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Looking to get in the Christmas spirit? You could check out our guide to Christmas in New York. But what if it's all about getting cozy in a movie theater? Time-tested and audience-approved, these eight Christmas classics—old and new—are sure to do the trick. (Egg nog always helps.) Click through on the links below for tickets and more information.
It’s a Wonderful Life We defy anyone to not well up at this, the ultimate Christmas classic. Tinged with magical passages, buckets of good will and an alternate plotline with the disturbing kick of a Twilight Zone episode, this tribute to the efforts of a small-town do-gooder (James Stewart, in his most beloved role) cements the idea of Christmas as a time for giving. These screenings are becoming an annual thing at IFC Center. IFC Center, 323 Sixth Ave (212-924-7771, ifccenter.com). Fri 9–Sat 24 at various times; $9–$14.
Black Christmas An early slasher film with an undeniable impact on future landmarks like Halloween and Friday the 13th, this cult essential takes place on a snowy college campus where sorority sisters find themselves targeted by a creep who lives in the attic. The mood is icy and ominous; it doesn’t lift even after you turn on the lights and warm the rum. Nitehawk Cinema, 136 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn (718-782-8370, nitehawkcinema.com). Fri 2, Sat 3 midnight; $12.
Miracle on 34th Street Might a Macy’s department store Santa (Edmund Gwenn) be the real thing? And will he survive his insanity trial? The vibe of this immortal studio favorite is snappy and comedic, but it also packs the wallop of an essential holiday truth: Christmas magic often requires us to rise to the occasion of being charmed. Landmark’s Sunshine, 143 E Houston St (212-260-7289, landmarktheatres.com). Fri 16, Sat 17 midnight; $12.
Elf Will Ferrell’s overgrown-child persona hilariously complements this comedy about a guileless giant elf searching for his dad in NYC, but the film’s focus isn’t just on the funny bone. There’s an abundance of heart and soul in the way the film cherishes holiday cheer; in a genre that’s become generically saccharine, this is one modern Christmas movie that’s genuinely sweet. Alamo Drafthouse Downtown Brooklyn, 445 Albee Sq West, Brooklyn (718-513-2547, drafthouse.com/nyc). Tue 13 at 7pm; $15.
Home Alone Scripted by John Hughes, this is the film that made adorable moppet Macaulay Culkin a star. It’s heavy on the slapstick, but against all odds, a sentimental Christmas streak does shine through, even though Kevin doesn’t seem all that upset that his Paris-bound family has accidentally left him behind for the holidays. Landmark’s Sunshine, 143 E Houston St (212-260-7289, landmarktheatres.com). Fri 9, Sat 10 midnight; $12.
Eyes Wide Shut Better known for its orgies and Cruise-on-Kidman psychodrama, Stanley Kubrick’s final film is also, distinctly, a perverse Christmas tale. Tinseled trees dot several interiors, the whole plot’s about wish fulfillment and the last scene takes place in a toy store. Nitehawk Cinema, 136 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn (718-782-8370, nitehawkcinema.com). Fri 9, Sat 10 midnight; $12.
Die Hard As bad Christmas Eves go, few are worse than the one had by NYC cop John McClane (Bruce Willis), whose reconciliation with his estranged wife in an L.A. skyscraper is interrupted by a bunch of machine-gun-toting terrorists. Filled with killer set pieces and a memorably hissable villain (Alan Rickman), John McTiernan’s crowd-pleasing action film is the hard-R gift that keeps on giving. Videology, 308 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn (718-782-3468, videologybarandcinema.com). Fri 9 midnight; $8.
Gremlins Plenty of Christmas presents come with instructions, yet none are as ominous as the following: Never expose to bright light, never add water and, crucially, never feed after midnight. Joe Dante’s horror-comedy turns a well-intentioned gift into a nightmare. Meanwhile, a traumatized Phoebe Cates tells the saddest Christmas story ever. Videology, 308 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn (718-782-3468, videologybarandcinema.com). Sat 3 midnight; $8.