By: Drew Mandeville

      Christmas is right around the corner, and, with the break from classes, there will be a lot of time for winter activities. Outdoorsy people may enjoy hiking in snow, skiing, and building snowmen, while other people may prefer to be in a warm and cozy house baking cookies, playing board games, or watching Christmas movies. Though overplayed, everyone loves to snuggle up on the couch and watch classic movies like Rudolph, The Santa Claus, and Frosty the Snowman.

     This year, The Squire has compiled a list of their top five holiday movies to help readers get in the Christmas spirit on those chilly winter days.

     5. A Christmas Story (1983)

     A Christmas Story is a film about a young boy named Ralphie and his holiday quest to acquire a Red Rider BB Gun. To get the BB gun, Ralphie has to convince his parents, which he eventually does, but it doesn’t come without some challenges. The movie also has many iconic parts that everyone remembers, like the infamous leg lamp.

     4. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

     Jim Carrey stars as the Doctor Seuss character, the Grinch. He is a no fun, anti-Christmas creature. The neighboring Whos dislike him because of his hatred for Christmas and gift giving. In order to get back at the Christmas-loving Whos, the Grinch disguises himself as Santa Claus in order to steal the happiness of Christmas, but has a change of heart and learns to understand the joy of the Christmas season.

     3. The Santa Claus (1994)

     Tim Allen plays Scott Calvin, a divorced father who has to fit in the shoes of Santa Claus after murdering the “intruder”. As the new Santa, Scott must deliver the presents with no experience.

     2. Elf (2003)

     Will Ferrell plays Buddy the Elf, who realizes he doesn’t fit in at the North Pole since he’s a human. He then goes to New York City to find his birth father and fit in as a normal person. Buddy also must help Santa as he gets stranded in New York.

     1. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

     National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation stars Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold, a dad who wants to create the best Christmas he can with his whole family in his home to celebrate. Clark must give his family his amazing surprise, a new pool that’s being paid by his non-existent Christmas bonus which causes havoc on Christmas Eve. The holiday movie is filled with hilarious and iconic scenes and characters.

     The Squire interviewed Eisenhower senior, Lukas Martin, a manager at Dipson Warren Mall Cinemas, to discuss the topic of movie theaters and holiday movies. Martin described the winter break’s impact on the cinema saying, “During the summer people are outside and enjoy being active, but once it’s cold they want to be cozy and relax, and going to the movies is a great way.” Martin also talked about the great blockbusters and seasonal movies being shown around the holiday break, discussing how movie theaters tend to release huge blockbusters and seasonal holiday movies over break since winter is the best time to release a movie.

     People’s favorite Christmas movies are a hot topic on cold days and Martin added to this statement saying that Jim Carrey’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas is his favorite. Martin also shared some of the hit movies currently playing in the Warren Mall Cinema, listing, Avatar 2, Spirited, and Violent Night. He also had input on whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie saying, “Yes, it occurs on Christmas and the events happen because of the Christmas party.”  So if you go to the movies there is sure to be some great movies at the Warren Mall Cinema.

     With the holiday break coming up, plenty of people will be looking to snuggle up and enjoy a good movie. So grab some snacks, get on the couch, and enjoy one of these classic Christmas movies.