“Home Alone”, “Christmas Story”, “Charlie Brown’s Christmas” are the most popular holiday classics. What makes them so loved?
Since its 1965 premiere, the 25-minute animated special, which starred Charlie Brown, Lucy, and Linus in a moving, exceptional performance, has brought families together. In an increasingly competitive market for holiday cuisine, it’s a must-see for many. and expanding daily on certain stations. (As I observe you, Hallmark!) When asked to choose which of a list of ten holiday classics they often watched, respondents to a recent Yahoo/YouGov poll said they watched Home Alone (34%), A Christmas Story (33%) and A Charlie Brown Christmas (32%) more often than the others. (The other titles were: Die Hard, 14%; It’s a Wonderful Life, 24%; The Santa
Clause, 24%; Miracle on 34th Street, 21%; Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, 29%; Elf, 26%; Christmas Vacation, 25%. Another option was to say “none of these,” which 26% of respondents chose to do. What is it, then, about these films and Christmas television in general that draws us back to them year after year?
Holiday films are cherished mostly because they evoke strong emotions in us, according to Pamela Rutledge, head of the independent Media Psychology Research Center, which promotes media and technology with a beneficial influence. She tells Yahoo Entertainment, “They let us tap into emotions.” “Whether we’re laughing, crying or going ‘awwww,’ they allow us to experience the emotions associated with social validation, the power of connection, compassion and empathy.”