Holiday Movie Watch Guide

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Photo by Crystal Zaharatos

Cozy up with a hot cocoa and watch some of these holiday favorites!

During the holidays, many people like to cuddle up in a blanket and watch a great holiday movie, but it can be hard to find the right one. Sometimes by the time you find a movieyou are no longer in the mood to watch. To avoid these issues, we made a list of good and bad holiday movies to help you enjoy the season. Next to each holiday movie is where you can watch it but if you can’t find it, most movies can be found on YouTube as well.  

                                                                        Romance Movies: 

If you are in the mood for corny romantic movies, then these are the movies for you. Love Actually and While You Were Sleeping are classics, but if you are in the mood for something new, try some of the other ones, like A Christmas Prince or The Knight Before Christmas. Enjoy these movies with your significant other or the whole family.   

  • Last Holiday (Check local listings) 
  • Love Actually (Netflix) 
  • Four Christmases (Check local listings) 
  • While You Were Sleeping (Disney +) 
  • A Christmas Prince (Netflix)- Erin, age 35 says, “It starts off as a typical Christmas movie but has a few unique twists. I really enjoyed it and want to see the next two of the series.” 
  • The Knight Before Christmas (Netflix)                                

 

                                                                            Family Movies: 

          One of the best parts of the holiday season is being with the ones you love, and these movies are ones that the whole family can enjoy. “I don’t celebrate Christmas but when I do watch Christmas movies, I feel the magic of the holiday and understand why people get so excited about it.”, says Zaynib G, sophomore at PMHS. Movies like Santa Buddies and Gremlins bring a little bit of holiday magic to families from furry friends, and animated favorites like Mickey Mouse are bound to put a smile on even the Scrooges of the family. From young kids to young adults to the kids at heart, these movies are guaranteed to get everyone in the holiday spirit.   

  • Jack Frost (Check local listings) 
  • How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Netflix) 
  • The Nightmare Before Christmas (Disney +)                                        
  • Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas (Disney +) 
  • Good Luck Charlie: It’s Christmas (Disney +) 
  • Arthur’s Christmas (Netflix) 
  • Gremlins (Check local listings) 
  • Santa Buddies (Check local listings)  

 

                                                                                 Funny Movies: 

If you are in the mood to laugh, then these cute movies are perfect for you. The holidays are full of joy and these funny movies are a great way to start off the season. So grab some popcorn and hot chocolate and enjoy a laugh with the ones you love while watching one of these hilarious holiday films. 

  • The Santa Clause series (Disney +) 
  • Elf (Check local listings) 
  • National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (Check local listings) 
  • I’ll Be Home for Christmas (Disney +) 
  • Merry Christmas: Drake and Josh (Check local listings) 
  • Noelle (Disney +) 
  • Fred Claus (Check local listings) 

 

                                                                               Classic Movies: 

                   The holidays are known for some of the most iconic movies, and these are them. Rudolph and Charlie Brown are some family favorites, but you can’t go wrong with Kevin McCallister and his adventures in Home Alone. And don’t forget Miracle on 34th street, an old-time favorite, which brings the magic of Christmas into every home. In my house, one of our traditions is having A Christmas Story play all morning Christmas Day while we open up presents. Some people argue that Die Hard is not a Christmas movie, however the movie takes place on Christmas Eve so don’t be fooled. Start your own family tradition this holiday season with one of these all-time classics.  

  • Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Check local listings) 
  • A Charlie Brown Christmas (Check local listings) 
  • Disney’s A Christmas Carol (Check local listings) 
  • Miracle on 34th Street (Disney +) 
  • Home Alone (Disney +) 
  • A Christmas Story (Check local listings) 
  • The Polar Express (Check local listings) 
  • Frosty the Snowman (Check local listings) 
  • Die Hard (Check local listings) (this movie is rated R so you may not want to watch with young viewers) Kyle, age 34 says “I like this movie because it is an actionpacked Christmas movie. 

 

                                                                       Movies to Avoid: 

These next movies will not put you in the holiday mood. If you pass these movies while searching, keep scrolling. The movie Elves is a horror film and will scare you and your family and take away all the Christmas joy, not to mention it has to do with Hitler and his beliefs. Rudolf and Frosty: Christmas in July has a circus theme. Also, in the title it says: “Christmas in July”. Does that make sense to you? 

  • Klaus (Netflix) 
  • Rudolf and Frosty: Christmas in July (YouTube) 
  • Richie Rich’s Christmas Wish (Disney +) 
  • Santas Little Helper (Amazon or YouTube) 
  • Santa with Muscles (Amazon)  
  • Elves (YouTube)