As the holidays veer closer, we all find ourselves enjoying the classic Christmas movies we annually revisit. Of the many classic Christmas films, I’ve narrowed them down to the three classics I and many others value more in our hearts than the others. Let’s dive into the best classics this magical season has to offer.

The Polar Express

Released on my birth year (2004), Polar Express is a nostalgic capsule of memory I endear still to this day. 

On Christmas Eve, a young boy, presumably between the ages of ten and twelve is awoken from his sleep by a Train engine increasing in volume by the minute. He throws on a robe and slippers, sneaking downstairs and out the front door. A train conductor is waving at him, signaling for him to join him on the train. After moments of hesitation, the boy climbs aboard the train and into the seating area. In the confines of the train, other children similar in age to the boy can be seen sitting down in the other seats, waiting in anticipation for the Train to continue on its course.

 The next hour is unparalleled, dreamy adventure as the train ventures toward the North Pole, with many spectacular, heartfelt moments along the way. Thomas Hank performs incredibly in this movie and plays nearly all the characters. The adventure seems surreal, like an incredibly detailed dream and the theme is thought provoking. The young boy discovers how believing is the key to happiness which is symbolized by the ending scene, in which after his journey he opens a present on Christmas day.

The boy receives a silver bell; he shakes it and hears the ringing chime. His parents cannot hear the ringing and assume the bell to be broken as they are not believers in Santa Clause. This movie illustrates the wonders of imagination and holding on to a belief.

Home Alone

Home Alone is an unforgettable Christmas classic. When a whiny, resentful child named Kevin McAllister is forced to sleep on the third floor after disturbing his family’s party, he wishes he didn’t have a family and that he could spend Christmas alone. The following morning, the McAllister family awakes abruptly, realizing they’re late for their trip and scramble to reach the airport in time. Kevin is completely forgotten about and is discarded in the commotion.

After arriving at the airport and boarding the plane on their trip to France, Kevin’s mother realizes something: her youngest son, Kevin, is not on the plane. Many attempts to reach Kevin via police and telephone fall short and she is forced to wait in worry, as the McAllister family attempts to get back home. At the Mcallister residence, Kevin stumbles downstairs from the third floor, noticing the house (usually full of people) is eerily quiet. He calls for their names but after no avail is rejoiced as his earlier wish had come to fruition.

As Kevin is having fun in a big house by himself, two robbers, Marv and Harry attempt to break into the house. Kevin hides and after the robber’s attempts to break and enter aren’t successful, is filled with fear and worry. After many days go by Kevin anticipates the criminals’ return and places a series of elaborate traps around the house. The traps prompt hilarious slapstick ordeals for the audience to enjoy. 

When the cops show up and arrest Marv and Harry, Kevin realizes how valuable his family is to him and goes back on his earlier wish. This movie is fun and hilarious, whilst conveying a valuable message to the audience. 

Elf

A brilliant performance from comedic actor Will Ferrell, Elf is a hilarious and spectacular display of clashing cultures and the impact of the holiday spirit.

When a young child in foster care sneaks into Santa’s bag, he is adopted by Santa at the North Pole. The Elves name him “Buddy” and raise him as an elf and as he grows up and adopts the elf trade of making toys; it’s woefully apparent that Buddy is not an Elf. 

Twice the size of the elves and a much deeper voice then them, it’s obvious to the other elves that Buddy is a human. Buddy assumes he’s an elf as he was raised in the North Pole and when Santa reveals to him that he is in fact a human, he is heartbroken. Once Santa tells Buddy that his biological father, Walter Hobbs, lives in New York City he makes the trip from the North Pole to New York.  

While still wearing his Elf uniform, the next 45 minutes is constant hilarity as Buddy doesn’t understand how to fit into human society and antagonizes hilarious moments. Buddy now lives with his father’s family (his wife and son), who takes a while to get used to Buddy’s elf persona. Buddy builds a strong companionship with Walter’s son, Michael, and rampages New York having fun anywhere they go. On Christmas Eve as Santa Claus makes his annual trip to deliver presents in New York, his engine breaks loose. Santa needs Christmas Spirit in order to fly the sleigh and Buddy’s love relationship, Jovi, begins singing Christmas carols in town square. Many other people join in on the singing and invoke enough Christmas spirit to fly the sleigh.

The beginning through the middle of this movie displays the hilarity and awkward moments that would spark if a grown man dressing and acting like a jolly elf from the North Pole had to go to New York and try to integrate into society. The second portion of the movie illustrates how valuable Christmas cheer is to society and how a simple act of singing can incite the human spirit.