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5 Contemporary Classic Holiday Films to Enjoy with the Whole Family

5 Contemporary Classic Holiday Films to Enjoy with the Whole Family

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It’s officially the most wonderful time of the year! And what’s better than curling in front of the fireplace with a piping mug of hot chocolate underneath a warm blanket and enjoying a holiday film with your family? 

Looking for recommendations on the best films to spread that holiday cheer? We got you covered.

  1. The Santa Clause (1994)

Where to watch: Disney+

This delightful twist on the origins of the big man is a longtime favorite of this author. The Santa Clause follows toy salesman, Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) as he spends Christmas Eve with his precocious son, Charlie (Eric Lloyd). Charlie is a true believer in the magic of Christmas, but Scott feels Charlie should grow up. The two are in for a big surprise when Saint Nick takes a tumble off the roof. Encouraged by Charlie, Scott dons the red suit and the two set off on a wild adventure completing Santa’s delivery run with a final stop at the North Pole. Scott quickly finds out he’s unknowingly entered a contract to become the new Father Christmas. The Santa Clause is full of all the wonder that makes Christmas magical for kids with cynical humor and sarcasm that adults will enjoy.

  1. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

Where to watch: HBO Max

While some purists may prefer the original 1966 short, this delightful update greatly expands on the universe of the Whos from Whoville and the origins of the Grinch. Innocent Cindy Lou Who (Taylor Momsen) happens upon the devious Grinch (Jim Carrey) in the post office sorting room as he attempts to ruin Christmas… yet again. The young Who is nearly crushed to death in a mail chute but in a surprising act of kindness, she’s rescued by the Grinch. The encounter leaves Cindy Lou curious about her savior, and she begins to dig into the Grinch’s tragic background. Moved by his story, Cindy nominates the Grinch as the town’s “Holiday Cheermeister,” but the move backfires setting off a chain of events that leads the Grinch to his dastardly plan to destroy Christmas once and for all. Young viewers will enjoy the elaborate set pieces and character design of the cheery Whos and their quaint town, and adults will get a kick out of the Grinch’s antics and unforgettable one-liners… I personally quote the Grinch far too often.

  1. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Where to watch: Disney+

From the mind of Tim Burton, The Nightmare Before Christmas perfectly blends the worlds of Halloween and Christmas together. The film follows Jack Skellington (Chris Sarandon), the Pumpkin King, who’s grown bored of his life in Halloween Town. He wanders into the woods and finds six trees each with a door that leads to a new holiday-themed world. Jack chooses the door to Christmas Town and is amazed by the sights and sounds. He returns to Halloween Town intent on taking over Christmas, believing he can make it better. He arranges for Santa Claus to be kidnapped and puts his ghoulish fellow residents to work on adopting new Christmas traditions and creating scary Christmas presents for unsuspecting children. Jack even assigns Sally (Catherine O’Hara), who is secretly in love with Jack, the duty of crafting his Santa suit. While the ragdoll sets to work on his suit, she experiences horrible visions of Jack’s disastrous end should he succeed in taking over Christmas. Children will be in awe of the gorgeous stop-motion animation and parents will appreciate the more mature themes, that along with Danny Elfman’s haunting score.

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  1. Home Alone (1990)

Where to watch: Disney+

Every kid dreams of being left at home, with no parents to boss them around and no siblings to annoy them. In Home Alone, Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) realizes his dream has come true after his family accidentally leaves him behind as they travel to spend their Christmas in Paris. When Kevin’s mother, Kate (Catherine O’Hara), realizes Kevin has been left behind, she goes on a harrowing journey during peak holiday travel to get back home to her son. At first, Kevin is more than thrilled with his newfound freedom – watching R-rated films, while gorging on ice cream to his heart’s content. Things quickly turn awry when a pair of burglars named Harry (Joe Pesci) and Marv (Daniel Stern) attempt to break in. Kevin manages to fool them into believing his family is home, but they soon realize the little boy is left on his own. Kevin decides to defend his home against the bandits, using his wits to create a labyrinth of booby traps in his house. Hilarity ensues as Harry and Marv contend with the likes of an 8-year-old. Both children and adults will be tickled and laugh at the brilliant physical comedy along with the sweet heartwarming ending.

  1. Elf (2003)

Where to watch: HBO Max

I never imagined a 6’3” elf in tights would bring such joy, but that’s just what Will Ferrell does as the titular Elf. We meet Buddy the Elf, a human raised in the North Pole unaware of his true origins. Buddy learns from his adoptive father, Papa Elf (Bob Newhart), that his birth father, Walter (James Caan) is a children’s book publisher living in New York and he’s (gasp) on the naughty list! Buddy sets out on a fantastical journey to find Walter in the Big Apple and redeem his flawed character. The gruff man is less than enthused to meet his son and initially rejects his heartfelt advances. Undeterred, Buddy finds a part time job in the toy section at a nearby department store and falls head over heels for his apathetic co-worker, Jovie (Zooey Deschanel). Buddy’s skills in the North Pole translate well at his new job but his efforts and enthusiasm are met with suspicion by Wanda (Faizon Love), the store manager. Although Buddy is a working man, he spends all his free time trying to win over Walter. After consulting with the family doctor who believes Buddy has regressed emotionally but biologically is Walter’s son, Walter reluctantly brings him home to meet his family. Between the stress of integrating Buddy into his home and the threat of his publishing company going under, Walter is less than kind to Buddy. The resulting fallout sets into motion one of the greatest redemption arcs in holiday film history. Kids will relate to Buddy’s childlike nature along with the endearing message of Christmas Spirit, and grown-ups will appreciate the wacky fish out of water tale, led by the hilarious Will Ferrell and an equally hilarious supporting cast.


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