Growing up, watching “The Sound of Music” was a Christmas Day tradition in my family — coming after the present-opening, but before we sat down to dinner.
Is the 1965 musical about a nun-turned-nanny who marries a baron and escapes Nazis a holiday movie? Not really, but it did mention snowflakes and packages tied up with strings in the song “My Favorite Things,” so it was close enough for us. Plus, the three-hour flick about a family overcoming adversity had a feel-good ending.
“The Sound of Music” won five Academy Awards, but holiday movies don’t have to be any good to become a tradition. For example, a coworker said her family watches “The Hebrew Hammer” every year, even though they know the 2003 movie IMBD encapsulates as “An orthodox Jewish blaxploitation hero saves Hanukkah from the clutches of Santa Claus’ evil son” is no good. (I watched the trailer, and it made me want to bleach my eyeballs.)
The Bad Movie Club screening of “Santa Jaws,” showing Sunday, Dec. 18 at Bellingham’s Inner Child Studio, is also in the realm of “movies so weird they’re kind of riveting” trend, and organizers urge attendees not to Google the film before showing up to watch it. You might want to disobey those orders if you’re planning on bringing kids along, but it’s up to you.
Sandwiched between terrible holiday movies and those with heartwarming messages meant to melt even the Grinchiest hearts is “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” showing Dec. 15 at the Pickford Film Center. The PG-13 flick that came out in 1989 follows the misadventures of the Griswold crew as they attempt to have a good, old-fashioned family Christmas at home, but are instead beset by problems once uninvited family members show up. Starring Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Juliette Lewis and Johnny Galecki, the sometimes-sketchy plot contains an electrocuted cat, an accidental burning of the Christmas tree, a kidnapping and multiple explosions. It’s not for everyone, but it’s pretty funny (except for a brief incest reference, which is not).
For less abrasive plot lines, consider attending the New Prospect Theatre’s showings of “Miracle on 34th Street,” “The Bishop’s Wife” and “It’s a Wonderful Life” Dec. 17–18. These black-and-white gems were all made in the 1940s, featured fantastical characters such as Kris Kringle and various angels, and have withstood the test of time. Feel free to wear your pajamas when you attend, and stick around between screenings for caroling karaoke, hot cocoa, live music and a possible appearance from Captain Christmas.
“It’s a Wonderful Life” will also show twice Friday, Dec. 23 at the Lincoln Theatre, so if you’re looking for some pre-Christmas Eve entertainment, put the screenings on your radar now.
And in what is possibly my favorite retelling of what happens to a grumpy, rich old man who is visited by ghosts of Christmases past, present and future to help him figure out he needs to atone for his sins of greed and miserliness is “The Muppet Christmas Carol,” which can be viewed Dec. 21 at the Concrete Theatre. If you don’t find a human Ebeneezer Scrooge (Michael Caine) interacting with muppets Kermit the Frog as Bob Cratchit; Miss Piggy as Mrs. Cratchit; and the Great Gonzo as narrator Charles Dickens to be amusing, there’s something wrong with your soul.
Finally, Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen sing and dance their way into the season when “White Christmas” shows Dec. 22 at The Pickford Cinema. The 1954 musical was filmed in Technicolor — feel free to Google that, Gen Z-ers — and the action takes place on or near Christmas Eve.
While the Christmas movies included in this roundup are showing in public, there’s no doubt you’ve got your own favorites you’ll be streaming for the season. If they include “The Hebrew Hammer,” though, you’ll probably want to have a backup movie or two.
Winter watch list
What: “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”
When: 7:45 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 15
Where: Pickford Film Center, 1318 Bay St.
Cost: $12
Info: pickfordfilmcenter.org
What: Miraculous, Wonderful Film Festival Pajama Party featuring “Miracle on 34th Street,” “The Bishop’s Wife” and “It’s a Wonderful Life”
When: 4–9 p.m., Dec. 17–18
Where: New Prospect Theatre, 207 Prospect St.
Cost: $5 per movie; family pass is $50 for up to four people
Info: newprospecttheatre.org
What: Bad Movie Club shows “Santa Jaws”
When: 8 p.m. Sun., Dec. 18
Where: Inner Child Studio, 715 W. Orchard Drive
Cost: Suggested donation is $5
Info: innerchildstudio.org
What: “The Muppet Christmas Carol”
When: 7 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 21
Where: Concrete Theatre, 45920 Main St.
Cost: Free
Info: concrete-theatre.com
What: “White Christmas”
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 22
Where: Pickford Film Center
Cost: $12
Info: pickfordfilmcenter.org
What: “It’s a Wonderful Life”
When: 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23
Where: Lincoln Theatre, 712 S. First St., Mount Vernon
Cost: Free
Info: lincolntheatre.org
