It’s hard to miss the jolly mood of Christmas when December hits, but if you need some help getting into the spirit of this winter holiday, we have a few film suggestions to get you right there
Home Alone (1990)
If you’re a 70s-80s kid, it’s very hard not to remember this Christmas classic. Eight-year-old Kevin is accidentally left at home as his family departs for France for the holidays. With his new-found freedom and free reign over their giant house, Kevin was first elated, until thieves started to target his home.
Die Hard (1988)
Alright – so, is Die Hard a Christmas film or not? Many would concede it to be so as it takes place over the Christmas holiday with many family and friendship dynamics at play. Die Hard is Bruce Willis break-out film, where the actor portrays an action hero unlike those at the time (think Stallone’s Rambo, Schwarzenegger’s Terminator etc…). The film follows New York City police detective John McClane (Willis) who got caught up in a terrorist takeover of a Los Angeles skyscraper while visiting his estranged wife.
Also see: A Disney+ filled December with re-imagination of classics
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
This animated film follows the story of Jack Skellington, a big shot from Halloween Town. Being the best at bringing Halloween to life, Jack suddenly finds himself uninspired until he chances upon Christmas Town, and is instantly fascinated. From thereon, the situation gets out of hand as he becomes obsessed with Christmas, which leads to the abduction of Santa Claus. This Tim Burton film continues to enchant both young and old.
Miracle On 34th Street (1994)
A remake of the 1947 original, Miracle On 34th Street (1994) follows the story of Susan, a child, who would want nothing more than to believe that the elderly Kris Kringle is in fact Santa. With the risk of being institutionalised, she receives help from a lawyer to defend Kringle – and to do so, they must prove that he is the real Santa.
Love Actually (2003)
This is one for all ages. The film interweaves eight love stories taking place from 10 Downing Street to a cottage in France. The cast comprises Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, Liam Neeson, Keira Knightley, Bill Nighy and the adored late Alan Rickman among many others. The film shows that love, actually, comes in many different forms and can be as simple as finding a connection with a stranger in a bar, or complicated when family and friends outside of the relationship become a defining factor.
The Holiday (2006)
With a stellar cast including Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jude Law and Jack Black, The Holiday is a feel-good film about two women trying to get away from their relationship problems. Solution? These two strangers swap homes during the Christmas holiday hoping for a change. From a villa in Los Angeles to a quaint English cottage and vice versa, romance begins anew for both when they meet two local guys. Fans of Nancy Meyers’ aesthetics, will love The Holiday!
