By Matija Šerić
“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (1989)
This cinematic work has turned 36 years old, yet it never gets outdated. Directed by Jeremiah Chechik, the film is perfect for watching every holiday season. It is a comedy full of misadventures and other crazy antics, both outdoors on snow and ice and indoors in warm home spaces. The story centers on the disaster-prone yet eternally optimistic Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase), who embarks on a mission to create the perfect family Christmas. However, his desired goal slowly but surely turns into a hilarious avalanche of mishaps. Unexpected visits from relatives (especially cousin Eddie – Randy Quaid), chaos over Christmas decorations, a mysteriously missing bonus, and Clark’s epic meltdown are just part of the holiday frenzy. Yet behind every short circuit and broken light bulb lies a warm realization: the true holidays are not perfect but full of family warmth and love, however chaotic they may be.
Christmas Vacation Trailer
“While You Were Sleeping” (1995)
This romantic comedy starring Sandra Bullock, Bill Pullman, and Peter Gallagher isn’t a traditional Christmas movie, but it takes place during the holidays and is imbued with festive spirit, making it a worthy addition to the Christmas film category. Directed by Jon Turteltaub and written by Fredric Lebow and Daniel Sullivan, the film is quite creative.
The plot follows lonely public transit worker Lucy Eleanor Moderatz (Sandra Bullock), who accidentally becomes a heroine when she saves her long-time, secretly admired acquaintance Peter (Peter Gallagher) from an oncoming train. In the hospital, doctors discover Peter is in a coma, and one clumsy remark from Lucy triggers a chain of misunderstandings. Peter’s warm, somewhat chaotic family believes she is his fiancée. Instead of immediately telling the truth, Lucy becomes entangled in their world – family dinners, holiday warmth, and human closeness she has always secretly longed for. Everything becomes more complicated when her heart unexpectedly starts to beat for Peter’s quiet, attentive, and charming brother Jack (Bill Pullman). As the holidays progress, Lucy’s innocent lie turns into an emotional labyrinth with no easy way out. As Peter’s potential awakening approaches, Lucy must decide whether to stay in the story she accidentally created or summon the courage to choose the truth – and the love that came when she least expected it.
While You Were Sleeping (1995) Trailer
“Die Hard” (1988)
At first glance, Die Hard doesn’t seem like a Christmas movie, but it is, as the story takes place during Advent. This is an action drama directed by John McTiernan and written by Jeb Stuart and Steven de Souza, starring Hollywood legends Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Alexander Godunov, and Bonnie Bedelia. New York cop John McClane (Bruce Willis) visits his estranged wife (Bonnie Bedelia) on Christmas Eve. He joins her at a holiday party in the headquarters of the Japanese company where she works. The celebration is interrupted by a group of terrorists taking over the luxury skyscraper. McClane quickly realizes that no one can save the hostages except, of course, him. In a maze of glass, steel, and danger, McClane embarks on a solitary, nearly impossible mission against armed criminals. As tension escalates, he becomes the only hope for survival in the most dramatic Christmas night adventure in action film history. Willis received an astonishing $5 million for his role at the time. Die Hard is not only one of the best action films ever but also one of the greatest Christmas movies of all time. Anyone who denies its Christmas status should watch it again.
Die Hard (1988) Trailer
“Mon Oncle Antoine” (1971)
Mon Oncle Antoine is a phenomenal Canadian drama in French, directed by Claude Jutra. The story follows Benoit (Jacques Gagnon), an adolescent cared for by his uncle Antoine (Jean Duceppe), owner of a general store in a small mining town in Québec. To earn extra money, Antoine also works as the local undertaker. During the Christmas shopping frenzy, Benoit helps his uncle in the store and learns a lot about himself. When he accompanies his uncle to handle the body of a local boy who recently passed away, he confronts his own mortality and realizes how fleeting life is. This experience marks a turning point in his coming of age, opening his eyes to the complexity of the adult world.
Mon Oncle Antoine is considered one of the best Canadian films of all time and a Christmas classic for several reasons. It emotionally depicts life in rural Québec in the 1940s around Christmas. Snowy landscapes, modest homes, a humble store, and the rhythm of a small town create a nostalgic holiday atmosphere that doesn’t rely on commercial clichés but on reality. Additionally, the story taking place during Christmas amplifies the contrast between the warmth of togetherness and the daily struggles dominated by poverty, death, and life’s hardships.
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