12 Nights of Must-Watch Holiday Movies: It's A Wonderful Life

Here it is, the last must-watch holiday movie. While I wasn't really putting these in any kind of order, this one really is the #1 MUST WATCH Christmas movie. I didn't really see this movie until I was in high school. We watched it over the course of a couple days in my Bible class and it's probably one of the clearest memories I have from those days (you know, taking up the space where maybe some extensive biology or history knowledge should be). I was absolutely captivated with how beautiful this story was, how raw and real George's life and feelings are, and how powerful it is at it's key moments. If you live under a rock, you might not know the story (in which case, run out to the store TODAY and buy it!). It's the story of George Bailey, a man conflicted between his dreams and ambitions and his decency and integrity.  As circumstance would have it, George never gets out of his home town, never does anything he perceives as "big."  When things don't seem to be able to get any worse, they do.  A man at the end of his rope, George, panics and contemplates suicide, at which point he's given the chance to see what the world would be like without him.  True story:  I can't write this without the crazy urge to go watch it right now!!

Also this: this scene <3

 There are no fancy shmancy tips for making this movie night more magical.  It stands well enough on its own :)

12 Nights of Must Watch Holiday Movies: Charlie Brown Christmas

The Movie:

I'm sure this is already on your list.  This would be my kids' pick for favorite, I'm sure.  The story of how Charlie Brown tries to beat the Christmas blues on his search for the true meaning of Christmas.

Why It's A Must Watch:

The climactic moment where Linus recites the passage in Luke 2:8-14 explaining what Christmas is really hits the nail on the head.  (We recently went to the K-Love Christmas concert and the lead singer for Sidewalk Prophets pointed out that Linus holds out his security blanket and drops it as he says the word's "fear not, for I bring you tidings of great joy . . .", I can't believe I haven't noticed that in the 9 million times we've watched this movie).
Also the snowy scenes and pleasant music always leave me feeling warm and fuzzy :)

My Rating:

Family friendly for all ages BUT be aware they totally drop the S-bomb (stupid) a couple times (at each point my kids both turn to me and say "that's not very nice").

Your Movie Night:

Wouldn't it be awesome if you could knock out some of these amazing cookies?  (Mine would NEVER look this fabulous, sadly)

Img Source the Pink Apron Baker

or what about these amazing Charlie Brown Strawberries (these i might be able to do)

img source HWTM

12 Nights of Must-Watch Holiday Movies: Alvin's Christmas Carol

The Movie:

So, you might be familiar with the classic Chipmunk Christmas episode where Alvin buys a harmonica for a sick little boy or something like that . . . that's not this one, in my opinion this one is way better!  This is the early 90s version of Alvin & The Chipmunks take on A Christmas Carol.  As a very selfish Alvin who has been preoccupied with writing his gigantic Christmas list tries to finish his essay on the true meaning of Christmas that is due on Christmas eve.  He falls asleep and has a dream where he's shown the past, present, and future Christmases that have been touched by the way he is (you know that ol' chestnut).  I had this on VHS as a kid and loved it to pieces, I was THRILLED when my mom found it on a compilation DVD last year!!

Why It's A Must Watch:

This movie is simple, totally late 80s/early 90s (which I love), really funny and heartwarming, and only half an hour!  It carries the themes of selflessness and kindness usually associated with Christmas Carol stories, but it keeps it really simple and geared toward children's issues (not as "life & death"-y as the real Christmas carol) like being greedy with your Christmas wish list, the joy of gift giving, and taking the responsibility of your job (i.e. paperroute, homework) seriously.  As a bonus there is really catchy music and super-fabulous nostalgia for us parents that grew up watching this show!

My Rating:

Family Friendly all ages.  The traditional visits from Christmas spirits is portrayed clearly as a dream the entire time, never scary and they are referred to as "spirits" not "ghosts".  There's no language and no too troubling issues, this is a really really really mild take on the Christmas Carol, a nice way to get the point across without the heavy issues.

