by Billie Anderson, Staff Writer

Well, here we are, the week of Christmas. You’re stuck at home, going crazy, and you need a Christmas-themed movie to keep the spirits high without rewatching Home Alone (1990) for the seventh year in a row. The holidays can feel endless, but between the overeating, family chaos, and general December delirium, there’s an opportunity to dive into something unexpected. I’ve made the week easier for you and offered up some perfect double features to fill the endless hours of leftovers, puzzle making, and your dad falling asleep on the couch. These pairings aren’t your traditional Christmas comfort watches—they’re a little offbeat, a little bittersweet, and perfect for that weird week between Christmas and New Year’s when time stops making sense.

1. The Holdovers (2023) and Tokyo Godfathers (2003)

My most recent favourite Christmas double feature. The Holdovers feels like the cinematic equivalent of that teacher you didn’t like at first but ended up loving by the end of the school year, the perfect movie to watch when you’re visiting home and scared of running into your grade 11 English teacher at Walmart. It’s about a misanthropic teacher and a grieving student stuck at school during Christmas–a perfect setup for some surprising emotional punches. Pair that with Tokyo Godfathers, where three homeless misfits find a baby on Christmas Eve and decide to play guardian angels. Both movies are messy, warm, and full of humanity in a way that makes you want to hug the people you love, even if they drive you nuts. Both movies also have such a specific feel to them. Maybe it’s the 70s aesthetic of The Holdovers, or the warm reds and greens in Toyko Godfathers–either way, good and silly pairings between characters screams December 26th-31st. 

2. The Green Knight (2021) and Spencer (2021)

The holidays aren’t all candy canes and hot cocoa–sometimes they’re about existential dread and breaking out of the boxes we’re forced into. The Green Knight is basically a medieval fever dream about honor and identity, and Dev Patel looks gorgeous, incredible, amazing in that mustard yellow cape. This is one of those movies that really is a full Christmas movie and not a pseudo “it happens at the holidays which makes it Christmassy”–he literally plays The Christmas Game. But it’s unconventional! Meanwhile, Spencer drops us into a Christmas weekend from hell with Princess Diana, suffocating under royal expectations and trying to reclaim herself. Both films are haunting and visually stunning, perfect for when you’re staring into the void of a New Year and wondering what it all means. Both perfect for your dad to get bored enough to walk away for a bit, come back and say “you’re still watching this?”

3. Eyes Wide Shut (1999) and Phantom Thread (2017)

Let’s get decadent and a little twisted. Eyes Wide Shut is Kubrick’s Christmas movie (yes, really) about desire, jealousy, and masks—literal and metaphorical. It’s weird, hypnotic, and kind of like a dream you can’t shake. Pair it with Phantom Thread, which turns romantic obsession into an art form. Daniel Day-Lewis and Vicky Krieps have the kind of chemistry that makes toxic love look almost beautiful. Together, these films are all about control and surrender—a dark but irresistible holiday combo. Truly two of the most romantic movies ever seen, and also the perfect New Year's Eve at Home vibe to close off the weirdest time of year. Probably not a double feature for your mom, but who knows! Maybe she likes the weird stuff! 

4. Little Women (2019) and Fanny and Alexander (1982)

If your holidays are more about family chaos and bittersweet nostalgia, this pairing is for you. Greta Gerwig’s Little Women is a warm hug of a movie, full of sibling dynamics and the kind of love that’s messy but unconditional. While this one starts at Christmas, most of the film takes place at random periods throughout the rest of the year, which means it’s only somewhat of a holiday movie. To me, it’s just as Christmas-themed as Home Alone, but I’m also the one writing this list, so I’m clearly not the biggest popular Christmas movie fan. Then there’s Fanny and Alexander, which takes a more magical—and darker—approach to family life during Christmas. It’s Bergman, so you know it’ll get deep and a little surreal, but it’s also stunningly beautiful. Together, they’re a reminder that family is both the best and the most complicated gift.

