December is here, and that means it’s time to celebrate the holidays. Whether you’re counting down the days until Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, here’s a list of some of the best seasonal movies to get you in the holiday spirit.

Elf

Who doesn’t love the story of an elf traveling to New York City to meet his biological father? Elf is equal parts funny and touching, and will make you want to have spaghetti with maple syrup every night for dinner. Plus, it has tons of lines to quote to your family and friends (“so, good news—I saw a dog today,” for one). Elf is available on Hulu and Amazon Prime Video.

The Polar Express

Based off of the book by Chris Van Allsburg, The Polar Express tells the story of a boy who takes a train ride all the way to the North Pole. This animated classic is a perfect movie to watch with the whole family, and really makes you believe in the wonders of the holiday season. The Polar Express is available to rent on Amazon Prime Video, Youtube, and iTunes. 

Prep & Landing

If you’re looking for a shorter movie to watch, Prep & Landing has you covered. This twenty-minute animated short film is narrated by Wayne, an elf who has the job of ‘prepping’ a house before Santa Claus can arrive. The film is both entertaining and sweet, and has multiple spin-off movies featuring the same characters. Prep & Landing can be found on Disney+ or on DVD.

Home Alone

While you may have seen Home Alone one hundred times already, it’s the perfect movie to put on when you want to watch a holiday movie, but don’t want it to be too Christmas-y. Home Alone tells the story of eight-year-old Kevin, who’s accidentally left behind when his family leaves for a vacation to Paris. Kevin does all the things we would do if we had a whole house to ourselves, minus the con men trying to break in. Home Alone is available on Disney+.

Frozen

Although Frozen isn’t technically a holiday movie, the magical scenery and snowy landscape make you feel like you’re walking in a winter wonderland. Frozen is a great movie to put on while you’re decorating your house for the holidays or putting ornaments on your Christmas tree. You can stream Frozen and Frozen 2 on Disney+.

The Santa Clause

When you need a good, old-fashioned Christmas movie, put on The Santa Clause. This fun, family movie answers the question “who can fill in for Santa if something happens to him?” The answer for a divorced dad and his son is themselves, of course. The Santa Clause is available on Disney+ and to rent on Amazon Prime Video.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

2020 has been a very, very long year. So why not relax and laugh it off with Chevy Chase in the 1989 comedy, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation? The movie tells the story of a father who wants to have a big, family Christmas, but soon everything starts to go downhill, beginning with them forgetting to bring a saw to cut down their Christmas tree. Christmas Vacation is available to rent on Amazon Prime Video and iTunes.