Nothing is better than Christmas time in New York (spoiler I’m a New Yorker). Hot cocoa, cheer, warm blankets and a classic holiday movie is literally perfection. Now, normally I would’ve said a book (don’t put me on the naughty list), but did you know that many of our cult classic Christmas movies were based on books or short stories? And, chances are, we’ve read a lot of these growing up too!
What better way to get into the holiday spirit than to list my favorite Christmas book adaptations? A great way to add some movies to your watchlist and some great books on your list for Santa!
1. How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Christmas without the Grinch? Never. This shouldn’t come at a surprise to you; the Dr. Seuss classic has been a staple for generations, not to mention it’s my favorite holiday movie ever. It’s timeless, funny and heartwarming, and it’s safe to say that kids will be falling in love with this tale for generations to come. Also, Jim Carrey’s rendition is *chef’s kiss.* Catch How the Grinch Stole Christmas on Netflix until 12/31.
2. A Christmas Carol
I promise I’m not on Jim Carrey’s payroll. A Christmas Carol is perhaps one of the most popular Christmas movies (and books) of all time. The iconic story is based upon Charles Dickens’ famous novella published in 1843, It depicts a story of a mean man named Mr. Scrooge who gets visited by three ghosts. This story has been told multiple ways, has a spooky element and a happy ending; it’s my kind of holiday movie. Disney’s 2009 adaptation (which I loved) starred Jim Carrey as Scrooge and is available to stream on Disney+.
3. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
In case you couldn’t tell, I’m a sucker for the classics. The story of this red-nosed reindeer has been engraved in our brains since childhood, but, besides being a catchy song, it was actually a book. Written by Robert May in the 1930’s as a touching tribute to his daughter, it sold millions of copies. That hit allowed the tv special to come to life. Not to mention, it’s the inspiration behind the 2003 hit (and my second favorite holiday movie) Elf.
4. The Polar Express
Before every winter break in elementary school, my teachers would read The Polar Express to the class. I would be transported by the beauty on the pages and immediately put in the holiday spirit. However, it’s a divisive movie; some people love it while some hate it (no judgement. I get it, that animated Tom Hanks is a lot to handle.) Yet I urge everyone on the fence with the movie to read the book, it’s truly beautiful.
5. The Nutcracker
At this point, The Nutcracker is synonymous with Christmas. The public may know it as the world famous ballet show, but there are movie adaptations of this classic. Based upon E.T.A. Hoffmann’s fairytale, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, the story is about a child’s toy nutcracker which comes alive and takes her to a magical kingdom. Overall, a great story! Catch the 2018 rendition on Disney+.
Each one of these movies are the quintessential holiday movie and their books are equally great. I hope you enjoyed my favorites and maybe added some books to your wishlist!
Happy reading, happy watching and happy holidays!