Holiday 2020
8 More Winter Movie Recommendations
Creative Writing Student Gabe Butler respectfully declined to recommend a holiday rom-com, saying, “Honestly, Hallmark movies are annoying to me. There are so many that have the exact same plots, same actors, same tropes but are never the exact same movie. For example, let’s look at Christmas Princess and A Princess for Christmas. Same actress in both movies, same plot, etc. However, they’re still not related?? What a racket!!”
Just so Gabe doesn’t feel left out, here are some more winter or holiday movies to enjoy this season:
The Polar Express: This movie came out in 2004, so you will get to experience some terrible and outdated animation while watching this Christmas classic. Also, are you a fan of Tom Hanks? If you said yes, I have some great news for you: Hanks plays adult Hero Boy, Hero Boy’s father, a hobo, Santa Claus, puppet Ebenezer Scrooge, and the conductor in the film. Not only does he play all those roles, he also plays most of them without different voices for each character! The Polar Express has a child-like wonder about it, so anything bad about the movie is made up for with this mood. Available on FuboTV or to rent from Amazon and other services. —Serenity Block
Eloise at Christmastime: I’ve watched this movie since I was four, yet I still love it to this day … no shame! Eloise, a vibrant, nosy, sucker-for-all-things-romance six-year-old living in New York’s Plaza Hotel. wishes for the perfect Christmas for all of her friends and family. But when the hotel owner’s daughter comes back to get married on Christmas Eve, Eloise believes that she isn’t in love with her soon-to-be husband, and can’t help but try to intervene to help her find true love—a few days before the elegant ceremony is set to take place. Can she do it? Available on DVD through the Disney Store. —Mara Allen
Elf: I would consider the movie Elf to be my favorite Christmas movie. I watch it every year because I just find it hilarious and just overall a good movie to watch! Available on Starz and for rental on other streaming sites. —Kianna Bulin
Jingle All the Way: Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sinbad, this film is a fantastic example of how late-term capitalism can tear apart a family, especially during the holidays. Arnold Schwarzenegger plays a successful businessman who forgets to buy his son the one thing he wants for Christmas, a Turboman doll. On his quest to find the most popular toy in the whole country, he meets a deranged mailman played by Sinbad, who wants to help Arnold. Wacky hijinks ensue from that point on. Available to rent from Amazon and other streaming sites. —Gabe Butler
The Nightmare Before Christmas: Two students recommended this film, which is available on Disney+ and for rent on several other streaming sites:
- First of all, it’s good for two holidays. Second, the music is the best. —Taryn Cross
- I love The Nightmare Before Christmas, mostly because of the music, even though I don’t celebrate Christmas myself. I love “This is Halloween,” “Sandy Claws,” all the music. Marilyn Manson’s cover is phenomenal. I listen to the soundtrack regularly throughout the year. —Derek Jepson
How the Grinch Stole Christmas: A beloved Christmas movie that’s about Christmas being for everyone and how joy comes from being with the people you love, not the materialistic gifts that one gives and gets. The character of the Grinch is a source of comedy as well, which will keep you laughing and loving the grumpy character as he goes through a “change of heart” about what the true meaning of Christmas is. Available on Netflix and for rental elsewhere. —Jasmine Hanson
The Man Who Invented Christmas: Celebrated Victorian author Charles Dickens was riding high on the success of his bestselling novel Oliver Twist, but his three subsequent books were all major flops. Since he’s spent himself into debt renovating his London townhouse, he has to write another bestseller before his creditors come calling. His publishers are demanding a Christmas novel, and he’s all over the idea. There’s just one problem: He has a raging case of writer’s block. Based on the true story of how Dickens came to write A Christmas Carol, this film is a warm, fuzzy delight. If you’re at all familiar with the main beats of the holiday classic novel, you’ll be entranced by the story inspiration Dickens finds all throughout this lovely film. Starring Downton Abbey‘s Dan Stevens as Charles Dickens and Christopher Plummer as the Scrooge who’s slowly taking shape in his imagination. Available to rent from Amazon and other streaming sites. —Professor Tracy Fernandez Rysavy
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York: Home Alone 2 is my favorite holiday movie. It is a laughter-filled movie yet also heartwarming in certain points. Watching Kevin defeat the bandits is hilarious. Available on Disney+ and for rental on other streaming sites. —Hailey Miller
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey: Featuring a predominantly Black cast, including Oscar-winner Forest Whitaker, Jingle Jangle serves up a steampunk holiday tale about a jaded toymaker (Whitaker) whose heart grows three sizes after a visit from his sweet little granddaughter. Also starring Anika Noni Rose (aka Princess Tiana from The Princess and the Frog), Puerto Rican music star Ricky Martin, and comedian Keegan-Michael Key. Now available on Netflix. —Professor Tracy Fernandez Rysavy