When residents of the North Shore watch a Christmas movie, they often stick to what they know, says Sushil Nirwal, owner of North Vancouver's Moviexpress, a video rental store in North Vancouver.
"Often parents have seen the movies as younger kids, and they want their kids to see the same," he says. "Home Alone sells out every year."
However, there are some relatively new movies that are still popular, he adds. Many adults love the slapstick comedy Bad Santa. The Search for Santa Paws is a popular children's movie because of the cute puppies, he says. "Kids love it and parents like renting it to keep them entertained through the Christmas period."
Nirwal's personal favourites are Love Actually, a popular British movie that follows the relationships of several different couples, and Holiday, a romantic comedy about two women from different countries who swap houses. "They're entertaining and reasonably intelligent as well," he says.
Movie rentals and sales are usually slow in the first part of December because people are too busy with Christmas parties or shopping, he says. "But when the third week of December kicks in, that's when people start getting movies to watch on their break," he says.
Staff at the North Vancouver Community Arts Council generally agree that the best movies are the classics.
"My all-time favourite is the 1960s stop-motion animation Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," says Jo Dunlop, exhibition co-ordinator at the arts council. "It stands out from my childhood. It was just so artsy and different for its time."
Dunlop also recommends It's a Wonderful Life, a movie about an angel who shows a man what life would be like without him. "It's inspirational," she says.
As for modern movies, Liza Child, arts programs and communications coordinator at the arts council, enjoyed Frozen, Disney's latest snow-centred movie. "It's a very beautiful story, and it has a nice message towards family and true love," she says. "From a visual perspective I thought it was really well done."
Here is a shortlist of other popular family holiday films: A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965): Charlie Brown struggles with the commercialization and materialism of Christmas while directing a school play.
How the Grinch stole Christmas (1966, 2000): The town of Whoville almost loses their Christmas in this Dr. Seuss classic.
Miracle on 34th Street (1947, 1994): A lastminute replacement for a department store Santa Claus finds himself in court as he tries to prove he's the real father of Christmas.
The Snowman (1982): A snowman comes to life and takes his creator, a young boy, on the trip of a lifetime to the North Pole. It's a wordless Christmas special.
A Christmas Story (1983): The amusing story of a young boy who only wants a BB gun for Christmas.
A Chipmunk Christmas (1981): The chipmunks scramble to get a harmonica in time for a performance at Carnegie Hall after Alvin charitably gave his away.
The Santa Clause (1994): Tim Allen finds himself filling big footsteps when he has to take over for Santa Claus after accidentally killing him.
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992): A muppet adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic.
Elf (2003): In this entertaining comedy, a human who was raised by elves returns to New York in search of his birth father.
Polar Express (2004): A young boy boards a special train that's bound for the North Pole on Christmas Eve.
