3 crowd-pleasing theater films for the holidays

Some movies out there are frightful. But a few this year are so delightful. 

Holiday 2020 offered a new film for the holidays, Wonder Woman 1984, a day-and-date theater and streaming release film that was so bad I almost walked out of my own house. Early 2021 didn’t offer many gems to convince people to return to their ol’ cinema habit (I’m looking at you Spencer), but it ended with some strong films. Bonus, a few of them fit the tone of the holidays and are safe to bring most of the family to.

It's more of a rarity than you'd think. With award nomination voting season about to hit, December often sees more dramas than the season would normally invite. I always feel bad for families who ventured out on Christmas Day to see fan-favorite Julia Roberts and Meryl Streep together in August Osage County (2013), a dysfunctional family drama about death, funerals and horrifying family secrets. Even the festively named Four Christmases (2008) with Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn was a divorce downer to anyone who attended.

So, while I do recommend Netflix and Jane Campion’s powerful Power of the Dog (2021), this is not your family gathering event, trust me. Save this for the winter doldrums of January — and opt for these instead:

Belfast
From the very start, open up your heart; Belfast is a story of everlasting love. Set in 1969 during the height of the conflicts between Protestants and Catholics, Kenneth Branagh’s love letter to his youth is a family drama that you won’t soon forget. 

It’s a black-and-white film featuring characters with names such as Ma and Pa and it comes with its share of drama, but you’ll fall in love with Buddy’s family and fall for its uplifting vibe. I suggest the theater for this if you have a safe option. If not, you can stream it on VOD through Apple or similar services. Expect to see this and Power of the Dog perform strongly on Oscar nomination day.

Spider-Man: No Way Home
I have mixed feelings about the superhero serials, but it's been years since I was in a movie theater with gasps, laughs, cheers and spontaneous clapping during the film. Spider-Man: No Way Home earns it. There’s one sad moment, but ultimately it’s an uplifting film full of redemption for the characters and joyful surprises for the audience. Simply put, Spider-Man may just save the day — and movie theaters.

West Side Story (2021)
It should have been a lose-lose idea. Staying close to the 10-Oscar winning classic could be too corny. Redoing it; blasphemy. But Spielberg’s vision worked in all the right places while keeping the perfect tone. Turns out, we need both the perfect and 1961 film and a new one.

Despite all the young, first-love romance and vibrant singing and dancing, there are definitely serious storylines from start to finish. However, they are not shown any more graphically than in 1961 and are no less sad than Romeo and Juliet.

Bonus: In The Heights 

So if you prefer your Puerto Rican culture without the side of tears, stream the excellent In The Heights at home. It’s one of 2021’s best films and it’s a joy from start to finish.

Happy Holidays and have a happy time at the movies!