Chai Worthy Holiday Films

We know that you can kind of drink Ginger Spiced Chai or Lavender Fog anytime but since the holidays are here we thought we would suggest a few films that enhance your perfect holiday cup.

For the meet-cute

The Holiday (2006)

Snow in Surrey and sunshine in LA–it’s really hard to choose between where we’d rather spend the holidays, but this classic holiday rom-com delivers.

Love Actually (2003) 

Google “Love Actually Bingo”, grab a couple of friends, enjoy some hot Ginger Spiced Chai (add a bit of booze if you want) and play along as love stories intertwine as endearing characters navigate romance during Christmastime. 

While You Were Sleeping (1995)

Sandra Bullock shines as a lonely public transit ticket attendant whose life suddenly gets complicated when her crush goes into a coma, his family mistakenly thinks she's his fiancee, and she falls in love with his brother. 

You’ve Got Mail (1998)

In this updated version of the 1940 comedy, Shop Around the Corner, Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks flirt online (literally on AOL) unbeknownst to them that they're each other's enemies.

LGBTQ Christmas

Carol (2015)

Our personal favorite. It's dramatic and romantic with beautiful outfits to boot. Therese Belivet (Rooney Mara) spots the beautiful, elegant Carol (Cate Blanchett) perusing the doll displays in a 1950s Manhattan department store where they develop a fast bond that becomes a love with complicated consequences.

Single All the Way (2021)

Finally, a holiday movie with real representation! The always lovable Michael Urie (Peter) comes home for Christmas with his platonic bestie Philemon Chambers (Nick) and it takes the entire movie for him to realize something his family already knew–that he and Nick have a deeper connection and chemistry that’s more than just being friends.

Home Alone (1991)

Hijinks and shenanigans. What's not to love about Kevin and his two unprepared foes?

Mean Girls (2004)

Lindsay Lohan at her best.

Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)

Get your reindeer jumper, turkey curry, and your Tanglewood Espresso Martinis ready–this brilliant book adaptation of the beloved novel by Helen Fielding is a heartwarming and rather hilarious (thanks in part to Renee Zelweger in the titular role) holiday flick.

The Spirit of Christmas

For a rom-com that’s so bad it’s good (real estate lawyer stays at an inn and literally begins a relationship and falls in love with a 19th century GHOST) that it inspired an entire episode of the podcast, How Did This Get Made?, we highly recommend watching the movie first, then listening to the podcast episode to fully indulge (and ponder) the hilarity that ensues.

For the non-traditionalists

Die Hard

There are two types of people in this world–one that believes Die Hard is a Christmas movie and the other disagrees. We’re part of the former, and we stan this Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman ‘90s holiday action flick.

Gremlins (1984)

Whatever you do don't give them chai after midnight.

Batman Returns (1992)

Michelle Pfieffer completely revved up Catwoman on the screen (though we are big fans of the Eartha Kitt and Julie Newmar iterations) in this perfect-for-winter caped crusader movie by Tim Burton.

The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)

Geena Davis as an amnesiac assassin who suddenly begins to remember her forgotten past is one of our favorite underrated holiday action movies.