As the holiday season approaches its high point, individuals across the country will be partaking in their usual customs of gift shopping and eggnog making. In addition to these traditions, there is also the practice of watching films about the holiday with members of the family.
Here is a look at some of the more popular Christmas holiday movies that people will be watching:
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (2000), an adaptation of the 1957 book of the same name, is undoubtedly one of the greatest holiday films of all time. In fact, it is the highest-grossing film in that category, with over $260 million domestically (and over $345 million worldwide).
The film stars comedian extraordinaire, Jim Carrey as Grinch, a green creature who is anti-Christmas because of an incident that took place when he was eight. His classmates laughed at him. Six-year-old Cindy Lou (played by Taylor Momsen) is a resident of Whoville, but is not pleased with the town’s perception of Christmas being more about gifts than being amongst friends and family. She reaches out to the Grinch (who lives on Mt. Crumpit) to participate in the annual Whobilation, but the event takes a turn for the worse following another incident of him being laughed at.
The Grinch steals the Christmas gifts from Whoville and plans to destroy them, but he suddenly feels his heart grow three times its original size when he hears the Whos singing, and realizes that Christmas is more than gifts. After managing to rescue Cindy who had come to visit him – as well as the gifts – the Grinch returns to the town, apologizes for his actions, and is forgiven.
Home Alone
While it may not be riddled with Christmas miracles, there are many who feel that their “binge-watching” of holiday movies cannot be complete without what is considered to be a family comedy classic – Home Alone (1990).
In Home Alone, childhood star actor Macaulay Culkin starred as Kevin McCallister, an eight-year-old boy who was accidentally left home by his parents and relatives for their Christmas holiday trip to Paris. He relishes the time he gets away from his family, but soon becomes its protector after uncovering that burglars are having their way with all the vacant houses in the neighborhood.
With his resourcefulness, he creates a bunch of booby traps throughout the house, and eventually – with the help of a neighbor – manages to contain the burglars until the police arrive. Feeling sad about being alone on Christmas, Kevin is soon all smiles again as his mother and family all return to be with him.
Miracle on 34th Street
As far as Santa Claus movies go (and the belief that there is one), it really doesn’t get much better than Miracle on 34th Street – the 1994 adaptation of the 1947 original film.
In the film, Kris Kringle (Richard Attenborough) is asked by Dory Walker (Elizabeth Perkins) to play Santa Claus for the Thanksgiving parade, after it was discovered that the individual contracted to do so was intoxicated and incapable of performing the task. Having done an excellent job, Dory uses her role as director of special events at Cole’s to hire Kris to be the store’s main Santa for the season.
Kris is a huge success at the store – especially among the kids – but he has not won over the affection of Dory’s daughter Susan (Mara Wilson) who was brought up not to believe in fairytales. He is arrested following a ploy by a rival store of Cole’s, and is ridiculed for stating that he is in fact, Santa Claus. Dorey’s boyfriend Bryan Bedford (Dylan McDermott) – who is a lawyer – steps in, and with the help of Susan manages to convince the judge to free Kris and declare him to be Santa.
Before taking his leave, Kris goes about delivering the three gifts Susan said would make her belief in Santa Claus. A father – Dorey and Bryan got married, a house – which Kris made provisions for the two to purchase, and a baby brother – which it would appear is on the way.
The Santa Clause
2014 marks the 20th anniversary of the 1994 classic The Santa Clause, but individuals all over are still drawn to the film as if it’s a present-day box office hit. Tim Allen stars as Scott Calvin, an advertising executive who accidentally causes Santa Claus to die after being awakened on Christmas Eve by sounds on the roof.
Charlie, Scott’s son, manages to convince him to put on Santa’s coat and complete the delivering of the gifts, after which they go to the North Pole. There, Scott is told that by entering the sleigh and completing the task, he has accepted the “Santa Clause” which makes him the new Saint Nick, and he has a year to get his affairs in order and report for duty.
Scott thinks it was just a dream, but throughout the year he begins to experience great weight gain and the change of his hair color that wears down his perception and causes him to realize he is indeed Santa. His new persona receives a lot of opposition from Charlie’s mother and stepfather – who took out a restraining order on him, but on Christmas Day manages to convince them after giving them gifts that they had wanted as children.
Popular Christmas Holiday Movies: Part 1
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