When December rolls around, almost everyone is ready for Christmas. One of the best ways to get in the mood for Christmas is to snuggle up under a blanket with your favorite snacks while watching a Christmas movie. When picking a Christmas movie to watch, everyone has their favorites. The Weekly Talon put a poll out on Instagram to see what the top picks were. Here are some of the highlights.
One of the most popular picks was Christmas Vacation by far. From its hilarious, embarrassing scenes to its sweet family charm, it’s a classic most people watch every year, and it is by far civics teacher Kamryn Harris’s favorite.
“I love Christmas Vacation because my whole family loves it so I’ve grown up seeing it every year,” Harris said. “It’s so hilarious even year after year knowing exactly what’s about to happen. My dad and I will start laughing in anticipation before the funny scene comes on.”
A classic that is rewatched every year for its heartwarming ending and good message was also mentioned. The Grinch by Dr. Seuss is a staple in most households during Christmas. It encompasses what many think makes a good movie. A character goes from good to bad, an adorable sidekick, and a happy holiday ending. For junior Quinn Smeeton, this is the quintessential Christmas classic.
“I love The Grinch because it is the most rewatchable Christmas movie in my opinion,” Smeeton said. “I watch it every December and it always is the movie that makes me feel the most in the Christmas mood. I also get told sometimes that I look like Cindy Lou Who, which I don’t really see but maybe a little. I even dressed up as her one year, and I love the song they sing in the movie. I just love the movie!”
One of the main characters of Christmas is Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, so it’s no shock that his movie was quite a top choice. Rudolph is one of those movies most people have seen since they were little, sitting on the couch with feelings of eagerness for the magical Christmas Eve, ready for Santa and his reindeer to land on their roof with gifts.
“It was always one of the first Christmas movies they would broadcast on TV,” recalls senior Kathryn Harpe. “And I remember rushing to get homework done so I could watch it after dinner. [My sister Meredith] and I would rush to take a shower during commercials so we wouldn’t miss any of it.”.
While many of these movies were expected picks, there was one choice that was a little more uncommon. Most people are aware of the ballet The Nutcracker. The Nutcracker follows Clara, a young girl, who gets a beautiful Nutcracker for Christmas. That night she dreams she goes on an adventure with the nutcracker through many magical lands. The Nutcracker and the Four Realms is a modern film adaptation of the classic ballet. Freshman Raina Calhoun selected this movie as her favorite.
“I’ve been a ballerina since I was around three, and the Nutcracker always held a special place in my heart for that very reason,” Calhoun notes. “I slowly developed a love for theater about four years ago and gave me a strong appreciation for well-made films so mixing my love of ballet and well-made movies takes the place of my favorite. Listening to the nostalgic classic music along with beautiful gowns, dancing, and the story of Clara going through the realms to save them all truly brings out my inner child and easily takes the place of my favorite Christmas movie.”
It is clear that these films add a certain joy to the holidays, often bringing back for many feelings of childhood nostalgia. Whether you watch these movies snuggled up by yourself or surrounded by family, they truly are magical.