Christmas Watchlist 2024

It’s that time of year, and we here at W Spotlight wanted to bring you all some of our favourite films to watch around, and over, the holidays. Whether you watch them alone, with family or friends, this films are just cozy and season-y when it comes to Christmas and the whole holiday season.

Let’s start off the list with a small but sweet film suggested by Giorgia, and that film is Le Pupille, or The Pupils (Rohrwacher, 2022). Giorgia believes it is the kind of movie that comes at you like an unexpected hug. There’s so much to the healing process when you’re an orphaned girl on Christmas day at an Italian Catholic boarding school the most exciting attraction is a huge red cake that no child is allowed to touch. Rohrwacher’s ability to treat such themes with the most natural and surprising tenderness is something that never fails to amaze me. Le Pupille is truly a rare gem in today’s cinema. 

Another film available on Disney+ is Lara D’s suggestion, Anastasia (Bluth & Goldman, 1997). An unexpected Christmas film choice for sure, but for Lara D it is not only does it relate to where she comes from, but she feels like we don’t see these kinds of animated films anymore. They were much more daring with the characters, the dialogues, and the subjects. Everything’s just gorgeous.

We all love unexpected film choices, and Andie, Kenza, and Mariane deliver with their choice of 8 Women (Ozon, 2002). Perhaps if you know the film, it might not be unexpected, but if you’re unaware of it, it does seem like a different choice. To Andie, this film is so many things at once, and that’s precisely why she loves it – Mariane and Kenza too. It’s a comedy, it’s a musical, it’s a murder mystery, and it’s set at Christmastime. Oh, and it stars some of the most iconic French actresses to ever grace the screen (Catherine Deneuve, Isabelle Huppert, and Emmanuelle Béart just to name a few – nothing short of phenomenal as Kenz would put it). It is set during the holidays, the film blends comedy, suspense, and unexpected musical numbers, making it a fun and unique holiday treat. Based on a play, it’s a film that feels very theatrical, as the titular 8 women are trapped inside due to snow and must uncover who among them is a killer. Directed by François Ozon, it’s a delightful mix of family secrets, sharp humour, and unforgettable performances that will keep you entertained throughout the season. This French huis-clos Agatha Christie-esque musical became an instant favourite on a first watch. 8 Women (8 Femmes) find themselves locked inside a cottage at Christmas time as the family patriarch is murdered. What follows is investigation full of theatrics and memorable one-liners, with a multitude of covers of songs all throughout. While this might not seem very festive on paper, the comedy and ridiculous musical numbers in the film will bring you more than a little Christmas joy. As Mar reminds us, 8 Women is a perfect Christmas watch with its festive setting, star-studded cast, and whimsical mystery.

Another film that may come as a shock, but most definitely is a Christmas film, is The Family Stone (Bezucha, 2005). The Family Stone resonates deeply with Mar. It portrays a seemingly perfect family that, at times, is quite dysfunctional, making it feel incredibly real. No family is perfect, and no one is happy all the time - especially during the holidays. The film captures the struggles many face during this time of the year, reflecting the complexities of family life and the reality of the season. It's a raw, honest representation of what the holidays can truly be like for many.

Now, who could forget to mention a Christmas classic, The Holiday (Meyers, 2006), Lara R definitely won’t. Nancy Meyers has always done a great job of creating worlds and characters that captivate us for years to come. The Holiday is one of those classics we watch every Christmas and never get tired of. Watching two female leads find themselves, learn their value, and find love is one of the best experiences ever. It also helps that the soundtrack is amazing!

And that could only bring us to Lara R’s second suggestion of Love Actually (Curtis, 2003). It feels like every year people realize there was inevitably a lot wrong with the Love Actually storyline and shred it to pieces. However, they can never make Lara R hate it! Yes, plenty of it isn’t what we want in a romantic relationship, but that’s not why we watch it. To Lara R, it’s still a classic and a must-watch.

Is it really Christmas season if you don’t watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Howard, 2000)? He is probably the most popular Christmas character — right after Santa if not before him in some households. Lara R and Maps recommend this timeless movie and believes future generations will still come will continue to watch it. Even though it scared Maps a little as a kid and gave her the strangest vibes, this movie grew on her. Never fails to give her a good time. Good choice ladies. Hailey would also like to throw in a special mention for the original animated version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Jones, 1966) to be specific. What forever will be a core memory for Hailey is watching this film every Christmas with her mom, and then the one time in high school when her biology teacher but it on for the class and handed out candy canes.

From “classics” that have been so named because of how they are always watched around the season, to those “classics” from that era of Hollywood, we’ve got many suggestions. Giorgia and Kenza recommend the 1938 film Holiday, directed by George Cukor. Sometimes you find your soulmate in the most unexpected ways… for example, it could be your younger sister’s fiancé. Holiday is not the usual kind of movie you would expect to find in a Christmas list, but one that Gio would expect. The untouchable chemistry between Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant, their ability to result so spontaneously childish and deep in everything they say and do at the same time… all of this can’t even be described properly, you just must watch it! As Kenz believes, Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant are a recurring duo in old Hollywood and while their most iconic collaborations remain Bringing Up Baby (Hawks, 1938) and The Philadelphia Story (Cukor, 1940), Holiday is Kenza’s personal favourite. you pair thee screwball comedy duo with holiday spirit, improper feelings and an iconic summersault, and it cannot get more festive than this. 

