Music N' Other Drugs

“Send lawyers, guns, and money
The shit has hit the fan” – Warren Zevon

When the shit hits the fan like it has in 2025, finding comfort in movies can be an invaluable way to spend a free afternoon during the holiday season. I tasked two of my sons with assembling their own list of favorites in addition to the one that I had already planned on posting, so you’ll get a healthy cross-section of films to pick from this year.

“The Ref” – Directed by Ted Demme

“The Family Man” – Directed by Brett Ratner

“It’s a Wonderful Life” – Directed by Frank Capra

“Scrooged” – Directed by Richard Donner

“A Christmas Carol” (1951) – Directed by Brian Desmond Hurst

“Home Alone” – Directed by Chris Columbus

“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” – Directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik

“The Muppet Christmas Carol” – Directed by Brian Henson

“A Christmas Tale” – Directed by Arnaud Desplechin

“Jingle All the Way” – Directed by Brian Levant

Cooper’s List

“Elf” – Directed by Jon Favreau

“A Christmas Story” – Directed by Bob Clark

“Home Alone 3” – Directed by Raja Gosnell

“Scrooged” – Directed by Richard Donner

“Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas” – Directed by Jim Henson

“Jingle All the Way” – Directed by Brian Levant

“Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas” – Directed by Ron Howard

“A Christmas Carol” – Directed by Clive Donner

“Home Alone 2: Lost In New York” – Directed by Chris Columbus

“Home Alone” – Directed by Chris Columbus

Harry’s List

“Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” – Directed by Chris Columbus

‘The Star” – Directed by Timothy Reckart

“Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” – Directed by Chuck Jones

“Elf”- Directed by Jon Favreau

“Jingle All the Way” – Directed by Brian Levant

“Home Alone” – Directed by Chris Columbus

“Frosty the Snowman” – Directed by Jules Bass and Arthur Rankin Jr.

“Mickey’s Christmas Carol” – Directed by Burni Mattinson

“The Polar Express” – Directed by Robert Zemeckis

“The Santa Clause” – Directed by John Pasquin