The celebration of the winter holidays is often the most magical time of year, creating a feeling of warmth, comradery, and happiness all around. Partaking in tradition is a big part of getting in the holiday spirit, and one of my favorite traditions is sitting down with loved ones and watching a holiday movie with a cup of hot cocoa. Below you’ll find a mix of some of my favorite traditional and non-traditional holiday movies that evoke the holiday spirit. (Just click the movie’s title or photo to borrow or place a hold.)
Home Alone (1990)
No holiday movie list is complete without the inclusion of this John Hughes Christmas classic. The story of Kevin and his adventures as he is left home on a family holiday will have you feeling all the emotions brought on by the holiday season. You will experience laughter to tears during its runtime, and you’ll be sure to feel the Christmas spirit after watching.
This Adam Sandler animated classic is all about overcoming bad habits and doing better in the spirit of Hanukkah. Filled with the zany, sometimes crude humor and heartstring pulls that Saturday Night Live alum Sandler has become known for, this film will put you in the holiday spirit, ready to celebrate Hanukkah, which starts on the evening of Dec. 25th this year.
Another instance of a former SNL cast member in a holiday classic is Will Ferrell’s Elf. It’s one of my favorite movies to watch during the holidays, and the shenanigans that accompany the main character Buddy’s adventure to find his real parents will undoubtedly put a smile on your face and warmth in your heart. This movie showcases how the childlike wonder of the Christmas season doesn’t have to end once you grow up.
One of my favorite movies that showcases a different holiday story is Krampus. Structured around the Eastern European folktale of Krampus, – a demon-like character who captures naughty children around Christmas time — this horror movie/black comedy is unlike anything you’ve seen before. Wickedly funny with some of the best costumes and design sets you can find, Krampus will scare you, make you laugh, and also showcase the magic of the holidays.
Although this superhero film isn’t specifically about Christmas, its December setting and overall thematic tone carve out a spot for it on this holiday list. One of my favorite things about this movie is the holiday tone at its heart, showcasing the story of a chosen family. While some may not see their families around the holidays, Shazam! demonstrates that family doesn’t always have to be blood related. Shazam! This touching, amusing superhero origin story is unlike all the others out there.
Years ago, including this Bruce Willis action flick on a holiday movie list would have been a controversial choice. Now I believe that it is a Christmas movie by design. Although Die Hard is filled with more explosions and outrageous gun battles than traditional holiday cheer, it still manages to impart heartfelt and inspiring messages of love, family and community that are synonymous with the holiday season.
Eight Gifts of Hanukkah (2021)
One of the only Hallmark movies on this list, the Eight Gifts of Hanukkah is filled with your traditional holiday movie beats presented in a new way. The mystery at the center of the film- who could be our protagonist’s secret admirer- will keep you engaged while the love story woven throughout will be sure to prepare you for all the tenderness that surrounds the holidays.
Another one of my favorite non-traditional Christmas movies is this Robert Downey Jr. lead detective story. Sharply written and full of unseen twists and turns, this movie will keep you guessing during its entire runtime. The Christmas setting is evident throughout and although it doesn’t impart much in the way of holiday wisdom, it still will be sure to get you in the holiday mood.
The Muppets Christmas Carol (1992)
To finish up our list, I had to include this Muppets holiday classic. The traditional retelling of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol in combination with the zany heartfelt humor of the Muppets makes for a perfect holiday watch. The puppetry, Michael Caine’s performance and the musical numbers are all top notch and will be sure to lift your spirits and remind you of the reason for the holiday season.
If you’re looking for a little extra holiday cheer this December, I hope you check out one of the movies from the above list. Wishing you all very happy holidays!
