Ella Collins, Lauren Griffen and Alona Thomas recommend their favourite Christmas movies
Elf: A Holiday Classic That Spreads Cheer and Laughter
Buddy, played by Will Ferrell, is accidentally brought to the North Pole as a baby and raised by Santa’s elves, believing he is one of them. Buddy grows taller and realising that he does not fit in with the other elves, discovers that he is from New York City. He embarks on a heartwarming and hilarious journey to find his real father and bring some Christmas spirit to the Big Apple. Along the way, Buddy’s wonder and naivety clash with the pessimism of the adult world.
The costume worn by Buddy was intentionally designed to look homemade and a bit silly to emphasize Buddy’s childlike innocence. The green and yellow outfit became iconic. He also had to wear tights, which became an ongoing source of humour in the film. Elf was made on a budget of around $33 million. Despite this, it earned over $220 million worldwide, making it a huge financial success and a holiday favourite. Elf has become a staple holiday film and is regularly aired during Christmas. Will Ferrell has mentioned that it is now a tradition for him to watch it during the holidays with his own family.
Elf is a Christmas movie that provides humour, heart, and holiday magic. It offers laughter and warmth amongst family and friends. It is an unforgettable holiday favourite and it is a must-watch for every Christmas season.
Home Alone
Home Alone is a family favourite for many. The story follows 8-year-old Kevin McCallister, who is accidentally left behind at home alone over the Christmas period when his family go on a holiday trip to Paris. At first, Kevin enjoys his newfound freedom, but soon he must protect his home from burglars by using creative and hilarious traps. It has been nominated for many awards and won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture in 1991 as well as making approximately $476 million worldwide. The film was a worldwide success, and this led to many other Home Alone movies being produced after the original one, these include Home Alone 2, Home Alone 3 and even Home Alone 4!!
This must-see movie blends comedy with heartwarming moments. Kevin’s clever antics and the film’s festive spirit make it a perfect holiday film. With its memorable performances filled with laughter and holiday magic, Home Alone has become a beloved, timeless Christmas classic.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
The Grinch is a colourful and energetic Christmas film that combines the more serious topics of redemption during Christmas time with light-hearted physical comedy. Based on the classic 1957 Dr. Seuss book of the same name, it stars Jim Carrey as the Grinch, a mischievous and misanthropic creature who lives in isolation on top of Mount Crumpit, overlooking the festive community named ‘Whoville.’ Throughout the film, the Grinch undergoes a change from his isolated, and miserly ways of stealing Christmas presents from the village to realising the superficial nature of his ways, as he watches over the joy that remains in the residents even without their material gifts.
While it received a mix of controversial reviews, How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) has proven to be a lasting holiday favourite, continuing to enjoy success even decades later. The film earned a Golden Globe nomination in 2001 for Best Actor in a Motion Picture. Additionally, it went on to gross $345 million worldwide, a great achievement considering its production budget of $123 million. The film’s impact has lasted beyond the film’s release, being instantly recognisable and becoming for many, the image of Christmas and festivities.
With so many great movies on offer, the question is: which one will you watch first?
