Holiday movies are one of those unbreakable traditions that most people all around the world share. There are the classics, the modern takes on classics, the comedies, the romantic movies, and the family movies. Here are my top five favorite holiday movies that I watch every single year. I also keep them on hand just for bad days, because you never know!
1."Miracle on 34th Street" (1994)
Pro: I will admit, I have had a very strong attachment to this movie since I was little, so it's probably always going to be one of my favorites. It's a classic Christmas movie focused on family traditions, so it's the perfect movie for Christmas Eve.
Con: Even though this is one of the cutest Christmas movies out there, it's also a complete tear-jerker. Don't watch it if you have to be out in public right after, because if you haven't seen it before, you're likely to shed at least a few hundred tears.
2. "Elf" (2003)
Pro: Will Ferrell does a great job as Buddy, the full-grown elf on the hunt for his real father in New York City. It's one of those movies where every other line has you laughing, so if you're in search of a Christmas-themed comedy, this is the one.
Con: Let's just say the quirky one-liners that Buddy repeats over and over will get stuck in your head. You will find a million real-life scenarios that fit those one-liners. You will then say those over and over until you have completely annoyed everyone around you. Just a warning!
3. "Home Alone" (1990)
Pro: I was basically raised on this movie. Every single holiday season, it could not officially be the holidays until we had watched Macaulay Culkin attempt to stop two men from robbing his house with traps and elaborate plans.
Con: When you're eight years old, this movie can set some very unrealistic expectations for when you're parents go out of town. Myself as an eight-year-old probably couldn't have done all the cool things I wished I could after watching this movie, and let me just say, it was disappointing.
4. "The Nightmare Before Christmas" (1993)
Pro: Tim Burton does an exceptional job of this 1993 animated movie. It has all the different aspects you want in a holiday movie, and of course, it's a classic.
Con: The movie definitely has it's weirder aspects with it's skeleton men and the scratching of one's own brain. They all work well together, but it can be a little strange if you've never seen it before.
5. "Black Christmas" (1974)
Pro: Even the holiday season has those nights where you just want to drink hot cocoa and watch scary movies. There aren't many scary holiday movies out there, but this is a good one.
Con: Even though you want to watch a horror movie, this one definitely made me a little nervous and jumpy. When it's stormy and dark out, you might not be too happy with yourself for choosing a scary movie.
Holiday movies are my favorite tradition. It's the perfect way to end a long day, and let's be honest, the holiday season comes with a lot of those. Long shopping days, long work days, and just struggling to get things done in time. All these things can be easily made up for with a movie and some Christmas cookies.
