It's already that time of year again, and with everyone home, you may be wondering what movies you can watch. Family-friendly movies are best, and you need to be sure about the content so that there aren't any unpalatable surprises or jumpscares. In this case, you can always trust a well-known Christmas classic that you've watched before or one that you haven't but that many others have watched. Here are some suggestions in this list of 10 Christmas movies you can enjoy with friends, family, or solo if you like, and if you think of others, let me know in the comments!
Home Alone
This is probably the one film on the list that you can be sure most people have heard about or watched. The first one, written and produced by John Hughes, stars
Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, and Daniel Stern. It follows the misadventures of Macaulay, or Kevin when he's mistakenly left at home alone by his family during the holidays. He has a run-in with a pair of burglars, and the movie is generally fun and upbeat, and it's one that the whole family can enjoy over snacks. They're going to be happy with the general mood of the film and might even decide to watch each film in the franchise.
Die Hard
This next movie actually surprises people when it's brought up as a Christmas movie. It surprised me at least, I'm people. In my defense, I was really young when I watched it lol. Anyway, it may suit a slightly more mature audience than Home Alone because the theme isn't too playful, and the plot kind of needs *some attention and comprehension to follow along well. The the movie is set up in New York, where a police officer, Bruce Willis, has to save his estranged wife and a number of other people taken hostage by a band of terrorists during a Christmas Party. If you want an action-packed film that will keep you engaged and leave you feeling warm at the end, this is the one.
Polar Express
Released in 2004, The Polar Express is based on the book of the same name, which won Van Allsburg the annual Caldecott Medal for illustration of an American children's picture book in 1986. You know he deserved this one because he also worked on Jumanji, 'nuff said... The story follows a young boy who boarded a mysterious train headed for the North Pole alongside a number of other children. Basically, the movie is about restoring the faith of people who've stopped believing in Santa Claus, and so it has cool graphics and a beautiful, heart-warming tale that people across all age groups will appreciate.
A Nightmare Before Christmas
This is one for the horror buffs, an animated film by Tim Burton that premiered in 1993, and that will spread the holiday cheer with some frights as well. It follows the King of Halloween Town, Jack Skellington, as he discovers Christmas Town and thinks about how he can take over the holiday. This acclaimed movie is going to become a Christmas special if you love spooky films and animation. It's amazing because it doesn't have any gruesome or extreme parts that would have made the film less than ideal for the easily frightened despite the name.
Harry Potter
The movies made from the seven novels are great for Christmas breaks, especially if you're thinking about something that you can binge on for a minute. The stories follow the young wizard, Harry Potter, as he goes on various adventures alongside his friends who are all students at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. If you decide to watch all the films, you'll enjoy the experience of watching Harry Potter grow up without having to wait for the next film as most of us did when the movies originally came out. Chant a few spells and delve into a world of magic for Christmas, or cut to the chase and watch Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which is the movie that's actually set during Christmas.
Friday After Next
This movie made the list because of the sheer amount of Christmas elements that come into play. While this one isn't fully centered around Christmas like regular Christmas movies, it's amazing for a laugh during the holidays. The shenanigans that take place are all done over the Christmas holidays and there are a few mentions of the holidays as well. But be aware, there's some use of strong language and implicated substance use, which makes this movie one to skip if you're looking for a family-friendly film.
It's a Wonderful Life
There's no doubt about this movie being a Christmas movie, and it's based on a short story booklet titled "The Greatest Gift." Have you heard the whimsical saying that goes "Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings?" Well, this is its origin (I think, please don't quote me), and the movie itself takes place around the holidays. It makes every Christmas movie list mostly because of the fact that it's based on the main themes of the holidays; love, gratitude, you know the rest. I'll just say right now that the approach to mental health and *deleting oneself permanently from this timeline* used in the film didn't get me in a celebratory mood. If you've watched it, I'm extremely curious to hear what you thought about this detail...
Edward Scissorhands
Another Tim Burton movie made the list, but that's not because I'm biased or anything. Seriously, hear me out... There are Christmas activities throughout the film, notably at the start and at the end, and at one point, Edward (Johnny Depp) carves a sculpture of his crush (Wynona Ryder) out of a block of ice. Warm feels and emo moments make up this movie, so if you like gothic romance and a little bit of everything else, find this movie and watch it.
Batman Returns
This is a Christmas movie for the same reasons that Die Hard is one. There are many themes surrounding Christmas in the movie, with Batman and Catwoman having a romantic moment as they stand under some mistletoe. Is that not what Christmas is about? Well, obviously, there are other overarching themes in the holiday, but what are the main ones if not love and sharing? And what would be the main reason why it wouldn't be a Christmas movie anyway, huh? Anyway, bear in mind that this film has lots of trigger-happy people and it can get a little dark, so exercise some caution if you want to watch it with younger viewers.
Gremlins
The last movie on this list is in this spot because it has a bit of a fear factor to it. It's another one that the younger ones will have to step outside if you decide to watch it, or simply save them the discomfort and pick a more family-centered movie. It's mostly set on Christmas Eve and has a lot of imagery surrounding the holidays. There's the use of strong language and graphic violence as well, but it's nothing that older teens can't handle. That said, there's a chance that you may feel some type of way about this movie because it's faced a lot of backlash and is said to have a lot of racist undertones to it. I'll let you be the judge of that if you decide to watch it...
"Tis the season to be jolly! So try your hardest to be jolly, although there aren't any consequences to being gloomy. I've tried, and guys, you'll be safe. ANYWAY, what do you think about my list? Should I add or subtract anything? Let me know, and keep it Geekspeak for amazing music and entertainment news!
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