Top (and not-so-top) Christmas Movies
The time has finally come! ‘Tis the week before Christmas and all through the house, laptops are closing, Prosecco is popping, and cheesy Christmas movies are being watched. Even though this blog is meant for tales of my personal relationships, today is destined for the meet cutes we know and love (kind of) on the big screen.
Let’s get to it…
Comforting
Coming in first are my comfort films that I always watch each year!
The Holiday—Jude Law and that smile… enough said!
Christmas Vacation—Don’t judge! This is a Chevy Chase classic and one my whole family watches every year. “It’s a beaut” is one of my most quoted lines, as well as “Let ‘er rip!”
The Grinch (2018 cartoon)—My nephews love this film and I can’t help myself, cause Benedict Cumberbatch is brilliant!
Home Alone—I disliked this film my whole childhood. I couldn’t handle Kevin being left behind, since that was my recurring nightmare as a child. But as an adult, I love this movie!
Happiest Season—This film is a great depiction of family dynamics and trying to keep face among chaos! It’s cute, sweet, and all the family dysfunction makes it endearing (ironically)!
Newbies—Out this year
Coming in hot are the 2024 releases! I’ve watched some, while I have a handful yet to get to (On the Watchlist).
Our Little Secret—Out of all the new Christmas films this year, this one is my favourite! It still has all the cheese without too much cringe and the acting is (generally) better. Also, I can't say this enough. Kristin Chenoweth is sooooo underrated! She's a star, Lindsay Lohan is great, and this is genuinely cute.
That Christmas—There's no cheese in this, just the perfect accumulation of cuteness. I watched with my nephews and they loved it. I'll be honest, I definitely got a little teary at some of the parts. There's something about kids movies that just squeeze our little adult hearts with love! Definitely a great family-friendly Christmas flick.
Meet Me Next Christmas—I watched this while putting together an 81 inch tall bookshelf! I thought it was charming and had the classic amount of cheese we have come to love from Christina Milian. Also, there’s a baking scene that had me giggling because the cheesiness went from casual to out of this world!
The Merry Gentlemen—This film is Magic Mike meets Hallmark. It has all the cringe you can imagine, with a surprising new element... stripping. Well, it's more like men dancing around with their shirts off. Either way, if you are looking for some entertainment and need a good giggle, this is it! I suggest watching it with your gals. I did and we laughed our way through all the uncomfortable scenes!
Hot Frosty—If you're looking for a film to put on in the background while you cook, put up Christmas decorations, or you're on your second glass of wine and needing a show, this is the film for you! Otherwise, I would skip it. The actor that plays Ted Mullens in Schitt's Creek is the leading man, so that may make it worth it... sort of!
On the Watchlist
The new Christmas movies I haven’t watched yet, but I’m definitely intrigued by!
Dear Santa—I was hooked with the opening of the trailer! It starts with kids writing to Santa and how magical it is except for a kid named Liam who struggles with spelling. He thinks he’s writing a letter to Santa, but writes it to Satan! I even giggled while typing this. Also, Jack Black is a classic so we’ll see if it’s as good as the trailer!
Red One—Honestly, I’m going to watch this because The Rock is in it! Been a fan since his WWE days. But Chris Evans, Lucy Liu, and J.K. Simmons as the kidnapped Santa are also a pull!
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever—I wasn’t necessarily interested in this one, but then people kept mentioning how good it is, so now I have to watch it to see what all the fuss is about!
Carry-On—I think this one is trying to be a Die Hard kind of Christmas film, where it’s not really Christmas but an action movie around the time of Christmas! I’m all for that… and Taron Egerton!
Class & Cheese
These are the films I throw on while wrapping presents or in need of a cutesy and cheesy chick flick to escape my life! If I don’t get to them, then I’m not too fussed. But if I do end up watching them, they always bring me joy!
Something From Tiffany’s—Click flick vibes.
Holidate—I find this funnier each time I watch it. Finding someone to keep you company for all the holidays throughout the year, without any catches! Maybe I should try that in 2025?!
Single All the Way—Jennifer Coolidge as a drunk aunt is worth the watch!
The Holiday Calendar—down-on-her-luck girl is reminder of what’s right in front of her.
The Noel Diary—Murder She
Falling for Christmas—Lindsay Lohan goes from superficial to falling off a mountain (seriously), having memory loss, and becoming a kind person!
Elf—Will Farrell… need I say more?
White Christmas—The classic of all classics with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen.
Love Actually—I watched this for the first time in 2011 when I first moved to London and was alone over the holidays! I’ll never get over what Allan Rickman’s character did to Emma Thompson’s character.
The Polar Express—whimsical kids movie!
A Charlie Brown Christmas—it’s Charlie Brown… you can’t go wrong.
Jingle All the Way—Arnold Schwarzenegger is always a yes!
Die Hard—Bruce will is always a yes, even if he says this one isn’t a Christmas movie!
The Santa Clause—grew up watching this and Home Improvement. With a dad constantly being compared to Tim Allen, it’s a movie with lots of nostalgia!
Not-So-Top Movies (for me)
I’m sorry if I offend… I leave it there.
Miracle on 34th Street—I never really got into it as a kid and, therefore, tend to not watch as an adult.
A Christmas Story—I loathe this film… I don’t like how mean everyone is.
A Wonderful Life—another one I just never got into, but have tried multiple times since everyone in my life loves it!
Prancer—I cried too much as a child over this movie. One time watching is enough!
And there you have it! Hopefully you have some suggestions in there to entertain you over the Christmas holidays. For now, I bid you all adieu as I take a break along with everyone else. I’ll hit you up with some more dating meet cutes in 2025!