Your Movie Night:

Enjoy some frothy Christmas drinks like in the movie. Afterwards, you could come up with a list of ways you can celebrate Christmas as a time to give and spread joy and happiness to others like Alvin does at the end of the movie!  Then go do some of those things!!

12 Nights of Must Watch Christmas Movies: Elf

*I hope no one's counting just how many nights it's taking me to finish this 12-night series, I'm going to try to play catch up today* :P


You know, I resisted this movie so hard when it initially came out.  I thought it looked absolutely terrible and unfunny, my mind was closed to it.  But from the moment I saw it, it became an instant holiday MUST.  I love love LOVE it and I think you will too!

The Movie:

If you haven't seen it (which I doubt, but just in case):  It's the story of Buddy the Elf, who was an orphaned baby that was raised by a Christmas elf and has recently discovered he is actually human and goes to meet his biological father (a grumpy business man who is *gasp* on the naughty list and in great need of some Christmas Spirit).  Full of great music, hilarious one-liners, and heartwarming holiday warm fuzzies, this movie will definitely leave your crew with smiles!

Why It's A Must Watch:
You will instantly find yourself in the Christmas mood after watching!  Also this one bridges all generation gaps so it's great to bust out while all the family is around, it's totally enjoyable for all ages :)

Rating:

Rated PG, this is a pretty family-friendly movie.  There's 1 fart, 2 burps, 1 fight scene, a snowball fight with some school bullies, and a sort of tense chase scene where the Central Park rangers are chasing Santa's sleigh (that's the part that my kiddo was afraid of mostly just due to loud action) . . . that's about all I can think of :)

You're Movie Night:

Prior to watching you can have a Spaghetti dinner (hold the maple syrup).  For snacks while watching, have some Christmas cookies and Cocoa

Craft Idea:

You can make these in about 5 minutes, here's how:
Grab 3 colors of felt (hat, ribbon, feather), some scissors, glue and a dinner plate
First trace your plate onto the color you want the body of the hat to be.  If you have large felt you can trace the whole thing but it won't be a problem at all if you're just using the 9x12 sheets, just get as much of the circle on there as possible (as shown).  Cut out your circle then fold it into 4 and snip along one edge (just a radius of your circle) *if you used the sheet, make sure the edge your cutting is on the side that is missing it's curve*
You can use the scrap edge of your felt as a guide for cutting the hat ribbon (I made mine about 1-2" wide).  Create a cone with your circle and glue together (you can trim any overlapping felt if you wish).  Then glue on ribbon and cut and insert a little felt feather!  

My girls love these hats!

12 Nights Of Must-Watch Holiday Movies: Love Actually

The Movie:

This one is in a gridlock tie for my favorite movie of all time, it's that good!  We named one of our children after a character in our favorite story line, it's that good!  It is a compilation of interwoven love stories all taking place at Christmastime.  There's a lot of love, some heartbreak, a lot of laughter.  The heading across the top of this picture labeling it the "ultimate romantic comedy" is really not that far off. 

Why it's a must-watch:

1.  For starters, it's like 10 movies (funny, cute, good, sad, heartwarming movies) wrapped up into 1 and BONUS all these plot-lines are tumbling towards an amazingly climactic Christmas!  

2.  Also: Hugh Grant <3, Collin Firth *swoon*, Rowan Atkinson :).

3.  Multiple proclamations of love including an unrequited one that will have you in tears and probably the best/most epic proposal scene of all time.

4.  Really, really good soundtrack (you'll probably go buy it after you watch this)

5.  Cutest wedding surprise (you'll totally want to swipe this for your next friend that gets married):

and so many many many more reasons!

My Rating:

NOT kid-friendly, it's rated R.  There's a small handfull of F*bombs and a couple of pretty racey scenes including some nudity (to be fare, the "sex" scenes are between an adorably polite and awkward pair of strangers that are stand ins for a movie, but still sex scenes none the less).  This is definitely one you'll want to watch after your kiddos tuck in for the night.

Your Movie Night:

No, no fancy craft idea or clever food here :)  Just order some takeout and have a Christmas Date-Night in!

