5 Christmas Movies to Watch with the Family

We've come a long way after cable networks broadcast the same Christmas specials last year. The holiday movie canon has evolved exponentially from A Charlie Brown Christmas and Rankin-Bass stop-motion movies. And while some classics are a must-see every holiday season, there's still space for more titles to add to your rotation, particularly while you're co-opted with cold weather and over-family bonding.

If you're looking for a cozy blanket effect from a formulaic Lifetime movie, a Christmas classic, or a secret gem that's as new as snowfall, here are the best Christmas movies to watch this holiday season.

1. The Christmas Prince was one of Netflix's first forays into the Christmas genre, and at first sight, it's full of Christmas trash. But if you really sit back and let go of the fact that you can practically name any twist and switch, then you come to know that A Christmas Prince is really the ideal Christmas movie. There's no storyline to pursue or anything: it's all full of Christmas cheer, bottled in the tale of a journalist and a dishonest prince in a world that isn't real.

2. Home Alone - Macaulay Culkin is forgotten by his family and forced to battle a few dimwit robbers (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern) during Christmas on this enduring children's adventure of director Chris Columbus and writer John Hughes.

3. The Muppet Christmas Carol - Jim Henson died in the pre-production of this 1992 film, but his spirit lives on in his smooth mix of zaniness and heart – all of which help make this musical version of Dickens an overlooked victory.

4. The Nightmare before Christmas - It's an age-old debate: is The Nightmare Before Christmas a Halloween movie or a Christmas movie? We're going for Christmas for the sake of this talk. Tim Burton's specialty is a masterful piece of optical tricks and treats, in a creepy manner that can only be done. As long as he's as cute at Nightmare, we're all right with Santa's skeleton on Christmas.

5. Elf - Will Ferrell is a clownish orphan raised by Santa and his elves in the North Pole who flies to New York City to find his biological father – a cynical book publisher played by James Caan – in this ridiculous (and unexpectedly sweet) fish-out-of-water fantasy.

And while you’re at it, every family movie night goes best with great food! Whip up your own recipe with easy DIY meal kits from a trusted online grocery store for Christmas. These movies will surely get you inspired and wondering where to shop for christmas presents and gifts as we all get ready for the most wonderful time of the year! Look no further, get your holiday recipes and uniquely Davao Chirstmas gift ideas from malagoshomegrownproduce.com.