Lighting Up the Holidays: Movies That Capture the Soul of Christmas

Ava Slater, Olivia Klein

December 18, 2024

What better way to dive into winter break than with a blanket, cookies, and your favorite Christmas movie?

Christmas is a time that is filled with fond memories and tradition, so what better way to kick off the holiday season than with classic Christmas movies? Whether it’s the chaos of family gatherings or the joy of believing in Santa, these five Christmas films have a special way of combining these moments into something you can watch. Many Christmas movies have become an essential way to enjoy the holiday season; to us these five spread holiday cheer like no other.

Christmas movies

"Elf" (2003)

Length — 1:37

Rotten Tomatoes Rating — 86%

Released in 2003, ‘‘Elf’’ is a movie about a young man named Buddy (Will Ferrell) leaving the North Pole, where he was raised by elves, to find his birth father in New York City. After Buddy finds his father, the man brings Buddy home to live with him and his family, who are convinced Buddy is mentally stuck as a toddler.

As less and less people believe in Santa, Christmas spirit reaches a critical low, putting the fate of Christmas in jeopardy. Buddy takes it as a personal mission to both save Christmas and to foster a relationship with his father.

‘‘Elf’’ is able to capture the true childlike joy of Christmas by directly speaking out to the target viewers of the movie (kids) that people no longer believe in Santa, reminding everyone of the magic that comes with believing in the spirit of Christmas. Truly capturing the excitement that Christmas brings,‘‘Elf’’ remains a must-watch every year.

"National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation" (1989)

Length — 1:37

Rotten Tomatoes Rating — 71%

Faced with 10 family members and a chaotic dog who unexpectedly stayed at his house over the Christmas Vacation, Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase), invites his boisterous extended family in with a tense smile. However, when his boss decides to stop giving out Christmas bonuses, Clark finally snaps, and his outburst leads to a series of disastrous and hilarious incidents.

Released 35 years ago, ‘‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’’ has been making people laugh and smile and it always reminds us that the true spirit of Christmas is not in perfect decorations, but in the unforgettable memories you create with those closest to you.

"How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (2000)

Length — 1:45

Rotten Tomato Rating — 49%

‘‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas,’’ based on the Dr. Seus' book of the same name, follows the story of the Grinch (Jim Carey), an ostracized citizen of Whoville with an intense hatred for the whole holiday season that started when he was rejected and humiliated by a classmate in grade school. The Grinch lives on Mount Crumpit next to Whoville with no love in his heart until the daughter of a local postman, Cindy Lou Who, declares the Grinch should be the recipient of the Cheermeister, an award, in hopes to invite the Grinch to the towns holiday festivities. After being overwhelmed by the festivities of the annual Christmas Eve party, and further put in a bad mood when his elementary school bully proposes to his childhood crush. The Grinch decides to ruin Christmas for every other Who.

Rotten Tomatoes has given ‘‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’’ a shockingly low 49%. We think it should be significantly higher because this movie represents the importance of compassion and forgiveness, while keeping on the plot of the true meaning of Christmas: surrounding yourself with the people who you love.

"Home Alone" (1990)

Length — 1:43

Rotten Tomatoes Rating — 66%

‘‘Home Alone’’, released in 1990, follows the story of a young boy, Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin), who, after a botched head count, is left home alone while the rest of his huge extended family leaves for Paris without him. His joy of having his house all to himself is short-lived though, because Kevin is faced with a new challenge when two thieves try to break into his house. He has to be clever to protect himself and his empty home.

“Home Alone” made us laugh and smile while staying meaningful in its message, reminding us to find joy in even the most unexpected circumstances. Scored second lowest out of the movies selected, we agree the score should be higher due to the exciting, fast-paced plot, and comedic value consistent throughout the movie.

"A Christmas Story" (1983)

Length — 1:34

Rotten Tomatoes Rating — 89%

‘‘A Christmas Story’’ follows Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley), a boy scheming to get a Red Ryder Carbine-action 200-shot Range Model Air Rifle during the Christmas season as a 9 year old in the 40’s. Despite his efforts, everyone seems to agree that he will ‘‘shoot his eye out.’’ Aside from trying to get a perfect Christmas present, Ralphie spends most of his time avoiding bullies and trying, but always failing, to stay out of trouble.

Despite being rated at 89% on Rotten Tomatoes and the highest rating out of all the movies on this list, we agree this score is deserving, but the comparison between scores is shocking. We both agree it does not deserve to be the top rated simply because the plot lacks action and memory, and fails to pull the audience in as well. ‘‘A Christmas Story’’ highlights all of Ralphie’s comedic, unfortunate, and triumphant moments. Narrated by an older Ralphie looking back at how he got his best Christmas present, this 1983 classic brings back the child-like spirit that revolves around Christmas.

Whether the characters are saving Christmas or stealing it, watching classic Christmas movies is a sure way to bring the holiday spirit into any room. These films remind us of the joys, growth, and struggles that come from Christmas Celebration. Even if you watch them every year, they never fail to bring the nostalgia that makes Christmas special. These holiday classics are guaranteed to fill your home with the Christmas spirit.

About the Contributor

Ava Slater, Staff Reporter

Freshman Ava Slater has lived in Oregon her whole life, staying in Happy Valley for the majority of that time. Ava enjoys the unpredictable and diverse weather in Oregon, especially when all the leaves turn orange in the fall. Ava’s family was brought to La Salle because of its exceptional academics and strong community. She graduated from Holy Family Catholic School last year. She has enjoyed track and field in the spring for the past few years and is planning to continue at La Salle. Outside of school and sports, Ava enjoys playing with her French bulldog, Pierre, and her Rottweiler, Roxy. Ava enjoys French and math. This is her first year taking French, but she already feels like she has learned a lot and has had a lot of fun in her class. She likes math because it has a lot of real-life applications and will help her in the future. Ava has always wanted to visit France, so she is hoping to go there with La Salle when she is an upperclassman.

The La Salle Falconer

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Lighting Up the Holidays: Movies That Capture the Soul of Christmas

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