5. Carol (2015) and Eileen (2023)

Snowy backdrops, smoldering tension, and women finding themselves against all odds—what’s not to love? Carol is an all-time queer holiday classic, with Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara turning stolen glances into art. Eileen, on the other hand, is darker, stranger, and full of psychological intrigue. These films are slow burns, but if you’re willing to lean into their quiet intensity, they’ll reward you with stories as layered as a winter sweater. These films reflect the introspective, brooding vibe of late December while offering a spark of hope for reinvention. These are perfect for those nights when the snow is falling, the world feels still, and you’re ready to dive into something tender yet powerful. They’re also great when you want to watch beautiful women obsess over one another. You pick which mood you’re in! 

6. Brazil (1985) and Life of Brian (1979)

Okay okay, maybe your dad woke up and wants to watch something and hates everything you’ve put on so far, well, have I got a “my dad’s favourite movies” pairing for you. Sometimes the holidays just make you want to scream into the void. Enter Brazil, Terry Gilliam’s dystopian Christmas fever dream, where bureaucracy and paranoia run wild. Then there’s Life of Brian, Monty Python’s hilariously irreverent take on the Nativity story. Together, they’re a perfect antidote to forced cheer, reminding us to laugh at the absurdity of it all—because sometimes that’s the only way to survive. These are perfect for when holiday cheer feels more like holiday chaos, and you need to laugh (or cry) at the absurdity of it all. These films offer both biting satire and creative escapism—ideal for moments when the holidays feel like a never-ending circus. I swear, these are both Christmas movies. 

7. The Apartment (1960) and Stalag 17 (1953)

Billy Wilder knew how to serve up a double feature that feels like a cozy blanket and a slap to the face at the same time. In The Apartment, Jack Lemmon is the ultimate Nice Guy™ who lends out his place to sleazy coworkers who want to have affairs but somehow still makes it charming. Throw in Shirley MacLaine with her pixie-cut perfection, and you’ve got a bittersweet love story that’ll make you laugh-cry into your leftover homemade eggnog that is kind of gross, and store bought would have just been better. Then there’s Stalag 17, set in a POW camp during Christmas, where grumpy William Holden gives “bah humbug” a whole new energy. It’s got laughs, intrigue, and the kind of camaraderie that might just make you want to hug your friends (or at least send them a text). These are proof that Billy Wilder could make movies about literally anything—office romance, wartime antics—and still hit you with all the feelings. Whether you’re swooning or chuckling, these films remind us that even in the darkest (or most awkward) moments, connection and hope are possible. Plus, they’ll make your weird holiday week feel downright normal by comparison.

8. You’ve Got Mail (1998) and The Shop Around the Corner (1940)

Okay, your mom was mad that you watched dad movies and wants some for her, she’s probably seen You’ve Got Mail, but you want something that has the same vibes, well, this pairing is for the romantics. You’ve Got Mail is pure late-’90s perfection, with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks falling in love through the magic of email (remember when email was exciting? I now chaotically check my email every second of the day so that is good and normal for the holiday season). It’s a modern update of The Shop Around the Corner, which has all the charm of a classic screwball comedy, with Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullavan exchanging anonymous letters. Both films are sweet, funny, and perfect for curling up with a blanket and hot chocolate. These movies are like a warm cup of tea on a cold winter night, reminding us that love can blossom in unexpected places. These films are the cinematic equivalent of a handwritten love letter, your mom is sure to cry or say “aww” at least once. 

If you’re tired of the same old holiday movies, these pairings are here to shake things up. They’re funny, strange, heartfelt, and a little off-kilter—just like the holidays themselves. So whether you’re spending this week in a post-Christmas daze or gearing up for the New Year, these films will keep you company and maybe even make you see the season in a new light.

Now grab a mug of something warm, settle in, and let the weird and wonderful magic begin. These films will make you laugh, cry, and maybe even reevaluate your relationship with the holidays, reminding you that there’s no one right way to celebrate the season.