Christmas Movie Season is Ending 😱

How to make the most of the next seven days 🎄

It’s crunch time, folks. We wait all year for Christmas movie watching season. Netflix is churning out more cheesy movies than ever before, and we’re worried they’re kind of trying to steal Hallmark’s brand. Every streaming service is plastering anything vaguely festive to their homepage in order to get the most viewership this time of year. So, how do you pick what to watch? Decision paralysis has never been so real.

If you’re in the mood to turn down the lights, start a fire, grab a cup of cocoa and settle in to watch a movie without the standard hour of scrolling for the perfect movie… Look no further! I’m here with two guides that will give you the best of all of the holiday favorites.

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Christmas Movie Watch Guide #1- The Traditionalist

Ok, I just want to say when I call this the list for the traditionalist, I’m not talking about White Christmas and It’s a Wonderful Life. I know those are the true traditional Christmas movies, but I didn’t grow up with them and they’re just not going to make this list. I’m sorry ❤️

Monday Night- 7 days until Christmas

Night one we’re starting strong. I don’t usually hear people list The Santa Clause as their top favorite Christmas movie, but it’s often found in top five lists. We’re kicking off the week leading up to Christmas with a good-mood movie to really get everyone in the spirit! There’s nothing too nefarious, Tim Allen makes an absolutely superb Santa and if you love it enough, there are like three other movies in the Santa Clause universe to binge afterwards.

Tuesday Night- 6 days until Christmas

Let’s crack up a little tonight, alright? Elf has a stunning plot, so many iconic moments, and everyone loves a New York City Christmas story. It’s different enough from The Santa Clause that you won’t feel like you’re watching the same movie two nights in a row, but we’re still keeping it pretty festive and lighthearted before we get into the real deep cuts of our Christmas movie catalog.

Wednesday Night- 5 days until Christmas

On Wednesday night you’re going to gather round with the whole family and flip on The Year Without a Santa Claus. This was a classic in my house growing up, and I am absolutely addicted to the age-old Heat/SnowMiser rivalry. Whose team are you on? LMK in the comments! Lowkey, I think HeatMiser is misunderstood 🤷‍♀️

Thursday Night- 4 days until Christmas

My Kevin cites Home Alone as his personal favorite Christmas movie. Is it the fact that he shares a name with the hero of this Christmas classic? Is it that they’re both middle children? I’m not sure! Flip this movie on, and quote as much of it as you can- it’s probably a lot.

Friday Night- 3 days until Christmas

This list wouldn’t be complete without A Charlie Brown Christmas!!! Even if you just flip it on for the soundtrack and the vibes to serve as a peaceful background dialogue to a family gathering or evening of baking, you can’t close out the season without Charlie Brown.

Saturday Night- 2 days until Christmas

You thought I wouldn’t include a Christmas Rom Com?!?!?! This could alternately be swapped for The Holiday but I think Love Actually is a little bit more universally recognized as the Christmas rom com. Dealer’s choice for Saturday, but I’d better catch you all falling in love alongside all of these brits mkay?!

Sunday Night- 1 day until Christmas

This might be a hot take… But flip on the OG animated Grinch for Christmas eve! I really do think that the message of How the Grinch Stole Christmas is one that can warm all of our hearts and remind us that the spirit of Christmas has nothing to do with the gifts or the decorations. If you know someone who is being a little grinchy this season, feel free to invite them over to watch with you 💚

Monday Night- It’s Christmas!!!

Ok, I’m not gonna lie. This is not my favorite Christmas movie. Like, probably not even gonna make it into my top 10. But the thing is, it’s an absolute classic. I was going to argue that this one gets the spot of Christmas Day because there’s that one channel that plays it on a loop for 24 hours at Christmas, but most people don’t even have cable anymore so… Oops. Still, there are plenty of traditionalists out there that would argue that this is the one to watch on Christmas day. Anyone else get a Red Rider BB gun on their 10th birthday? Just me? Sweet 🎄

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Christmas Movie Watch Guide #2- The Goofy Little Elf

