The Gift of December: 12 Days of Christmas with Dymond’s Diary | Day Eleven: Christmas Movie Magic

A Cozy Christmas Eve Tradition Filled With Nostalgia, Connection, & A Little Movie Magic

I’m a movie fanatic. I literally go to the movies by myself every week… well, typically, I’ve fallen off a little lately. Some of my sweetest childhood memories are tied to going to the movies with my mommy, my grandma, and sometimes my entire family on holidays. Movies have always been special to me because they transport you into an alternate reality, a place where you can fully immerse yourself in the story unfolding in front of you. I also love movies because, at their core, they’re storytelling. And I’ve always loved a good story.

I think that’s why movies mean so much to me; growing up, they were how my family connected. Even now, I can sit with my mommy, nana, or grandma and watch movies for hours. Every time I go home, I spend at least one night on the couch with my mommy and the puppies watching a movie together. It’s so ingrained in us that whenever my mom or grandma watches a good movie, whether at home or in theaters, they call me and tell me to watch it. And I do the same. It doesn’t matter the genre or style. That’s our thing. 

I know some people hate watching a bad movie, but I’m pretty open-minded. I always try to find something good, the acting, the fashion, the cinematography, the storyline, something. I’m not really a movie critic because I appreciate the art of it all.

The holiday season takes my love for movies and puts it into overdrive. I love Christmas movies, the corniness, the hope, the magic, the joy. Give me a sappy Christmas romance and I’m locked in. One tradition that’s followed me since childhood is watching 25 Nights of Christmas on ABC Family, now Freeform. It’s literally a highlight of my Christmas season. My mom asks me about it every year starting December 1st.

I watch at least one Christmas movie a day in December. I mix new releases with the classics, and yes, I even love a good Hallmark movie. There are so many amazing holiday films that if I tried to list them all, we’d be here forever.

Christmas Eve is a time to slow down, disconnect, be still, and make memories with the people you love. What better way to do that than by immersing yourself in a holiday movie; whether it’s a romance, a comedy, or a nostalgic classic.

So today, I’m sharing my must watch Christmas movie list, a mix of old and new, cozy and chaotic, heartfelt and hilarious. These are movies you can watch alone or with family

My Christmas Movie List

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Red One

Merry Liddle Christmas (all of them)

The Mistletones

The Santa Clause (all three)

Candy Cane Lane

Home Alone (the original two)

Oh What Fun

Christmas with the Kranks

Four Christmases

This Christmas

A Christmas Miracle

The Christmas Campaign

Christmas in Handcuffs

Meet Me Next Christmas

Dashing Through the Snow

Last Holiday

Almost Christmas

A Christmas Story

The Best Man Holiday

Jingle Jangle

Black Nativity

Unaccompanied Minors

The Perfect Holiday

Fred Claus

Elf

The Polar Express

Spirited

Jingle All the Way

Arthur Christmas

Jack Frost

Deck the Halls

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

A Bad Moms Christmas

Falling for Christmas

Bad Christmas

Noelle

Home Sweet Christmas

Snow Globe

Whether you’re curled up by the fire, watching movies with loved ones, or on the go this Christmas Eve, I pray you’re safe and fully able to enjoy the magic of the holiday season.

There are so many other movies I could have shared, but this list alone carries me through December. I look forward to revisiting these every year, and to discovering the new ones that continue to come out and add to the magic.

Movies remind me to slow down, feel deeply, and believe again, and that’s what Christmas is really about. I’d love to hear from you, what are your favorite Christmas movies? Let’s share the magic.