Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. And unfortunately, that means the holiday season must come to an end as well. But not before you watch five of the most underrated movies during the holiday season. In my humble opinion, these movies aren’t talked about enough. Yeah, you might’ve heard of them, watched them once, but they don’t get the justice they deserve!
So, I’ve composed an easy simple list of only five things! You could literally watch these all in a day, because you know that’s what holiday break is about.
Grab a cup of cocoa, or tea if that’s your preference, maybe a cookie or nine, bundle up under that blanket and watch (at least) one of these movies.
These are the top five most underrated movies of every holiday season.
1. "Christmas in Canaan" (2009).
I tried to steer away from classic and I mean classic Hallmark holiday movies, but to me, this is one of the classics that no one seems to know about. "Christmas in Canaan" came out in 2009 and stars Billy Ray Cyrus alongside Jacob Blair, Matt Ward and Ben Cotton to name a few. Taking place in Canaan, Texas, during the rising heat of the Civil Rights Movement, without giving too much away, the movie is about two young boys, one being a white, farm boy, the other being a bookworm black boy and the story of their friendship. Slightly biased but possibly one of my favorites, this movie portrays the growing friendships of the two and the family they gain through hope, friendship and defying the odds. Definitely a must-see for anyone looking to laugh, cry a bit and feel absolutely warm at heart.
2. "The Holiday" (2006).
A movie that I don’t 100% consider a holiday movie but one that I always find myself watching every season, this 2000s classic stars Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law and Jack Black in this epic accidental (but is it really?) love story. The two settings take place in Los Angeles, California, and Surrey, England, where both girls (Diaz and Winslet) quite literally switch lives. Not physically, I should add
3. "The Ultimate Gift" (2006).
Yet another Hallmark classic, this movie embodies quite literally the ultimate gift of self-pride and appreciation. After Jason’s (Drew Fuller) rich grandfather passes away, he learns that he must complete 12 tasks in order to inherit this ultimate gift that was talked about: his assumption of money. Along the way to completing these tasks, he meets a young Emily who finds herself sick in the hospital. Emily finds herself a life of joy and laughter, which at first Jason resents, but he soon finds himself itching to give Emily the best life she can after learning of her illness. After completing the tasks and inheriting the money, he learns what the true ultimate gift was of all. This tear-jerker really draws you in from start to finish, but one you simply can’t pass up. I’ll give you a warning now, you’ll need tissues and hugs after this.
4. "Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmas" (1999).
When I was thinking of these movies, I hate (but not really) to admit this was the first on the list. Probably one of the most underrated movies every holiday season, "Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmas" shows three short tales of Donald Duck, Goofy, and Minnie and Mickey and their holiday antics. Each short film has its own way of making you laugh and smile in their classic Disney manner as well as some touching child-like life lessons. For real, who doesn’t have time for an actual Disney classic? This film series is barely an hour long and will leave you looking for more.
5. "November Christmas" (2010).
The last of the list and definitely up there with "The Ultimate Gift," this movie will bring tears to your eyes. Another Hallmark classic, actually presented through the Hallmark Hall of Fame, this movie takes place in Rhode Island with the story of a young 8-year-old girl with a life-threatening illness. "November Christmas" shows the beautiful togetherness of community through Halloween, Thanksgiving, and leading to Christmas and the importance of love, support, and belief. A movie that’s hard to pass up each year it’s on, prepare yourself for this one. This movie calls for lots of cuddles, tissues, and warm drinks, again.
So you’ve come to the end of what I believe are five of the most underrated holiday movies each year. Of course, there’s more than just these, but I didn’t want to overwhelm you. I thought I’d start you off easy. The holidays can always seem to be a busy season for everyone, so be sure to take time and wind down, find one of these movies and let yourself fall in love with their stories as much as I did. Even after the holiday season is over, there’s no rule to say you can’t watch these all year long!
All in all, the holidays are about love, family, and appreciation for all of those around you. I hope these movies show you that as much as I can feel it. And with that, I wish you all a happy holiday in hopes that you find yourself wanting to watch one of these now!
