The holidays are around the corner, and maybe you’re like us and you want to cram in as many holiday movies as you can. Well, lucky for you we’ve crafted a list of holiday classics, remakes, Hallmark, Netflix, and family-friendly movies to watch.

Classics to watch:

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

As the holidays approach, Clark Griswold wants to have a perfect family Christmas, so he pesters his wife, Ellen, and children, as he tries to make sure everything is in line, including the tree and house decorations. He also is expecting a huge Christmas bonus from his family. However, everything becomes derailed when his cousin, Eddie, and his family show up unexpectedly and things quickly go downhill.  

The Polar Express

 When a doubting young boy takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe.

Home Alone (1+2)

1. When bratty 8-year-old Kevin McCallister acts out the night before a family trip to Paris, his mother ( makes him sleep in the attic. After the McCallisters mistakenly leave for the airport without Kevin, he awakens to an empty house and assumes his wish to have no family has come true. But his excitement sours when he realizes that two con men plan to rob the McCallister residence and that he alone must protect the family home.
2. After snarky youth Kevin McCallister loses track of his father at the airport, he mistakenly gets on a plane headed for New York City — while the rest of the McCallisters fly to Florida. Now, alone in the Big Apple, Kevin cons his way into a room at the Plaza Hotel and begins his usual antics. But when Kevin discovers that the Sticky Bandits are on the loose, he struggles to stop them from robbing an elderly man’s toy store just before Christmas.

Frosty the Snowman

A discarded magic top hat brings to life the snowman that a group of children made, until a magician, professor Hinkle, wants it back, and the temperature starts to rise. Frosty will melt or no longer be a jolly soul if the kids cannot get him away from Hinkle and warm weather, so he hops a train to the North Pole with young Karen.

Miracle on 34th St. 

An old man going by the name of Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) fills in for an intoxicated Santa in Macy’s annual Thanksgiving Day parade. Kringle proves to be such a hit that he is soon appearing regularly at the chain’s main store in midtown Manhattan. When Kringle surprises customers and employees alike by claiming that he really is Santa Claus, it leads to a court case to determine his mental health and, more importantly, his authenticity.

Review: Miracle on 34th St. (1947) is a story about learning to believe in the good and spirit of Christmas. This film has everything you want in a Christmas movie: humor, romance, jolly music, Christmas spirit. You’ll love Edmund Gwenn’s portrayal of Kris Kringle as Santa. And watching Susan become a believer in Christmas will warm your heart. 

Elf

Buddy was accidentally transported to the North Pole as a toddler and raised to adulthood among Santa’s elves. Unable to shake the feeling that he doesn’t fit in, the adult Buddy travels to New York, in full elf uniform, in search of his real father. As it happens, this is Walter Hobbs, a cynical businessman. After a DNA test proves this, Walter reluctantly attempts to start a relationship with the childlike Buddy with increasingly chaotic results.

The Santa Clauses: 1, 2, 3

1. Divorced dad Scott has custody of his son on Christmas Eve. After he accidentally kills a man in a Santa suit, they are magically transported to the North Pole, where an elf explains that Scott must take Santa’s place before the next Christmas arrives. Scott thinks he’s dreaming, but over the next several months he gains weight and grows an inexplicably white beard. Maybe that night at the North Pole wasn’t a dream after all — and maybe Scott has a lot of work to do.
2. Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) has been in the role of Santa for the past eight years, and his loyal elves consider him the best one ever. But the world of the “Merry Old Soul” turns upside down when he’s dealt a double whammy of news: Not only has his son, Charlie (Eric Lloyd), landed on this year’s naughty list, but Scott discovers that he must marry by Christmas Eve — just a month away! — or he will stop being Santa Claus forever.
3. Christmas cheer turns into holiday chaos when Scott Calvin, aka Santa, invites his in-laws for a visit and must, simultaneously, contend with Jack Frost’s scheme to take over the North Pole. Scott, his family, and Head Elf Curtis must join forces to foil the nefarious plot.

Classic Remakes to Watch:

The Grinch (2018)

The Grinch and his loyal dog, Max, live a solitary existence inside a cave on Mount Crumpet. His main source of aggravation comes during Christmastime when his neighbors in Whoville celebrate the holidays with a bang. When the Whos decide to make Christmas bigger and brighter, the disgruntled Grinch realizes there is one way to gain peace and quiet. With help from Max, the green grump hatches a scheme to pose as Santa Claus, steal Christmas and silence the Whos’ holiday cheer once and for all.

