Happy holidays from Picture Motion! As we celebrate the season with our personal celebration of choice, we all unite over the magic that are holiday movies! Please enjoy the following recommendations from Team PicMo, and send us a tweet with your favorite film to watch:
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966) - I don’t really like the winter holidays - it’s too cold, too commercial, and doesn’t include fireworks or costumes. I do however love the animation and music in the original film. And much like the grinch’s journey, each year I find something new and special to enjoy about the holiday season thanks to great friends, family, and coworkers.
How To Watch: Buy it on iTunes
At the moment, my favorite holiday movie would have to be The Best Man Holiday. This movie was the highly anticipated sequel to the 1999 classic The Best Man and even though it came out almost 15 years after the original, it did not disappoint. We laughed and cried as we saw the original star studded cast navigate their way through friendship, marriage, and tragedy. But no one can ever forget Terrence Howard, Morris Chestnut, Taye Diggs, and Harold Perrineau’s sexy (and hilarious) performance of New Edition’s “Can You Stand The Rain.”
How To Watch: The Best Man Holiday is available on Amazon
It’s not the holidays unless I watch most of the Harry Potter films! While they aren’t technically holiday movies, for some reason they remind me of Christmas. It’s also a tradition to watch White Christmas with my mom every year.
How To Watch: HBO is streaming all the Harry Potter films in January 2018
It’s A Wonderful Life or Love Actually - Truth be told, I was one of the last people at Picture Motion to contribute to the blog so my two of favorites were taken (Elf or How the Grinch Stole Christmas!). That said, both my families typically watch these two flicks during the holiday season and I suppose Christmas really is about being with the ones you love (after getting really amazing and expensive gifts). I haven’t had a chance to watch the new Netflix movie A Christmas Prince, but it has to do with Christmas, royalty, and the leading man is cute so I’m sure this will be my pick next year.
How To Watch: It’s A Wonderful Life is on Amazon or iTunes; Love Actually is also on Amazon or iTunes
The Muppet Christmas Carol! Muppets in oldy-timey costumes? Kermit as Bob Cratchit? Fourth wall breaking by Gonzo and Rizzo the Rat? MICHAEL CAINE AS SCROOGE? It’s by far the best film adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic, even if it did make me think there were two Marley brothers until I read the book in seventh grade (thanks for that, Statler and Waldorf).
How To Watch: Stream it on HBO GO, rent and/or buy it on iTunes or Amazon Prime, or buy the DVD (because everyone obviously needs it in their holiday movie collection)
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation! It’s one of my family’s traditions to watch it on Thanksgiving...and then at least 3 more times throughout December. Although I know every moment by heart, I still laugh through the entire film. I’m the person who nudges my friends to “watch this part, it’s the best part” at every scene… Also, ELF – for obvious reasons. I only watch funny holiday films! They warm my heart in the best way and my family loves laughing together.
How To Watch: Christmas Vacation is available to rent or buy on Amazon and also available to rent through YouTube (Streaming platforms have rarely had it available!)
How often does a film feature a member of the royal family? Queen Latifah graces us with her presence in 2006's Last Holiday. This (slightly) morbid comedy about a careful woman who finds out she only has three weeks to live will give you life!
How To Watch: Rent it on Amazon or buy it on iTunes
The Holiday - they talk about the Santa Ana winds, it’s so SoCal! Jack Black and Kate Winslet are the best. Christmas in Europe. The word schmuck is used to insult someone. Can’t go wrong!
How To Watch: Buy it on DVD and keep it forever. Or Amazon Prime
Elf may be the most quotable movie in history. A few of my favorites:
“You sit on a throne of lies!”
“This place reminds me of Santa's Workshop! Except it smells like mushrooms and everyone looks like they want to hurt me.”
“Buddy the Elf. What’s your favorite color?”
“So, good news - I saw a dog today.”
How To Watch: Elf is available on iTunes and Amazon Prime
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
How To Watch: Stream it on Netflix
Honestly I’m obsessed with holiday movies, so please pass the peppermint schnapps in my direction because I will be watching every single recommendation on this list. My favorites would be a tie between The Holiday and The Santa Clause! In The Holiday, Nancy Meyers created epic interior design decor perfection as Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz swamped homes and ~somehow~ each found love. Personally, I found the Jack Black + Kate Winslet pairing to be a bit unrealistic BUT it’s a magical time of year. In The Santa Clause, Tim Allen reaches peak dad-bod as he turns into Santa Claus, warms hearts, and grows closer with his family. Tim Allen somehow turns Santa into a bit of a silver fox, which is so wrong, it’s right? There are two other Santa Clause films that follow more of his adventures, best enjoyed with increasing amounts of Baileys splashed into your hot chocolate to balance out the lovable mediocrity that ensues.
How To Watch: The Santa Clause 1, 2, & 3 are on Netflix and The Holiday is now streaming on Amazon Prime
The Family Stone - I know. A controversial choice because I wouldn’t say it was the most probable movie of all time. But I love it so much. Especially how sign language is used throughout. They are the most accepting and inclusive family. And I LOVE how Diane Keaton deals with the outsider / the girlfriend who certainly doesn’t share the family’s warmth. (Also, side note, I am obsessed with Diane Keaton and dressed up as Annie Hall four Halloweens in a row)
How To Watch: You can buy it on Amazon