The holiday break is getting closer! This is a time of celebration, joy, and spending time with your family. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or any other holiday, gathering with your friends and family is a wonderful tradition that most people enjoy. Even if you are only celebrating not having to wake up early to go to work or school, there is no reason to feel down at a time like this. There are many activities that families enjoy together during the holidays. One of the most popular activities you can do is bundle up with your friends and family and watch some movies. Holiday movies are playing on many TV channels all throughout the season, and due to the popularity of streaming services such as Netflix, the list of possible movie choices is endless. Holiday movies are extremely popular, and hundreds have been created. However, there are a few holiday movies that have been timeless classics for a while now. Watching these movies is a fantastic way to spend time with you family and enjoy the holiday season. Here are the top ten classic holiday movies.

Elf (2003)

Elf is a Christmas comedy movie that many people enjoy. In this movie, Buddy, an elf at the North Pole, feels as if he doesn’t fit in. Despite growing up with elves, he was mistakenly transported to the North Pole as a child. Knowing that he is not truly an elf, Buddy travels to New York in search of his real father. This movie is packed with comedy and positive messages, so it is a perfect movie to watch with your family this holiday season.

Home Alone (1990)

Home Alone is another Christmas comedy that’s perfect for families. The story centers around a young boy, Kevin, who is mistakenly left at home while the rest of his family go on a Christmas vacation. All alone, Kevin fights to stop two burglars attempting to enter the house. It’s always funny to watch a child outwit grown men, and kids and adults alike get a laugh out of this movie every time.

A Christmas Story (1983)

A Christmas Story is a famous comedy movie. It is about a young boy named Ralphie Parker, who dreams of getting an Red Ryder Air Rifle for Christmas. This movie shows all of the hilarious adventures Ralphie has during the holiday season, and it is known as one of the best holiday comedy movies of all time by many people.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

This movie can be both a Halloween movie and a Christmas movie, but there is no doubt that it is amazing. The Nightmare Before Christmas is about Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloweentown. He oversees the planning of Halloween every year. One day, he gets transported to Christmastown, where he sees things he has never seen before. This movie is famous for the clay figure stop-motion style that it was made in. It is very tedious to make stop-motion movies, which is why this film is appreciated by so many people.

The Polar Express (2004)

The Polar Express is not as old as some of the other movies on this list, but it is one of the best animated Christmas movies of all time. A young boy who doubts the existence of Santa gets a shock when a train stops by on his street in the middle of the night. This train is known as the polar express, a train bound for the North Pole. On the train he meets a variety of other kids, each with defining personalities. This movie is amazing at showing the true magic of Christmas.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a live-action movie based on the legendary children’s book  by Dr. Seuss. A green being known as the Grinch hates everything joyful, which is why he absolutely despises Christmas. He makes a plan to steal Christmas and ruin it for all the residents of Whoville. Dr. Seuss is one of the most famous authors of children’s books of all time, which is one of the reasons why this movie is so popular.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is another stop-motion movie that’s famous for how well it was made. It tells the story of the famous reindeer, Rudolph. Rudolph was born with a red nose, and the other reindeer ridiculed him until Santa needed Rudolph’s help. This movie is always a hit with younger children, but people of all ages enjoy it every year.

Frosty the Snowman (1969)

Frosty the Snowman is a classic animated holiday movie. This movie is about a group of kids that make a snowman, like many children do at this time of year. A magical hat makes the snowman come to life, and he has many adventures with the kids. This movie is inspired by the song “Frosty the Snowman”, just as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is inspired by a song of the same name.

The Santa Clause (1994)

This movie may not have the best reviews, but it is old enough to be considered a classic. Tim Allen stars in this movie as Scott Calvin, a divorced dad who gets to spend time with his son on Christmas. When he accidentally kills a man in a Santa suit, he is transported to the North Pole and is told that he must become Santa, as the man he killed was the real Santa. This movie is a hilarious holiday comedy, and it’s a great choice that the entire family will enjoy.

A Christmas Carol (1938, 1984, 1999)

A Christmas Carol is a legendary novel by Charles Dickens. It was originally published in 1843, over 150 years ago! This story has inspired many movies throughout the years, all of them having similar plots. These movies are about a greedy man named Ebenezer Scrooge. He holds money above all else, and has very little kindness in him. At night, he is visited by the ghosts of the past, present, and future. These ghosts teach him about the good in the world, and Scrooge begins to be a better person. This is a heartwarming tale that is adored by many. It is very unlikely that people will forget it soon.