I’ve been preoccupied with my studies for exams for the past few weeks. If I’m not in the library, I’m in my room writing an essay or reading for the next exam. While I know December is filled with thoughts about the latest exams for many students, it’s imperative to break free from the workload and start celebrating the holiday season. One thing you can do is watch some of your favorite Christmas movies.
With the changing of the seasons, all I can think about is getting under my blankets with a hot chocolate in hand before scrolling through all the streaming sites to search for my favorite holiday flick. There’s only one problem: there are too many choices to select from. It’s hard for me to get into the Christmas spirit if I can’t pick the right film to help liven up the mood and experience.
That’s when I decided to do some digging and ask fellow Gen Zers what film they consider to be the best Christmas movie to help them prepare for the holiday season. Some may come as no surprise while others may be a complete shock. All I know is that I’m already anticipating some internet debates.
During the holiday season, the Home Alone franchise can be found playing in the background of many households. The film is a classic, and watching it every year around Christmas time has become a regular tradition for me. I believe the same can be true for Gen Zers, as Home Alone was picked several times by college students as the best Christmas movie to watch during the holiday season. As if the plot wasn’t already etched in our memories, the first two films in the Home Alone series follow Kevin McCallister and his family as they arrange large Christmas vacations, the first one to Paris and the second one to Florida.
In the first film, Kevin will have to devise a strategy to protect his house from burglars. In the sequel, he has to stop the same thieves, but this time in New York, from going to rob an old man’s toy store. “It reminds me of [my] formative years and my happiness,” says Penny Peng, who attends San Jose State University.
Kevin is what I aspired to be when I was a kid, someone quick-witted, funny, and all-around kind, so watching the movie reminds me of my childhood and gives a sense of nostalgia.
The 2019 animated film, Klaus, follows Jesper, the worst student in the postal academy, stationed on a frigid island above the Arctic Circle, where he is tasked with delivering letters in a city where they rarely exchange words. Eventually, Jesper meets Klaus, a carpenter who lives in his cabin and makes homemade toys.
This movie is a favorite among a few college students. “It gives me a warm feeling. It’s super fun to watch at any age, and has a good message,” says Lillian Lazum, a student at FIDM.
If you’re looking for a heartwarming movie this holiday season, this featured Christmas movie is a must-watch.
Despite its short runtime, Charlie Brown’s movie franchise is a favorite of the season not only at Christmas, but also on Halloween and Thanksgiving. I come home from elementary school and find one of the three movies on our shared family’s TV while my parents were cooking dinner for my brother and me. Watching the movie today reminds me of that time in my formative years that I still remember vividly (now that I think about it, maybe that’s why I’m such a full Snoopy girl). I think the film conveys a vital message that we can all take away: appreciate those around you.
Charlie Brown lacks enthusiasm for the holidays at the beginning of the film, and as they get closer, he becomes increasingly disillusioned with the materialistic price placed on Christmas. It is only when Linus shows him the true meaning of Christmas through the reading of the Annunciation to the Shepherds. The others sign up for the festivities and help Charlie’s once-desperate Christmas tree turn it into something incredible. “It’s iconic and conveys a clever message without sounding preachy,” says Ellie, a student at Fullerton College. .
Elf is another cult classic that is placed high on many people’s holiday watchlist, and for some college students, it’s unquestionably their favorite Christmas film. “The comedy is top tier, and it’s a good combination [of humor] for children and adults,” says Nevaeh Tillman, a San Francisco State University student. “Plus, it’s very festive!” Who wouldn’t be intrigued by a film about a human raised as an elf?
As Buddy travels to New York City (I’m discovering a pattern here) to learn more about life in the real world, it offers a sense of relatability for people attempting to navigate adulthood while also sticking to the typical Christmas message of spreading kindness and admiring those in your life.
While The Nightmare Before Christmas is a fun Halloween movie to see, it’s also a Christmas favorite. “It’s creepy, and Halloween is my favorite holiday, but so is Christmas. It’s the best of both worlds for me,” says Parker Redmon, a student at San Jose State University. The film highlights both festive holidays, as Jack Skellington represents the epitome of Halloween as the pumpkin king, but when he stumbles across Christmastown and prepares to kidnap Santa Claus to take over his role, it adds a festive touch.
I think adding Jack’s convenience for the kids in town and making their holiday wishes come true helps brighten up the festive atmosphere. It’s definitely a classic!
Another fan favorite is the 2003 film Eloise at Christmas, which follows 6-year-old Eloise, who lives at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. In the film, Eloise is helping to reunite Rachel Peabody, the daughter of the hotel owner, with an ex-lover before marrying another. The movie has everything that makes it one of the Christmas movies: romance, mischief, and lots of adventure.
