By Anastasia Kadiyala and Jackie Lee
Arts Reporters
- Polar Express
This 2004 movie starring Tom Hanks and a pre-Hunger Games Josh Hutcherson is too cute not to see. On Christmas Eve, Billy (Hutcherson) boards the Polar Express, heading for the North Pole. During this magical journey, he becomes the hero of the story and learns about the true meaning of Christmas and friendship. Considering this movie was made a decade ago, the computer animation is surprisingly good in comparison to other movies of the time. And who doesn’t like a good story about two cute kids helping each other out in a snow-filled landscape?
- Love Actually
This British classic, revolving around almost a dozen different individuals, follows their lives in the month leading up to Christmas. The all-star cast navigates relationship, family, and work drama all while preparing for the holidays. What makes this movie so good is the fact that all of these different people are somehow related, in ways both big and small. This movie will make you shed a tear, laugh out loud, and put you in the holiday spirit.
- Elf
This hilarious story chronicles the adventures of Buddy (Will Ferrell) during his life as a humongous elf on his first trip to New York in search of his biological father. This movie will have your stomach hurting because it’s so funny—a slapstick comedy filled with stupid jokes that appeal to all ages. Ferrell is a true comedian in this movie. Aside from Blades of Glory, it might be his funniest piece of work to date.
- Home Alone
Far superior to its successors, Home Alone 2 and Home Alone 3, Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) is accidentally left at home over Christmas break as his family vacations in Paris. Over break, thieves attempt to break into his house and so ridiculous antics ensue. Though Culkin has since been universally recognized as a washed-up child star, this movie shows him in his prime, which only adds to the nostalgic holiday spirit.
- The Nightmare* Before Christmas
In this Christmas-Halloween mashup, Jack Skellington (Danny Elfman) lives his life in a dreary town where happiness has ceased to exist. On an afternoon walk, he stumbles upon Christmastown, a place that is the polar opposite of his home, Halloweentown. There are lights, decorations, and happy children everywhere. In order to bring the holiday spirit back to his community, Jack plots a crime against Christmas. This claymation spectacular is unlike any other and is definitely a must-see for all ages, whether that viewing takes place in October or December.
*CORRECTION: The title of this movie was previously incorrectly called The Night Before Christmas but has been corrected to The Nightmare Before Christmas.
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