How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

In this live-action adaptation of the beloved children’s tale by Dr. Seuss, the reclusive green Grinch decides to ruin Christmas for the cheery citizens of Whoville. Reluctantly joined by his hapless dog, Max, the Grinch comes down from his mountaintop home and sneaks into town to swipe everything holiday-related from the Whos. However, the bitter grump finds a hitch in his plans when he encounters the endearing Cindy Lou Who.

Hallmark Holiday Movies to Watch: 

Let it snow

A self-defined Grinch, Stephanie, examines her company’s new property and prepares a presentation to transform the rustic Snow Valley Lodge into a new hot spot. She begins her stay at Snow Valley Lodge immune to Christmas sentiment. But as the lodge’s festive traditions provide the Christmas Stephanie never had growing up with her distant father, Stephanie finds herself enjoying every minute. To complicate her professional duties even further, she discovers love. With Stephanie’s newfound Christmas spirit and unexpected holiday romance, she begins to question Falcon’s overhaul. As her Christmas Eve deadline approaches, she’s faced with a decision: should she transform the lodge into a new winter hot spot or embrace tradition and let it snow?

My Christmas Love

A hopeless romantic who can’t ever seem to give a guy a real chance begins receiving each of the “12 Days of Christmas” as gifts anonymously at her door. She begins to believe that the mystery suitor may finally live up to her expectations.

A Royal Christmas (2014)

Prince Leopold, heir to the throne of Cordinia, wishes to marry his young love Emily Taylor, a humble seamstress from Philadelphia. But Leopold’s mother, Queen Isadora has other plans for her son.

Review:  If you like cute rom-coms you’ll love this movie. It has sweet cheesy moments as well as a few funny moments. You’ll be rooting for the character’s happiness.

Holiday Shorts to Watch:

Prep Landing

Wayne is an elf who believes that Christmas is just a job. After working for 227 years preparing homes for Santa’s arrival, he wonders if all his efforts make any difference. His patience is put to the test when he is paired with Lanny, an idealistic rookie who embraces the holiday spirit. The elves encounter unexpected challenges on their mission, and Wayne learns that his job does indeed have an impact in a very surprising way.

Review:  The Prep and Landing short is very family-friendly and gives a unique view of Santa’s workshop and village. The adaptation of the elves acting as spies is an exciting take on the role elves play in the preparation of Christmas. People who loved The Santa Clause movies and Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer will enjoy this.

Frozen: Olaf’s Frozen Adventure

When the kingdom of Arendelle empties out for the holiday season, Anna and Elsa realize that they have no family traditions of their own. So Olaf sets out on a merry mission to bring home the very best traditions and save Christmas

Netflix Holiday Movies to Watch:

Let it snow 

Operation Christmas Drop

With it being a little more than 8 days till Christmas, Captain Andrew is prepping for the tradition of dropping necessary items to the many islands near the Anderson air force base in Guam. Congresswoman Bradford sees the Anderson base as a major spender, so she sends one of her aides, Erica, who wants to become her chief of staff, over to Guam to write a damning report. Erica arrives at the base to search for anything wrong to condemn its closure. Captain Andrew gets wind of the closure and sets out to show Erica the importance of the Christmas Drop. Now Erica is torn between the base and Captain Andrew’s efforts and her boss, who could set up her political career.

Review: This movie has a wonderful story behind it and is actually based on true events. It’s a heartwarming movie that defines the essence of what Christmas is about. It also adds a nice touch of romance. This should definitely be at the top of your watch list.

The Princess Switch 1, 2, 3

Holidate

Fed up with being single on holidays, two strangers agree to be each other’s platonic plus-ones all year long, only to catch real feelings along the way.

Family/Children-Friendly Christmas Movies to Watch:

The Christmas Chronicles 1&2

1. Siblings Kate and Teddy Pierce hatch a scheme to capture Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. When the plan goes awry, the kids join forces with a somewhat jolly Saint Nick and his loyal elves to save the holiday before it’s too late.
2. Kate Pierce, now a cynical teen, is unexpectedly reunited with Santa Claus when a mysterious troublemaker threatens to cancel Christmas – forever.

Klaus

After proving himself to be the worst student at the academy, a postman is sent to a frozen town in the North where he discovers a reclusive toymaker named Klaus.

Unaccompanied Minors

When a Christmas Eve blizzard shuts down the airport, five stranded youths take the opportunity to run wild and have some fun. Racing with golf carts and sliding down baggage chutes, the kids create holiday pandemonium for an uptight airport official Charlie Brown Christmas.