10 Holiday Movies to Make You Laugh and Cry

Arthur Christmas (2011)

You'd think it would be difficult to compete against traditional holiday favorites but we found Arthur Christmas on more than one playlist this year. Voices like those of James McAvoy (X-Men: First Class), Hugh Laurie (House), and Bill Nighy (Pirates of the Caribbean) tell the story of Santa’s ungainly son, Arthur Claus, as he attempts deliver a misplaced present before the end of Christmas Eve. 

Home Alone (1990)

Home Alone is not writer John Hughes only holiday film but it is one of the most iconic. Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) is accidentally left home during the chaos the precedes his family’s vacation. Impish disorder breaks out as Kevin defends his domain from a set of opportunistic burglars.

Avalon (1990)

There may be a noticeable lack of iconic Hanukkah movies but there is an abundance of well-developed and thought-provoking films that explore Jewish family and culture.

Avalon is the tale of a Polish-Jewish family through their emigration to the US in the early twentieth century. The film follows the Krichinsky family from the first to arrive in Avalon, an immigrant neighborhood in Baltimore, through subsequent generations as they face difficult choices between a contemporary Jewish-American identity and "Old World" Jewish culture.

The Preacher’s Wife (1996)

The Preacher's Wife explores strong themes commonly found within holiday films such as love, family, and joy. 

In this remake of Carey Grant’s The Bishop’s Wife, a charming angel (Denzel Washington) is sent to earth to help a minister and his wife (Whitney Houston) keep their family together.

Miracle on 34th Street (1994)

The challenge of believing; a common motif through holiday films. Miracle on 34^th Street might be the most classic version of the story.

Young Suzan has doubts about Father Christmas...until she meets a special department store Santa who’s convinced he’s the real deal.

Make it a marathon! Pick up a copy of the 1947 version, too.

Elf (2003)

Once again, it's surprising when a more recent production ranks along with 50-year-old classics, yet, Elf has been an American favorite from the start.

Follow the journey of Buddy the Elf, as he travels to the "mystical" land of New York City to meet his human father. Filled with hilarious (albeit, at times, stomach-turning) moments, it’s a movie that keeps us laughing no matter how many times we watch it.

Scrooge (1970)

If you're a fan of true classics, you could pick one of the multiple versions of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol to watch during break. However, if you want to laugh at a film that has all the ingredients of a cult classic, skip the classics and stream Scrooge, the British musical version of Dickens’ tale.

Still the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a mean-spirited old man who is visited by a series of ghosts on Christmas Eve, the humourously overdone acting and inexplicably repetative songs make for an original experience.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Dr. Suess may have borrowed a few ideas from A Christmas Carol, because the Grinch is as miserly as they come, which is why he's out to steal Christmas.

You can’t go wrong whether you watch the 1992 animation or Jim Carrey’s bizarre sojourn into the world of bodysuits from 2000. It makes our list for being a classic and in anticipation of the 2018 version, which features the voice of Benedict Cumberbatch.

The Polar Express (2004)

Nearly a one-man act, starring Tom Hanks, The Polar Express is the kind of holiday movie that gets its repeat viewers to don pajamas, turn off the lights, and settle in with hot chocolate (Hey, we got it!). The story follows a boy’s journey to the North Pole after his puzzling encounter with a train and its enigmatic conductor. Like every great children’s story, it’s idealistic, magical, and just a touch eerie.

Plácido (1961)

If you're adventurous, take a wild leap outside of the Hollywood holiday box. Plácido, a Spanish classic that is both a comedy and a satire, is an engaging examination of the differences between a charitable act and a charitable heart.

On Christmas Eve, wealthy townsfolk take part in a “sit a poor man at our table” charity initiative. They can bid to have a celebrity at their table for the evening with the caveat that they must also set a place for someone less fortunate. 

Throughout the film we follow Plácido, destitute man working for the charitable organization, as he attempts to collect the wages he is owed on Christmas Eve.

 Think we missed one? Let us know your favorite holiday films on social media by tagging @lamaruniversity.

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