Can we all agree that modern holiday classics don't get enough love?ストーリーポルノ映画 Sure, It's a Wonderful Life tugs at the heartstrings, but what if you just want to laugh about the inevitable mishaps that come with the holiday season?
Buddy falls down while holding onto a Christmas tree in Elf, Clark Griswold accidentally triggers a power outage in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, and Meredith pours casserole all over herself in The Family Stone.
For all those iconic, hilarious moments and more, here's where you can find 10 of the greatest holiday movies released in the last thirty years to stream this season.
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1. Home Alone (1990)
Before she was Moira Rose, Catherine O'Hara was Kevin's (Macaulay Culkin) mother Kate, who had left her son behind during a family vacation. In this comedy, Kevin has to hold down the fort and protect his family's home when two robbers (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern) attempt to break in.
Home Alone was followed by two sequels in released in the 1990s: Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992) and Home Alone 3 (1997). The franchise continued in 2002 with Home Alone 4: Taking Back the House (2002)and Home Alone: The Holiday Heist (2012). A 2019 reboot of the franchise is in the works for Disney+, starring Ellie Kemper, Rob Delaney, and Archie Yates (Jojo Rabbit).
Where to watch: Amazon Prime, iTunes, Disney+
2. Bridget Jones' Diary (2001)
If you had to choose between Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) and Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant), what would you do? Bridget Jones (Reneé Zellweger), a single thirty-something who's resolved to document her dynamic love life through journaling, is faced with that choice in Bridget Jones's Diary, based on the popular book. You haven't lived until you watch Mark and Daniel fight in the streets of London set to "It's Raining Men."
There's also the not-great sequel, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, and then the actuallygreat Bridget Jones's Baby, a 2016 charmer that also stars Patrick Dempsey.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime, iTunes
3. Love Actually (2003)
Couldn't get enough of Hugh Grant and Colin Firth in Bridget Jones's Diary? You're in luck: Love Actually stars Grant and Firth alongside Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Laura Linney, Kiera Knightly, Liam Neeson, and many more. From the romantic happenings of a British Prime Minister to the ups and downs of a schoolyard crush, this romantic comedy follows the love lives of people connected by familial, personal, and/or professional ties as they navigate matters of the heart around the holiday season.
It's easy to make fun of, but you know what? It's also easy to love!!
Where to watch: Amazon Prime, iTunes, HBO Now
4. Elf (2003)
Buddy (Will Ferrell) has lived his life as an elf working in Santa's workshop in the North Pole. Now that he's a full grown man, there's no denying that he's human. To learn more about his origins, Buddy sets out on a mission to find his biological father (James Cahn) who is a successful publishing agent in New York City.
Once Buddy arrives, he realizes that the Christmas spirit he's grown accustomed to isn't shared by all, which doesn't bode well for Santa's sleigh fueled by Christmas cheer. In order to save Christmas, Buddy must make everyone — even his curmudgeonly father — believe in Santa. In addition to a hilarious performance from Will Ferrell, Elf also includes a delightful duet between Ferrell and Zooey Deschanel, who plays Jovie, Buddy's love interest.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime, iTunes
5. The Santa Clause (1994)
In this family comedy, Tim Allen stars as Scott Calvin, a suburban dad who catches Santa Claus on his roof and spooks him. After Santa falls off the roof and is unable to continue delivering presents, Scott has to step into Santa's suit, hop into his sleigh, and finish all Santa's deliveries before before Christmas Day.
Unknowingly, by putting on Santa's suit, Scott has subjected himself to "the Santa Clause," which states that whomever wears Santa's suit is required to complete Santa's duties. Over the next year, Scott works to convince his son, Charlie (Eric Lloyd), to believe in Santa, all while Scott physically transforms into the big man himself.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime, iTunes, Disney+
6. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
As evidenced by Jim Carrey's transformation into the Grinch, How the Grinch Stole Christmas won an Oscar for Best Makeup and Hairstyling. The film is an adaptation of Dr. Suess's 1957 book of the same name. The festive fantasy film follows the Christmas-hating Grinch as he attempts to ruin all holiday celebrations in Whoville with his dog, Max, at his side.
One of the Whos of Whoville named Cindy Lou Who (Taylor Momsen) connects with the Grinch and learns that his hatred for Christmas and the Whos stems from being bullied as a student at Whoville schools. However, she is unable to convince him to call off his plans to steal all the Christmas presents from Whoville. After the Grinch completes his heist, Whoville still celebrates the holiday sans gifts. Their authentic Christmas spirit causes the Grinch to learn the true meaning on Christmas... and his heart grows three sizes!
Where to watch: Amazon Prime, iTunes, Netflix
7. The Holiday (2006)
Directed by Nancy Meyers, the romantic comedy The Holidaystars Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz as two newly single women — Iris Simpkins (Winslet) of London and Amanda Woods (Diaz) of Los Angeles — who decide to exchange homes for the holidays in order to distance themselves from their tumultuous love lives.
During her stay at Iris's cottage in Surrey, England, Amanda meets Iris's brother, Graham (Jude Law), and the two hit it off. While Iris is residing in Amanda's Los Angeles sprawling home, she meets Miles Dumont (Jack Black), the assistant of Amanda's now-ex-boyfriend. Miles and Iris commiserate over the fact they've both been recently cheated on, and sparks fly between the two of them. After both meeting men local to the cities in which Iris and Amanda are vacationing, each must decide if and how their new relationships will continue when they return home.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime, iTunes
8. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is the third of five films in the National Lampoon Vacation series. This comedy stars Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold, Beverly D'Angelo as his wife, Ellen Griswold as they set out to achieve the perfect Christmas celebration. Mayhem ensues. Long live the Griswolds.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime, iTunes
9. The Family Stone (2005)
Craig T. Nelson first showcased his grandfatherly acting skills as Kelly Stone in The Family Stone before becoming Parenthood's lovable Grandpa Zeek. In this romantic comedy, Diane Keaton plays Sybil Stone, mother of Everett (Dermot Mulroney), Ben (Luke Wilson), Susannah (Elizabeth Reaser), Thad (Tyrone Giordano), and Amy (Rachel McAdams). Sarah Jessica Parker plays Meredith Morton, Everett's new girlfriend who has come to the Stone family home with him for the holidays.
Meredith has a difficult time fitting into the large family's long-standing dynamic, especially once Sybil refuses to give Everett his grandmother's engagement ring to propose to Meredith. The Family Stone explores familial bonds, love, pride, and loss — all of which are underscored by the stress that comes along with the holidays.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime, iTunes
10. Last Holiday (2006)
When she's unexpectedly told she has three weeks to live, Georgia (Queen Latifah) decides to make the most of her her final moments. Liberated from the incentive to save money, she books a Presidential suite at a fancy resort, orders the finest items off its restaurant's menu, and indulges in its world-class spa. Although the circumstances are dire, Georgia comes into her own thanks to a new lease on life and evolved attitude. This romantic comedy is a remake of the 1950 movie of the same name starring Alec Guiness (Star Wars).