As the designated film-selector at all family and friends movie nights, I know the likes of the Letterboxd and IMDB Parental Guide all too well (pleasing siblings from ages 5 to 20 is no easy feat). The chaos that ensues when a movie night is suggested, when several contradictory recommendations are shouted aloud as the faint smell of burnt popcorn floats through the air, is an experience usually best avoided.

While I would like to put forward timeless winter classics like It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) and Little Women (2019), my loved ones have made clear that the Hays Code canon and slow-paced dramas have no place at a family movie night. In light of this, I present you with a selection of films that will simultaneously satisfy pre-teen tastes, nostalgic adults and academically neglected humanities students in search of some festive stimulation.

Top Gun (1986)

Top Gun is an action film starring Tom Cruise, who plays a charming (and certainly cocky) naval aviator. It is a certified classic, having entered the United States National Film Registry in 2015. Though not officially a Christmas film, it surely ticks all the boxes for one: its grainy texture provides all the nostalgia that one needs when snuggled up on the sofa, with just the right amount of romance and tragedy for a family film to be captivating, but not awkward.

“Top Gun’s grainy texture provides all the nostalgia that one needs when snuggled up on the sofa”

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

I must confess that I only discovered this classic a few months ago, thanks to the recommendation of one of the porters at Newnham. Set in 1936, this Steven Spielberg feature follows Harrison Ford as the archaeologist, Indiana Jones, who travels the world recovering long-lost artefacts from the Nazis. As a historian, this film was made for me, but it is also perfect for the wider household. This is mainly because it boasts enough action, romance, and good looks to satisfy even the most easily distracted viewers, so it’s unlikely that your family will be consumed by their phones by the end of its runtime. Although, it’s worth noting that a gruesome CGI nightmare of melting faces towards the end is perhaps best hidden from younger viewers.

Newsies (1992)

Before High School Musical, Kenny Ortega was working overtime to produce this entertaining, yet criminally underrated movie musical. Starring Christian Bale, the film follows the New York newsboys’ strike of 1899. Personally, there is nothing like a bit of ‘owganoised laybuh’ and class action, all wrapped up into song and dance, to provide a silly and unforgettable evening. For the humanities student who just cannot get enough of supervision drivel, this feature is perfect for lengthy rants about the state of the workforce.

“Cheaper by the Dozen is the embodiment of cosy”

Cheaper by the Dozen (2003)

Sometimes, the sight of a dysfunctional yet loving family on the screen can be just the remedy to a chaotic festive season with one’s own. The film follows a family of 14, who have just moved cities for their father’s new job coaching a college football team. This film is the embodiment of cosy, as the viewer is continually endeared by the kids’ antics and the way they support each other in times of hardship. For those with strained sibling relationships, this film lets you escape together into a hopeful, alternative reality for 98 minutes.

27 Dresses (2008)

No list of mine is complete without a romcom sneaking into the mix. That being said, 27 Dresses certainly deserves its place on this list and in the romcom hall of fame. Katherine Heigl is the ‘always the bridesmaid, never the bride’ protagonist, struggling to come to terms with her younger sister’s engagement to the man of her dreams. Enjoy her rendition of ‘Bennie and the Jets’ with James Marsden, and spend the duration of the film marvelling at her (questionable) life choices - is there any better way to enjoy a romcom?

Though none of these films are holiday classics, they are bonded together by the opportunities they offer for laughter, nostalgia and yapping, all of which are key ingredients for a memorable family movie night. Oftentimes, it isn’t the most spectacular, award-winning films that will keep your loved ones invested (though this list contains a few), but those that don’t take themselves too seriously and that allow viewers to relate to the film as it is. I hope these recommendations will enable you and your loved ones to create memorable moments and bring some light into otherwise dreary winter nights.