Christmas is a time filled with festivities, friends and fun, often leaving families with a very full schedule of things to do.
A wonderful (and most importantly relaxing) Christmas tradition is that of watching fun, heartwarming movies with the family during the silly season.
Here’s my Christmas movie watchlist featuring new and old family favourites for The Catholic Weekly readers.
Barbie and the Nutcracker (2001): This Christmas movie sees Barbie (named Clara in this feature) transported into the dreamy balletic world of Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker.” Rated G and available on Stan, Amazon Prime, and Apple TV.
Home Alone (1990): Ten-year-old Kevin is at loggerheads with his family on a busy winter’s day in Chicago and angrily wishes they would disappear. His wish is granted but now, as the man of the house, he has to contend with independence and the threat of the Wet Bandit robbers. Rated PG and available on Disney+, Amazon Prime, and Apple TV.
How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000): Whoville is abuzz because it’s Christmas! A time for decadence, bright lights, and presents. Not everyone, however, is happy about the festive season including six-year-old Cindy Lou Who and the nefarious Grinch, who wishes for the town to share in his misery. Rated PG and available on Stan, Disney+, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and Foxtel.
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992): A reimagining of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol starring Michael Caine (the only human in the film) as Ebeneezer Scrooge, he reckons with the fact his greed and rudeness led him down a dark and lonely path he must free himself from. Rated G and available on Disney+, Amazon Prime, and Apple TV.
Meet Me in St Louis (1944): Following a family in the lead up to the World’s Fair in spring, 1904 in Missouri, this seasonal delight contains one of Judy Garland’s best performances as Esther Smith, a woman smitten with her next-door neighbour. Rated G and available on HBO Max and Amazon Prime.
Looking for some non-festive movie watching options? Give these a try from the comfort of your couch this summer.
Zootopia (2016): A fresh-faced rabbit police officer Judy Hopps teams up with a crooked fox to uncover a conspiracy which could go all the way to the top of the justice system. Rated PG and available on Disney+, Amazon Prime, and Apple TV.
The Three Musketeers (1973): Peasant D’Artagnan enters big city Paris to become a Musketeer like his father before him but Cardinal Richelieu’s ambitions and the Queen’s infidelity complicate his quest. Rated G and available on Google Play.
Tron: Legacy (2010): Picking up 18 years after Tron (1982), this dazzling sci-fi caper scored by legendary electronic duo Daft Punk follows a man searching for his missing father. By stepping into virtual reality “the Grid” and with only an algorithm of human dreams to help him, he must find his dad and stop a virus from entering the real world. Rated PG and available on Disney+, Amazon Prime, and Apple TV.
Cat in the Hat (2003): Two bored and errant children are stuck at home while their mother works – until a chaotic human-sized cat appears and shakes up their lives with his antics. Rated PG and is available on Stan, Disney+, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and Foxtel.
Help! (1965): The second of the Beatles movies sees Ringo Starr try to escape his fate after being given a cursed ring by a fan and must journey across the world to save his life. Assailants, scientists, and screaming fans follow the Fab Four as they race to free Ringo. Rated PG and available on Apple TV.
