Many people seem to lose their love for the holidays as they get older, for various reasons. As a child, my favorite time of the year was always October through December, and luckily for me, that hasn’t changed.

There have been a few times when I had to push myself to get into the holiday spirit, because life has its challenges. Yet I noticed that when I watch my favorite Christmas films, I feel jollier. (Like, wanting to go door to door singing Christmas carols, jolly)

Here are four of those movies, and hopefully, they can add a little cheer to your life every year as well.

Home Alone (1990)

When I was a child, the thought of being home alone sounded fun. But I couldn’t imagine being solo for days like Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin). In a rush, the McCallisters had to quickly head to the airport to catch their flight to Paris. It wasn’t until mid-flight that Kate (Catherine O’Hara), Kevin’s mom, realized that he was still at home. While she had to figure out how to get back to Chicago, Kevin had to defend their residence against a pair of burglars.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

While this movie might’ve frightened some of my peers when they were younger (the Grinch looks a bit scary), this became one of my favorites. Jim Carrey portrays the mean, grouchy green guy who has a deep hatred for Christmas and the “way too jolly” residents of Whoville. We know the story, but he sets out to ruin their cheerful day and ends up learning that Christmas is more than just material things.

Also, my hot take is that the Grinch had a reason to act the way he did. As a child, he was treated differently by classmates, specifically Augustus MayWho (Jeffrey Tambor), who later became the Mayor. This experience shaped his feelings towards the season.

Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer (2000)

If you aren’t aware, yes, this special was based (and named after) the 1979 song. Every time I mention this to someone, they either call it silly or say they’ve never heard of Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer. However, to me, it’s a classic. Grandma Spankenheimer drank way too much eggnog but forgot her medication, so she went outside anyway…and got run over by a reindeer who smelled her famous fruitcake. She’s the owner of a store that Cousin Mel, a greedy woman, wants to sell to a wealthy man named Austin.

The grandma goes missing, prompting Cousin Mel to hatch her plan, but Jake Spankenheimer refuses to let it be successful. In this film, Santa even goes on trial.

This Christmas (2007)

I love This Christmas so much because it shows what the holiday looks like for regular families. It focuses on the Whitfield family as they face challenges that reveal secrets, ultimately bringing them together. They eventually realize that their love for one another is stronger than the drama. From sibling rivalries to hidden love and more, this production stars heavy hitters like Idris Elba, Loretta Devine, and Regina King.

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