As the holiday season continues, many people are watching movies to brighten up their spirits. One thing I know for sure is that all holiday movies are the best in their own way! In this article, I hope to present my favorite holiday movie and what staff around Winthrop Public Schools have also said. My favorite holiday movie of all time is Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. I love this movie so much because of the setting. New York City during Christmas time looked amazing and so magical in this movie. Plus, Kevin being in the hotel and ordering all that food would make my mouth drool when I was little. This movie just brings back childhood memories and the freedom of it all. The comedian aspect of torturing the men who keep going after Kevin always makes me laugh. In all the movie fills me with so much joy and enthusiasm for the holiday season every time. 

Here are the responses from a few Winthrop Public School staff about their favorite Christmas and holiday movies. 

Mr. Donnelly: A Christmas Story– It is a great film that reminds me of a Christmas that my father would tell us stories of growing up. He talks about how he wished for a wagon and got it and then immediately hurt himself. It gives a funny time capsule of Christmas’s past. Scrooged- I love Bill Murray in this fabulous comedic look at the classic “A Christmas Story.” It is super funny, has some cool effects and is a great take on a well known story. Krampus – I love horror films in general especially about and this to me is probably the best done horror film about Christmas (Gremlins is a close second.) I also love old Folklore turned into movies and this does a good job of mixing that into a more modern feel.  

Mrs. Grayson: Annabelle’s Wish because it is so great. Annabelle – a calf who has a special wish for Christmas – wants to be a reindeer and help Santa Claus drive his sleigh as he delivers his presents! Annabelle’s friends tell her not to get her hopes up, but to everyone’s surprise, Santa does indeed meet up with Annabelle, and the calf gets to help Santa make the holiday special for one young boy.

 Mrs. Mckinnon: 

1. Elf: It has great humor and holiday spirit.
2. Grinch (live-action): nostalgia from my childhood.
3. Holidate” it was cute!

Mr. Dixon: First is Die Hard, which is excellent on many levels; it was an instant classic when it came out, and it really exemplifies the spirit of Christmas. Second is National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, whose gags are iconic; the film probably features Chevy Chase’s best onscreen performance other than Three Amigos. Third is an odd choice: the Star Wars Holiday Special, which as a cultural artifact is equal parts intriguing and repulsive; this is a good example of our society’s conflicted views on family, religion, Stormtroopers, and the nature of communal rituals and celebrations.

Comment what your favorite holiday movie is! 🙂

Editor’s note: Mr. Dixon did tell Shannon in person that Love Actually might replace the Star Wars Holiday Special.  Just for the record.