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A few weeks ago, I was back home for Thanksgiving getting drinks with my buddies. After a couple of rounds, we started talking about the upcoming Christmas season. What we were hoping for, what we were getting our parents, what our Jewish friend does on Christmas, nothing was off the table. That’s when it came to the topic that sparked some of the most heated debate of the evening: a friend mentioned that he was stoked to watch The Holiday with his family this year.
Naturally, we all verbally attacked him for watching that movie with his family. “Well what am I supposed to watch?!” he asked, trying to stump us. Unfortunately, he was met with a chorus of, “Elf!” and “It’s a Wonderful Life!” and “Literally, anything else!”
What’s tough about grilling your friends about their Christmas movie choices is that, honestly, there’s no real guide to what you should be watching, when, and with who. No worries, though. That’s where I come in. Here’s your comprehensive guide to Christmas movies, including when and who to watch them with.
The Holiday
Who to watch it with: Your significant other, or someone you’re trying to, y’know, get with.
When to watch: Roughly two weeks until Christmas. This is one that you watch when you’re trying to get close to someone. You’re not at the point in your relationship where they’re coming home to Christmas with the family, but you’re still getting each other a small gift.
What to drink while watching: Hot Toddy. It’s got the alcohol content to help you make some bad decisions, and the warm coziness to remind you that it’s cool to stay in for the night instead of going to see the Christmas lights downtown, even though the clock is ticking on those bad boys.
Elf
Who to watch it with: Your buddies.
When to watch: Before heading out for your inevitable holiday bar crawl. Honestly, this thing is probably on in the background while you and your buddies are pregaming. Every once in a while, you’ll look at the screen and see Will Ferrell doing literally anything and say, “God, this is such a funny movie,” despite not having watched it for the last half hour.
What to drink while watching: Beer. Something cheap. This movie doesn’t deserve your new IPA you’ve been waiting to try.
A Christmas Story
Who to watch it with: Your close family.
When to watch: Christmas Eve, when you’re at home with the people who matter the most. It’s a wholesome, funny movie that you can really only break out once every year, and what better way to celebrate it than with your family? (It’s also my favorite Christmas movie.)
What to drink while watching: Nice beer. Something you don’t want to use just to get drunk, although that’s a positive result of it.
It’s A Wonderful Life
Who to watch it with: Alone, or with your family. Your call.
When to watch: This one goes one of two ways. You’re either watching it by yourself on Christmas Eve because you weren’t able to make it home for the holidays this year and you’re wondering why your life ended up this way, or you’re watching it at home with your family because it’s a tradition and you can’t find it within yourselves to stop watching.
What to drink while watching: Scotch on the rocks. Period.
Love Actually
Who to watch it with: The person you’re in a committed relationship with.
When to watch: Before you head home for the holidays, but after you give each other your, uh, “special” gifts that you didn’t want your families to see. This one’s for someone special, someone that you don’t have to convince to be with you anymore, but want to.
What to drink while watching: A nice, full-bodied red wine. It’s sensual and gets the playful and loving mood going.
Die Hard
Who to watch it with: Whoever you want.
When to watch: Honestly, whenever. I’m in the small camp that believes that, just because a movie takes place during winter or Christmas time, doesn’t make it a Christmas movie. Like Frozen or Gremlins. There’s not a whole lot of actual Christmas going on there.
What to drink while watching: I will say, if you’re going to drink while watching Die Hard, you should probably be drinking some cheap beer and shots of whiskey, just to match that John McClane, average Joe mentality.
How The Grinch Stole Christmas
Who to watch it with: Anyone your own age, like siblings or cousins or friends or your boyfriend or girlfriend.
When to watch it: Right when Christmas season starts, and ride that baby out until you’re opening presents. Honestly, this is one that you can get away with watching on Black Friday once Thanksgiving ends. In my opinion, this movie offers up so much nostalgia to millennials because it came out in 2000 and we grew up with it. Is it the best Christmas movie ever made? No, but we love it anyway.
What to drink while watching: Boozy eggnog, nice beer, or just your favorite mixed drink. Also, it’s a fun game to take a drink every time you look at the screen and think, “Man, it must have been really weird on that set.” .
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Charlie
Using sarcasm as a defense mechanism since 1993. At any given moment I'm either tired, drunk, or stressed out. Get at me at charliepgp@gmail.com or whatever.
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Christmas Vacation deserves an honorable mention. My family watches this every Friday after Thanksgiving and periodically up until Christmas.
Christmas Vacation deserves more than an honorable mention.
Holy shit I can’t believe I left that out. Very sloppy of me.
Honestly can’t take this post seriously due to no Christmas vacation-whole things botched
If Christmas Vacation isn’t part of your Christmas Eve or Christmas Day tradition, you’re wrong
The best time to watch A Christmas Story is the entire 24 hours it plays on TBS on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
I honestly don’t think I’ve ever watched A Christmas Story start-to-finish, but I’ve seen the whole movie a million times.
I’d fight my buddies if they suggested we sit down and watch Elf together. Weird move.
You can’t leave out those stop motion Christmas movies from the 70s. When to watch: anytime during the Christmas season as long as its daytime, don’t want to risk nightmares of Burgermeister Meisterburger and Heat Miser.
Similarly, I always watch A Charlie Brown Christmas and the original animated How The Grinch Stole Christmas.
Put one foot in front of the other and soon you’ll be walking out the door!
If you haven’t, I suggest adding White Christmas to your rotation. A classic featuring Bing Crosby at the height of his powers.
Tap dancing with Danny Fucking Kaye, no less.
Holiday Inn too if you’re a Bing fan
Christmas Vacation
Who to watch with: Family, friends, girlfriend, boyfriend, whoever. It’s a great one. Maybe not your grandma though.
When to watch it: The week leading up to Christmas. It perfectly echos the anticipation for the big holiday and gives you some light hearted relief when pushing through the work week.
What to drink while watching: Eggnog or spiked hot cocoa. You’ll be feeling holly jolly at the end of this sucker.
Thank you
The best thing to watch on Christmas Eve is the Hawaii Bowl. Two mid major teams usually putting up a lot of points and some gambling while waiting for midnight mass
gotta add in miracle on 34th street while decorating the tree
About 6 or 7 years ago my family started watching Blow on Christmas Day. No one knows where this tradition started but the movie does have tons of snow in it so I think it’s okay.