Tis the season, and we know there are many reasons for you to fall back on comfort movies and shows. Nostalgia is the spirit of the season and basking in the joy of being in the presence of loved ones, celebrating traditions, secret Santas and sheer indulgence sum up the holiday season. Who doesn’t love a nostalgic revisit to the classics? However, the thrill of winter lies not just in its nostalgia but its novelty and we present to you the best concoction of traditional and novel watches that will thaw a frozen heart, or if you’re alone this season, warm you up with its delivery. Here are 10 heartfelt movies and shows to catch and add to the tradition. Warning: We advise you to stock up on tissues.

Last Christmas

If George Michael’s song Last Christmas I gave you my heart was a movie, this would be it. Join Emilia Clarke in another heartfelt performance that will sure to have you sinking deeper into your blanket as you try to process the realities of the plot. Clarke plays the role of Kate Andrich, an elfish girl who tries to make ends meet while working towards her dream of becoming a singer and surviving a medical heart condition for which she received a transplant. She has a run-in with the mysterious Tom who surprisingly in this digital age is without a phone. Cue the onset of a classic romantic comedy and its heartfelt tropes, Last Christmas, will defrost your heart with its surprisingly heart-tugging twist.

Hachiko: A Dog’s story

Let it be known that any X-mas Marley & Me watchers and lovers have another heartfelt dog’s tale to add to the family watch-list. Based on a real-life incident in Tokyo of a dog so faithful that even after the unfortunate demise of its owner, he faithfully waited for years after. Loyalty, friendship and unbreakable bonds are not restricted to humans alone but also to our pet families. Kindle that spirit and love as you follow the emotional journey of Hachiko, a lost Akita-Inu pup who is found by a professor and taken home. The genuine relationship between Hachiko and the professor along with their simple routine of the dog seeing off the professor to the station and picking him up for years and the subsequent tragedy that follows will have you shedding tears. Embark on a story of love and joy and a moralistic reminder of loyalty and gratefulness with Hachi, your friendly companion.

Kiki’s Delivery Service

Animation is a traditional go-to genre for the season and X-mas wouldn’t be the same without the annual homage to the soul-warming and charming Studio Ghibli and the artistic genius Hayao Miyazaki. Christmas is a homely holiday for many of us but there are innumerable people staying away from their families working at different jobs that ensure the rest of us have a warm and cosy Christmas. Kiki’s Delivery Service is a perfect match for those craving an aesthetic and serene watch, laced with philosophy and culture. Follow the teenage witch as she aids a bakery in its delivery, only to be met with crisis and a loss of ability. Learn to navigate the realities of life with Kiki and launch yourself on a quest for a poetic self-discovery aided by aesthetic visuals that exceed standards.

Snowdrop

One of the most anticipated K-dramas of the year, the BLACKPINK Jisoo and Jung Hae-in starrer is a spectacular holiday thrill that is set to grace us this month. Evident from its title, explore the wintry settings of Seoul while moving back in time. Situate yourself in the angst-driven story of a devastatingly injured Im Soo-ho, who seemingly finds refuge in Eun Young-ro’s dorm at her university for women as political turmoil reaches a new height amidst the 1987 democracy movement of South Korea. Unravel truths about the mysterious graduate as the two kindle a strained but budding romance as they battle against the odds.

Love Hard

Seek a moment of respite in this Netflix-produced romantic comedy film, starring Nina Dobrev, Jimmy O. Yang, and Darren Barnet, that narrates the story of Natalie Bauer who travels to Lake Placid, New York, to meet her boyfriend Josh who she matched with on a dating site, only to find out she’s been catfished. Josh offers to set her up with the boy who he was posing as, as long as she pretends to be his girlfriend for the holidays. Navigate the awkwardness, betrayal, and love that these characters feel as the movie proceeds and the holiday spirit sets in.

A Boy Called Christmas

Love the concept of Santa and his elves? Follow Nicolas as he sets off on a journey to the extreme north of the kingdom accompanied by a reindeer called Blitzen and a chatty pet mouse as he searches for his father who is on a mission to find the mythical village of Elfhelm. However, the trip to the village is filled with obstacles that young Nicolas must overcome and the village itself is not at all what it seems like. Filled with snowy humour, warm friendships, talking animals and mystical creatures, this movie is perfect for the heartfelt family emotion this season.

Corpse Bride

While its predecessor The Nightmare Before Christmas is a classic that is a perfect watch from the spooky season through the New Year’s, Corpse Bride is a Burton-esque gothic poem wrapped as a stop-motion animated movie. Fall down the rabbit hole with Victor, who flees his marriage rehearsal after messing up his marriage vows. To add to his troubles he is whisked away to the land of the dead after placing the ring on a dead branch while practising his vows alone in the forest, which was the manifestation of a dead Emily’s finger. The two, now bound in marriage, slowly spin out a poetic bond as they reminisce and open up to each other. However, things go sadly askew in this Victorian love as Victor’s heart is split in two and he wishes to return to the land of the living. Corpse Bride is a beautiful narrative of loving and letting go that is sure to leave butterflies in your stomach.

Happiest Season

This season is highlighted as a time for new beginnings, acceptance, and reconciliation. Dive into Abby’s life — from secrets in the closet to discovering her girlfriend is still in the closet in front of her parents, with whom they plan on spending the holidays, thereby barricading her proposal strategy. This queer rom-com is a heart-warming tale of the realities of those in the closet, their struggle with acceptance. The story traces a beautiful line reminding that the coming-out experience is more than scary for a lot of individuals in the LGBTQIA+ community but it doesn’t undermine the love they have for their partners. Curl up and enjoy the spirit of the season with Abby and Harper and their love.

Goblin

K-drama fans, it’s the perfect season to return to this classic. Goblin brings to you a tale full of myths and magic. Coerced into a life of immortality, the goblin has to pay the price of slaying several soldiers to their death, and the only one who can help lift the curse is his bride. Nineteen-year-old Eun Tak is somehow able to summon him, and the story of how the goblin rediscovers his reason to live through her commences. Join the goblin on his journey filled with moments that will make you smile and cry with the characters, backed with some of the most soulful soundtracks you’ll ever hear.

Uncontrollably Fond

A heart-warming tearfest is perhaps the best way to describe this show. The story of Joon Young and Noh Eul broke hearts across the globe. After being separated from each other as teens, star-crossed lovers Joon young and Noh Eul meet again as grown-ups, when he is a successful actor-singer and she is a documentary producer. Watch them fall in love with each other once again, as they fight through life and the unfair tragedy that follows because life isn’t always a box of chocolates.