It’s truly the most wonderful time of the year and with the snow piling up, what better way to get in the holiday spirit than cozying up to a movie filled with the season’s spirit? Here are 8 of the most iconic holiday movie moments for you to savor as you’re snuggled by the fire.
Jude Law’s Mr. Napkin Head
The Holiday is my personal go-to festive rom-com. It features a rock-star cast including Jude Law, Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet and Jack Black. And just when you thought Law couldn’t get any hotter, he proceeds to take his napkin, place it over his face and gift the world the character of Mr. Napkin Head, warming the heart of every single person watching. To say we’re in love would be an understatement.
The Ending of It’s A Wonderful Life
A Christmas classic, It’s A Wonderful Life dives deep into the life of George Bailey, who spends the majority of the film questioning his entire existence and breaking our hearts every step of the way. Just when you think you can’t take any more of his struggles, the final nine minutes of the flick deliver one of the happiest endings in holiday movie history. (If you haven’t seen it, you’re welcome.)
Kevin McCallister Setting the Trap
Being the youngest in my family, I often got away (and honestly still get away) with things pretty easily. That’s probably why Home Alone is one of my favorite movies of all time. How 8-year-old Kevin McCallister conceives, builds and ultimately pulls off his epic trap is beyond genius. It’s a feat that if executed in real life would have definitely had the opportunity to win the Nobel Prize.
Sexy Animated Hot Chocolate Aboard the Polar Express
The Polar Express is the only animated film on this list, and there’s one reason why: the hot chocolate scene. Yes, this is a children’s movie and is definitely intended for family night, but can we talk about how delicious these beverages look and all the match-made-in-heaven libations they could be used in?! Wow. Who knew animated hot chocolate could be this sexy?
Buddy Makes Spaghetti Breakfast
That Will Ferrell’s performance as Buddy in Elf wasn’t nominated for an Academy Award is a crime. An even bigger crime? That the character’s now famous spaghetti breakfast recipe was snubbed by the James Beard Foundation.
The Plastics’ “Jingle Bell Rock” Performance
Muddying the waters of what it means to be a Christmas movie, the “Jingle Bell Rock” scene in Mean Girls absolutely cements the flick’s reputation as one of the best holiday movies of all time. Dear Santa, if I promise to stop trying to make fetch happen, can you send me a hype woman as passionate as Regina George’s mother?!
The Grinch Going Through His Schedule
Delivering a powerhouse performance in the ultimate tale of naughty list turned nice, Jim Carrey as the Grinch is a defining moment in holiday movie culture unlike any other. Inviting us into his home, the Grinch details his entire schedule, including dinners with himself and wrestling with his own self-loathing. I’m proud to say that I’ve never identified more with a movie character.
The Entirety of Love Actually
Love Actually is a stroke-of-genius rom-com that changed the art of cinematic storytelling when it debuted. Featuring a handful of superstar actors including Hugh Grant, Keira Knightley, Liam Neeson and Emma Thompson, this holiday film tells intertwined love stories, sending viewers on an emotional rollercoaster and leaving us sitting in a puddle of our own snot and tears by the end.
