- Chloe Strongin and Macey Miller
Top Holiday Movies

Home Alone:
In 1990, director Chris Columbus created a holiday movie about a child, Kevin McCallister, who got left behind on Christmas break! When two men lurking around Kevin’s neighborhood realize that the McCallister house is unusually quiet, they devise a plan to burglarize the home. Kevin, the troublemaker of his family, uses his devious mind to set traps for the bandits when he figures out they are out to rob his home. This humorous movie has the perfect amount of anticipation to keep the film upbeat and exciting. The original movie, which aired for the first time on November 10, 1990, became well-liked by many, resulting in five sequels produced over the years.

A Charlie Brown Christmas:
In 1947, the earliest publication of the Peanuts gang, including our beloved Snoopy and Charlie Brown, appeared in the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Charles Schulz, the creator of Peanuts, could not have imagined that his hand-drawn cartoons published in his hometown newspaper would become a worldwide sensation years later. Written in less than a day by Charles Schulz and Lee Mendelson, an American film producer, the current family favorite’s first pitch was created. Less than seven months later, in 1965, A Charlie Brown Christmas aired on television for the first time, and it’s been aired every year since.

How The Grinch Stole Christmas:
The Grinch made his first appearance in a book written by Dr. Suess that was published in 1953. The character is a temperamental creature with an attitude. It was not until a long-awaited 13 years later that the movie How The Grinch Stole Christmas first aired on CBS on December 18, 1966. Due to prior trauma associated with his green fur, the Grinch hated the Who’s in the town where he lived called Whoville. This led the Grinch to despise everyone and everything, along with Christmas (the time at which he was emotionally scarred as an adolescent). Over the years, the Grinch's character has turned into a symbol for those who loathe Christmas. The original movie had such a popular viewing that multiple sequels have been made, including the most recent one in 2018. Fun fact – the Grinch also made an appearance in Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York!

A Christmas Carol:
Famous writer Charles Dickens, came up with the idea for A Christmas Carol while on a trip to England in 1843. Dickens wrote a series of Christmas books following this epiphany, but A Christmas Carol is the only story that became a modern fairytale. The first movie version of Dickens’ tale came out in 1938, with multiple sequels over the years. Numerous film adaptations, as well as Christmas TV specials with related stories, have been produced. The charming story about a man on a journey of self-redemption who hates Christmas, despite being told that it should be a time of happiness, will bring laughs and cheers for your family’s enjoyment.

It’s a Wonderful Life:
Produced by Frank Capra in 1946, this holiday drama is considered one of the greatest holiday movies of all time. Initially, however, the movie did not receive attention. Later the film earned widespread accolades, including five Academy Award nominations. It’s a Wonderful Life takes place in Bedford, New York, a town only 30 minutes from Edgemont! It follows a man named George Bailey and his guardian angel, who shows George the potential downfalls of his hometown if he had not been there to lend a hand (and a kind heart). This Christmas-time classic can teach everyone that life can be beautiful if we stop and look out for each other once and a while. Grab some popcorn and enjoy!

A Christmas Story:
Based on the book In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash, written by Jean Shepherd, A Christmas Story was released in 1983. The story follows a 9-year-old boy, Ralphie, who hopes to survive until Christmas while encountering bullies and pleading for the trending gifts of the time. The original movie became so popular that a sequel was released in 2012, which takes place five years after the first one. On November 17, 2022, the third movie in the series was released on HBO Max, appeared thirty-three years after the original! This comedic classic, set in the 1940s, is perfect for a laugh with some friends!
