Sometimes, when the holiday spirit is low, it takes a good Christmas or holiday movie in order to create excitement for the holidays. But what are some good films to watch? compiled a list of iconic Christmas movies to watch this season.

     To begin, there’s Elf, a movie about a human who is accidentally abducted by Santa Claus and raised to be an elf. “Buddy” (Will Ferrell), now an adult, travels back to New York City to find his real father (James Caan), a cynical businessman. The movie is an excellent comedy, following Buddy’s adventures throughout New York City.

     Another classic is Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Of course it is based on the song of the same name that is based on the poem (which also shares the name). It follows the adventure of Rudolph, a reindeer with a glowing red nose, Hermey, a misfit elf who wants to be a dentist, and Yukon Cornelius, a prospector. It’s another great movie to watch with family when possible.

     There are multiple different adaptations of Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas, which include the 1966 animated film, the 2000 live-action starring Jim Carrey, and most recently the 2018 3D-animated The Grinch. All of these different versions have their own merits. If you want the one closest to the book, the 1966 animation is for you. If you’re a fan of Jim Carrey, the live-action version is the way to go. Or if a modern take is preferred, then the newest adaptation from 2018 is pretty good.

     The Nightmare Before Christmas is a stop-motion animated film that follows Jack, the king of Halloween Town, who accidentally discovers Christmas Town. He (and the rest of Halloween Town) misunderstand the holiday, and decide to improve it by taking Christmas over the next year. It has a unique and instantly recognizable art style, as well as an excellent score.

     Home Alone is a great comedy movie following Kevin McCallister as he defends his house from burglars after being accidentally left behind by his family for Christmas vacation. This film has tons of memorable quotes and scenes, and a great score by John Williams.

     This pick may be a bit controversial, but many people still retain the belief that Die Hard is in fact a Christmas movie. It’s a great action film starring Bruce Willis as John McClane, who has to fight against terrorists who have taken over a Los Angeles skyscraper. It takes place on Christmas Eve, and many plot elements of the movie are dependent on the fact that it takes place during Christmastime. It does have a lot of violence, so it’s recommended to watch this one alone.

     The final movie is The Polar Express. It is an animated film centered around a train that rounds up kids and brings them all to the North Pole on Christmas Eve, focusing on one passenger who doubts the existence of Santa. Polar Express, unlike Die Hard, is a film that is definitely family friendly.

     And those are some iconic Christmas movies to see over winter break.