1. Gremlins (1984)
It didn’t take long for Christmas to take over this year. For me it began on Nov. 1, with an immediate onslaught of Christmas advertisements and holiday music. While this brazen disregard for Thanksgiving perturbed me a bit, I was excited for the start of holiday-inspired movies to come on the scene. My personal favorite is the cult-classic Gremlins. While the moment that Kate describes the untimely death of her father while attempting to surprise the family as Santa Claus creeped me out, nothing can top Gizmo or his funky looking offspring and their night of holiday mayhem.
2. Edward Scissorhands (1990)
What makes this movie Christmassy isn’t the spirit of “goodwill towards man” that lands Edward into the judgmental, freak show, cookie-cutter suburb that welcomes him into their fold only to later hunt him down good-ol’ mob style. It’s the scene of Kate walking out of the house in her white Christmas ensemble as Edward wildly cuts away at a large block of ice to form an angel and simultaneously bring snow within Kate’s reach.
3. Friday After Next (2002)
There are so many epic moments in this movie that make it a holiday flick, but hilarious scenes like Money Mike, played by Kat Williams, placing Damon’s man parts in a death-grip while he hums a little holiday jingle helped get this film on my Christmas movie shelf.
4. Unaccompanied Minors (2006)
While this movie made me double lock and lo-jack my luggage and stopped me from ever sending my child anywhere without an adult companion, the kids decorating the airport and bringing Christmas to masses of stranded travelers is a nice heartwarming holiday moment.
5. Trading Places (1983)
This holiday twist on the “walking in someone else’s shoes” storyline makes this one of those classic movies that forces you to rethink your values and how rich people have too much time on their hands. It sucks watching Louis Winthrope run around the city in a filthy Santa costume, trying desperately to reclaim his place in high society from Billy Ray Valentine, a con artist thrown into the lap of luxury by the millionaire Duke brother’s for experimental purposes only. It is equally pleasurable to watch the pair, Winthorpe and Valentine, come together to teach the Duke brother’s the perils of messing with people’s livelihood for their own personal pleasure.
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