7 Christmas Movie Tropes That Will Never Go Out Of Style
It’s impossible to imagine any winter time movie without these things happening.
We have gotten used to the idea that common tropes and predictable storylines in movies are something that make them worse. But in the case of Christmas movies, the use of familiar tropes is actually a good idea.
The thing is, they give these movies the necessary flavor. Like there always has to be some magic in Christmas movies, or a touching love story. Something to make us feel cozy and comfortable. We have collected seven tropes that never go out of style.
1. A Child Saves the Day
The first movie that comes to mind that uses this trope is undoubtedly Home Alone with Macaulay Culkin as Kevin, the main character of the story. The plot revolves around him, as he was literally left home alone after his family forgot to take him to Paris. He manages to save their house after an attempted robbery and ends up being a hero.
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2. Santa Is Real
There's nothing more Christmassy than Santa Claus in a movie, and in many of them he seems to be real, like in The Santa Claus trilogy. The important thing about this trope is that most of the movies are family-friendly, and it's important to embrace the idea that Santa is real for the sake of children. That's why the movies use it to help kids believe in magic.
3. Love Story
We challenge you to find a Christmas movie without a love story in it: you'll search for days, but never find it. Let's take Last Christmas with Emilia Clark as an example. However, this particular movie is a little bit more than a standard romantic story, as it also focuses on the main character's journey to find herself.
4. Dysfunctional Family Gathering
Another popular trope used in many different Christmas movies. We get to see a dysfunctional family come together during the holidays, and all of their flaws come out as they try to make things right. Happiest Season is a perfect movie to depict this trope because it focuses on a very dysfunctional family whose members struggle to be themselves around each other. In the end, however, they still manage to have a happy resolution.
5. Big City Character Trapped In a Small Town
This trope is also one of the most commonly used in movies, as it emphasizes the importance of giving yourself enough alone time to deal with your thoughts and get a better understanding of your own life. Like what happened to Cameron Diaz's character in The Holiday, when she was stuck in a small town all by herself and it turned out to be the best experience of her life. And as a bonus, she found the love of her life.
6. Christmas Magic
When we talk about magic in these movies, we are not specifically referring to the Harry Potter kind of magic. It's more about the spirit and belief that anything is possible during the holiday season. Like when you hear Santa Claus coming, or when the magical person appears in front of you to help you with a little problem. The Polar Express is the movie that gives off that magical vibe, so don't forget to watch it this holiday season.
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7. The True Meaning of Christmas
When the movie uses a trope like this, it usually has an arrogant jerk as the main character who later discovers that the only thing that matters in this life is family and friendship. However, The Ultimate Christmas Present is about teenage girls trying to get some snow from Santa for their town, but Santa makes him understand that it's not all that matters on this day.
