With the festive season in full swing, there is no better way to get into the spirit than to watch some of the best Christmas films. Get your family and friends together and break open the festive treats while you enjoy this list of merry movies!
‘Love Actually’
The 2003 classic Christmas film ‘Love Actually’ follows the lives of eight very different couples throughout the frantic month before Christmas. With an incredibly high-end cash and a series of emotional and heart-warming stories, this film never fails to enforce the different types of love that can be experienced during this time of year.
‘Home Alone’
The ‘Home Alone’ franchise is one of the best family films to get everyone in the Christmas spirit. With the first movie surrounding an eight-year-old troublemaker being accidently left home alone while his family leave on a holiday, he is forced to defend his home against a pair of burglars on Christmas Eve. ‘Home Alone 2: Lost in New York’ finds Kevin, once again, left on his own, but this time in the Big Apple. After crossing paths with the same burglars from the first film, this movie introduces new mischief and schemes to be had.
‘The Grinch’
The 2000 film ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ starring Jim Carrey as the anti-Santa himself remains one of the best tellings of the story. The story follows the plans of the Grinch who plans to ruin Christmas for all of the citizens of Whoville. Filled with angsty sarcasm, those who like some relief from the overly theatrical nature of Christmas find comfort in this film. The 2018 animated retelling of ‘The Grinch’ is also an amazing family watch!
‘Daddy’s Home 2’
The second film in the ‘Daddy’s Home’ series finds Brad and Dusty’s – played by Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg – families spending Christmas together in a snow lodge. However, they also get visited by their fathers, played by Mel Gibson and John Lithgow, and are forced to juggle co-parenting with the input of two very different father-figures. This film is great family fun and displays the conflicts that come with having the whole family under one roof.
‘Bad Moms 2’
‘A Bad Moms Christmas’, also known as ‘Bad Moms 2’, is a raunchy, chaotic, and hilarious take on a Christmas film. The second film in the ‘Bad Moms’ series also follows the three friends who now have to juggle the challenges and expectations associated with their own mothers coming home for Christmas. This film is filled with drama and mom rebellion throughout the festive season and is better suited to mature audiences.
‘The Christmas Chronicles’
‘The Christmas Chronicles’ is a Netflix original series that stars Kurt Russell as the man in red. The story follows two siblings, Kate and Teddy Pierce, who plan to catch Santa on camera, and instead find themselves stuck on Santa’s sleigh and brought on an unexpected journey that most kids could only dream about.
‘The Santa Clause’
‘The Santa Clause’ series in an unmatched Christmas Classic. The first film follows Scott Calvin as he accidentally makes Santa fall of his roof on Christmas Eve and finds himself magically recruited to take his place. This series is hilarious and heartfelt and the perfect series to enjoy with the whole family. The later films follow the finding of Mrs Claus and the saving of the North Pole from less-than-ideal Santas with appearances from other magical beings such as the Easter Bunny, the Sand Man, the Tooth Fairy, and Mother Nature.
‘Elf’
‘Elf’ is a dramatically cheerful Christmas film that follows an oversized elf, Buddy, as he travels to New York from the North Pole to find his biological father who doesn’t know he exists. Buddy experiences the delights of New York and the norms of life outside the North Pole while trying to reinforce a relationship with his father. While spending time in the city during Christmas, Buddy acts as a siphon for Christmas Spirit through his annoyingly cheerful attitude.
‘Arthur Christmas’
‘Arthur Christmas’ is an animated family film that follows Santa’s clumsy son, Arthur, as he sets out on a mission. With a misplaced present not making it onto Santa’s high-tech sleigh, Arthur pleads for a special trip to deliver the gift to no avail. Instead, he sets out with Grandsanta on the relic sleigh to deliver the present with less than two hours until Christmas morning.
‘Fred Claus’
Instead of being about Santa himself, this story instead follows his troublemaker older brother, Fred. When Fred ends up in big trouble, Saint Nick bails him out and brings him to the North Pile to work off his debt by making toys. Santa finds himself not only having to deal with the troubles of Fred but also an efficiency expert that has come to evaluate the Christmas operation. This is a fun and enjoyable film to watch with the family coming up to Christmas.
Hayley Rochester
Hayley is an intern with The Western Weekender, currently studying at Macquarie University.