The Best Films To Watch This Christmas

1) The Polar Express

Those who watch The Polar Express usually fall into two categories; those who watch it and hate it, and those who watch and continue to watch it every year despite the fact that they're no longer a small child moaning about having brussel sprouts with their christmas dinner. Spoiler alert - I'm in the second category.

I adore this film. For me, it perfectly captures the magic of christmas - the animation style, the characters, the locations (train, North Pole, Elves Town, present factory), the hot chocolate that looking boiling hot yet everyone seems to down it anyways -- and most importantly, believing in christmas itself.

I'd definitely recommend this to anyone. Its a christmas classic that never gets old.

2) The Grinch Who Stole Christmas

I won't lie, this film terrified me as a child. I wasn't frightened that someone was going to steal my presents. I wasn't frightened that my christmas tree would end up burnt to cinders. I was frightened of the grinch - and to be honest, who can blame me? Those yellow eyes would creep any seven year old out. However, as I got a little older, I found something slightly worrying about that film - I had begun to see myself in the Grinch. Avoiding social interaction? Having nothing to wear? Wallowing in self-pity? Aside from looking completely opposite - to which my sister disagrees with every christmas - we actually have quite a lot in common, so its understandable that despite the trauma it caused me as a small child, this is now one of my favourite christmas film that I watch every year.

Fun Fact: The line "6.30 p.m. Dinner with me. I can't cancel that again." was improvised by Jim Carrey.

3) The Snowman and the Snowdog

I'm not sure if anyone saw, but the other day this masterpiece of heartache was on tv. I actually cannot watch this film without sobbing. I officially timed myself the other day, and there were tears streaming down my face 1:20 seconds in. Ridiculous. But, as much as I want to curl up into a ball and hug my dog for eternity after watching, this short film is a christmas classic. Sequel to The Snowman (warning: you'll need tissues), The Snowman and the Snowdog is dedicated to the films producer John Coates who died in 2012, the same year the film was released.

Perfect for getting you in the christmas mood, the snowman and the snowdog captures all the key elements of christmas - snow (who would have guessed), a snowman, christmas trees, an adventure, dancing, a ski race, a dog with socks for ears (because everyone has one of those at christmas) and last but not least, Father Christmas.

Fun Fact: This short film was created from over 200,000 hand drawn pictures.

4) Die Hard

Forget the mince pies heating up in the oven, forget the christmas tree you were supposed to decorate, forget the lights you need to plug in and grab your gun (and preferably a cardboard cut out of Bruce Willis), and prepare yourself for Die Hard. Not quite the wishy-washy fuzzy christmas films we're used to, Die Hard is about a man on a mission - and no, he's not Santa. Rated as one of the best action films of all time and best christmas films of all time, there is no disappointment when it comes to this film. Filled with suspense, tension, gun shots and C-4, Bruce Willis gives us an unforgettable experience watching Die Hard.

P.S, As @loverboymills commented on my Instagram page, who doesn't love themselves a bit of Alan Rickman in Die Hard?

5) Love Actually

Haven't we all wanted Hugh Grant as our Prime Minister? Haven't we all wanted the courage to tell someone how we feel about them? Haven't we all wanted to escape to rural France to work off heartbreak? Well, in Love, Actually, we get to live all of these scenarios. If you're English and you're reading this without getting a giddy, fuzzy feeling in your stomach, perhaps its time for a re-watch. If you're an American reading this....you've always got Home Alone. Honestly, there is nothing that describes an english christmas better than this film. It explores the lives of multiple characters all somehow linked together, and how they spend their christmas in 2003. With heartache, heartbreak, new love, old love, platonic love, I'm-in-love-with-your-wife-love, Love Actually brings us all together as one at christmas. And you know what the best part about this film is? Its realistic. I mean - the prime minister falling for his secretary might be a bit of a long shot - but all the other stories are wonderfully believable. Everyone will be able to relate to one of the characters in this film, and that is why its become one of my all time favourites. If you haven't watched this yet, or are looking for a film to watch while tucked up under a blanket sipping a cup of hit chocolate, this is the film for you.

P.S, Hugh Grant, I love you.

P.S.S, Merry Christmas!