevertheless, the Christmas in New York setting, romantic side plot and funny portrayal of brotherhood make “The Night Before” a must watch.
The Polar Express
If you watched a lot of Christmas movies as a child, you likely remember “The Polar Express”. In a heartwarming holiday tale, “The Polar Express” follows the journey of a young boy who is struggling with his belief in Santa and is approached by a magical train on the night of Christmas Eve. On the train, the boy befriends other children and a mysterious conductor, and he realizes how strong the power of belief is. Through a series of magical events, the story unfolds with themes of friendship, courage and the joy of embracing the spirit of Christmas. “The Polar Express” captures the essence of the season, offering a timeless and festive narrative for audiences of all ages.
Christmas movies always hold a special place in our hearts due to their moving narratives and themes of love, generosity and redemption. These elements contribute to the spirit of Christmas. Whether it’s the timeless classics or contemporary creations, these movies create a sense of warmth and nostalgia, bringing people together to celebrate the holiday season. Whenever we watch holiday movies, we not only find joy and laughter but also a sense of unity and connection that defines the true spirit of Christmas.
