Why is it that holiday themed movies make the month of December that much more enjoyable? Perhaps it’s that they often offer a romance storyline we are all dreaming of. Maybe it’s because they provide a family atmosphere that makes you want to call everyone you love and wish them a “Merry Christmas”. Whatever the reason may be, everyone has a favorite holiday flick. Whether its a classic cheesy Hallmark film or a Netflix original, there is a plethora of Christmas and holiday themed movies to get your hands on this holiday season.

Starting off with a classic rom-com that ties in with the season perfectly is: The Holiday

The Holiday stars Jude Law, Kate Winslet, Jack Black and Cameron Diaz, taking place in both a small part of England and California as the two female leads switch houses for the holidays. This 2006 classic is a great pick-me-up film with enough romance to get you in the Christmas spirit! Do we think Jack Black and Kate Winslet are a realistic couple? Not quite, but you know it is fun to watch regardless.

Next up,  we have to have a comedy on this list. Steering away from the obvious holiday comedy choice of Elf, our recommendation is: Love The Coopers. 

This feel-good story has everything from romance to heartwarming family relationships, this one is guaranteed to put you in the spirit and calling your grandma to tell her you love her. Love The Coopers is one of those films with multiple different storylines that all come together to tell one big story, which is honestly one of the greatest ideas ever.

Of course, we can’t skip any of the animated classics, after all, this is really where it began when it comes to holiday must-watches. From Charlie Brown to The Polar Express, these are all must watches on your Christmas binge list.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Is there ever a holiday that Charlie Brown isn’t prepared for? “A Charlie Brown Christmas”  is the perfect nostalgic Christmas film to get you in the holiday spirit. This cartoon classic reminds viewers what the season is really all about, after Charlie himself struggles with the holidays. There is nothing better than sitting down on Christmas Eve with a cup of hot chocolate and putting on “A Charlie Brown Christmas”. Definitely add this one to your binge-list this season!

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

Can’t get better than this one. This stop motion animated holiday classic features everyone’s favorite holiday character, Rudolph. Now, I can’t lie, this film can get you a little more emotional than some of the other holiday films, but that makes it even more wholesome. It is nearly impossible to make it through the holiday season without catching this film on television at some point, however, if you are still in need of an addition to your binge-list, this is definitely one to add!

Now, if you’re a fan of cheesy, honestly really terrible Christmas movies like me, then I have some great recommendations for you.

Starting off strong, we have a Netflix holiday original: A Christmas Prince.

This holiday themed rom-com tells the story of an undercover journalist who is attempting to get the scoop on the soon-to- be prince with some underlying secrets. This movie is truly one that will put you in a good mood after laughing at the cheesiness of it all. Yes, this is one of those films that utilizes the converse-wedding dress trope. If that’s not enough to convince you, did I mention there’s 2 more of them? This is one big eye roll of a storyline that is perfect to laugh and watch with friends, family, a significant other, or even by yourself if you love making commentary out loud like me.

There really is nothing better than a bad rom-com, and lucky for us, there’s about one million of them on the Hallmark channel to keep you binging all through December.

Now, this is only a few examples of the many holiday films there are to keep you entertained throughout the Christmas season. However, when we think about binging holiday films, it really isn’t about the movie itself, rather it’s about the event of doing it and who you’re doing it with. These films are simply a kickstart into your holiday season, to help you connect with loved ones, friends you haven’t seen in a while, or really just to give yourself that time off that you’ve been deserving of all season long.

From comedies to romantic comedies to animated classics, to black and white classics, there is a holiday film in nearly every genre that can satisfy what you are looking for. If you’re already sitting down to watch one, why not watch them all! While this small selection is only a few of my favorites to get you in the spirit, there’s a whole catalog of films out there to get you in the Christmas spirit!

Citations:

“14 Nostalgic Holiday Movies You Will Absolutely Love to Binge This Season.” TLC.com, https://www.tlcme.com/life---relationships/14-holiday-movies-you-will-absolutely-love-to-binge-this-season.

Matthews, Lyndsey. “A Complete List of the Best Christmas Movies of All Time.” Good Housekeeping, Good Housekeeping, 14 Nov. 2021, https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/christmas-ideas/g1315/best-christmas-movies/.

Mohanty, Sukanya, et al. “All the Feels: 15 Best Holiday Movies That Will Soothe Your Soul in 2020.” Lifestyle Asia India, 9 Dec. 2020, https://www.lifestyleasia.com/ind/culture/entertainment/best-holiday-movies-to-binge-watch/.

TodayShow. “Here Are the 80 Best Christmas Movies of All Time for the Holidays.” TODAY.com, 12 Nov. 2021, https://www.today.com/popculture/75-best-christmas-movies-all-time-2019-holidays-ranked-t168135.

Valente, Danielle, et al. “19 Fun Animated Christmas Movies for Kids to Watch This Year.” Time Out Worldwide, Time Out, 22 Dec. 2020, https://www.timeout.com/kids/the-best-animated-christmas-movies-for-the-whole-family.