I don’t know about you but when December rolls around, I anticipate my favorite holiday films and also new ones I’ve never seen. While I won’t vouch for films I’ve never seen, I will recommend films in different genres, taking place during Christmas.

• Elf. Full disclosure: when I heard about this film upon its 2003 release, I was skeptical. It wasn’t until a full decade later I finally watched this and appreciated Will Ferrell in his comedic glory and the heartwarming message about family. I mean, it is a Christmas movie after all. It’s an annual Christmas tradition.
• Home Alone/Home Alone 2. I had to include these as a pair because why would you only watch one? For years, I only watched Home Alone 2: Lost in New York because it’s the only film I owned (yes, I still watch DVDs!) until I saw Home Alone on sale for $5 at a Walgreen’s. Now, every year, I throw them on and have a marathon. I have a special affinity for the second film because it takes place in my hometown of New York City and because Christmas in New York City is the most magical place in the world (I’m talking about the humongous tree at Rockefeller Center of course).
• Die Hard. This is a Christmas movie! Bruce Willis and the late Alan Rickman make this action flick memorable (cuz it is) and just a ton of fun. Wait for his Yippee Ki Yay; never fails to deliver.
• Black Christmas (1974). The only horror film on this list that made slasher flicks ubiquitous soon after. For the horror fans, watch for a pre-Halloween POV that inspired copycats for years to come. For everyone else, if you can stomach it enough past the first death, you’ll make it through the end. It’s a dark film with a really disturbing ending. Still thinking about it as I write this.
• Batman Returns. A great throwback. Michelle Pfeiffer. Christopher Walken. Danny DeVito and of course, our Batman, Michael Keaton. One of my favorite Tim Burton films which include his wonderful contrast of darkness and bright colors throughout the movie. If you haven’t seen it in years, you’ll see how great this film is to watch during the holidays.

*Honorable mention: A Christmas Story. I haven’t watched this in years since I cut the cable cord but I mean, it’s a classic! For fans of the Screen Junkies Honest Trailer series on YouTube, I recommend watching the Honest Trailer for this film. So accurate.

Enjoy the holidays, y’all! We need all that joy this year.