By Spencer Ilias

Christmas is right around the corner, and one of the best ways to celebrate is to watch a Christmas movie with your friends and family. But which one? All of the streaming services, each one thousands of movies, have made the act of picking a movie a little bit of a chore.

So, to make it easier for you, here are my five most comforting and enjoyable Christmas movies to watch this Christmas.

Home Alone:

Home Alone is a family comedy about 8-year-old Kevin McCallister, who is accidentally left behind when his family goes on a Christmas trip to Paris. Thrilled at first to have the house to himself, Kevin’s fun ends when two burglars target his home. Using clever traps, he defends the house while his mother races to return in time for Christmas. 

This timeless classic is a great watch with the family if you are wanting a good laugh and is enjoyable for all ages.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas:

How the Grinch Stole Christmas, starring Jim Carrey, is a heartwarming Christmas comedy about the Grinch, a grumpy, green recluse who hates Christmas. Living alone with his dog Max, he decides to ruin the Whos’ celebrations by stealing their decorations and presents. But, after meeting kind-hearted Cindy Lou Who, he learns the true meaning of Christmas, but is it too late?

While this version is a classic, the Grinch's appearance might be scary for younger children. For a less intimidating option, the animated film The Grinch offers a similar storyline with a gentler tone.

Elf:

Elf starring Will Ferrell is a christmas comedy about Buddy the elf, a human raised as an elf in the north pole. When Buddy realises he’s not an elf, he travels to New York to find his biological father, who happens to be a grumpy old man who loves to work all day and is on Santa's naughty list.

A hilarious feel good story is great for everyone during Christmas.

The Nightmare Before Christmas:

The Nightmare Before Christmas follows the story of Jack Skellington the pumpkin king of halloween town, who gets bored of his spooky routine. When he stumbles upon Christmas town, he grows curious and decides to take over Christmas. But Jack's attempt to replace Santa leads to chaos as his creepy gifts terrify the real world. With the help of his friends and the kind Sally, Jack realizes his mistake and works to restore Christmas, embracing his true role as Halloween’s leader. 

It’s a quirky, magical story about self-discovery and the spirit of the holidays.

The Polar Express:

The Polar Express is a magical animated film about a young boy who boards a train to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. Along the way he meets other children and experiences different adventures that test his bravery and his belief of Christmas. At the North Pole he is given a special opportunity to meet Santa. 

It is a heart warming tale about faith, friendship and the spirit of Christmas.

All of these movies are great for families to really get into the Christmas spirit and to have an enjoyable heartfelt experience with one another.