As always, Andie brings the ‘classic Hollywood’ classics, and her first suggestion is The Shop Around the Corner (Lubitsch, 1940). While it might not be as famous as It’s a Wonderful Life (Capra, 1946), Andie is here to make the case for The Shop Around the Corner as her favourite of Jimmy Stewart’s Christmas movies. The film follows coworkers Klara (Margaret Sullavan) and Alfred (Stewart), two seemingly polar-opposite personalities that can’t stand one another. During the holidays they each begin writing to anonymous pen pals, and quickly fall under the spell of the person on the other end. Naturally, they’re unaware of the fact that they’ve been writing to each other all along. The whip-smart script is hilarious, and Sullavan and Stewart’s performances are so charming that you’ll find yourself grinning in no time.

Andie comes in clutch with another, not so well known 40s film, Remember the Night (Leisen, 1940). Feeling bad that she’d have to spend Christmas in jail, assistant district attorney Jack (Fred MacMurray) bails out Lee (Barbara Stanwyck), who’d been caught shoplifting. Having nowhere else to spend the holidays, Jack offers to drive Lee to her mother’s, which is on the way to his own family in Indiana. During the trip, the two find themselves facing a series of problems (which vary in ridiculousness) that prove they might not be as different as they thought. While this is undoubtedly a hilarious watch, it’s the emotional, bittersweet heart of the film that stayed with her most.

Jumping ahead five years, is Giorgia’s next pick of 1945’s Christmas in Connecticut directed by Peter Godfrey. Oh, how Giorgia misses when romcoms actually had the COM! This film was one of Gio’s best film discoveries in a very long time, and honestly it couldn’t have come in a better moment for her. It is everything you need from a Christmas movie. Whether it’s romance, comedy, or just the warm feeling of celebrating Christmas day in a bucolic Connecticut farm (that is not even yours), Christmas in Connecticut will give it to you. 

Who could forget It’s a Wonderful Life (Capra, 1946)? Kenz certainly can’t. You know that feeling of immense joy when you finally get around to a film for the first time that has become this beloved classic, and it lives up to its reputation? That’s what watching It’s A Wonderful Life feels like. It’s a film with its fair share of difficult and even tragic moments that nonetheless leaves you with a deep sense of optimism and love for your close ones. And that’s all that really matters at this time of the year. All operating around Christmas, full of snow and warm hugs, It’s A Wonderful Life remains this captivating tale of George Bailey, played by the always hypnotic James Stewart, even 78 years after its release.  

And then, most of us know Miracle on 34th Street, and how there are many versions of the film. Mar’s choice for W Spotlight’s Christmas Watchlist is the 1994 edition. Directed by Les Mayfield and starring Mara Wilson and Richard Attenborough, Miracle on 34th Street (1994) has been Mar’s favourite Christmas movies since she was a kid. She watches it every year - no exception! The story of a woman who doesn’t believe in Christmas spirit or Santa Claus, but eventually embraces the magic of the season is truly touching. The film’s message of believing in something greater, like Santa Claus, highlights the magic of the holidays, making it a heartwarming tradition for many during Christmas.

Both Hailey and Maps recommend Home Alone (Columbus, 1990). Nostalgic and comforting. It takes Maps back to the days where she watched it with my mom. This movie will never get old for Maps, or her family it would seem. Hailey on the other hand, has just recently rewatched the film and was so surprised at how much she did not notice when watching it as a kid. It still holds up though, and brings great camera angles, bringing the audience down to Kevin’s perspective. Lots of love for Chris Columbus for directorial choices and John Williams for the catchy score.

Hailey feels a little basic with her two choices of The Santa Clause (Pasquin, 1994) and Elf (Favreau, 2003) but she can’t help picking them. When she was in her elementary school years, going to Blockbuster around the holidays meant picking out all three of The Santa Clause films for a binge before the holidays (even though we definitely did not call it that back then). As for Elf, it is her dad’s favourite Christmas film and the two of them enjoy a good film together.

Speaking of good family films, Lara D chooses The Polar Express (Zemeckis, 2004). Though it may be scary to some, for Lara D it is one of the most nostalgic films she knows. Truly embodies the Christmas spirit and makes her want to be a kid in primary school again.

Bringing it to recent releases, and still not released in some countries yet – sorry about that to those of you – is Mar’s film suggestion Babygirl (Reijn, 2024). It is the newest addition to Mar’s Christmas movie list. It stars Nicole Kidman and will be released in theatres in North America (and perhaps a few other countries) on December 25. Much like Eyes Wide Shut (Kubrick, 1999), Babygirl finds its place in the world of Christmas films with a bit of a kinky twist, making it a perfect and unconventional holiday watch.

Another Christmassy film to grace our screens recently is Greta Gerwig’s 2019 adaptation of Little Women. It is an evergreen - that, however, is never “too” green. If you’ve grown up reading Alcott’s homonymous tale like it was your bible, but even if you haven’t, Giorgia is sure this is the perfect movie adaptation for you. She suggests watching it under a warm blanket on Christmas eve. There is nothing better to find under the tree than a reminder of what it is like to be a woman and the importance of sisterhood. 

No one who knows any of the W Spotlight girlies should be surprised with our last Christmas watchlist suggestion, and yes, the lot of us chose it together. Carol (Haynes, 2015). It is ten years old next year, insane. Andie writes our love for Carol well; in addition to being our (or one of our) favourite holiday films, Carol is also our favourite film all year-round. Even just thinking about the score or the grainy 16mm cinematography makes one feel like we’ve been wrapped in a warm blanket in the middle of winter. It’s unapologetic in its mission to be a true love story, but it's also about coming of age, the discovery of identity, and grappling with what it means to choose love in a society that doesn’t see you. Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara give all-time performances, effortlessly stepping into the muted landscape of 1950s New York. We will simply never get tired of watching such an all-around beautiful film – for us here at W Spotlight, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without Carol. 

We at W Spotlight want to wish you all a happy holiday, whatever you celebrate, or don't celebrate. Hopefully these films will find there way to your watchlist or if not, you can spend time with your family doing/watching something you love for this time of year.