By Randy McCoy
Christmas time is just about here, which means that it is time for all things Christmas. Among the delicious holiday food, beautiful decorations and seasonal tunes, are Christmas-themed films. There are so many that it is almost impossible to watch all of them during one season.
Holidays are about the feeling that comes along with being surrounded by those that you love. A perfect way to spend times with loved ones this holiday season, is to pop some corn, grab some seasonal-themed snacks and watch a good old Christmas movie. Here is a top five Christmas movie list that will help you discover a new holiday favorite!
1. “The Nightmare Before Christmas” was released in October 1993. It is about a world that celebrates Halloween every day of the year. The pumpkin king, Jack Skellington, grows tired of the same old thing, seeking something new. That is when he stumbles across the wonderful world of Christmastown. Becoming lost in the warm feeling Christmas brought upon him, he decides to re-create this feeling in his world of Halloween. It is a great title that is interchangeable between Halloween and Christmas. The film stars Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, and Catherine O’Hara. This animation is child-friendly and the perfect way to celebrate an alternative Christmas adventure with friends and family.
2. “Home Alone” was released Nov. 16, 1990, starring a young Macaulay Culkin. It is about a bratty child who is left home alone. The night before his family is set to leave for a holiday vacation to Paris, 8-year-old Kevin McCallister is sent to the attic as a punishment due to bad behavior. In the chaos of leaving, the family forgets about him and leaves him at home. Kevin discovers joy in this isolation, at first. This joy quickly comes to an end when two con artists begin to spoil his time alone by breaking into the house in order to obtain valuables. Kevin is determined to stop them, designing hilarious traps in order to do so. This movie is perfect for a family movie night during Christmas time.
3. “Miracle on 34th Street” was released Jan. 7, 1947. This film has aged a bit but remains a classic. It is about a man who takes over a drunken Santa’s position in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. He is so perfect at the part that he becomes a hit, appearing regularly with the store’s franchise. He is such a hit, in fact, that people begin to wonder if he is truly Santa Claus. This movie is perfect for families with children in order to demonstrate that films were once created in black and white. It is a perfect way to bring a sense of culture into your family while enjoying the holidays.
4. “Elf” was released Nov. 7, 2003. The story is about a baby boy, named Buddy, that ends up in Santa Claus’ toy sack as he made his visit to an orphanage. He is then taken to the north pole to be raised as one of Santa’s helpers. He grows up to become double the size of his elf family. One day, Buddy discovers that he is not truly an elf, and that his biological father lives in New York City. Upon this discovery, he embarks on a journey to locate his father. He is disappointed when he comes to find out that his father is basically the grinch. His father’s ten-year old stepchild is the same way and does not have any belief that Santa exists. Buddy’s goal is to brighten up his family by bringing the Christmas spirit. It is a perfect film for a fun night of comedy during the holiday season.
5. “The Christmas Hope” is not a very popular title because it was a T.V. movie that appeared on the Lifetime Movie Network on Dec. 13, 2009. It is a film involving the power of hope as a social worker suffers a tragedy, which leads her to taking a job where she seeks homes for foster children. Stories intertwine when a little girl suffers the major loss of someone important in her life right before Christmas. This movie is a wonderful product of showing what can take place with a little bit of hope in the midst of dark times during this Christmas season.
What is a Christmas Movie list without a bonus? A film that is a bonus inclusion to my top five list is “Last Christmas,” a new movie that was released Nov. 8, 2019. The new-aged film is along the lines of a romantic comedy that focuses on the idea of faith and second chances during Christmas time. The movie features actors Emilia Clarke, and Henry Golding.
