The Best Holiday Movies

You're gonna have lots of time on your hands over the winter break. And if you live near or north of the 35th parallel, there's a good chance it's going to be too cold to spend much of that time outside. That means movies (and, of course, movie snacks—we recommend Tropical Dots). Whether you're sitting around enjoying some quality cinema time with the fam, hanging out alone in your room, or simply looking for a way not to have to talk to your weirdo cousin, the right holiday movie can make any evening magical. So we've put together a list of seasonally-appropriate films to keep you sane and spirited throughout the break:

Home Alone: Remember how uber-cute Macaulay Culkin used to be? As Kevin McCallister, he gets to live every kid's dream when his family accidentally leaves him behind in the rush to get to France for the holidays. Kevin chows down on all the junk food he could ever want, explores his older brother's room ("Buzz, your girlfriend, WOOF!"), and fends off a couple of madcap burglars. And the movie just happens to be written by the amazing John Hughes (RIP), he of "Pretty in Pink."

Elf: This movie is only a few years old, but we're ready to call it a classic. It's Will Ferrell at his best: emotionally honest in even the most ridiculous situations (he does wear an Elf costume for most of the movie). And the storyline is a clever nod to the true Christmas classic, "Miracle on 34th Street."

A Charlie Brown Christmas: Who can resist the Peanuts (except maybe Dan Bergstein)? This cartoon short has everything you could ever want in a holiday movie: familiar characters, life lessons (dogs make the best dancers and even sad trees can look amazing if you give them a little love!), and unbelievable music thanks to the Vince Guaraldi trio.

Edward Scissorhands: You might not think of this as a holiday movie, but it is! Before director Tim Burton ventured into  animated territory with The Nightmare Before Christmas, he gave us Edward Scissorhands. This movie was completely different than anything else at the time. And it kicked off the Burton/Depp partnership, for better or worse. The socially isolated near-human Edward is taken in by a cookie-cutter suburban family, embraced by the community, and eventually cast out and hunted. But before he retreats, he celebrates the holidays in his adopted home, creating snow with his scissorhands (do NOT try this at home).

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation: If you have a taste for schadenfreude, this is the holiday movie for you. Clark Griswold is the patriarch of a family that will make yours seem functional and angelic. Over-the-top holiday lights, obnoxious extended family members, and a squirrel hiding in a Christmas tree—this movie has it all.

Gremlins: It's not the first movie you think of when you hear "holidays," but this 1984 film begins with what seems like an adorable and creative Christmas gift, a mogwai. When Billy breaks the rules by splashing water on the creature and then feeding the resulting mogwai spawn after midnight, gremlin-filled pandemonium ensues! Unfortunately, we watched this movie when we were probably a little too young and still have night terrors about those awful creatures. Yeah, we were wimps.

It's a Wonderful Life: If you're feeling disillusioned about the holidays, watch this movie and remember what this season is all about: soul-crushing disappointment and improbable redemption. Jimmy Stewart plays George Bailey, a man down in the dumps and ready to end it all on Christmas Eve. But right at the last moment, he's stopped by his simple-minded guardian angel, who shows George how everyone around him would be a lot more miserable if George weren't so miserable. Given the current economic situation, parts of this movie seem almost contemporary.

What's your favorite holiday movie?

Related Post: John Hughes: Danke Schoen, and RIP.