Thanksgiving has passed and the Black Friday mayhem is finally over. The turkeys and pumpkin pies will now have to wait another year until their popularity can rise once again. For now, it is time for Santa Claus to ride his sleigh and families bringing about laughter and cheer.

Even though finals are right around the corner, it does not hurt to take a small break from the books to curl up in a blanket and stream a holiday movie on Netflix. From either watching a holiday classic or a Christmas movie that has recently been released, these movies will certainly bring forth the holiday spirit.

Whether you are looking for some nostalgia, some laughter, or even something eerie, the following movies will spark up your holiday mood.

1.) Elf (2003)

Director: Jon Favreau
Starring: Will Ferrell, James Caan, Bob Newhard, Zooey Deschanel

Will Farrell has become everyone’s favorite human elf. After being raised in the North Pole, Buddy (Farrell) is unaware of his humanness and is revealed that he was given up for adoption when he was a baby. With this in mind, Buddy sets out to find his father, Walter Hobbs (James Caan), in New York.

Farrell’s hilarious acting certainly adds on to the Christmas cheer. With quotable lines and unforgettable scenes, it is no wonder why this movie is always showing on television in December.

2.) Love Actually (2003)*
Director: Richard Curtis
Starring: Bill Nighy, Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, Kiera Knightly, Alan Rickman

With a star-studded cast, this movie is probably one of the best holiday date movies to watch. The movie follows the lives of eight different couples who are dealing with their love lives during the Christmas season in London, England. In addition, somehow each tale is “loosely interrelated.”

Each couple sends out a great message about love and happiness, especially during the holidays and how it plays a significant role in our lives.

If you are looking for a good romantic comedy to watch right now, this movie is the one.

3.) The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)*
Director: Tim Burton
Starring: Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, Catherine O’Hara

In 1993, a holiday hero was born, Jack Skellington, the pumpkin king of Halloweentown. The movie tells the story of how Skellington discovers Christmas and tries to understand the concept of it. After stepping through the portal to “Christmas Town,” he becomes elated with his new experience and tries to share these ideas to the residents of Halloweentown.

This movie is a great movie, not just because it was made by well-known director and animator, Tim Burton, but also because it is great to watch during two holidays – Halloween and Christmas.

4.) Scrooged (1988)*

Director: Richard Donner
Starring: Bill Murray, Karen Allen, John Forsythe

We all know the story of Charles Dickens’, A Christmas Carol. In Richard Donner’s interpretation, he tells the story of a cynical, selfish television executive, Frank Cross (Bill Murray).

Cross, who plans to run a live-adaptation of A Christmas Carol, lacks the Christmas spirit just as Ebenezer Scrooge does in Dickens’ novel. With the help of the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future, Cross realizes that he has to change.

This contemporary setting of the classic tale certainly gives the viewer a much more amusing way to depict the novel as opposed to the much more darker scenes that Dickens wrote.

5.) This Christmas (2007)
Director: Preston A. Whitmore II
Starring: Regina King, Idris Elba, Chris Brown, Loretta Devine

A feel-good holiday time film, This Christmas tells the story of the Whitfield’s first celebrated Christmas together as a family in four years. Ma’dere (Loretta Devine), the mother of her children, is hosting the holiday at her home in Los Angeles and is quite delighted for her family to be together again.

As her children are home, things do not go as planned as there is some drama between the seven siblings, even during this joyous time.

While this film is not as popular as most Christmas classics, it can still bring about some holiday cheer. Even though the movie does highlight some dark themes, it does end in a happy mood as it shows how much a family can stick together through the toughest of times during the holiday season.

*These movies can be streamed on Netflix.