As the leaves fall and the rain turns to snow, the holiday season begins—a time for family gatherings, gift-giving, and cozy traditions. One of the best parts? Holiday movies, perfect for bringing loved ones together. To get into the spirit, The Globe surveyed MHS students and teachers to learn about their favorite holiday movies and what makes them so special.
Forty-six percent of the surveyed students favor the 1990 comedy classic Home Alone featuring Macauley Culkin as the main character Kevin Mccalister. The movie follows Kevin as he’s accidentally left behind when his family departs for Christmas in Paris. Initially thrilled to have the house to himself, Kevin soon faces two burglars and uses clever traps to protect his home.
Another crowd favorite is Elf, starring Will Ferrell as Buddy, a human raised by elves at the North Pole. Buddy’s hilarious journey of self-discovery leads him to New York City, where he tries to connect with his human family while spreading Christmas cheer. Ben Berman (’26) recalls watching it for the first time with his family: “I was laughing so unbelievably hard.” His favorite scene? “When Buddy tries to talk to his dad at the Empire State Building, and his dad has no idea who this guy in an elf costume is.”
The 1989 classic A Christmas Story also earned high praise. The film centers on Ralphie Parker, a boy navigating childhood antics and longing for his dream Christmas gift—a Red Ryder Air Rifle. Video teacher Eleno Elmoznino has fond memories of seeing the movie in theaters with her parents upon her request. Elmorzino notes that her parents “didn’t want to go, but we all ended up enjoying it.” This sentiment likely led to Elmorzino’s attachment to the film which she watches on “TV every year.”
Elmoznino’s favorite scene is “when Flick is triple-dog-dared to lick the flagpole, and his tongue gets stuck. The audience went nuts!” Elmoznino notes how the film “truly captures the anticipation that only kids feel about Christmas, and the absurdly long countdown to the morning of opening presents.”
Whether your favorite is Home Alone, Elf, or A Christmas Story, holiday movies are a timeless tradition. Pair them with a snowball fight and a warm cup of hot chocolate to make the most out of this holiday season!
