‘Home Alone’
Eight-year-old Kevin McAllister (Macaulay Culkin) gets accidentally left behind by his family when they leave for France. At first, he’s happy about it . . . until burglars try to get into his house. Can he protect himself and his home from the Wet Bandits (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern)?
Written and produced by John Hughes and directed by Chris Columbus, “Home Alone” is a Christmas movie we’ll never get tired of. We watch it every year.
‘Home Alone 2: Lost in New York’
“We did it again!” Kevin McAllister’s parents scream in one scene. And yes, they did do it again. This time, while his family flies to Florida, he ends up in New York. We seriously question the McAllisters’ parenting skills but we’re glad to join Kevin for another misadventure.
And yes, we watch this sequel every year, too.
‘Elf’
Buddy (Will Ferrell), is raised among elves in the North Pole and spends his life thinking he’s an elf—a really tall one. When he finds out that he’s actually human, he decides to go to New York to look for his father. Hilarity ensues.
This movie also stars Zooey Deschanel, James Caan and Peter Dinklage (yes, Tyrion Lannister) who has a scene in this movie that we’ll never forget.
If you’re brave enough, skip the popcorn and try Buddy the Elf’s super sweet breakfast pasta. (We’re just not brave enough.)
‘Klaus’
This beautifully drawn animated film about a selfish postman and a reclusive toymaker won so many hearts when it came out last year. And for good reason. It’s funny, it’s heartwarming and deserves to become a Christmas classic.
‘Miracle on 34th Street’
A man named Kris Kringle steps in to replace an intoxicated Santa in Macy’s annual Thanksgiving parade. People love him and he makes regular appearances at the department store. When he is institutionalized for claiming that he’s the real Santa Claus, a lawyer and a young girl come to his defense.
“Miracle on 34th Street” is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. Watch the 1947 original and then the 1994 remake.
‘The Christmas Chronicles’ and ‘The Christmas Chronicles 2’
Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn as Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus? Yes, yes, yes, please. And we like the sequel more because there’s a lot more Mrs. Claus in it.
‘Gremlins’
Oh yes, “Gremlins” may be a comedy horror film but it’s also a Christmas movie—after all, Billy (Zach Galligan) received the super cute mogwai as a Christmas present before it transforms and multiplies as evil little monsters.
This movie teaches an important lesson: If you get a Christmas present that comes with instructions (don’t expose it to sunlight, don’t get it wet, don’t feed it after midnight), you better follow them.
And if you want more Gremlins, there are sequels you can enjoy.
‘Die Hard’
Is “Die Hard” a Christmas movie or not? The debate continues. We say it’s a Christmas movie because it takes place on Christmas Eve. And who cares if it isn’t a Christmas film? The important thing is this Bruce Willis-starrer is so much fun to watch.
‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’
This 1965 animated TV special will never get old. We love us some Peanuts.
It’s Christmas season and Charlie Brown is feeling down. He doesn’t like that the holidays have become too commercialized. His friends try to cheer him up and together, they discover the true meaning of Christmas.
We love this film’s soundtrack so much that we listen to it all year round. The genius of Vince Guaraldi cannot be denied.
‘Jingle All the Way’
Arnold Schwarzenegger plays Howard Langston, a workaholic father who fails to get his son’s desired Christmas gift early. Now the Turbo-Man action figure is out of stock everywhere—what will he do?
Sinbad is both annoying and hilarious as a postal worker dad who becomes Howard’s rival as they try to get their hands on a really elusive toy.
