Opinion: Top 10 Christmas Movies to Watch over the Holidays

It’s time! As the holidays are fast approaching and we all prepare for a relaxing break from finals, we need to figure something out. What Christmas movies are worth watching? Here are, in my opinion, 10 of the best Christmas movies of all time that are essential for a perfect holiday:

10. Polar Express

The Polar Express (2004) | Source: Franklin Theatre

Released in 2004, clocking in at around 1 hour and 40 minutes, The Polar Express (G) tells the story of a young boy who on Christmas Eve rides on the Polar Express to the North Pole and, of course, learns about friendship and bravery.

Admittedly, nobody can watch The Polar Express without feeling some extent of uneasiness towards the characters. They are just too creepy to earn a spot higher than 10. On the other hand, many students at IMSA grew up with this movie and it is becoming a nostalgic classic. The holidays without this movie would be incomplete.

9. A Charlie Brown Christmas

A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) | Source: IMDb

A Charlie Brown Christmas was released in 1965 as an animated television special and was the first special based on the comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz. It tells the story of Charlie Brown who becomes depressed at the commercialism he sees around him and tries to find the meaning of Christmas.

For all ages, this short film has unquestionably become a classic, and family-friendly, holiday movie. While only taking 25 minutes, I plan on never skipping this one during the holidays.

8. Home Alone

Home Alone (1990) | Source: 20th Century Studios Family

This is where things get very controversial. The Home Alone (PG) series is the highest grossing Christmas series. It tops the list at $914,762,040 in the worldwide box office. In one word, the movie is popular. It tells the story of an 8-year-old boy who is a troublemaker. He gets left home alone by accident and has to defend himself against burglars on Christmas Eve.

Home Alone is undoubtedly a classic for many. It’s a family-friendly film at about 1 hour and 43 minutes and is good for a laugh. However, there’s only so many times I can watch a family full of bad people leaving a kid alone. It’s getting rather old and therefore only ranks 8 on this list.

7. Elf

Elf (2003) | Source: IMDb

At 7th place we have another highly controversial one. Released in 2003, Elf (PG) tells the story of an oversized elf that travels to New York City to find his biological father who is in need of some Christmas spirit.

Sitting at about 1 hour and 37 minutes, the film is gradually becoming a must-watch for many families. It’s a comedy that I don’t skip for any holiday season. However, I will only watch it if I’m in a good enough mood. There has never been a character as annoying as Buddy the Elf (the main character). That said, a grown man in an ugly elf suit and behaving like a child for 1 hour and 37 minutes has a great chance of ruining my mood.

6. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001) | Source: IMDb

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (PG), released in 2001, is the first part of a series of films based on J.K. Rowling’s books. It tells the story of an orphaned boy, Harry Potter, who enrolls in wizardry school where he learns the truth about himself and a terrible evil.

Hear me out. It is a holiday movie. If you start watching this film at 10:32:59 PM on December 24, 2023, Ron will say “Happy Christmas Harry” at exactly midnight. For a good portion of the movie, the setting is snowy and decorated for the holidays. Admittedly, this claim might just be an excuse to binge the whole series. I am not going to complain about watching this 2 hour and 32 minute film as a break from school.

5. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) | Source: IMDb

Released in 1989, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (PG-13) is a 1 hour and 37 minute film about the Griswold family’s plan for Christmas that turns into a mess.

Who doesn’t love this film? It tells the story of a man who just wants to give to his family a Christmas like he remembered from his childhood. It succeeds in conveying a good message in a highly comedic way. This classic never fails to entertain me and is essential for a good holiday movie binge.

4. How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966) | Source: IMDb

The 26 minute short film How the Grinch Stole Christmas! released in 1966 is about a grumpy green…thing…that plans to steal Christmas from the Whos of Whoville and then changes plan when he discovers the meaning of Christmas.

Please note that I am not highlighting the live action How the Grinch Stole Christmas, that film is nothing but terrifying. This more child-friendly original version is not so much, as it’s a classic that people of many ages have watched on the TV for decades. It’s a cute, family-friendly film (unlike its live action counterpart) and I will never be skipping it during my holiday binge.

3. Candy Cane Lane 

Candy Cane Lane (2023) | Source: IMDb

Candy Cane Lane (PG) is a brand new film that was not available in theaters. It is only available through streaming platforms to watch from the comfort of your couch (or dorm bed if you are willing to procrastinate on finals studying).  It’s a comedic film starring Eddie Murphy and it tells the story of a man that is determined to win a neighborhood decorating contest and makes a deal with an elf to help him win. Of course, things go wrong and he unleashes the 12 days of Christmas on his town.

I thoroughly enjoyed the 2 hours I spent watching this film. It was unexpectedly hilarious and a great, family-friendly movie that will 100% be added to my list of annual holiday movies to watch.

2. The Holdovers

The Holdovers (2023) | Source: IMDb

The Holdovers (R) is another brand new film that was unexpectedly entertaining. It demonstrates the meaning of Christmas through an emotional yet comedic movie about a troubled high school student at a boarding school (sound familiar?) with a cranky teacher who are forced to spend the holiday break together on campus.

When I went to go see this movie in theaters, I did not expect to shed a few tears, but I definitely did. The movie was very well done and conveyed a good message about the meaning of Christmas and finding light in the dark. During the course of the movie (2 hours) I laughed, cried, and decided that this was going to be my favorite holiday movie on my binge list except for…

1. The Nightmare Before Christmas

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) | Source: IMDb

Tim Burton’s 1993 The Nightmare Before Christmas (PG) is a film about the king of Halloween Town who stumbles upon Christmas Town and tries to bring it back home, which leads to chaos.

Typically, I do not support the argument that this is a holiday movie, but as it is my favorite movie, it is now considered a holiday one NOT Halloween. After all, it does have Christmas in the title, not Halloween. This movie has superb storytelling and attention to detail. There’s something about it that makes the movie so lovable. Whether it’s the too-catchy soundtrack or the characters themselves, I can guarantee that I am spending 1 hour and 16 minutes of my life before Halloween watching this and another 1 hour and 16 minutes watching it before the holidays.

Enjoy the holidays and whatever movies you may choose to watch over the much-needed break!