Extra Mustard: Holiday Movie Guide

Tis the season for curling up on a couch and watching movies.

family watching TV at Christmas

In one week, I will go into the garage and pull out the six Christmas bins, the Christmas tree, and the reels of lights to jumpstart the holiday spirit in our house. (Yes, I’m a NO CHRISTMAS UNTIL BLACK FRIDAY kinda guy)

But the invasion of faux pine boughs, white and twinkling lights, Santa Clauses, and snowmen can only get us so far. The tree topper of it all is sitting on the couch for our annual month-long binge of Christmas movies.

The apex of this tradition came in 2020. With COVID, we jotted down 25 movies and holiday specials to view between Thanksgiving and Christmas. And we did it. While the pandemic disrupted our lives and psyche, I will always remember that Christmas season as one of my favorites. We watched a movie almost every night together. Four years later, I know we will never have that opportunity again. Both of my children are in college now, and soon, the weeks at home during the holidays will turn into days and, eventually, hours or a Zoom Call from another town.

But before I bawl uncontrollably into my Egg Nog, let’s savor the present and go through some of our favorite Christmas movies:

Elf (Streaming on MAX)

This always jumpstarts our Christmas season. We always view this classic on Black Friday to give us a swift kick in the JingleBells to get into the mood. Will Farrell as Buddy the Elf, along with James Caan, Mary Steenburgen, Bob Newhart, and Ed Asner, is the cold-water plunge to open your pores and take it all in.

Die Hard (AMC+)

I was one of the first to say this was a Christmas Movie. You’ve got Christmas Carols, holiday parties, and awkward family moments. Sometimes, you need some German terrorists carrying submachine guns, C-4, and detonators to bring “Welcome to the Party Pal.” Side Note: I took my son to see it for the first time in the theater for the 30th anniversary in 2019. When we went into the theater, he was skeptical. When we left, he was a Die Hard fan.

Christmas Vacation (MAX)

Every scene is quotable, and every moment with Eddie is memorable. As a father, I understand Clark's stubbornness in wanting the best Christmas possible. I can also relate to the grandfathers napping on the recliners and that one moment of poignance that makes all the chaos worth it.

Polar Express (MAX)

This is our magical Christmas movie. This is the one when we give ourselves to the true magic of Christmas, about belief, innocence, and hot chocolate. The best viewing of this movie is in IMAX 3-D. You can almost stick your tongue out and taste the snow.

Muppet Christmas Carol (Disney +)

Did you know this version of the Charles Dickens tale is the one with the most lines of the book in the script? See. It’s literature. Who doesn’t sing along with Jacob and Robert Marley (see the joke) for “Marley and Marley.” And we’re owners of the DVD, so we have the myterious “The Love is Gone” song that doesn’t appear in streaming.

Christmas Story (MAX)

I’m of the age that I remember Peter Billingsley as “Messy Marvin” of Nestle Chocolate Syrup commercial fame. So, when I saw this movie on cable in the early 90s (and before there were marathons), I declared it one of my favorite Christmas movies ever. It captured every bit of being a kid during this magical time: the anticipation, the must-have gift, the mall Santa, and the horrible writing assignment. We watch this every Christmas morning as we have our breakfast.

Love Actually (Prime) /The Holiday (Prime)

Both are great holiday Rom/Coms. Both have British locales and actors. Both have unrequited love at the workplace. Both also have office affairs. But we like these as palate cleansers. Although, I do think my wife falls for Jude Law and laughs with Hugh Grant every time they’re on screen.

Christmas Specials (Various)

When I was a kid, you circled the date and time these special programs came onto TV. A Charlie Brown Christmas (AppleTV), Frosty the Snowman (Hulu), Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer, Santa Clause Is Coming to Town, A Year Without Santa Claus, How the Grinch Stole Christmas (The original cartoon on Peacock). When they were over, you were sad to wait a year to watch it again. With streaming and DVDs, we like to watch all of these in a sitting.

Home Alone (Disney+)

It’s like Die Hard, but played with a kid for laughs. What kid doesn’t dream of having the house to himself with the opportunity to fend off the bad guys for the good of the order.

Honorable Mentions

It’s a Wonderful Life, Eight Crazy Nights, Spirited, The Santa Clause, The Chrismas Chronicles, and The Happiest Season. Of course, there are Hallmark Christmas movies, but maybe that’s another post.

What about you? What are your favorite Christmas/Holiday movies?