While the time change and shorter days generally piss me off (I’ll take flip-flop weather and sun-down at 10 pm; thanks), there's at least one great thing about this time of year: watching movies.
It’s cold and dark outside, so there’s no pressure to be outside and #doingallthethings before it's literally painful to be outdoors. It’s acceptable, nay--expected--that you’ll be snuggling up on the couch for too much screen time. No 30-minute process for getting everyone dressed, pottied, diapered, snacked, stroller out, etc. Just turn on the TV, grab a throw, heat up some hot cocoa and...it’s a *delicious* feeling.
It’s doubly delish when it’s "the most wonderful time of the yeeeaaaar" and you can watch all your holiday faves, plus a few new things. Somehow, it just never gets old to hear Chevy Chase say, "fixed the newel post!" or to witness the unboxing of the leg lamp.
Are you rubbing your hands together, thinking of all the cozy goodness and hilarity that's about to hit your living room?
Me. Too. Let's do this.
Here’s a list of holiday fare to watch with your family, and where you can stream/purchase them*:
*last year I noticed several titles not usually available with subscription appeared on Netflix, Amazon, etc. during the holidays - so you might check again around Thanksgiving to see if any of them have been added.
Classics:
Elf (Amazon; not included with Prime)
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (Amazon; not included with Prime)
A Christmas Story (Amazon; not included with Prime)
Home Alone (Amazon; not included with Prime)
Miracle on 34th Street (Amazon; not included with Prime)
White Christmas (Netflix)
The Muppets Christmas Carol (HBO Now, or purchase/rent on Amazon)
Sweet Little Film Shorts for Kids:
Stick Man (Amazon; not included with Prime)
Gruffalo’s Child (Netflix)
If You Give a Mouse a Christmas Cookie (based on the books by Laura Numeroff, with songs by Lisa Loeb) (Amazon)
The Snowy Day (based on the Ezra Jack Keates book) (Amazon)
Cookies, check. Presents, check.
Free holiday planner.
Christmas Episodes/Specials of Favorite Shows:
Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas (Netflix)
Octonauts: The Great Christmas Rescue, Season 1, Episode 27 (Netflix)
Dreamworks Holiday Classics (four shorts) (Netflix)
A Very Thomas Christmas, Merry Christmas Thomas, The Christmas Engine (Netflix)
Watch with Your Boo:
Love, Actually (Amazon; not included with Prime)
It’s a Wonderful Life (Amazon; not included with Prime)
While You Were Sleeping (Amazon; not included with Prime)