Jasmine Conway Features Editor, The Pawprint 

Elf

Made in: 2003

Directed by: Jon Favreau

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 84%

Genre: Fantasy/Romance

A human named Buddy was unintentionally sent to the North Pole as a baby, and was raised by elves throughout his life. Buddy always felt like he didn’t belong, and that something was missing in his life. To fill the hole in his heart, Buddy travels to New York City to search for his real father. He finds his father, Walter Hobbs, who is a contemptuous business man. Getting the DNA test back proving this, Buddy tries to make a relationship with his father. 

Home Alone

Made in: 1990

Directed by: Chris Colombus 

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 65%

Genre: Adventure/Comedy 

As Kevin and his family get ready to leave for their family vacation, they accidently forget Kevin and leave him behind. Kevin is now all alone in his house with no adult in sight. He is happy about it, until robbers try and break in. Will Kevin be able to defend himself or will the robbers catch him?

Love Actually 

Made in: 2003

Directed by: Richard Curtis 

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 64%

Genre: Drama/Romance

Love Actually is rom-com Christmas movie that intertwines 8 different love stories, each showing how complicated relationships are. 

The Princess Switch

Made in: 2018

Directed by: Micheal Rohl

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 75%

Genre: Romance/Comedy

A plain girl from Chicago and a duchess (both played by Vanessa Hudgens) look exactly alike. They switch places one week before Christmas, and end up falling in love with each others’ love interests. 

Last Christmas 

Made in: 2019

Directed by: Paul Feig 

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 48%

Genre: Drama/Romance

Everything seems to go right for a Londoner named Kate, whose job is to be an elf in an all year round Christmas shop. Suddenly, a man named Tom turns her whole life around. Tom is a good-looking charmer, that seems too good to be true. Their attraction becomes a Christmas romance, turning this movie into the best gift of all.  

The Grinch 

Made in: 2018

Directed by: Yarrow Cheney 

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 59%

Genre: Fantasy/Musical

The Grinch and his dog named Max live in a cave far from the town of Whoville. The Grinch hates it when Whoville celebrates Christmas. This Christmas, Whoville decided to make the Christmas decoration bigger and brighter. The Grinch decided the only way he can get some peace and quiet is to steal Christmas. Max and the Grinch will pretend to be Santa Claus and steal all of Whoville’s Christmas presents. This scheme will take away Whoville’s joy for Christmas once and for all. 

It’s a Wonderful Life

Made in: 1946

Directed by: Frank Capra

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%

Genre: Drama/Fantasy 

A man, George Bailey, is planning to commit sucide on Christmas. The angels give us flashbacks of George’s life, while discussing his future. George jumps off the bridge, and suddenly, a guardian angel named Clarence saves him. Clarence shows George what his town would be like if he hadn’t done so many good deeds all those years ago.

Frosty The Snowman

Made in: 1969

Directed by: Arthur Rankin

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 73%

Genre: Fantasy/Comedy Music 

A snowman made by children magically comes to life. A professor named Hinkle wants the snowman, Frosty, to be safe. So, he must take a train to the north pole with a young girl named Karen.

Arthur Christmas

Made in: 2011

Directed by: Sarah Smith 

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92%

Genre: Drama/Fantasy

There is a boy named Arthur who is Santa Claus’s awkward son.There was a technical glitch in a little girl’s present, causing it to be misplaced. It’s up to Arthur to follow in his father’s footsteps and deliver the misplaced present before it is too late.

The Night Before

Made in: 2015

Directed by: Jonathan Levine 

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 67%

Genre: Comedy

The movie tells the story of three lifelong best friends named Ethan, Issac, and Chris. Every Christmas Eve, they get together and celebrate it with a big bang. Knowing that this is the last year they can ever celebrate like they have been (because of Isaac’s soon-to-be child), they try to make this year extra special. Their night consists of the 3 things: debauchery, hilarity, and the best party in New York.