No matter how many times you’ve watched them, some Christmas movies are essential to rewatch yearly. If your advent season flew by, carve out some time today to watch these classics that’ll undoubtedly get you in the holiday spirit.
‘A Christmas Story’
It’s not Christmas unless you’ve watched a young Peter Billingsley beg his parents for a Red Ryder BB Gun for an hour and a half. A Christmas Story is equal parts festive and fun, and while there isn’t a rich plot or a particularly meaningful lesson to glean from the film, it’s got all the makings of a classic. Quirky characters, great physical comedy, clean fun, and an ultra-nostalgic setting work together to make A Christmas Story a yearly must-watch (and a convincing campaign against letting dogs inside houses).
A Christmas Story is streaming now on Max.
‘Elf’
A modern holiday classic, more than a few millennials have memorized the entire Elf script. Lines like “Santa! I know him!” and “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear” are forever burned into the collective psyche of all those who love holiday films.
Buddy the Elf has become just as recognizable a holiday character as Rudolph or Jack Frost, and it’s all thanks to Will Ferrell and Jon Favreau’s magical vision. If you missed Elf playing for 24 hours straight on Thanksgiving, you can catch it today on a variety of streaming platforms.
Elf is streaming now on Max, Hulu, and Paramount+.
‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas!’
We don’t have time to debate which film adaptation of this Dr. Seuss book is best, but out of respect for the purists, we officially recommend the 1966 version this season. (But for anyone who prefers the 2000 or 2018 versions, those are streaming now on Fubo and Peacock, respectively.) Short, sweet, and to the point, there’s no reason not to turn on How the Grinch Stole Christmas! this holiday. If you’re feeling up to it, it can be the beginning of an entire Grinch marathon for the day.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is streaming now on Peacock.
‘It’s a Wonderful Life’
The ultimate holiday classic, there’s not much to say about It’s a Wonderful Life that hasn’t already been said. No matter how many times you’ve seen it, turn it on today for a poignant yet feel-good reminder of what’s important this time of year.
It’s a Wonderful Life is streaming now on Prime Video.