Christmas films to help you get into the holiday spirit🎄
It’s that time of year again, the Christmas decorations are up, there’s a bit of a chill in the air, and all I want to do is, put on some PJ’s, grab my laptop and enjoy a really good Christmas film. Some of my favourites, I start watching from September( oops) and some of them I save right until it’s almost Christmas Eve, and all the time in between I’m constantly looking online for recommendations from people, checking every list twice,(I had to, it was right there!) just to make sure, I haven’t missed any ‘must-watch film, that just might…you know, RUIN THE HOLIDAYS.
Hey, you never know, which one film might push you from ‘Yay Christmas’ to ‘YAY CHRISTMAS!!!’
And on that note, here are my Top 10 all-time favourite Christmas films:
(In no particular order, because that list was just too hard to compile!)
1) Home Alone (1990) /Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
I just had to start with the absolute classic-I grew up watching these two all the time on TV, and so now it not only makes for a great classic Christmas watch, but also has some really lovely memories attached to it as well, especially the times my entire family gathered around to have a chill evening and this film was on, and everybody had a really cosy time. Macaulay Culkin, is just the perfect actor for this role, and the rest of the series which doesn’t have him playing the role of Kevin, just doesn’t feel right to me at all, but these first two are just great!
2) The Holiday (2006)
Not a classic Christmas film, but it does focus on something else, which is the holiday spirit, and it showcases that really well. It’s quite a feel good film in the end, while also being a welcome change from very traditional Christmas rom coms. Great cast, brilliant acting and altogether a really likeable film.
3) The Santa Clause (1994)
There are three films, the second one being ‘The Santa Clause 2 (2002) and ‘Santa Clause 3: Escape Clause (2006), in this series, and for a lot of people it just isn’t Christmas without them watching the entire series, repeatedly.
I’m one of those people.
This series is the only one I save right until its mid-December, and once it is, you can bet these are playing on my laptop, on repeat, in the background no matter what else I’m doing.I absolutely love it. Tim Allen is the ultimate Santa Clause, and brings the character to life in a really lovely way. If you need to watch something super festive, go watch this now!!
4) A Christmas Carol (2009)
This is such a great Christmas film! This is my favourite version of Dickens’s delightful Christmas Story. I love how this film manages to capture and highlight the spirit (haha yeah, Spirit) of the season, while remaining true to the actual novella. And don’t you just love when a film does that 😉
5) The Man who Invented Christmas (2017)
If you love the Christmas Carol, you will really enjoy this biographical drama. It brings to light some really interesting details about what inspired Dickens to write ‘The Christmas Carol’. I always find it quite fascinating to watch how different people channel or have channeled their creativity ,and so I found this a very interesting watch, especially since we also get to observe him construct the actual story and the characters as the film progresses, so it keeps the film from becoming boring in any way. Very engaging, definitely recommend!
6) Arthur Christmas (2011)
This is just such a cute film, I absolutely love it! I think the modern take on Santa’s elves and the workshop is amazing. I also really like that it’s something different, since it not only shows the different generations of Santa’s but also focuses on his adorable family. Super cute, very festive. Watch it!
7) Four Christmases (2008)
I really enjoy this one, it’s very light, funny, and is completely focused on the holidays. It highlights that inevitable ‘family time’ that Christmas celebrates, while showcasing different kinds of individuals, their families and everything in between. A very interesting and hilarious take on different family dynamics coupled with all the crazy chaos of the season.
8) How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
This version of the Grinch is always going to be the classic one for me. I know a lot of people have mixed feelings about this film, but personally I absolutely love it! Jim Carrey plays the Grinch like no one else possibly can. Love the narration, and it is great to see Dr Seuss’s beloved Christmas tale come to life. An absolute classic, and personally I like it way better than the newer one.
9) Elf (2003)
A super family friendly, feel good film, with Will Ferrell delivering such an endearing and hilarious performance of a human elf. If you are a little bit bored of watching everything being about Santa and his workshop, this time of year, this is a must watch.It’s a little bit different while still being very Christmassy.
10) Nope. Just Can’t.
Rounding off this list means that I need to close it, with a last favourite film, and I just can’t figure out how to choose a last one, out of so many great ones, that I enjoy. So you know what, if you want to watch something to help you get into the holiday spirit, go watch the Christmas specials of your favourite TV shows. It’s not December without me going through all the F.R.I.E.N.D.S Christmas episodes, and then all the New Year one, and then all the others…because, well, why not?
And don’t we all need something comforting to help us say goodbye to December and brave January with a few laughs?
