uCribs’ Unbelievably Nostalgic List of Must-Watch Holiday Movies

By Ian Donnelly

The holidays are here, which means that movie theaters are packed with the latest holiday blockbusters. But you don’t have to see the brand-new box office hit to get your dose of cinematic seasonal cheer. There’s plenty of holiday oldies-but-goodies out there, with a handful of iconic films that rise above the rest as essential annual viewing. If you need some ideas for your festive movie marathon, take a look at our nostalgic list of must-watch holiday films! Chances are you’ve seen most of these, but after all, the holidays are all about tradition!

Home Alone

Everyone’s favorite everykid, Kevin McCallister, lives out all your childhood fantasies of having the whole house to yourself for the holidays. Between the incredible soundtrack, the one-liners, and the booby-traps that inspired us all to try some household mayhem of our own, Home Alone is as hilarious as it is heartwarming and always worth a watch during the holiday season.

Elf

Elf is the quintessential, good-natured family comedy that both your grandma and your littlest nephew can enjoy in the same family viewing session. Will Ferrell’s blissfully cheery character, Buddy, is a grown man who was raised as an elf by Santa Claus. With his childish outlook on life and hilarious antics as he adjusts to life in New York City, his borderline madness makes for some of the funniest holiday entertainment you can find on the small screen.

Gremlins

If there’s only so much heartwarming merriment you can take, the comedic-horror classic Gremlins has you covered. The laugh-out-loud thrills just keep coming when a cute Christmas gift spawns evil offspring, and with a sense of humor that’s self-aware and special effects that still hold up despite their age, Gremlins always deserves a special at-home screening during the holidays.

A Muppets Christmas Carol

No matter what the story is, the Muppets are the only thing that ever beats the original—and you really can’t go wrong with this puppeteer’s-take on the Charles Dickens classic. The songs, the slapstick humor, and Michael Caine’s Scrooge all make this a fantastic flick for this special time of year.

Die Hard

John McClane’s epic Christmas Eve bout with a group of terrorists not only puts the stress of your holiday get-togethers into perspective, but Die Hard also packs some of the most quotable dialogue and nail-biting action into a wildly fun flick. Watching Bruce Willis save the day with a handgun and a whole lot of chutzpah is as festive as Santa shimmying down the chimney, and with so many scenes of McClane scooting through an air vent, who can tell the difference?

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Every blockhead knows that re-watching A Charlie Brown Christmas is one of the cornerstones of holiday festivities. With a soundtrack that gets stuck in your head just from reading about it (sorry) and every runt of the evergreen litter doomed to be named ‘the Charlie Brown tree,’ no other movie has made such an impact on the holiday season. It’s a timeless animated tale that never gets old and is a treat to watch with the whole family.

A Christmas Story

You practically have to shoot your eye out to avoid watching this classic holiday movie on Christmas. It gets a televised 24-hour marathon that runs every year on Christmas day, and with good reason—A Christmas Story is full of valuable life lessons. It taught us all how to dream big, that there’s a time and place for swearing, and the sanctity that is the unbreakable bond of a triple dog dare. For a refresher on the important things in life, A Christmas Story is a must-watch whether you’re wrapping presents late on Christmas Eve or prepping your infamous holiday stuffing.

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