By Kevin Gardner

Holiday movies are an integral part of the holiday experience for many families. Consider adding these five holiday movies to your holiday tradition.

1. Home Alone

Home Alone is the classic holiday comedy that made Macaulay Culkin a household name. Possibly best known for its infamous aftershave scene, this 1990 release featured the clever hijinks of Kevin McCallister. Kevin, played by Culkin, is forced to fend off a pair of not-so-bright burglars after being accidentally left home alone. The bulk of the film focuses on slapstick comedy and Kevin’s witty one-liners, however, the film also includes a heart-warming message about the value of family and forgiveness. 

2. Frozen

Frozen, was a huge animated hit, released in 2013. Best known for its catchy songs, such as “Do You Want to Build a Snowman” and “Let it Go,” Frozen is a tale of two sisters inspired by Hans Christian Anderson’s “The Snow Queen.” The plot of Frozen centers around princess Elsa, voiced by Idina Menzel, and her struggles to come to terms with her sometimes dangerous magical ability. After a magical accident leads Elsa to isolate herself and plunges the kingdom into eternal winter, Elsa’s sister Anna, voiced by Kristen Bell, sets out on a quest to find her sister. This heartwarming tale of the love between two sisters is sure to be a family favorite.  

3. Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch

Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch has been brought to life on screen in several formats. This 2018 3D animated version is based on the book How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, which was written by Theodor “Dr. Seuss” Geisel in 1957. A few plot elements were updated for modern audiences, but the basic story remains one of the Grinch attempting to steal Christmas from the Whos, only to find that the true spirit of Christmas lies not in presents and things, but in the joy it brings. 

4. Miracle on 34th Street

Miracle on 34th Street is a holiday classic, originally released in 1947. This film won three academy awards and was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress. When Kris Kringle, played by Edmund Gwenn, discovers that the man assigned to play Santa in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is intoxicated, he complains to the event director, played by Maureen O’Hara, and ends up getting hired to take his place. After insisting that he is the real Santa, Kris faces commitment to a mental hospital and must convince a judge he is the real Santa to avoid this fate. Part courtroom drama and part heartwarming tale of faith and the power of kindness, this classic can be enjoyed by children and adults alike.

5. A Christmas Story

A Christmas Story is a 1983 comedy that blossomed into a cult classic and then into a full-blown holiday tradition, complete with an annual 24-hour marathon. This film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry in 2012. An adult version of the central character, Ralphie Parker, narrates this tale of a child’s quest for the ultimate Christmas gift, a Red Ryder Carbine-Action 200-shot Range Model air rifle, with a compass in the stock and a thing that tells time. Not every aspect of this movie has aged well, but the movie retains much of its childhood wonder, quotable moments and laugh-out-loud comedy. If you don’t want to wait for the annual marathon, you can catch this movie on your favorite movie watching websites.

There are many holiday movies to choose from. These five classics entertain and reinforce the holiday spirit in ways that are sure to make them part of your holiday tradition.