Eileen Flaherty of Fairfield University explains why it’s her favorite. “It’s so nostalgic. I’ve been watching it for as long as I can remember and it gives me all the sensations. As Tyra of Loyola University Maryland says, having a Christmas movie set in New York City can have a Christmas vibe. “It’s so funny and so cute,” she says, “alive for Bill and Rachel’s love story. “
Whether you watch the 1966 animated film or the live-action remake from 2000, How the Grinch Stole Christmas is another iconic Christmas movie. The film never fails to get viewers in the Christmas spirit, as it demonstrates that no matter who you are, you have the power to grow and change!
I couldn’t help but include what I believe to be the best Christmas movie — the 1998 film I’ll Be Home For Christmas. The film follows Jake, a college student in California who races home to New York (while experiencing a few hurdles along the way) after his father promises him a new Porsche if he arrives by 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
The entire movie follows Jake as he devises outlandish strategies to get home on time, and this movie was screened every year at our house. While the film may seem tacky at times, its lighthearted, funny, and romantic facets keep me entertained. , and I have it in my books as a Christmas harvest. Seeing it in hindsight makes me feel nostalgic, especially now as a student.
Although Are We There Yet is the first movie that comes to mind when you think of Christmas, the setting and overall theme of the movie make it festive!The film follows Nick played through Ice Cube as he attempts to woo a recently divorced woman. accompanying his two sons to a stopover at their father’s house, who lives abroad.
The challenge is that young people despise any new child their mother introduces them to. Lindsey and Kevin try hard to stop Nick from chasing his mother at all costs, even though he
if that means missing vacations. The film’s idea of locating a circle of family members is a wonderful story, and the many obstacles the children face make the film a lot of fun.
Is it just me, or don’t you forget when Disney Channel aired A Christmas Carol over the winter break?I hope it’s not just me, because A Christmas Carol is one of those videos whose plot is etched in my mind. The film emphasizes the concept of not taking life for granted by making the main character, Scrooge, seem unpleasant to those around him while also being dissatisfied with himself.
Only when three ghosts take him on an adventure through his past, present and future does he realize he wants to change. Every time I watch this movie with my friends or family, I have a moment of self-awareness to appreciate them. around me.
This advice was definitely given through the best drama student in me and I couldn’t help but put it on the list. If you’re looking for a classic and slightly old-fashioned Christmas movie, I propose first of all It’s a Beautiful Life. The 1946 film follows a dissatisfied George Bailey and reflects on his entire life. Just when it turns out that all hope has been lost, he is greeted by an angel who shows him flashbacks of his life and his clever actions in the afterlife. It has had a positive effect on those around you!
The Polar Express is one of the Christmas movies I make it a point to watch every year. It’s a warm and cozy movie that reminds me of the days when my circle of family members and I would set up the Christmas tree and my dad would build the movie exercise to pass around the tree. My circle of relatives also compares me to the little woman when I was a child because we had similar hairstyles when I was little. All those little memories come together to make this a movie that I definitely recommend. Looking for a dose of holiday cheer
The film’s premise is undeniable to younger generations, as it follows a young boy on an exercise adventure at the North Pole, but it also generates more than just nostalgia for older members of Gen Z. This helps with self-discovery and locating the magic in the smallest details!
Unaccompanied Minors is another favorite movie from my and my family’s childhood, and I’m sure my parents still have it on DVD somewhere in our house. The 2006 film follows a youth organization at an airport forced to close due to a sudden snowstorm on Christmas Eve. Children are considered unaccompanied minors because they do not have a legal guardian present.
The kids take advantage of their parents’ lack of supervision and strive to make the most of what turns out to be a terrible scenario by turning the entire airport into their own playground, while getting into some trouble along the way. It’s rarely a typical Christmas movie, but it’s definitely a lightweight watch if you’re looking for something different.
Another film that I believe wonderfully encapsulates the holiday season is A Christmas Story. And, speaking as a theater kid (I’ll say that whenever I can) who was tasked with reading Jean Sheperd’s essays, the 1983 picture is just as entertaining! The film follows Ralphie Parker, who narrates a Christmas when he was a child in the 1940s while navigating youth with bullies. His biggest Christmas wish is to get a Red Ryder bb gun, which his mother opposes. The movie is entertaining since it depicts Christmas through the eyes of a child, and it’s definitely a film to watch with your family.
Last on my list of Christmas videos to watch is This Christmas. The film follows a family planning a Christmas reunion after four years of separation. The film is entertaining because it focuses on the diversity of the family members’ lives as their secrets begin to emerge while they are together for Christmas.
Now that the holiday season is in full swing, I like some of those recommendations and spend my entire vacation watching Christmas videos with hot chocolate in hand.
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