Movies

5 Nostalgic Christmas Movies You Must Watch For A Cosy Night In

Movies are by far one of the best things about the holiday season. From Christmas themed comedies to old childhood favourites, here are 5 nostalgic Christmas movies I’d recommend for a cosy night in.

1. Love Actually

Love Actually is an annual tradition with my best friend, but it’s been a bit sad watching it since Alan Rickman died. Some people think it’s problematic, and I’d agree. It’s a product of its time. Overall, I think it has some really funny moments but also is really sweat and reminds us of how important love is.

It’s hard to even surmise Love Actually because there are so many different storylines but they’re all connected. In short: four separate love stories intertwine and come to fruition (or well… crash and burn) coming up to Christmas. The Christmas comedy has cameos from Mr Bean himself Rowan Atkinson, Ant & Dec. It also has a star-studded cast of Kiera Knightly, Liam Neeson, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, and Colin Firth.

Love Actually got a sequel for Red Nose Day in 2017 – but it’s only a few minutes long.

2. Christmas Vacation

Out of the four Vacation movies, Christmas Vacation and National Lampoon’s Vacation are my favourite.

Christmas Vacation sees the Griswalds trying to avoid their holiday curse by staying home for Christmas. However, even in their own house, trouble finds them. From the hilarious cousin Eddie and his family uninvited to fighting in-laws and the tree catching fire; Christmas vacation is a comedy classic.

Fun fact: A young Leonard from the Big Bang Theory plays Rusty in this one.

3. Elf

I remember when Elf came out, and I’ve been watching it every Christmas since. I went to see the musical adaption one Christmas which was lovely. I’ve seen it so many times but it never gets old, since it’s come out, Buddy has become one of the faces of Christmas!

When a baby Buddy accidentally makes his way into Santa’s sleigh, he’s raised by elves for 30 years. He overhears elves in Santa’s workshop talking about how Buddy hasn’t realised he’s human yet, and is distraught. Buddy asks Papa Elf about it, and decides to go find his real dad in a magical land known as New York City.

New York really is the most magical place in the world around Christmas time, from the lights, the decorations, and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. The public entrance to the Empire State Building is where they filmed Buddy going to see his dad at work, so it was really cool seeing that in real life!

4. The Santa Clause Trilogy

I love all 3 Santa Claus movies, but some people tend to just stick to the first one. I think it’s because a good few years passed between the first and second movie that a lot of fans of the original had grown up, so the sequels just didn’t feel nostalgic. As I was still a kid as these Christmas movies were coming out, I’m emotionally attached to them.

Scott Calvin had no time for Christmas or much of a relationship with his son until one fateful Christmas Eve. He accidentally becomes Santa Claus when Santa falls off his roof. Throughout the films we see Scott come to love his new life as Santa Claus, and his struggles of balancing his family life with his job at the North Pole.

Tim Alan is a childhood legend, from playing Santa to Buzz Lightyear. It’s not Christmas until I hear Jack Frost singing North Pole, North Pole. Check out these Disney Christmas movies.

5. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer

I adore the 1998 Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and not the 1965 one, even through it’s the original. I saw the ’98 film first. Having seen bits and pieces of the first Rudolf, I still prefer the ’98 film. Although it’s nowhere near as popular. It was actually a box office failure!

Rudolf runs away from home after being picked on by the other reindeer. He meets fellow runaway Slyly the fox, the two try to scam the benevolent polar bear, Leonard, out of his cave but leave as friends. Rudolf and his new friends have to save Rudolf’s crush Zoe, from the evil snow Queen Stormella, and then save Christmas itself.

We all know the tale of Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer so in terms of the plot it didn’t do anything groundbreaking but I love it nonetheless. As a child I made sure to watch this every year, and remember the sparkly red box the video tape came in! (Yes, I’m that old)

Honourable Mention

I couldn’t forget about the Nightmare Before Christmas, but I actually watch it on November 1st every year. It’s the bridging point between Halloween and Christmas! For me, it’s more of an in-between movie than a Christmas movie.

Last Christmas I rewatched the All Dogs go to Heaven version of A Christmas Carol for the first time in years! It surprisingly is still pretty watchable, and not as sad as the first two All Dogs films!

What are your favourite Christmas movies? Are there any you just have to watch every year?

20 thoughts on “5 Nostalgic Christmas Movies You Must Watch For A Cosy Night In

  1. Oooh! I love these Christmas movies – they’re such classics. You can never go wrong with Elf and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer! I remember watching these as a kid. Thanks for sharing these picks :).

    Nancy ♥ exquisitely.me

  2. I love all these movies too. There is also an animated short movie version of Buddy (I guess from 2014 or something) which I like as well! Do you know Balto? I loved that as a kid, but haven’t watched in years. I think I will watch it again soon.

      1. Balto is a wolfdog that helps a doctor to get medicine to some sick kids living far away. A heavy snow storm, and lots of other things are coming in his way, but nothing seems to stop Balto. It’s such a sweet and beautiful movie.

  3. I love all of these movies, especially the Santa Claus, that’s a must-watch in our house every single year amazing. Great list, thanks for sharing. ♥

    1. I prefer the All Dogs go to Heaven version of a Christmas Carol, but I remember the Muppet’s one fondly!

  4. I watched love actually the other day with my mum and my littlest sister and then we watched the holiday. I love Christmas films! A great golden oldie is Jingle All The Way I really recommend that one x

  5. I love these! I watched love actually just the other day, I can’t miss it out any year. It is a must.

    I love Santa Clause, number 2 is actually my favourite.

    And Elf, well nothing I can add to, it is perfection wrapped up in a elf bow!

  6. I’ve never seen Christmas Vacation, I’ll have to fix that this year. I have a confession, I don’t like Elf and I don’t get the hype at all. I try to make myself like it every year and it never works. Love Actually, on the other hand, is fantastic and I could quite happily watch it everyday for the rest of my life and probably never get bored. Miracle on 34th Street is a favourite of mine x

    Sophie

  7. I think I have watched all of those except for Love Actually! I love a good Christmas film. The new Grinch movie was really funny and my husband and I had fun watching Klaus with the kids. A few that I typically watch each year are Prancer, Home Alone, & the Muppet Christmas Carol. When the kids weren’t around we also watched Die Hard 1 &2, as well as Long Kiss Goodnight 🙂

  8. This is such a fun post! I always look forward to watching Elf & Chrismas Vacation every year! Thanks for sharing! 🙂 Happy New Year!

    melissakacar.blogspot.com

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