It’s that time of year again. Lights are appearing by the garland on people’s houses, Christmas carols are playing nonstop on the radio, and the Hallmark channel has taken over the television with its cheesy holiday romances. Along with packing presents under the tree and sharing meals with your extended family, another Christmas tradition arises: watching Christmas movies. Below is a list of my five favorite Christmas-themed movies to watch with your family and friends this holiday season.

5. The Polar Express

The Polar Express is a musical fantasy that tells the story of an unnamed boy who doesn’t believe in Santa Claus. In the middle of the night on Christmas Eve, he hops on a mysterious train that he later discovers is headed toward the North Pole. Along the way, he befriends two other children, a young boy and girl, as well as a ghost. Together, the group travels to Santa’s workplace, where the main character receives the best gift of all–Christmas spirit. Watching The Polar Express at Christmastime is a tradition in my family, and it is my little brother’s favorite Christmas movie.

4. How the Grinch Stole Christmas

The Christmas classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a short cartoon based off of a story by Dr. Seuss. In the movie, the green, grumpy Grinch gets tired of the holiday cheerfulness of the Whos of Whoville, so he decides to steal all of their presents and holiday decorations, only to have a change of heart when he discovers that Christmas isn’t so bad after all. Although it is only half an hour long, How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a classic holiday movie that I look forward to watching every year.

3. The Nightmare Before Christmas

Arguably a movie more fit for Halloween, The Nightmare Before Christmas is a musical thriller and is the first claymation movie directed by Tim Burton. It spins the tale of Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King and ruler of Halloween Town, who is tired of the constant spookiness of his hometown. When he accidentally falls into Christmas Town, he decides to bring some holiday cheer back to his home–by kidnapping Santa Claus and taking over Christmas. Although I prefer to watch this movie around Halloween, I love Tim Burton and his animation style, so I tend to watch it during the Christmas season as well.

2. Elf

Elf is a festive comedy starring Will Ferrell as the lovable Buddy the Elf, a human who was raised by Santa’s Elves. When Buddy discovers that the elves aren’t, in fact, his actual family, he sets off on a journey to New York to find his real father. Elf is one of the best known Christmas movies, and the lovable characters draw you in and give you a warm fuzzy feeling like no other.

1. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is a comedy featuring father Clark Griswold, who just wants to give his family the best Christmas possible. However, things go awry when Clark’s cousin and his family park their camper on the Griswold’s lawn and take over Christmas. Even with disaster arising, Clark still manages to give his family a Christmas to remember.  National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is a great, funny movie, and is my favorite to watch every Christmas.

Whether you watch these movies with family, with friends or by yourself, you’ll be captured by the holiday cheer and Christmas spirit. Whip out the Christmas cookies, grab a warm blanket and sit back and enjoy these five Christmas movies!