THE most wonderful time of the year is just around the corner. Lanterns and Christmas trees are now in full display, Christmas songs are blasted in just about every corner, and the streets sparkle from the iridescent shows of Christmas lights.
But Christmas is not just about the festivities. It is also the season of warmth. It’s the best time to set aside your busy schedule, get cozy, make hot chocolate, relax with a warm blanket wrapped around you, and of course, watch your favorite shows.
Whether you are craving the heartwarming charm of classic Hallmark movies with its small-town dreamy winter rom-coms or the chilly thrill of a holiday gone wrong, this list has something to match your taste— just like a perfectly prepared Noche Buena feast.
1. Home Alone Movies (Available on Disney Plus)
Let’s start off this list with a strong contender because, as they say, you can never go wrong with a classic.
Home Alone is a 1990 Christmas classic directed by Chris Colombus, the same director who also first brought the magic of Harry Potter into our screens (so you know you’re in good hands). This movie brought to life a child’s worst nightmare: being left by your family alone in your big house during the Christmas season. It features Macaulay Caulkin as the young and charming Kevin McCallister, an eight-year old boy who found himself responsible to protect their house from the thieves Harry (Joe Pesci) and Marv (Harry Lime). It was such fun to watch Kevin’s ingenious plans unfold as he outwits the two rascals who were after him just by using the typical household items.
The sequel film, Home Alone: Lost In New York, proposed a more fun setting with a toy store, in a big city, coloring the wildest imaginations of children around the world.
But what really makes the Home Alone movies stand out is not only their humor but also the lesson it imparts to the viewer. As a child, you might gloss over this, focusing only on the clever ways Kevin outwits the adults. But as you get older, you slowly learn that the world is not made of candies. And this makes you appreciate the other characters more, like Old Marley and the sad pigeon lady in New York.
2. Klaus (Available on Netflix)
What better way to prove a movie’s credibility than the awards it got, right? That is Klaus for you, a 2019 animated Christmas comedy adventure by Sergio Pablos. Klaus was a critically-acclaimed film, earning 7 recognitions at Annie Awards, and winning Best Animated Film at the 73rd British Academy Film Awards. Although it failed to clinch the coveted Academy Awards, the fact that it became Netflix’s first animated film to be nominated was already saying something.
Klaus serves to be an alternate origin story for Santa Claus. It tells the story of a postman living in the 19th century setting who befriends a reclusive toymaker named Klaus.
It is a very enjoyable origin story, humorous and heartwarming that will no doubt be a classic for the future generations.
3. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Available on Netflix)
The Grinch is a popular fictional character from Dr. Seuss’ stories, which was made even popular by Jim Carrey’s terrific portrayal of him. It revolves around the titular character who decided to ruin Christmas for the cheery citizens of Whoville.
This Christmas classic was once panned by critics due to its failure to adapt the festivity showcased by its source material. Nevertheless, its reputation has soared above the criticisms, to the point that it now became a cult classic. Looking back, Jim Carrey’s witty ad-libs and unscripted acting made the movie all the more charming and enjoyable.
4. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe (Available on Disney Plus)
Christmas is supposed to be magical— and what’s more magical than a wardrobe that teleports you to another world, a speaking lion, and a cruel witch?
Just like The Grinch, Narnia was also a product of book to movie adaptation, originally written as a series of novels by the British writer C.S. Lewis in the years 1950-1956. It narrates the stories of different children and their adventures in the Narnian world.
The movie, on the other hand, focuses on four main characters— the siblings Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy who discovered the world of Narnia through a magical portal hidden in an old wardrobe.
Narnia is everything you want in a fantasy movie— it is action-packed but not to the point of sacrificing the story. The plot and the worldbuilding is intricately structured but not to the point of estranging the audience. Truly a timeless Christmas film.
5. The Holiday (Available on Netflix)
Christmas is also the season of love, and that’s what The Holiday proves. If you are craving for the small-town vibes romance, set in wintry Europe then this film is for you. If you are looking for a not-so-cold romantic Christmas in the midst of a big city, then this movie still got you!
The Holiday is 2006 film centering around two protagonists living in two different places (England and California), who decided to swap homes in hopes of learning more about themselves. Soon enough, both lovelorn women find companionships in the strange place they went into.
The Holiday is the perfect feel-good romantic movie that would surely swoon you off your feet (Young Jude Law is really something to look at). Both Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz proved that they can make cheesy Christmas rom-coms worth-watching just as much as the heavy and more serious films.
6. Elves (Available on Netflix)
Of course, Christmas is not just about the sweet things. And comfort can be found in the most unexpected of places… say, for example, a horror series.
Elves is a Danish Netflix series released in 2021. It is a horror-fantasy-drama, containing six episodes. It tells the story of a Danish family who travels into the small island to spend Christmas together. Unknown to them, the said island was inhabited by carnivorous elves.
Elves is surely one of the most creative takes on the season, taking the beloved Christmas creatures and making them into something sinister. If you want something a little darker and more thrilling for your Christmas, then this show is for you.
Whether you want a feel-good movie, or something more sinister is totally up to you. Just remember that the decision of how you spend your Christmas is totally up to you.
