Christmas is just around the corner and if you aren’t already decorating your Christmas trees or deciding on what presents to get for your loved ones, then now’s the time. However, if you still can’t quite get into the Christmas spirit yet or even if you want to get deeper into the holiday mood, we’ve got you covered. Here are 5 Christmas movies that’ll surely help you capture the essence of the holidays.
Also Read: ‘Christmas Bloody Christmas’ is ideal if you hate Christmas movies, love robot Santas
1. Home Alone
Unless you’ve been living all by yourself on a remote island in the South Pacific, you’ve probably heard of Home Alone. In fact, no Christmas movie list is complete without this movie. The film, first released in 1990, became synonymous with Christmas and made Macualay Culkin a household name practically overnight. Also, who could forget Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern’s comedic duo The Wet Bandits.
I anxiously wait all year to say this. Every year. pic.twitter.com/AKov17jkI8
— Kevin McCallister (@Home_Alone_Kev) December 25, 2015
Home Alone offers a heartwarming story, stellar performances and lots of comedy not just through Kevin’s elaborate booby traps across his house, but also through its dialogues. The film’s sequel, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York also features Kevin by himself on Christmas and it too, makes for a good watch.
2. Die Hard
Another classic on our list, Die Hard (1988) follows NYPD officer John McClane visiting Los Angeles to see his estranged wife on Christmas. Instead, he gets involved in a terrorist takeover of a skyscraper and faces off against the terrorists all by himself. The film stars Bruce Willis and features Alan Rickman as the main villain Hans Gruber.
Get ready to jingle some bells 🔔💥#DieHard is now playing in theaters for a limited time! Get tickets now to see it on the big screen: https://t.co/Wcp3OkOCUr pic.twitter.com/4BGKIXyger
— Die Hard (@DieHard) December 9, 2023
While there’s been a debate about whether Die Hard can be considered a Christmas movie or not, the general consensus among everyone across the spectrum is that it is indeed a Christmas film. If you’re on the lookout for an action-filled, thrilling movie, you should definitely watch Die Hard.
3. Arthur Christmas
An animated movie on our list, Arthur Christmas is an often overlooked yet heartwarming story about Arthur, who is the youngest son of current Santa Claus Malcolm, and is responsible for answering children’s letters to Santa. Reindeers and the traditional sleigh that’s associated with Santa Claus has been replaced by an intricate and precise military style operation overseen by Arthur’s older brother Steve.
However, when Steve and his army of elves miss out on delivering a child’s present on Christmas Eve, Arthur takes it upon himself to make sure the present gets delivered. The movie, which released in 2011, features James McAvoy as Arthur and offers the perfect blend of comedy, drama as well as a heartwarming ending that leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy inside.
4. The Holiday
Ever wonder what it’d feel like to exchange houses with someone in a different part of the world for a vacation? Well, that’s exactly what happens in this movie which follows Cameron Diaz as Amanda Woods and Kate Winslet as Iris, as they travel to each other’s houses in Los Angeles and a remote village outside London for a much-needed break from their everyday lives.
I rewatched The Holiday, and it is way better than I remembered
byu/yacjuman inmovies
The film from 2006 also stars Jack Black and Jude Law, and ticks all the boxes on your romcom wishlist, with a Christmas twist.
5. Tokyo Godfathers
Our final entry into the list, Tokyo Godfathers is an animated movie from Japan. Released in 2003, the film differs from a traditional Christmas movie, and tackles many serious themes with a sentimental story.
Made my dad watch Tokyo Godfathers and he loved it.
My all time favorite Christmas movie. Memory eternal to Satoshi Kon.
That movie always finds a way to rekindle my faith each year.
— artofmarza (@artofmarza) December 18, 2024
The film follows Gin, an alcoholic middle-aged man, a transwoman named Hana and a teenage runaway Miyuki as they find an abandoned child on the side of the road on Christmas Eve. They also find a little note with the child, which asks them to take good care of the child and a key that leads to a bag that contains clues regarding the child’s parents’ identities. The trio set out to find the child’s parents.
Offering a sentimental story with glimpses of humor, it is certainly an offbeat choice for a Christmas movie, but is perfect if you’re on the lookout for something that’s unlike any other Christmas film out there.
Also Read: The best Christmas movies now streaming on Netflix