Movie Recommendations to Make Your Holidays Special

Even though I love Christmas, I must admit that it’s the most commercialised holiday that no longer feels as magical as it was when I was a child. You might feel the same or even hate the holiday season for many reasons. However, it doesn’t mean you should spend it being negative; you can still make it memorable by watching feel-good movies. And no, they aren’t Christmas-themed. Here’s my go-to list of movie recommendations for when I’m feeling down.

Spirited Away

Spirited Away is the obvious choice for transporting yourself to a completely different reality. It’s not just that it’s exquisitely animated – the aesthetic and the world beautifully crafted around the storyline make it a unique and mesmerising experience. The story follows a young girl named Chihiro. On a fateful trip to a new hope, a witch transforms her parents into pigs after they stumble upon the spirit world. Chihiro must pass trials, overcome contracts, and even risk losing her name to save them – I guarantee, in 5 minutes, you will find yourself engrossed in every detail. If you enjoy it, explore more of Studio Ghibli’s work! You’ll see them on almost every movie recommendations list.

The Map of Tiny Perfect Things

As November draws to a close and December rolls on, sometimes you feel stuck in a loop of darker days and wintery weather. Wherever you go, there are Christmas decorations and escaping “All I Want for Christmas” is frankly impossible. So what about taking a break from reality and watching a loop-themed movie, but one with a summer setting and plenty of fuzzy feels? Mark is a teenager with the strange misfortune of repeating the same day. Nobody else seems to be aware of the loop apart from himself. That is until he stumbles upon Margaret, experiencing the same unbroken anomaly. You can guess the plot’s general (romantic) direction, but it doesn’t make it any less entertaining or satisfying.

She’s The Man

This one is one of those cheesy classics that many love but hate to admit they do. A little refresher for those who need one: a football lover named Viola (Amanda Bynes) pretends to be her brother and enrol at his university. She plans to make the College Football (soccer, for the Americans) team and prove her ex-coach and ex-boyfriend wrong – there is room for a local women’s team. Her unique approach leads to many hilarious situations and a bit of romance. It also reminds you that you should always go after what you want (even if it means bending the rules a bit).

Amelie

Add Amelie to your list if you’re up for immersing yourself in sun-soaked Paris cinematography. It’s another classic you must watch but with a very different vibe from She’s The Man.

With a whimsical and innocent tone, it feels like you’re seeing the world through Amelie’s lens the whole time; as she tries to spread joy and help other people, she unknowingly sets on a journey to find love. Plus, the soundtrack is simply beautiful.

The Breakfast Club

In case you’re sick of romance, here’s a coming-of-age movie that anyone can relate to, despite being filmed in the 80s. Five high school students from very different backgrounds meet at detention and discover they have much more in common than they thought. It’s a simple but extraordinary and funny story that can help you embrace your differences and bring back nostalgia (if you’ve never been to detention, you’ve missed out).

Little Miss Sunshine

At first glance, Little Miss Sunshine might not seem like a typical feel-good movie; to be fair, it’s not. The story follows a dysfunctional family on a road trip. While the plot might seem a bit depressing initially, the story progresses into a tale about self-love and confidence. Central to the narrative is the message that you should always be true to yourself and your goals, regardless of what others think. So what better way to spend the holidays than learning to love yourself a little more?