11 Festive Movies That Will Instantly Put You In the Holiday Spirit
©20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection1/13Even if you haven't yet eaten your weight in turkey (or, let's be honest, mass amounts of pie), the time has come to faceplant onto your couch and watch some holiday movies. But before you stream Love, Actually for the millionth time, consider trying something new — by which we mean old...or at least super '90s.
Sure, re-watching the classics = a Christmas must, but it's time to check out a few gems from the '80s, '90s and early aughts that may have passed you by. Scroll through, and enjoy some chestnuts roasting on an open fire while you're at it.
©Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection2/13Little Women
Perhaps the coziest movie on this list, Little Women is about a group of sister-friends who — despite not sharing traveling pants — have an unbreakable bond that's tested when men enter the equation. Also, it stars a young Wynona Ryder and an even younger Kirsten Dunst, so what could possibly go wrong?
©20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection3/13Home Alone 2: Lost In New York
There's no way you haven't seen Home Alone (if this is the case, please close this list and watch it right now), but have you seen its equally flawless sequel, Home Alone 2? Because it turns out Kevin's parents learned literally nothing about how to not lose their child on Christmas, and he ends up wandering around New York City, concrete jungle where '90s dreams are made. He also makes friends with a crazy bird lady, so you know, just another day in NYC.
©Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett Collection4/13The Muppet Christmas Carol
No offense to Charles Dickens, but The Muppet Christmas Carol is a million times better than the original book — mostly because it stars muppets. Kermit the Frog as Bob Cratchit and Miss Piggy as his wife are just everything.
©20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection5/13Edward Scissorhands
If you're in the mood for something a little edgy this holiday season, check out Johnny Depp in his best role ever: Edward Scissorhands. The film is beautiful, evocative, and an emotional roller-coaster — and much of it takes place during the holiday season. Yeah, you might end up crying hysterically due to #ScissorDrama, but at least you'll have an excuse to eat your emotions in the form of a yule log.
©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection6/13Batman Returns
Before Ben Affleck was causing controversy over his Batman nipples, there was a time when everyone's favorite superhero was played by Michael Keaton. Watch him and Catwoman go head-to-head in Batman Returns, which happens to take place at Christmas. In other words, it's the superhero holiday movie you always dreamed of but never knew existed.
©Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett Collection7/13I'll Be Home for Christmas
All you need to know about this movie is that it stars Jonathan Taylor Thomas as a college student trying to get home for Christmas. Honestly, the movie's DVD cover really says it all. Prepare your body, because that's JTT dressed as a sexy Santa and leaning on the luckiest cactus in the world. We all want to be that cactus, TBH.
Ronald Grant Archive / Mary Evans8/13Gremlins
Imagine Furbies, but instead of being super cute and fluffy, they're totally scaly and trying to kill you. Annnnnd, welcome to Gremlins! This campy black comedy takes place during the holidays, is 100 percent hilarious, and revolves around an evil swarm of reptilian creatures who basically just want to chillax and get their Grinch on.
©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection9/13Scrooged
Fact: Bill Murray is a comedy legend, and everything he touches turns to gold. In Scrooged, Murray plays a (duh) Scrooge-like exec who is about to ruin Christmas for all his employes. Luckily, a bunch of ghosts show him the true meaning of the holiday, which is great and all, but clearly, said ghosts never saw Ghostbusters.
©20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection10/13Trapped in Paradise
Nothing says Christmas like a Nicholas Cage movie, right? The perpetually-memed star plays a criminal who gets trapped in a small town on Christmas Eve with his brothers — commence hijinks! Yes, there's romance. Yes, there are LOLs. And yep, there's a happy, super-cozy ending. Triple win!
©Miramax/Courtesy Everett Collection11/13* Serendipity*
Let's take things back to 2001, when John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale were still starring in movies (memories!). Their Serendipity love connection begins when they both try to buy the same pair of gloves (hate when that happens), and the rest is fate. Just know this: You'll probably start trolling department stores in the hopes of meeting your one true love thanks to watching this.
©Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection12/13While You Were Sleeping
Sandra Bullock, a.k.a. your favorite celebrity role model, stars in this extremely sweet and romantic movie, which happens to take place at Christmas. The plot is complicated, but basically Sandy mistakenly gets engaged to a man in a coma (don't ask) and then falls in love with his brother (again, don't ask). Things get awkward when the guy wakes up and is like "LOL, wut?", but don't worry — this movie has a distinctly happy ending.