Click the picture for more Must Watch Holiday Movies

12 Nights of Must-Watch Holiday Movies: Mickey's Christmas Carol

The Movie:

Dicken's Christmas Carol has really stood the tests of time when it comes to holiday classics.  My favorite version?  Mickey's Christmas Carol.  It's the story you know, a grumpy old Scrooge given the chance to see the errors of his way and turn things around on Christmas, as told by an array of Disney characters.  

Why it's a must-watch:

It condenses the classic Christmas tale into a family-friendly, enjoyable little half hour!  Watching a seemingly hopelessly horrible Ebenezer Scrooge have a drastic change of heart and awake Christmas morning bursting with generosity and goodwill all in about 25 minutes is the perfect shot of Christmas Spirit at its best.  It's also fun to watch for all the Disney "cameos" from other movies and stories!

My rating:

Family friendly with little bits of scary. (It's super short so you can watch it first to be sure)

If you're familiar with The Christmas Carol you already know there's a little bit of scary going on, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his partner and 3 spirits.  That being said, as this is for kids it's pretty mild.  If you're interested, I'll breakdown the scary factor:

The first ghost is played by Goofy and while there is a little bit of spooky "ooo"-ing,  it is paired with all the silliness and clumsiness that Goofy is known for. The Ghost of Christmas Past is Jimeny Cricket and not scary or ghost-like in any way.  The Ghost of Christmas Present is played by a giant who is also friendly and unscary.  The Ghost of Christmas Future is Pete and the most unfriendly of them all (he's wearing a death-like robe).  You briefly see the Cratchets (Mickey & Minnie) sadly standing by the grave of their son, Tiny Tim (this is in a glimpse of the future), which can be upsetting and there is also a brief scary scene where Scrooge is falling into his grave (it is quickly transformed to him in his bedroom awaking from the dream) but it can be a little too intense for small ones.  

Again, if you're familiar with the story you know any sadness is reversed by an explosion of love & goodwill at the end :)

Your Holiday Movie Night:

Make these cute and easy Oreo Mickey pops!  

via The Idea Room

After watching think of some ways you can spread some Christmas joy to others (maybe making cards for a nursing home, buying a toy to donate, etc.).

Click the picture for more Holiday Must-Watch Movies:

12 Nights of Must Watch Holiday Movies: How The Grinch Stole Christmas

The Movie:

I don't know if its possible for me to love this movie more.  It's a true feast for the eyes (I want to live in Whoville!) with all the swirls of Christmas decorations and amazingly fun colors!

The is the story of a grumpy old Grinch who's had his fill of Christmas and decides to steal it from the good-hearted Who's down in Whoville.

Why It's A Must Watch:

It's a gem to be passed down a generation.  You probably watched as a kid, as I did, and now we can share it with our own!  It's got that classic Christmas theme of a heart changed and a moral/lesson that's heartwarming for everyone to remember:

img source The Cooke Family

My Rating:

This should be fine for any age!  

Your Movie Night: 

Sip on some Grinch Punch 

Grinch Punch via Babble

and enjoy some Grinch Cupcakes!  (They have a heart hidden inside!!!  amazing!)

via Sugar Swing: Serve Some

   

or Grinch cookies :)

 

And use this idea as a bouncing board for your own acts of kindness you can do this year at Christmastime:

via The Sharpened Pencil  

Click the picture for more must-watch holiday movies! 

12 Nights of Must-Watch Holiday Movies: Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

The Movie:

It really wouldn't be Christmas without a Rankin/Bass stop-motion Christmas special, would it?  While Rudolph and the Island of Misfit Toys gets a lot of the fanfare I would venture to say that Santa Claus Is Coming to Town is the real Rankin/Bass that should be on your must-watch lists this season (nothing against Rudolph, I like Rudolph!)

This is an all-encompassing tale of how Santa Claus came to be as told by a Fred Astaire (swoon) puppet mailman who is answering children's letters with questions about Santa.  You follow along as an orphaned baby Chris is adopted by funny toymaker elves (The Kringles) and how he brings toys to the solemn children of Somber Town.  You find out how he met Mrs. Clause and how and why he fills stockings.

