Some may be feeling exhausted from all-nighters spent studying and meeting deadlines. With the semester concluding after the Paskuhan concert, the holidays offer a chance to slow down and step away from the fast pace of their daily lives.

We can do so by healing the inner child, which allows us to revisit our childhood memories and the things we once loved by bringing us back to presence, simplicity, and what truly matters. Because of our various responsibilities, whether it be academics, organizational, or other extracurriculars, we may not always have the time to revisit our interests.

Neglecting to heal our inner child can allow unresolved wounds to influence our adult behaviors, so we should use moments when we’re less busy to stay in touch with our inner child. For this reason, the holiday season gives us the opportunity to rest comfortably, perhaps by watching a movie, without worrying about an exam the next day.

With this, here are seven nostalgic movies that you can watch during the holidays to heal your inner child:

1. Home Alone (1990)

(Photo from IMDb)

No list of holiday movies would be complete without one of the most iconic Christmas movies of all time: Home Alone (1990), the first and most acclaimed installment in the series.

It is a comedic and thrilling movie about Kevin, a kid who was left behind at home by his family, when they went on a trip abroad. That’s when two suspicious men who believed that the large house was empty tried to rob their home. Then, Kevin was forced to keep the persistent men out of their house in creative, funny ways.

No matter how many times our family rewatches this movie, we are always amused by Kevin’s cleverness and shenanigans. Its dark plot, offset by Kevin’s mischievous nature and the movie’s slapstick comedy, is an addicting combination for those seeking a bit of thrill and loads of laughter.

Home Alone solidified itself as a staple rewatch for many households, including ours, during the holidays, and can be considered as a part of the Christmas tradition for many millennials and Gen Z alike.

2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

(Photo from IMDb)

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) is a live-action adaptation of the beloved children’s tale originally by Dr. Seuss. This movie is about the green, reclusive Grinch who hates Christmas and decides to ruin the festivities of the cheery citizens from a town called Whoville. However, along with the sweet and adorable Cindy Lou Who, the Grinch realizes that Christmas isn’t so bad after all.

Beneath its humor, the movie critiques the materialism and extravagance often associated with modern Christmas celebrations, highlighting that Christmas can be celebrated by just being in the presence of your loved ones. Its heartwarming message reminds viewers to embrace the true Christmas spirit.

Rewatching How the Grinch Stole Christmas can make us ponder on the nature of holiday gift-giving in today’s hyper-consumerist society, with its commentary on the rising materialism of modern Christmas festivities. Do we truly appreciate the gifts we receive, or just enjoy receiving them only to abandon them later? And do we actually put thought into the gifts we give, or give them for the sake of giving?

3. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)

(Photo from Cinemablend)

Craving for some chocolate and other sweet delights such as a good movie?

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) follows Charlie, a young boy from an underprivileged family, and four other kids as they venture into the chocolate factory of a renowned and imaginative chocolatier, Willy Wonka.

The movie is a whimsical adventure that makes the viewers wish they could step inside Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory and taste the iconic Wonka Whipple-Scrumptious Fudgemallow Delight bar that served as Charlie’s ticket to the factory.

Amidst all our adult responsibilities, it can be difficult to let ourselves get lost in fantasies and imagination. Rewatching Willy Wonka at an older age reminds me of the child I once was, filled with wonder akin to Charlie’s and Willy Wonka’s, that overwhelmed me with the desire of wanting to enter Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory.

4. Wreck-It-Ralph (2012)

(Photo from Prime Video)

Similar to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Wreck-It-Ralph (2012) takes viewers into a fantastical world that every child would want to visit for themselves.

The movie follows Ralph, the “bad guy” in his video game, who seeks to change the status quo in their universe and desires to become a hero. Wreck-It-Ralph is an excellent mix of childhood wonder, with Ralph and his friends exploring different video game worlds, and a journey of self-acceptance, as Ralph learns to embrace who he is.

Healing our inner child does not stop at merely revisiting the things that we first experienced during our childhood. It also challenges us to take a deeper look into our psyche to fully embrace our character, including all our experiences, flaws, and attributes as part of what makes us who we are, similar to what Ralph did.

5. Frozen (2013)

(Photo from BBC)

Looking for a timeless classic you probably rewatched a thousand times as a kid? Frozen (2013) is probably the best choice in this list.

For those who have been living under a rock or simply need a refresher on the movie, Frozen is the story of how Anna sets off on a snowy journey to find her sister, Elsa, a queen with icy powers. This movie’s combination of iconic songs that are still sung at karaoke today, such as “Love is an Open Door” and “Let It Go,” and its heartwarming storytelling of unconditional love between two sisters are formulas for success.

When Frozen was first released, I was one of the kids who rewatched it over and over again to the point that I still remember the lyrics to all of its songs and the majority of the movie’s dialogue (and even background music) to this day. Revisiting this movie always feels like a warm blanket during a storm, like comfort in the midst of the uncertainties that come with adulting.

Frozen is a nostalgic movie that has arguably defined a whole generation of 2000s kids, hence if you want to let go of your adulting worries, then go do the next right thing and give yourself a treat by revisiting this Gen Z classic.

6. Up (2009)

(Photo from Entertainment Weekly)

Let’s dial the fun down a notch and put the spotlight on a more poignant film, Up (2009).

The movie revolves around the grumpy 78-year-old Carl Fredricksen, who lost his wife, and 8-year-old Russell, an overly enthusiastic Wilderness Explorer, as they both fly (literally) to South America in Carl’s house, which is held up by balloons.

Up is an emotional, coming-of-age story that deals with grief, love, and adventure. It lets us see the world from the perspective of two characters from different generations: a young boy who is just starting his life, and a man in his old age with a wealth of memories behind him. These two characters, however, share something in common, which is their incredible desire to explore the unknown.

Lauded for its relatable characters and tearjerking storytelling, Up is guaranteed to tug at your heartstrings– and you might want to have your tissues ready while it inspires you to go on an adventure of your own.

7. Toy Story (1995)

(Photo from MUBI)

What happens when growing up leads to abandoning the things you once loved? This question is the very theme of the entire Toy Story franchise.

Toy Story (1995) is centered around Woody, Andy’s cowboy doll, and other toys who are faced with an unexpected challenge, a spaceman action figure Buzz Lightyear, who quickly becomes Andy’s new favorite toy.

It is an emotional movie about growing out of the things you loved when you were younger but also wanting to return to those things, making it the perfect film to watch when you want to revisit and heal your inner child.

If the child in you has got a friend in Andy, Woody, and Buzz Lightyear, then Toy Story and the rest of the franchise is a must-watch for you this holiday break.

Whether it be a Christmas classic like Home Alone and How the Grinch Stole Christmas, or an emotional movie such as Up and Toy Story, these movies offer comfort as we wind down during the break.

May they become an avenue to express the feelings that we are unable to address or to reexamine the forgotten childhood memories, whether positive or negative, that we are unable to revisit throughout the year amidst our responsibilities and oftentimes prevent us from keeping in touch with our inner child. - Janice Cameron Hernandez