Yeah, ok this is my kind of list. The first list is fab for sure, but this list is where I get to add all of my personal favs. Something about me is that I loooove a wacky Christmas movie. Keep in mind, this is my list so if you think that one of these movies belongs on a different list that’s fab- write it down for yourself to reference next year 🤪

Monday Night- 7 days until Christmas

Ok, duh. This movie is everything to me. I don’t go a year without watching Christmas Vacation, and every year I find a new quote to fixate on for the entire season. Last year was simple “Helen!” (in the weird raspy voice of Clark’s boss). For years it was “THE BLESSING” but you have to do the little gesture that Uncle Lewis does. The girls who get it, get it.

Tuesday Night- 6 days until Christmas

This movie was new to me this year, and I absolutely loved it. It was actually the inspiration for this newsletter, because I wanted to tell y’all about it and needed more to share than just this movie. Feast of the Seven Fishes is silly, has a heartwarming lineup of characters, and isn’t too out there. Just a good Christmas movie we can start adding to the yearly rotation. Also, if you aren’t familiar with the Italian-American tradition of the feast of the seven fishes, you will be after watching this! Lots of the food and cooking imagery in this movie made my heart happy. Watch it and report back!

Wednesday Night- 5 days until Christmas

Ok… Ok. I know that 3/3 movies on this list so far feature a lovable yet dysfunctional family, but that’s why we love these movies right?! We see a little bit of our own families reflected in each of these movies. The Family Stone is fab because it’ll make you laugh, cry, smile, and everything in between. It’s a classic for a reason!!!

Thursday Night- 4 days until Christmas

If the traditionalists are getting the OG grinch, we’re going to watch Jim Carrey’s version. I recently watched an interview where Carrey admitted that he had to undergo training to withstand torture in order to spend hours in the Grinch suit. I think he developed a bit of a smoking habit on set. Good for him, I guess! I mean, it is the performance of a lifetime. This movie also gives us backstory on the Grinch which we don’t get in the animated version. Baby Grinch. That’s all.

Friday Night- 3 days until Christmas

That’s right, bitches. Die Hard is on the Goofy Little Elf watch list. You can debate all you want in the comments- it’ll boost my engagement! I watched Die Hard for the first time last year, and will put it in the Christmas movie category. I also lowkey think that Bridget Jones Diary is a Christmas movie because the film kicks off with a Christmas party scene. Different strokes, but if you’ve never considered it, give it a watch!

Saturday Night- 2 days until Christmas

Tim Allen is back! A Christmas ICON! Christmas with the Kranks has been one of my favorites for years. I think there are a lot of people out there who don’t really appreciate this one, tbh. It’s not one you can just throw on to play in the background. You’ve got to really appreciate it for what it is. It’s another one that’ll hit you in every emotion. Happy, sad, heartwarming, hilarious. The tanning bed scene will live permanently etched into my memory.

Sunday Night- 1 day until Christmas

Ok, Sunday night is actually dealer’s choice. I want you all to watch the absolute cheesiest Christmas rom com you can find. It needs to be produced by an extremely low budget production company, and it needs to have pretty bad acting. These movies get churned out at an alarming rate, so I know you can find something. The one I’ve included in this newsletter for you happens to be about a woman falling in love with a ghost. Enjoy!

Monday Night- It’s Christmas!!!

You guys. There’s something about this movie. I love it so much! This one made my secondary list because it hasn’t reached “classic Christmas movie” status yet, but I think it could one day. The plot is wonderful, the weird little elves are… weird (but loveable!), and Kurt Russel is just a delight. I believe there’s also a sequel to this one, but can’t speak to its quality. Merry Christmas!!!!!

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Alright y’all! That’s it from me this holiday season. I think the only Craveable left in 2023 will be some kind of year in review! Perhaps a recipe for your New Year’s gathering? Let me know what you’d like to see! As always, thank you so much for being here. I love writing for you all, and hope everyone who celebrates has the best Christmas. I’m home in Nashville for the week, and will probably be posting a little too much on my Instagram stories so follow along over there if you want! Love y’all ❤️🎄🎅