8 Holiday Must Sees and Where To Stream Them
There’s only a week left until Christmas (if you celebrate that sort of thing) so have you maxed out on your holiday cheer yet? Me? I haven’t managed to watch a single holiday special or movie all the way through since December started. But there’s still a chance! Luckily, I’ve put together a list of the eight absolute must see holiday movies and specials you should watch and where you can find them before Santa hangs up his hat for the season.
The Spongebob Christmas Special - “Christmas Who?”
If there’s one thing I’m sure everyone wonders around this time of year it’s how did Christmas come to Bikini Bottom? And by golly, this Spongebob episode is just the thing to answer that! After Sandy introduces the concept of CHRIIIIISTMAAASSS *insert big sparkly eyes full of wonder* to Spongebob, the little square dude is all in and brings the whole town with him. They even do a fun Christmas ditty that I can sing right now, from memory, a cappella….who wants to hear it? Or I guess you can just watch the clip instead, that’s fine, I’m not insulted (I’m a little insulted.)
Where to find it - Dailymotion
To Grandmother’s House We Go
Love them or hate them, Mary Kate and Ashely Olsen defined a lot of 90s childhoods, thanks in large part to their constant presence on our tvs. I. Loved. To Grandmother’s House We Go. I still do. The girls are still pretty young in this (think Full House season 5) and haven’t quite worn out their precocious twinsies welcome just yet and all they want for Christmas is a Princess Penny doll and to give their single mom a break. They decide to runaway to…you guessed it. Their grandmother’s house. Obviously it’s not that easy and we get the perfect family friendly villainous duo in Jerry Van Dyke (RIP) and Rhea Perlman.
Where to find it - AMC, Sling, DirecTV
A Christmas Carol / A Muppet Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol is my shit. It’s not the holiday season unless I’ve watched at least one version of the story. Two of the best have to be, A Muppet Christmas Carol (thanks in large part to the old dudes as Marley and Marley) and the 1984 A Christmas Carol starring George C. Scott (who I believe is the best Scrooge we’ve had so far….sorry Michael Caine.) You could probably spend the week leading up to Christmas just watching the dozens of iterations of this one story.
Where to find it - Disney+
George C. Scott A Christmas Carol - Youtube
How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)
There is no topping the original. I’m sorry Jim Carrey, I’m sorry 2018 Grinch but ya’ll just can’t compare to the 1966 classic. Boris Karloff out here narrating, that creepy unfurling Grinch smile, Max with his cute little Who nose and the antler down butt up gag. There’s no comparison.
Where To Find It - DailyMotion
Home Alone & Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
There’s a debate in my house over which Home Alone reigns supreme. I say the first one. As someone who loves not leaving their house, I think Kevin wreaking havoc in his own safe and familiar space is way more fun plus all the traps are original and exciting. My husband is firmly in the Home Alone 2 camp. A kid? Alone in New York City? AT CHRISTMAS TIME?? Plus it has Tim Curry and a plethora of other famous faces to round out the cast (including a brief cameo by Donald Trump but lets not hold that against it.)
Where to Find Them - Disney+
A Christmas Story
A Christmas Story always feels like a holiday treat to me, probably because it almost never airs before the 24hr marathon on TBS and TNT. Every Christmas Eve my family leaves this movie on in the background while we celebrate and every Christmas Eve my Pap reacts like it’s the first time he’s ever seen it. Plus, I’m pretty sure this is the most quotable Christmas movie on the list.
Where to find it - Dailymotion
A Charlie Brown Christmas
A depressed little boy is just trying to find the true meaning of Christmas. Conveniently, his blanket toting best friend is a child prodigy theologian who has his bible verses down pat and saves the day. The religious aspect doesn’t really do it for me on this one but this special still has a lot going for it with the dancing, Snoopy, and the sad little Christmas tree.
Where to find it - Dailymotion
The Santa Clause
I know, Tim Allen…yikes. But what can I say, I’ve got a soft spot for The Santa Clause (only the first one though, get those sequels out of here.) The idea of an ordinary man who accidentally stumbles into being Santa Claus is a great concept but more importantly, Bernard, with his sassy attitude and pipe cleaner hair, lit up my five year old heart.
Where to find it - Disney+
Have your own must watch list before Christmas? Did any of your favorites make mine? Let me know in the comments!