December is a wonderful month; It is a time of hot cocoa, sledding, cozy socks, and joy. At the time that I am writing this, it is the first week of December and the first official night of Hanukkah. In my opinion, one of the best ways to get into the “holiday spirit” is to watch some holiday movies, so I’ve compiled a list of a few of my favorite (my favorite, not critics’ favorite) holiday movies. These movies are listed in no particular order.

Elf (2003)

Elf stars Will Ferrell as Buddy the Elf as he leaves the North Pole and has to navigate on his own in Manhattan. While in NYC, Buddy tries to track his father, who does not know that Buddy is his son. This movie is hilarious, and great to watch with family, friends, and really anyone else. In addition to being funny, Elf has some truly touching scenes that give each character depth and layers.

Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

When thinking about Christmas classics, few movies come to mind as much as Miracle on 34th Street. In this movie, Santa Claus gets hired by Macy’s to be their mall Santa. The problem is, nobody believes that he is the real Santa. After an incident, he ends up on trial because people think he is insane. This is an absolute classic and dates surprisingly well. It is sweet, feel-good, and has quite a few funny moments. It is an all-around great movie.

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

Speaking of Christmas classics, It’s a Wonderful Life is right up there with Miracle on 34th Street. It’s a Wonderful Life follows George Bailey through a series of unfortunate events that make him wish that he’d never been born. Sure enough, his guardian angel appears and shows Bailey what life would have been like if he were never born. It’s a Wonderful Life is so touching, and I recommend it to anyone.

Adam Sandler’s Eight Crazy Nights (2002)

This movie is about Davey Stone (played by Adam Sandler). Stone has lost his holiday spirit and ends up getting in trouble with the law. He is ordered by a judge to complete community service. Although this movie got very mixed reviews on various review sites, it is a funny, feel-good movie that almost anyone can enjoy. It is also a musical and features songs like “Davey’s Song,” “Long Ago,” and “The Chanukah Song Part 3” to name a few. (Note to Hollywood: The world needs some more Chanukah classics. I spent a long time looking for both Chanukah and Kwanzaa movies and there are not many. Please make more Chanukah and Kwanzaa movies.)

Home Alone (1990)

This movie is sure to ring a bell. In Home Alone, we follow Kevin McCallister and his family. While planning for a holiday vacation to Paris, Kevin has a fight with his mom. To punish him, she makes him sleep in the attic. Kevin wakes up the next morning only to find that he overslept, and his family left without him. On top of this, Kevin gets word that two burglars are planning to rob his house. While Kevin’s mother tries to get back to him, Kevin must outsmart the burglar and protect his house. Most people reading this have probably seen this movie. It is sweet, hilarious, and is a great way to get into the winter spirit.