Grab the popcorn! 12 holiday movies for the whole family
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There’s something special about being curled up on the couch with your family to watch a holiday movie. Tucked under a blanket with hot chocolate in your hand and the glow of a Christmas tree in the background, it feels like an updated Norman Rockwell image of the season.
Luckily, there’s a holiday movie for everyone, so there won’t be any fisticuffs to ruin the festive feeling. Here are a few of our faves:
Christmas Classics: They may be more than 50 years old, but these movies still can warm your heart.
It’s a Wonderful Life. Starring James Stewart and Donna Reed, the 1946 film reaffirms a frustrated businessman of his purpose as an angel shows him what life would be like without him. Just watching this scene with one of the most famous movie lines in history should bring on the Christmas spirit. 130 minutes, $12.96, walmart.com
Miracle on 34th Street. Made in 1947, this sentimental movie follows the story of a young lawyer who decides to defend an old man who claims to be Santa Claus. 96 minutes, $9.96, walmart.com
Family favorites: Young kids and anyone that is young-at-heart will enjoy these festive flicks.
Arthur Christmas. This highly-rated animated movie has family fun written all over it as Santa’s son is on a mission to help deliver presents before Christmas morning dawns. 97 minutes, $8.99, target.com
The Santa Clause. Inattentive father Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) is the one that must deliver the presents before Christmas morning in this holiday film—all because of the Santa Clause. 97 minutes, $7.99, target.com
The Polar Express. The animated film brings Chris Van Allsburg’s classic book about a train that takes children to the North Pole to life. 100 minutes, $7.99, target.com. And why not read the book, available in hardback for $17.59, target.com, with the kids first?
Perfect for pre-teens and teens: These holiday movies won’t feel childish to older kids.
The Nightmare Before Christmas. This one isn’t for the really little ones because there are some scary characters, but overall it’s a fun movie the reminds us what the holiday spirit is all about as Jack Skellington leaves Halloweenland and discovers Christmastown. 76 minutes, $9.99, bestbuy.com.
Elf. Kids (and adults) love Will Ferrell. Here, Ferrell takes on the role of an elf named Buddy who is trying to find his place in the world when it is revealed that he’s not really from the North Pole. 97 minutes, 47.99, bestbuy.com.
For anyone in a big family: If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed because of family during the holidays, take heed that you’re not alone while watching these movies.
Home Alone. The premise of accidentally leaving one kid home while the rest of the brood leaves to go visit France and having that child thwart would-be thieves seems far-fetched with all the technology we have now, but it doesn’t mean this movie starring Macaulay Culkin isn’t tons of fun. 103 minutes, $12.99, bestbuy.com.
Christmas Vacation. Anyone in a big family knows that the best-laid plans can turn into disaster at the holidays, but at least you can enjoy watching it happen to someone else (i.e. Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold). 97 minutes, $8.99, bestbuy.com.
RomComs for Mom and Dad: Snuggle up after the kids go to bed for some quality time.
The Holiday. This star-studded cast (Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jude Law and Jack Black) gives you the warm fuzzies as they find love in unexpected places. 138 minutes, $8.96, walmart.com.
Four Christmases. Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn learn the importance of family when spending time with their divorced parents and siblings becomes unavoidable. A must-see movie for anyone who has suffered through a day trekking from one house to another during the holidays. 88 minutes, $7.49, barnesandnoble.com.
Bonus:
The Original Christmas Classics Gift Set features seven holiday favorites including Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman. Share the films from your youth with your children and make new memories this holiday season, $19.96, walmart.com.