Why It's A Must Watch:

Learn everything you need to know about Santa Clause in less than an hour!  The music is fun and catchy (with the exception of a psychedelic solo by Jessica aka Mrs. Clause :P haha), the story is sweet and heartwarming.  And also, there's Fred Astaire :)

My Rating:

Family Friendly!  There is a Winter Warlock character that can be slightly scary for little little ones at the beginning, although Chris shows kindness to him and quickly melts his icy heart leaving him insanely caring and nice and with only magic left to make Reindeer fly :)

Your Movie Night:

Make some Santa-themed snacks to enjoy during the movie:

   

Santa Berries Via Pinterest                Santa Party Mix via Cookies & Cups    Santa Crackers via Martha Stewart

Then, when your movie's over sit down with a pen and paper and write your own letters to Santa.  You can even drop them off at a giant red mailbox at Macy's.  USPS also offers a service where they will postmark and re-mail a letter you've prepared from the North Pole if you want to create a response letter for your child from Santa.  More Info Here.

Click the picture below for the other posts in this series:

12 Nights of Must Watch Holiday Movies: The Holiday

The Movie:

I can't quite put my finger in it but it seems like I, in general, love movies that take place in or have anything to do with England.  Then if it goes so far as England + Christmas, it's a sure winner :)  So obviously, I was destined to love this movie.  I always see this in the $5-7 dollar bins at stores and want to buy it for everyone :) 

This is the cute romantic story of two women (one in London & one in Los Angeles) who trade homes for Christmas.  That's all I'm giving you because you must watch it!  

Why It's a must watch:

Christmas romance at its best!!!  This is a super lovable romantic comedy.  Not quite the cheesy, perfect-packaged romance of the Hallmark movies, there's some heartache and difficulties too making for a more believable story (so you'll likely be able to get a non-sappy other to watch and enjoy it with you :P).  

My "Rating":

This movie is rated PG 13 and that seems about right to me.  There's a very little bit of bad language and maybe 2 scenes in bed (they're not sex scenes and no nudity, but you realize that had just happened).  It's really a quite pleasantly mild movie, in my opinion. 

You're Movie Night:

Unless you have older kids, you're probably going to save this one for a date night or ladies night :)  To make it special serve some English candies or snacks.  You can hit up your local Costplus World Market or order online.  Here are some of my favorites:

 

I hope you're enjoying my series on 12 Must Watch Holiday Movies!  Click the picture below for the other posts in this series so far:

12 Nights of Must Watch Holiday Movies: White Christmas

The Movie:
This movie is like Christmas candy for the eyes!  Even looking at the DVD Case puts me in the Christmas mood :)  It's the musical story of two song and dance duos that hook up to put on a Christmas show to benefit a struggling ski-resort lodge in the midst of a snow-less winter season.

Why it's a must watch:
It's a classic and probably already on your list.  I love it for the way I feel in just the first few words as Bing Crosby sings I'm Dreaming of A White Christmas, the fantastic dance numbers, the amazing color spectacular, and the heartwarming plot that all melt together for dazzling array of Christmas fabulocity.  It's fun & catchy (be prepared to be singing "Sisters, sisters, there were never such devoted sisters . . . " for the next few days).  I also can't resist singing "I want to wash my hands, my face, my hair with snow" every year when it finally snows!


My Rating:
Really family friendly and fun for all ages.
The opening has an attack scene in a war setting, other than that I think it is smooth sailing!

Your Movie Night:
Snack:
This would be a great after-dinner movie to enjoy with some yummy white cake like this amazing one from AskChefDennis.com:

img source A Culinary Journey With Chef Dennis

Craft Idea:
Gather together all the goods you'd need to make snowflakes while watching then deck out your house in it's very own "white christmas" when it's over.  Pinterest is bursting at the seams with awesome snowflake craft ideas at all different age/skill levels, here are some of my favorites:

Snowflake Ballerinas from Canadian Family

Three Dimensional Paper Snowflake from Ellinee.com

Craft stick Snowflake by The Ballard Bunch

See you tomorrow!