Christmas Movies: are the new ones more popular or are we hooked on nostalgia?

I love Christmas traditions, from decorations to festive activities; my favourite is watching Christmas films. From the 1st of December to the 25th, I watch at least one Christmas film a day, like an advent calendar.

Watching my festive favourites for the lead-up to Christmas fills me with so much joy. I am a Christmas fanatic; enjoying the celebration is so warm. I do not often celebrate the religious part of the holidays, but I love the traditions behind it.

All kinds of Christmas films tick my boxes, from romances to action or family favourites. My top Christmas film battles between Love Actually and Santa Claus (Tim Allen). Both films heighten my excitement for Christmas, and I often tend to watch them with my family, making the experience even more special.

Christmas is even more special spending with family this year as I haven’t spent the month with my family, which I am used to, but I am lucky enough to go home to visit. During the time leading up, we will be warming up next to the fire with hot chocolate and snacks while watching our favourites.

Want some suggestions?

Family favourites are always my go-to: The Christmas Chronicles- a comedic family film starring Kurt Russel as Santa Claus; The Grinch- a prominent Christmas film loved by many; Santa Claus- 3 movies starring Tim Allen, The Elf- comedic actor Will Ferrell stars in the famous storytelling of Buddy the Elf.

Some romance holiday films include Love Actually- a widely popular cast with storylines of different groups of people experiencing Christmas; The Holiday- 2 women falling in love in other parts of the world starring Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet; Love Hard- newish rom-com film starring Nina Dobrev as she unexpectedly falls in love at Christmas time and Last Christmas, following Emilia Clarke’s character after almost dying she tries to put her life back together with the help of mysterious man Tom (Henry Goulding).

New Christmas films, whether romance films on the hallmark channel or comedies like the new Ryan Reynolds film Spirited are constantly being introduced. I have no doubt that they will continue to be made. However, are they as good as they used to be? Are we enjoying them less as we get older?

With popular favorites like Home Alone, A Christmas Carole, The Nativity, or films that have people questioning if they are Christmas films like Die Hard or The Gremlins, they are not! Or the movie within the horror genre like Krampus, a bizarre take on the holiday I don’t think I will ever recover from watching. It wasn’t scary it just warped my thoughts on Christmas.

I don’t have an issue with the current films we have in the genre; the old festive films will undoubtedly have my heart. They will always be better, in my opinion.

The thing about these movies is that they are just so darn cute. I get a little cringe occasionally, but Christmas is an exception; I should be able to enjoy a little bit of cringe.

© Aimee-Michelle O’Connor 2022