Every year, I make it a personal goal of mine to watch as many Christmas movies as possible. Here are my top 5 Christmas films that I make sure to watch every year:

5. Daddy’s Home 2 (2017)

This may not be the first film to come to one’s head when you think of Christmas movies, and some people may not even consider it a Christmas movie entirely, but I would argue otherwise. The sequel to the 2015 film kicks off not too long after the original, with Brad (Will Ferrell) and Dusty (Mark Wahlberg) resolving their differences after the battle of the dads. This time around, they join forces to make Christmastime perfect for the children. Their new partnership soon gets put to the test when they invite their fathers (Mel Gibson & Johnathan Lithgow) over for the holiday. The four men decide to take the kids to a snowy cabin for a holiday getaway that turns into a hilarious, yet chaotic adventure. One of the reasons I find this movie so enjoyable is because it’s loaded with A-List actors that all get their chance to shine. The banter between Dusty and Brad is something you’d expect out of children, which is exactly why both kids and adults can find this movie entertaining. This movie further proves my narrative that Will Ferell is the best comedy actor in Hollywood.

4. The Polar Express (2004) 

The Polar Express is a movie that’s definitely grown on me over the past few years. There’s a reason why it’s played at schools around America, it doesn’t get old. The Polar Express is an inspiring adventure about a young boy (Hero Boy) who takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole. At the beginning of the movie, Hero Boy doesn’t believe in Santa or any of the magic of the holidays. Once he gets picked up by the Polar Express, he embarks on a journey that shows him that life is easier for those who believe. This is the only animated film that will make an appearance on the list, edging out other animated Christmas movies like the Grinch and Nightmare Before Christmas. I still cherish the memories of watching this movie in elementary school.

3. The Santa Clause (1994)

Divorced dad Scott (Tim Allen) accidentally kills a man in a Santa suit and is magically transported to the North Pole – a pretty crazy way to start a movie. There, an elf explains that Scott must take Santa’s place before the next Christmas arrives. Scott thinks he’s dreaming, but over the next several months he gains weight and grows a large white beard. This is one of my favorite Christmas films because it puts the thought “What if Santa Claus was someone you knew?” into perspective. This movie shows what goes on behind the scenes at the North Pole on Christmas and the days leading up to it. If I could pick any movie on this list to actually live out as one of the main characters, the Santa Clause would be my first choice.

2. Elf  (2003)

Yep, the second Will Ferrell movie on the Christmas movie list. Buddy the Elf (Will Ferrell) has lived in the North Pole ever since he was a toddler and was raised to be one of Santa’s elves. Now that he’s a full-sized adult, Buddy travels to New York, in full elf uniform, in search of his father. It turns out, Buddy’s dad is cynical businessman, Walter Hobbs. After a DNA test proves this, Walter attempts to start a relationship with his son, and gets chaotic results. You’d assume that an actor with a history of PG-13 and rated R movies would have trouble making the transition to a family-friendly Christmas movie, but for Will Ferrell, it was no issue. Every time I turn on this movie I know I’m in for a good laugh

1. Home Alone (1990)

Not only is this the best Christmas movie ever created, but it’s also one of the best out of all genres. Eight-year-old Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) gets accidentally left at home as the rest of his family goes on Christmas vacation to Paris. At first, he’s ecstatic about the fact that he’s the man of the house, living life without rules, but his excitement sours when he figures out that two criminals plan to rob the McCallister residence and that he must protect the family home (alone). This movie is a fantastic watch as it combines holiday cheer with the excitement of a heist film. I see Culkin’s role as Kevin much like I do with Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark, irreplaceable. He brought a certain charisma and confidence to the film that not many other actors his age could. As a kid, I would create my own booby traps around the house trying to recreate the best ones from the movie. Chris Columbus checks every box of what a family Christmas movie should be: seasonal, funny, and action-packed.