As the holiday season approaches, many people set the mood by rewatching Christmas films. For a lot of viewers, however, newer releases don’t carry the same spirit as the classics. Instead of turning to modern holiday movies, many people continue to revisit favorites like “The Polar Express” and “A Christmas Story,” movies that feel more comforting and nostalgic.

Older films such as “Elf,” “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and “A Charlie Brown Christmas” remain staples each year, having a charm that newer movies struggle to match.

Junior Krystal Ma is one of those viewers who gravitate toward older films, her favorite being “Home Alone.”

Ma says she rarely chooses the new releases during the holidays, explaining that she doesn’t feel they carry the same Christmas energy anymore. “All the movies that are produced now are just kind of cash grabs, rather than catering towards being in the Christmas spirit.” Her response reflects a common opinion among viewers who feel that many recent movies focus more on money than genuine holiday spirit.

Ma also points out how modern Christmas films often repeat the same ideas. “I feel like majority of movies nowadays are either parodies of what’s going on now or movies from the past … because they really have no other original ideas anymore,” she expresses. “It’s just kind of sad to see how there’s no other good movies nowadays for Christmas.” Sequels and reboots may be nice as occasional additions, but when they become the majority of new releases, viewers start to miss the creativity that once made movies alive.

Another reason new movies fail to make an impact, Ma says, is that they don’t get the same attention or excitement. “I feel it’s just because nowadays, media coverage isn’t as active … No one even knows that there’s new movies coming out with new streaming services, they just see an ad for it.” With limited promotion in the market, many viewers don’t even realize when new Christmas movies are released.

For many people, the magic of older Christmas movies comes from nostalgia, family traditions, childhood memories, and the feeling of watching the same films year after year.

I have had my fair share of watching newer festive movies with my family, but they have not come close to the older movies that started my holiday addiction. Most of today’s movies aren’t fully centered around the Christmas season, but include minor winter elements just good enough to call themselves a “Hallmark movie.” This has led me to not lean towards watching newer films every year, instead staying with the nostalgic and classic films.

Older Christmas films continue to resonate because they remind viewers of familiar traditions and moments from the past. In a season built on comfort and family, the nostalgia makes the classics stand out more than modern movies.