We’ve come up with a list of Christmas movies—some classics, some a little off-the-beaten-path—that hopefully get you in the holiday spirit. 

It’s A Wonderful Life

You can’t get more of a bonafide Christmas classic than this 1946 Frank Capra Masterpiece. At this point, I’m pretty sure everyone and their troupe of trained reindeer know the story of George Bailey. The well-mannered bank loan manager that one stormy night decides to end his life only to be saved at the last moment by an angel and taken on a spiritual tour to reveal the impact he’s made in the community and the lives he’s touched.

Beyond being a great Christmas movie, the film is a great deep dive that shows how one’s positive actions on others can cause a ripple effect that touches many people in unexpected ways. It’s good to know that decent people who are willing to help people out are out there (even if they are in a 76-year-old black and white movie). This is an old, somewhat melodramatic film, but it works on all levels. No matter how many times you’ve seen this film, I doubt it will ever fail to give even the biggest Grinch you know the biggest and warmest smile by the time the credits roll.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

It’s all about the 1966 animated version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Jim Carrey did a live-action rendition of the Grinch in 2000 (that was weird and kind of scary). Benedict Cumberbatch did an animated Grinch movie in 2018 (where he’s mean to his dog Max. For obvious reasons, I take offense to that, and be honest, do you even remember this movie?). But, the zaniness of Carrey nor the stone-faced delivery of Cumberbatch can ever match the original Dr. Seuss Cartoon version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

It’s the same story everyone knows. The mean green monster terrorizes Whoville’s citizens during the Christmas season, only to eventually get exposed to the Christmas spirit due to contact with the citizens. What’s great about this version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas is it’s only the essential parts of the story with no padding to boost the run time. It certainly shows its age with its extremely dated animation, but at a trim 26 minutes, this remarkable Christmas story comes off as a pleasant and quick holiday time capsule.

Elf

Is there a movie more deserving of the title “modern-day holiday classic?” I don’t know, but I do know that Elf is undoubtedly in the running. With a career-defining performance by Will Ferrell (yes, you read that correctly) as Buddy, the kind-hearted but naive orphan was raised in the north pole by Elves even though he’s a human. One day he decides to leave his adopted home to find his biological father in New York.

From the beginning of the movie, which uses old school Claymation (Burl Ives anyone?) for the North Pole’s outdoor scenes to the very end. Elf is nothing short of a Christmas visual treat jam-packed with memorable scenes and quotable lines and at its center a strong theme of finding your place in the world. Cheerful and sweet and bursting with laughs that’ll have you bursting the seams of that holiday sweater, Elf is a sure-fire hit for the holidays.

The Night Before

The Night Before is definitely a Christmas movie for adults, but in my eyes, that’s what makes it unique. The story of three friends trying to find the location of a secret New York Christmas Eve party as a last hurrah before each man has to grow up in his own way is an underrated gem that has been pretty much forgotten since it was released in 2015. I find that to be a shame since Seth Rogen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Anthony Mackie all have great onscreen chemistry and sell it as three best friends. There’s even an excellent supporting role by the modern lord of intensity Michael Shannon.

So if you’re in the mode for a Christmas movie, with a few surprises geared more towards the adults in the room, give The Night Before a try! I guarantee you’re in for quite a treat!

Little Women (2019 version)

You may be asking yourself right about now, “Is Little Women a Christmas movie?” To which I would respond confidently after taking a sip of cocoa, “Well, parts of it take place during the Christmas season.” Yes, indeed, Little Women is not a Christmas-centered film but rather a film that tracks these women’s lives as they traverse the world, live in, and find their place in it.

First time director, Greta Gerwig, exquisitely directs the film. Little Women is stacked with top-notch talent ranging from the old guard like Meryl Streep and Laura Dern to more of the new school like Saoirse Ronan and Florence Pugh plus Timothée Chalamet, and let’s be honest, who doesn’t like Timothée Chalamet? So if you’re looking for more of a Christmas-esque movie that’s more about using the holiday season as a means to track the progress in these ladies’ lives and is just an all-around solid picture, Little Women 2019 is a definite winner.

Every time a bell rings …

Let’s face it; getting in the holiday spirit can sometimes be challenging. There’s no on switch that magically makes you want to chug eggnog and start belting out Carols (at least that’s how it is for most people). But, Christmas is a wonderful time of year built on sharing and appreciating one another. Hopefully, if you’re not already feeling the Christmas spirit, these films will get you there, and if you’ve already fully decked the halls, well, at least you got some extra viewing to keep the feeling going strong. Merry Christmas!