Few joys are as precious as the time spent together with loved ones over the festive season. It never really matters what you’re doing with them per se; be it harmonising to Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’; gathering for a round of the annual gift exchange; or simply playing catch-up with each other. Yet amid the endless highs of all those get-togethers, the allure of an intimate home affair would hardly be lost on anyone. For sometimes, all you really need is to snuggle up with the few who matter most, and relish in the magic of the season.
To make it all the more worthwhile, your precious hours spent indoors should be spent wisely. And to the team at Vogue Singapore, the verdict stands that there’s only one right way to do that: putting on a Christmas film. Better yet when it’s a film you’ve rewatched over and over again; your ultimate go-to when the festive period swings around. To some, it might be the cloudy romance of Love Actually that gets you feeling like a soppy human being. There’s also those who love to lean into the cosy, wintry mood, opting for the quiet charm of a film like The Polar Express. Whilst others simply won’t count it as Christmas time at all if they haven’t ‘Jingle Bell Rock’-ed the Mean Girls way.
So as the festive fervour rages on, we found it apt to look inwards, and discover the Christmas films that have never failed to warm our hearts every time the joyous season comes around. Below, the team’s all-time favourite films to watch during the holidays; some sharing a knack for mindless comedy; some revealing the hopeless romantic from within; and others, strong believers in a good classic.
1 / 16
Desmond Lim, editor-in-chief
All-time festive film: Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)
“A feel-good movie that makes you question your life choices. Whatever more could you ask for?”
2 / 16
Emily Heng, beauty editor
All-time festive film: Die Hard (1988)
“You can’t go wrong with any of the movies from the Die Hard franchise, but the original Die Hard movie still reigns supreme in terms of entertainment value and festive fun. What better way to ring in the new year than with a series of high-speed car chases and explosions?”
3 / 16
Janice Sim, digital editor
All-time festive film: How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
“Those who have yet to see the 2000 classic, might think it’s the antithesis to Christmas, disguised in a huge hilarious green furcoat. However the film doesn’t just hold weight in the arena of slapstick comedy, but ages well in today’s current times—where Christmas is chalked up to a nauseating season of gift-giving. And in the fantastical world of Dr. Seuss, the film transports you to a different realm, in the wintry universe of a fictional town replete with odd creatures. Not only will Jim Carrey’s macabre sense of humour keep you entertained, the Christmas fuzzies will certainly hit once they cue Faith Hill’s ‘Where Are You Christmas’.”
4 / 16
Nicholas See, fashion stylist
All-time festive film: After Life (1998)
“A different kind of Christmas film, Hirokazu Koreeda’s After Life is a great way to end the year. The film’s approach is full of humanity with a fantastical premise. At its core, it ponders about the significance of personal memory and how it informs a sense of self for many.”
5 / 16
Micah Phua, senior lifestyle writer
All-time festive film: The Holdovers (2023)
“Featuring phenomenal performances from Paul Giamatti, Dominic Sessa and Da’Vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers is a slow, steady exercise in the power of unlikely friendships—as heartwarming a film as you could ask for during the festive season.”
6 / 16
Sophie Tan, lifestyle writer
All-time festive film: The Holiday (2006)
“It’s hard not to love a film starring Jack Black, and the fantasy of staying in a cosy British cottage with a snow-laden thatched roof during Christmas is definitely something I can indulge in.”
7 / 16
Maya Menon, associate deputy editor
All-time festive film: Breathless (1960)
“Though not a Christmas film, I first watched Jean-Luc Godard’s Breathless during the holidays years ago, and it’s been something I return to time and again. Widely considered to be one of Godard’s best works, I enjoy it for its simplicity and pace. We follow Michel and Patricia—a young criminal and his journalist-to-be beau—as he is on the run after a murder. Stylish, chaotic, and percussive, it never fails to spark a sense of wonder. That, coupled with how slick the cinematography is, always inspires me. It’s been my gateway to French New Wave cinema, which I really enjoy.”
8 / 16
Gordon Ng, watches & jewellery editor
All-time festive film: Klaus (2019)
“When a friend suggested we watch this back in 2019 I will admit I groaned. A Christmas cartoon at our big age? Hoo-boy, was I wrong. Klaus is an absolute visual treat. It’s hand-drawn and animated in a gorgeous old style with lots of atmosphere and character. The story’s a nice twist on the Santa Claus origin myth, but in the just as likely case that you’re looking for something gorgeous to play in the background at your Christmas party, this is one to put on.”
9 / 16
Azrin Tan, senior digital writer
All-time festive film: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001)
“Any rewatch of the Harry Potter series would count, but there’s nothing like watching the magic of the first film play out: the friendship of the Golden Trio; Christmas at Hogwarts; and Dumbledore gifting Harry the Invisibility Cloak. And of course—who wouldn’t want a Weasley jumper for the holidays?”
10 / 16
Nurul Firdousee, fashion features writer
All-time festive film: Peter Pan (2003)
“Maybe it’s the prospect of being whisked away and escaping to “Neverland,” and going on a fantastical adventure where pirates, mermaids, and fairies exist. The magic feels nostalgic—like being wrapped in a warm blanket—and it’s something I revisit again and again. Definitely a cosy watch for this season.”
11 / 16
Lance Pielago, fashion stylist
All-time festive film: The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
” This is a film I watched throughout my childhood and into my adolescence, so it’s almost become a tradition for me!”
12 / 16
Jason Thien, senior designer
All-time festive film: Home Alone (1990)
“A classic holiday comedy that you will watch over and over again, offering both nostalgic joy and heartwarming moments for all ages.”
13 / 16
David Bay, producer
All-time festive film: Airplane (1980)
“Surely, everyone should be watching this during Christmas. I am serious and don’t call me Shirley.”
14 / 16
Kashish Malani, digital intern
All-time festive film: Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013)
“Not a Christmas movie, sure, but this Bollywood flick delivers the same cosy, soul-resetting comfort as your favourite holiday film. With a soundtrack that doesn’t miss, a big, fat Indian wedding, and friendships that feel like family, it’s been my go-to escape every festive season.”
15 / 16
Shyra Jamal, lifestyle intern
All-time festive film: Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009)
“I always end the year with a rom-com marathon because it makes me feel all fuzzy and this one always top the list!”
16 / 16
Arwa Naser, beauty intern
All-time festive film: Love Actually (2003)
“It leans fully into sentimentality, which is quite fitting for Christmas—the one time of year that emotional excess feels appropriate. Everyone is in love, heartbroken or both. It’s a lot all at once, but then again, Christmas always is.”
