Movies to Watch for the Holiday Season

No holiday season is complete without these classic flicks.

The Polar Express

This classic children’s tale was adapted into a computer animated movie in 2004, starring Tom Hanks as the Hero Boy, the Hero Boy’s father, the Conductor, the Hobo and, of course, Santa Claus.

Jingle All The Way

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sinbad try to find one last Turbo Man for their respective sons. Is this a scathing critique of commercialism in America? No, it’s not, but it surely qualifies as an “it’s so bad, it’s good” holiday movie.

Bad Santa

Not all holiday movies need to be warm and fuzzy. This deranged sibling of Miracle on 34^th Street stars Billy Bob Thornton as a curmudgeonly mall Santa who robs the department store at night.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Based on Dr. Seuss’s 1957 children’s book How the Grinch Stole Christmas is the highest-grossing holiday film of all time, earning $345 million worldwide. It stars Jim Carrey as The Grinch, and the film even won an Academy Award for Best Makeup.

The Nightmare Before Christmas

This classic twist on Christmas and Halloween movies is a favorite of children and art fans everywhere. Tim Burton’s wild imagination breathes life into the claymation world of Jack Skellington on his quest to be Santa Claus.

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

Discerning cinephiles will know Home Alone 2 is far superior to Home Alone. Macaulay Culkin takes a wrong flight on his family’s Christmas vacation, only to get into all sorts of shenanigans in New York.

Eight Crazy Nights

There aren’t a lot of Hanukkah movies, let alone Hanukkah movies filled with potty humor. Adam Sandler’s animated holiday film is a bit dark, but packs a lot of laughs as well.

Elf

Another modern holiday classic, Elf follows the antics of Buddy, played by Will Ferrell, an adopted elf who searches for his real father in New York City.