10 Christmas Movies to Get You in the Holiday Spirit

Based on the Dr. Seuss book by the same name, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" takes place in Whoville, a town inhabited by creatures called Whos. The Whos love Christmas and they celebrate every year by going all out! Bright lights, songs, gifts, a roast beast dinner,  you name it, they've got it. The Whos' Christmas celebration is a big deal.

The mean old Grinch, who lives on the mountain above Whoville, does not like Christmas. The Grinch despises the Whos' obnoxious festivities, which he can hear from his home.

When he's finally had enough of their nonsense, he devises a plan. On Christmas Eve, he dresses up as Santa Claus and dresses his little dog, Max, as a reindeer. Together they steal everything related to the holiday from the Whos homs in order to break their spirits. In the process, the Grinch encounters a young Who, named Cindy Lou Who, and must lie to her, telling her he is taking their presents and decorations to have them fixed at his workshop. The Grinch encounters a change of heart and ultimately ends up celebrating with the Whos! 

"Elf" tells the Story of Buddy the Elf ( portrayed by Will Ferrell.) Buddy, a human, is accidentally taken back to the North Pole in Santa’s sack as a baby. The elves raise him to believe he is one of their own, and he lives his life as an elf, raised by Papa Elf (Bob Newhart.)

When Buddy reaches adulthood, Papa Elf must decide whether or not to tell Buddy the truth about his being a human. Around the same time, Buddy puts the pieces together after overhearing the other elves talking about him.

Buddy sets out to find his father, Walter Hobbs (James Caan). Hobbs is a big-time businessman in NYC. The film follows Buddy on his journey through the candy cane forest and past the sea of swirly, twirly gumdrops all the way to the Big Apple.

What holiday is complete without a little bit of the Peanuts? Join Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Woodstock, Sally, Lucy, Linus and Schroeder as they celebrate the biggest holiday of the year,  Christmas. 

In the movie, Charlie brown is frustrated by the amount of commercialism that surrounds Christmas. As a result, he is unable to get into the proper holiday spirit. When Lucy suggests that directing the school Christmas pageant might help him discover the true meaning of Christmas, Charlie Brown accepts, hoping to finally learn to appreciate the holiday.

In attempts to celebrate, the gang decorates a small pitiful tree. This does not make Charlie Brown feel any better. In the end, it is with Linus's help, that Charlie Brown learns what Christmas is really about. 

"Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer" chronicles one of Santa’s reindeer. Rudolph, who was born with a glowing red nose, is mocked and ridiculed by the other reindeer, and he fears he will never fit in. After making attempts to hide his nose, he learns that it is never worth changing who you are to fit in.

Rudolph’s story is summarized by the song by the same name. You may have heard it once or twice. It goes like this:

Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer had a very shiny nose,
And if you ever saw it, you would even say it glows.
All of the other reindeer used to laugh and call him names,
They never let poor Rudolph join in any reindeer games.
Then, one foggy Christmas Eve, Santa came to say:
“Rudolph, with your nose so bright, won’t you guide my sleigh tonight?”
Then all the reindeer loved him, and they shouted out with glee,
“Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, you’ll go down in history!”

"It's a Wonderful Life" Is about George Bailey, an unhappy businessman weighed down by the responsibility to save his town from corruption. Bailey inherited his father's business, which led him into the

Bailey inherited his father's business, which led him into the burdened life he lives. Because of this, Bailey has been unable to fulfill his dreams of traveling and attending a university. When he realizes that his dreams are passing him by, he becomes distraught.

As Bailey contemplates suicide, he is visited by his guardian angel, who shows him a glimpse of what it would be like if he had never been born. He sees that those he loves are either dead or miserable and is ultimately made aware of the positive impact that he has had. 

This movie doesn't have much to do with Christmas aside from taking place over Christmas break, but the holiday season just isn't complete without a little "Home Alone".

The film is about Kevin McCallister (portrayed by Macaulay Culkin), the youngest in a family about to go on a Christmas vacation. The night before the family is scheduled to leave for Paris, Kevin is sent to his room. In the frantic confusion of trying to get everything ready to go, Kevin's parents forget home, leaving him behind while the rest of the family is abroad.

Kevin realizes that he has been left behind when he wakes up to an empty house. For awhile, he enjoys having the house to himself, making messes and jumping on beds as he pleases. It's not until Christmas Eve that Kevin is interrupted when two burglars try to break in. It's up to Kevin to stop them, and he designs a complex series of boobie traps to keep them out.

White Christmas, a classic holiday musical, chronicles two friends, Bob Wallace (Bing Crosby) and Phil Davis (Danny Kaye) who meet in the military during WWII.

When Davis is injured saving Wallace’s life, he never lets him hear the end of it. Davis uses his former injury as a means to talk Wallace into doing what he wants him to, and the two end up a very successful song-and-dance team.

Davis plays matchmaker, introducing Wallace to two sisters, Betty (Rosemary Clooney) and Judy (Vera Ellen) who also have a song-and-dance act. When the girls go to perform at a failing lodge in Vermont, Wallace and Davis follow.

Upon their arrival, they discover that the lodge is owned by General Waverly, their former commander. Together, Wallace, Davis and the girls work to save the lodge. 

Leg lamps, BB guns, and bunny pajamas: this movie’s got it all. "A Christmas Story" is about a nine-year-old boy, Ralphie, and his family. All Ralphie wants for Christmas is a Red Ryder Range 200 Shot BB gun, but  his parents won’t allow it. They tell him “You’ll shoot your eye out!”

Ralphie really, really wants the gun, so he decides to write his school theme about it. When he does, he is met with the same response from his teacher. Ralphie fantasizes about what it would be like to have the BB gun, but will he ever get it?

The film follows the family through a series of crazy, Christmastime situations. The holiday classic is full of comedy, so be prepared to laugh!

In the Christmas Classic, "Miracle on 34th Street", when the actor playing Santa in the thanksgiving Day parade shows up drunk, he is quickly replaced. The replacement Santa actor os a huge hit. Come to find out, he calls himself Kris Kringle, and he even claims to be the real Santa Claus. As a result, he is declared insane and placed in an institution.

A young lawyer believes him, however, and is willing to go it court and defend him. With the help of a little girl, the two fight to defend the man who claims to be the jolly old man himself! "Miracle on 34th Street" combines comedy and drama and is a long-time holiday favorite. Will they be able to win the case and get the man out? is the man actually Santa? You've got to watch to find out!

In "Die Hard", John McClane (played by Bruce Willis) is a New York police officer, visiting his wife in L.A. for Christmas. McClane attends his wife's office during the company's Christmas party.

Shortly thereafter, the party comes to a halt when a group of terrorists led by Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) take over the building and hold everyone inside hostage. McClane finds himself the only one capable of saving the hostages.

Though the film is only related to the holiday by the fact that it takes place at a Christmas party, it's still part of many people's holiday watch lists.