Seasonal films remain a staple of winter entertainment, with multiple Christmas films reaching 8 to 10 million December streams each year, according to Samba TV. The enduring popularity of these classics reflects how audiences return to familiar stories each holiday season.
With final exams ending and free time finally opening up, holiday movies have become the topic of conversation for students settling into winter break.
The winter season is a busy time for many, especially for students as they wrap up the final stretch of the fall semester. Some students are looking forward to unwinding with classic winter festivities, such as holiday movies.
Many Carlmont students gravitate toward rewatching familiar films for comfort, nostalgia, and seasonal atmosphere. When it comes to traditional favorites, sophomore Gracie Huang recommends classic family films, like “The Grinch.”
“During winter break, I prefer to watch movies that fit the vibe of really Christmassy and wintery things, and definitely family movies, because I think they’re really cute,” Huang said. “‘The Grinch’ is one of my personal favorites.”
While some prefer rewatching their favorites, others search for hidden holiday gems, like sophomore Shayan Newell.
“I love to look for new movies to watch, because a lot of the time I watch things and I’m like, ‘This isn’t good,’ and I won’t come back to it again over the break,” Newell said.
But not all holiday movies are created equal, and some students have noticed that film studios often prioritize profit over creativity, raising questions about their significance.
“A lot of companies like to do cash grabs and make holiday movies in bulk so they can get more money, especially playing on nostalgia and other things,” Newell said.
Trends in the film industry back up Newell’s observation. According to Parrot Analytics, holiday movies remain one of the most profitable categories for streaming services, prompting companies to flood the winter season with new releases to capitalize on the increased viewership.
However, while the marketing strategy behind holiday movies plays a significant role, some students view the tradition as a popular way to spread holiday cheer.
“There are so many movies that are rewatched every single year, and they become classics, and it’s a really important part of making people happy,” Huang said.
Still, not every holiday classic holds the same charm. Students also had plenty to say about which movies fall into that overrated category, like freshman Yael Edmiston.
“The Hallmark Christmas movies are not good. I know some people enjoy them, so I tried watching one, but it was not good,” Edmiston said. “They have really low-budget actors.”
Despite the mixed feelings about overrated titles, some classics have only become more beloved over time. Several students said that as they’ve gotten older, rewatching certain movies has helped them appreciate them in new ways.
“I think I appreciated ‘Elf’ a lot more when I got older. Because I watched it a lot when I was younger, and I was just watching it for the fun of it,” Edmiston said. “But the plot is actually really touching, and it had a satisfying and happy ending without being too cheesy and underdone.”
Other classics have also earned renewed appreciation, including “The Grinch.”
“A movie I’ve started to appreciate as I’ve gotten older is ‘The Grinch,’ because I think it really reflects on being happy and showing that everyone deserves happiness, and it’s harder to realize that at first,” Huang said.
As winter break approaches, students’ conversations about overrated hits and rediscovered classics show how holiday movies continue to shape the season. Though personal tastes vary, students note that the tradition of settling in with a seasonal film still plays a familiar role each winter.
“Movies in general are pretty cozy and relaxing, and during the wintertime, you don’t have a lot of other things to do. So people like being cozy, sitting around, and watching movies,” Edmiston said.