This Christmas, we’re on a mission to find all the ways to stay safe and cozy indoors. We asked the entire Pagoda family to name their favorite Christmas movies or TV episodes and put together our top picks (in no particular order!). Whether you’re at home with your family or quarantining away from home with some friends, we hope you plan to check these out this holiday season.

We wish you a very Merry Christmas, from the Pagoda Projects team!

Home Alone (or Home Alone 2)

You know we had to start this list off with a classic! Home Alone is the highly successful and beloved family comedy, and definitely one of our favorites! Follow eight-year-old troublemaker Kevin McCallister, as he tries to protect his house from a pair of burglars when he is accidentally left home alone by his family during Christmas vacation.

Watch: Available to stream on Disney+, also available to rent or buy on Youtube and Google Play https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099785/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

Elf

In the mood for a good laugh? Elf is a Christmas comedy about a man raised by elves in the North Pole who sets out to find his real family in New York City. Buddy the elf is played by Will Ferrell, of Saturday Night Live fame.

Watch: Available to stream on Elf will be showing on TV this year in the UK – airing on Sky Cinema from 8th December, starting from 12 pm. Also available to stream on Now TV, or rent on Amazon Prime https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0319343/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Love Actually

Don’t judge us, we love a cheesy rom-com! Love Actually features nine intertwined stories that examine the complexities of the one emotion that connects us all: love.

Watch: Available to stream on Netflix, Now TV, and to buy on Amazon Prime https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0314331/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Die Hard

An NYPD officer tries to save his wife and several others taken hostage by German terrorists during a Christmas party at the Nakatomi Plaza in Los Angeles. If you prefer an action thriller over cozy films this Christmas, you might want to check out Die Hard. But is it a “real Christmas movie”? Decide for yourself!

Watch: Available to stream on Now TV, or rent on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon, or Youtube https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095016/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Nightmare Before Christmas

Any Tim Burton fans out here? Whether this is really a Halloween or Christmas movie, Nightmare Before Christmas has made our list. The stop-motion animation tells the story of Jack Skellington, the King of “Halloween Town”, who stumbles through a portal to “Christmas Town” and becomes obsessed with celebrating the holiday.

Watch: Available to stream on Disney+, or buy on Amazon  https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107688/

Gavin & Stacey Christmas Special

Gavin & Stacey, one of the most beloved British comedies of all time had a one-off Christmas special episode in 2019. There won’t be a new Christmas special of Gavin & Stacey this year – but there will be a rerun of last year’s episode.

Watch: Re-watch the episode again on Christmas Eve (Thursday 24 December) at 8:40PM on BBC One! https://tellymix.co.uk/tv/506585-gavin-stacey-christmas-special-2020-will-the-show-be-back-for-a-new-series.html

The Polar Express

The Polar Express is a Christmas staple, and it definitely captures the Christmas magic every winter. The animation film tells the story of a young boy who, on Christmas Eve, sees a mysterious train bound for the North Pole stop outside his window and is invited aboard by its conductor. The boy joins several other children as they embark on a journey to visit Santa Claus preparing for Christmas.

Watch: Available in the UK to stream on NowTV for the holiday season, or to rent or buy on Youtube and Amazon Prime. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0338348/?ref_=ttpl_pl_tt

Peep Show: Christmas Special

Peep Show is a British sitcom that follows the lives of Mark Corrigan and Jeremy “Jez” Usborne, two very different, dysfunctional friends who share a flat in Croydon, London. In the Christmas Special, Mark has his family over to the flat for Christmas dinner, as well as Dobby, who he is finally going out with, except he hasn’t told his parents yet.

Watch: Available to stream on Amazon Prime and Netflix UK https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1774084/

Jingle All the Way

Jingle All the Way is a 1996 American Christmas family comedy film directed by Brian Levant. It’s a classic plot: Parent forgets to buy a super-popular toy for their kid and must scramble on Christmas Eve to find said toy and prove that his child is, in fact, still loved. It’s silly, adventurous, and a fun one to watch with the family!

Watch: Available to stream on Now TV, or rent on Amazon Prime https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116705/

The Grinch

What’s Christmas without a classic Grinch movie? There are multiple movie adaptations of Dr. Seuss’s most iconic and beloved character, but here’s one you can stream on Netflix: the 2018 adaptation, Dr. Seuss’s The Grinch.

Watch: Available to stream on Netflix in the UK, and rent on Amazon, Google Play, or Youtube https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2709692/