Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

In 2001, the beloved book Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, by J.K. Rowling, was turned into a film directed by Chris Columbus. This movie is magical and full of fun, and follows an orphan boy by the name of Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) who lives with his cruel aunt and uncle. One day he is told, against his aunt and uncle’s wishes, that he is a wizard. Soon Harry finds himself attending Hogwarts, the school for witches and wizards, and making friendships that will last a lifetime. But something is wrong: There is someone at Hogwarts who doesn’t belong. With the help of his friends, Ron Weasley (Rupert Grant) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson), Harry breaks all the rules to save Hogwarts from evil. 

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

It’s 1940 and four siblings are sent off away from the war to live in the English countryside with Professor Digory Kirke. They are given strict rules to always follow and are mostly left alone. One day while playing hide and seek, they stumble into a magical wardrobe that leads them into a snowy distant land called Narnia, a place full of magical creatures and things. There, they discover that an evil snow queen governs Narnia with a cruel, tyrannical rule. In this adaptation of the book by C.S. Lewis, Lucy, Susan, Edmund, and Peter must fight their way out of the infinite winter and save Narnia from the Snow Queen once and for all. There are two movie adaptations of the book: one made in 1988, starring Sophie Wilcox, Sophie Cook, Jonathon Scott, and Richard Dempsey; and one made in 2005 starring Georgie Henley, Anna Popplewell, Skandar Keynes, and William Moseley as the children. While both movies are exceptional, the one made in 2005 is part of a series of movie adaptations that follows the book series.

Christmas Vacation

Clark Griswold’s (Chevy Chase) one goal this year is to have the perfect family Christmas with his kids and wife, Ellen (Beverly D’Angelo). He gets a big tree and covers the house in lights, hoping for the best. Unfortunately things start to go wrong when his cousin Eddie (Randy Quiad) shows up with his family out of the blue. It’s all downhill from there. Curl up with a blanket and hot cocoa as you watch disaster after disaster strike the Griswold family in this hilarious and cozy movie. 

Home Alone (1990)

Directed by Chris Columbus, this is one of the most iconic modern Christmas movies ever made. Kevin McCallister (Macualay Culkin) is accidentally left at home when his entire family of 14 leaves for their Christmas vacation in Paris, and he seizes the opportunity to enjoy his freedom. He plays, goes shopping, shaves, and does everything he has never been able to do. It is all fun and games until two burglars decide to target his house, thinking it is empty for the holidays. Kevin has to work hard and be smart to outwit these criminals and save his house.

Meanwhile, Kevin’s mom, Kate (Catherine O’Hara), is trying her best to get back home to Kevin after realizing he was left behind. Will both of them succeed in their missions? Find out by watching this classic, funny Christmas movie.

Article by Noa Gitelson