By Benjamin Pola

With the holiday season here, it’s the perfect time to kick back, enjoy a festive film, and spend quality time with family and friends. The USC School of Cinematic Arts alumni have helped bring some of the most memorable holiday classics to life, and they’re still creating new stories that will make lasting memories for years to come. As the year winds down, there’s no better way to relax than with a great movie. Whether you're in the mood for action, romance, or something heartwarming, our talented alumni have you covered. Here are a few holiday films to add to your watch-list this season.

1. Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
Les Mayfield ’82, Director
A lawyer and a little girl must prove that a man claiming to be Santa Claus is the real thing.

2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
Ron Howard, Director 
On the outskirts of Whoville lives a green, revenge-seeking Grinch who plans to ruin Christmas for all of the citizens of the town.

3. The Polar Express (2004)
Robert Zemeckis ’73, Director / Writer
On Christmas Eve, a young boy embarks on a magical adventure to the North Pole on the Polar Express, while learning about friendship, bravery, and the spirit of Christmas.

4. The Holiday (2006)
Bruce A. Block ’77, Producer 
Amanda lives in LA and is a movie trailer editor. Iris lives in Surrey and is a journalist. The two decide to swap houses for two weeks at Christmas - both trying to forget their troubled love lives, until love finds them anyways.

5. Krampus (2015)
Alex Gracia ’99, Producer and John Axelrad ’90, Editor 
A boy who has a bad Christmas accidentally summons a festive demon to his family home.

6. Last Christmas (2019)
Paul Feig ’84, Director
Kate is a young woman subscribed to bad decisions. Working as an elf in a year-round Christmas store is not good for the wannabe singer. However, she meets Tom there. Her life takes a new turn--that seems too good to be true.

7. Candy Cane Lane (2023)
Brian Grazer ’74, Producer 
A man is determined to win the neighborhood's annual Christmas decorating contest. He makes a pact with an elf to help him win--and the elf casts a spell that brings the 12 days of Christmas to life, which brings unexpected chaos to town.

8. Noelle (2019)
Suzanne Todd, Producer
Santa's daughter must take over the family business when her father retires and her brother, who is supposed to inherit the Santa role, gets cold feet.