Every year, as finals come and go, I attempt to pick a holiday movie to get my mind off the disaster that was the previous week. From nostalgia, to comfort, to comedy, here are my top three movie picks for the most wonderful time of the year.
“The Polar Express” has to be one of my all time favorite holiday movies. The film follows an unnamed boy as he traverses to the North Pole via a magical train, somehow experiencing everything that could go wrong in a single night. From the iconic hot chocolate scene, sliding down a chute into a massive pile of presents, and being given Santa’s first gift of Christmas, there are so many classic scenes to love throughout the movie. Though I don’t celebrate Christmas myself, I always wondered if my friends took that infamous train every year. Although I am far too old, I know I’d be on that train the first opportunity I got.
I’ve always had a soft spot for the cast of Peanuts characters, and this movie is just perfect. From watching Charlie Brown get into all sorts of trouble, to the adventures of his loyal dog Snoopy, to every other interaction with the plethora of characters, I adore it all. I’d always beg my parents to watch this movie as a kid, and even now I beg them to watch it with me as my childhood nears its end. If you’re looking for a cozy, feel-good holiday movie, this is the one for you.
Filmed locally in Winnetka and an American Christmas movie staple, “Home Alone” is my last pick for best holiday movies. A classic comedy, we follow young Kevin as he is accidentally left behind alone for Christmas, and faces two robbers in the most hilarious and childlike way possible. I remember watching this movie at holiday parties as a kid, half paying attention and half eating as many gingerbread cookies as possible alongside my sister and a plethora of other kids I’d never met in my life. As I grow old and continue to watch this movie year after year, I’m sure I will enjoy seeing my hometown featured in one of the most classic Christmas movies of all time.
As upsetting as it sounds, this will be my last holiday season before I leave for college. It’s a feeling many seniors have been grappling with, this transition between childhood and adulthood, but hopefully we can all enjoy one last holiday season watching nostalgic movies.