COMMENTARY: Holiday movies make the holidays bearable
Holidays happen year-round and there are many days dedicated to specific celebrations. These include global cultural and religious celebrations, and most people partake in at least one of these in a given year. However, when it comes to holiday movies, most people refer to those that strongly feature a winter holiday like Thanksgiving, Christmas or Hanukkah. For example Home for the Holidays, Elf and Mistletoe & Menorahs.
What makes a holiday movie?
Holiday movies are ultimately defined by the combination of setting, the use of the holiday and theme. Basically, if the movie works on its own by taking off the holiday, then it is not a holiday movie.
– Miles Shellshear, Executive Editor
Poster courtesy of Rankin/Bass Productions, Videocraft International and National Broadcasting Company (NBC). SOURCE: IMBD.com
From snow to hot chocolate, these movies must include everything winter in terms of setting and decorations. The use of the holiday and how it is referenced also makes a big difference. The holiday has to be a big part of the movie like in The Holiday Calendar where there are many references to Christmas.
Additionally, theme is also an important factor in defining a holiday movie. These movies include a broad range of genres but they must include things like family, love and friendship. For example, in the comedic classic, Christmas with the Kranks, the titular Kranks are reminded that the holidays are not the same without family and friends by your side, no matter how dysfunctional they are.
Many directors and screenwriters try to add tinsel and pine trees and call their movie a holiday movie. However, just because a movie has a fleeting moment that shows lights hanging from the rooftop or a mistletoe hanging from the ceiling, that does not mean it is a holiday movie.
Movies like Die Hard are what many consider a holiday movie because it is set on Christmas Eve. However, the plot is about John McClane (Bruce Willis) saving a group of hostages from terrorists and can function without the holiday element. Therefore, as previously mentioned, if the movie works without the holiday, then it is not a holiday movie.
Why are they important?
People should watch holiday movies because they embody the holiday spirit as well as allow the viewers to escape reality, even if just for a couple of hours. The holidays bring a lot of chaos to many people and the ability to sit down and watch someone else go through them as well allow the viewers to relate and feel less alone.
Holiday movies also give the viewers a sense of normalcy. This year is a difficult time because of the COVID-19 pandemic and holiday movies help bring comfort to those who will have to spend the holidays alone because of it.
Aside from watching holiday movies alone, streaming platforms like Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ have groupwatch options for their subscribers. Similarly, those subscribed to Netflix can download extensions like Teleparty (formerly Netflix Party) to virtually watch available Netflix titles with friends and family.
Without holiday movies, the holidays would not be as anticipated as they are. These movies are an amazing way to spend time either with family and friends or by oneself. They allow everyone to get into the holiday spirit of giving and receiving and escape temporarily into a winter wonderland.
