6 Christmas Movies for (almost) the Whole Family
When you’ve had more than enough food, perhaps a few too many drinks and some possibly inappropriate jokes have been shared, it’s time to throw on a Christmas movie. Here’s five picks to get you started!
Die Hard
ACTION ∙ 1988
New York City policeman John McClane (Bruce Willis) is visiting his estranged wife (Bonnie Bedelia) and two daughters on Christmas Eve. He joins her at a holiday party in the headquarters of the Japanese-owned business she works for. But the festivities are interrupted by a group of terrorists who take over the exclusive high-rise, and everyone in it. Very soon McClane realizes that there’s no one to save the hostages — but him.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
COMEDY ∙ 1989
As the holidays approach, Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) wants to have a perfect family Christmas, so he pesters his wife, Ellen (Beverly D’Angelo), and children, as he tries to make sure everything is in line, including the tree and house decorations. However, things go awry quickly. His hick cousin, Eddie (Randy Quaid), and his family show up unplanned and start living in their camper on the Griswold property. Even worse, Clark’s employers renege on the holiday bonus he needs.
A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas
COMEDY ∙ 2011
The new “Harold & Kumar” comedy picks up six years after the duo’s last adventure. After years of growing apart, Harold Lee (John Cho) and Kumar Patel (Kal Penn) have replaced each other with new friends and are preparing for their respective Yuletide celebrations. But when a mysterious package mistakenly arrives at Kumar’s door on Christmas Eve, his attempt to redirect it to Harold’s house ends with the “high grade” contents-and Harold’s father-in-law’s prize Christmas tree- going up in smoke. Reluctantly embarking on another ill-advised journey with Kumar through New York City, their search for the perfect tree almost blows Christmas Eve sky high.
Home Alone
COMEDY ∙ 1990
When bratty 8-year-old Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) acts out the night before a family trip to Paris, his mother (Catherine O’Hara) makes him sleep in the attic. After the McCallisters mistakenly leave for the airport without Kevin, he awakens to an empty house and assumes his wish to have no family has come true. But his excitement sours when he realizes that two con men (Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern) plan to rob the McCallister residence, and that he alone must protect the family home.
Scrooged
HOLIDAY ∙ 1988
Frank Cross is a mean TV executive with perfect qualities of a modern-day Scrooge. Before the night is over, he’ll be visited by three ghosts from the past, present and future.
Elf
COMEDY ∙ 2003
Buddy (Will Ferrell) was accidentally transported to the North Pole as a toddler and raised to adulthood among Santa’s elves. Unable to shake the feeling that he doesn’t fit in, the adult Buddy travels to New York, in full elf uniform, in search of his real father. As it happens, this is Walter Hobbs (James Caan), a cynical businessman. After a DNA test proves this, Walter reluctantly attempts to start a relationship with the childlike Buddy with increasingly chaotic results.
Suggestions? Share yours in the comments!
