What to watch this holiday season…other than your grades.

With finals coming up, it’s easy to forget about enjoying the holiday season. You become too busy cramming for tests and finishing up projects, and you don’t have time for any fun holiday festivities with family or friends. To help alleviate from stress, check out some of my favorite holiday films that are sure to get you in the spirit of the season.

“The Holiday”

An English-country rose, Iris, agrees to switch homes with a Los Angeles native workaholic, Amanda Woods, to take a leave of absence from each of their stressful lives during the holiday season. While swapping homes, and practically lives, romance brews for the newly England bound American, Amanda, teaching her the true meaning of love and happiness. Meanwhile, love strikes Californian rookie, Iris, during her stay. Iris also benefits from the guidance of many new friends with astonishing stories about their lives and affiliation with Hollywood’s famous film productions. With major actors starring in this film, including Cameron Diaz, Jack Black, and Kate Winslet, “The Holiday” is full of funny and relatable scenes dealing with embarrassment and a failed love life.

“A Christmas Story”

Going along with seasonal classics, “A Christmas Story” is a film about a little boy and his “struggles” of embarrassment with the Christmas season that many of us know a little too fondly. We’ve all bundled up like snowmen for the frigid weather, received embarrassing gifts from relatives, and the classic, posed for a picture on Santa’s lap. Known for its classic line, “you’ll shoot your eye out,” “A Christmas Story” has become a family favorite because of its odd plot and random story changes making it a must-see for this finals season.

“How the Grinch Stole Christmas”

Don’t get me wrong, a good cartoon can always put a smile on the faces of its audience, but nothing can beat the Jim Carrey take on “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” from the year 2000. With Whoville preparing for Christmas to come around, the Grinch schemes to ruin their holiday festivities with the help of his hapless dog, Max. Director Ron Howard’s portrayal of the story is full of colorful and loud scenes, making for a really fun film to kick back and relax with.

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Photo Courtesy of We Heart It

Iris attempts to cut ties with the man she's helplessly in love with, in the film "The Holiday", as she heads off to her new American home for the next two weeks.