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FAMILY on the sofa, food coma setting in, the annual arguments are raging. 

But there’s one thing we can all agree on: the best Christmas films are the ones we already know the words to.

Forget the streaming giants’ flops; Google’s latest trends data proves we are still watching the same five classics we’ve seen a hundred times.

According to Google search rankings for December 2024, the only movies that matter are: Home Alone (1990), Love Actually (2003), Elf (2003), Die Hard (1988), and The Holiday (2006). 

These aren’t just films – they’re Christmas crackers that rule the roost for the entire season.

Baby, it’s cold online

Let’s face facts, the last proper Christmas film breakthrough was Will Ferrell’s hilarious Elf. Why?

Back then, films became classics because they were hammered on to terrestrial TV every Christmas Eve, year after year. It was a shared moment.

Now? Streaming channels pump out festive films that disappear quicker than the cranberry sauce. Remember 2021’s Love Hard, anyone?

There’s no big, shared night; just another cheap, made-for-TV sequel you’ll forget by Boxing Day. 

At Christmas, we don’t want novelty, we want nostalgia! We crave the familiar faces, the iconic soundtracks and the quotes we grew up with.

Top of the tree

Home Alone is the undisputed king of Christmas, topping the search list again. 

Macaulay Culkin is still the only star guaranteed to keep the kids quiet, have the parents chuckling and give millennials that lovely warm feeling of childhood. 

Coming in second, Love Actually – the ultimate festive romcom. 

Of course it charts high, adults are the ones doing the searching! Packed with A-list talent like Hugh Grant and Keira Knightley, it’s a love letter to London that we feel we own. 

Elf, meanwhile, sits happily in the “children’s films that adults secretly love” category. Good clean fun.

The debate that never dies

Every year, social media repeats the same classic film debates: should the Home Alone parents be arrested for gross negligence? Is the Grinch high-key relatable? 

But the one argument that will forever cause a family meltdown: is Die Hard a Christmas film?

Is it an action movie set at Christmas, or is John McClane a festive hero? We’ll never get a definitive answer, but the search numbers prove we’ll keep watching the chaos.

Bruce Willis bounces back into the charts partly because some people rewatch it purely to win the family argument!

The newest addition to the charts is The Holiday, featuring Cameron Diaz and the ridiculously handsome Jude Law. 

It has surpassed How the Grinch Stole Christmas for the first time. Why the sudden love? Algorithm-driven Christmas escapism. Cosy cottage-core and 2006 Jude Law at his best – it was a hit waiting to happen.

Maybe one day, a new festive favourite will break into the hallowed list and earn a permanent place. 

But until then, the classics will keep topping Google searches – because at Christmas, above all, we love a familiar story.

MORE Americans are looking to vacation in the States — and search data reveals the surprising destination that’s leading the way.

According to Google Trends, it seems as though we have started to ditch the beach for icy thrills, with record-high numbers of us looking up “Alaska cruise”.

Interest in domestic travel has surged in the past few years since the pandemic.

After months stuck indoors, we clearly rediscovered our love for fresh air, wildlife spotting and larger-than-life landscapes.

Alaska fits perfectly with this new outlook, as we increasingly seek nature-packed getaways.

The state’s appeal is plain to see — already one of the world’s most popular cruise destinations, the Last Frontier wows even the most seasoned travelers.

Think lush, secluded mountain ranges and abundant wildlife — from grizzly bears to towering moose.

Out on the ocean, passengers can see stunning spectacles like whales breaching alongside the vessel or seals chilling on ice caps.

But one of the things that appeals most about sailing these waters is the ability to set your own pace.

Want to spend days trekking across colossal glaciers? They’re there for exploring.

Prefer soaking in a hot spring with unbeatable views? Go and lap it up.

Many voyages let you do both: adventuring through rugged coastline and fully indulging in the relaxing facilities onboard afterward.

It’s the perfect blend of excitement and laid-back comfort, with a huge variety of trip types on offer.

Most long-haul cruises head out from Seattle or Vancouver and last about a week, although more travelers are opting for 10 to 14-day itineraries crammed with exploration.

Flying straight to Alaska is also an option, allowing for shorter, more intimate, and adventure-focused itineraries.

Smaller ships can venture where big liners can’t, offering hikes, kayaking, fishing, and other memorable experiences.

But with Google Trends showing far more searches for Alaska cruises than flights, Americans seem to want to take their time.

Most Alaskan voyages run between May and September, when the days are long, warm, and perfect for sighting humpbacks, orcas, and even bald eagles.

So it makes sense that online interest for voyages peaks around July and August.

Searches for cruises overall have soared in the past three years, with summer 2025 seeing the highest peak for half a decade.

Caribbean cruises still attract more online interest than Alaska though.

Curiosity for hot-weather retreats spikes in December and January, but Alaska’s popularity shows Americans also crave epic experiences as well as beach breaks.

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The data trends suggest Americans are hungry for slow travel that mixes comfort with real adventure and wild encounters — all without leaving the country.

With pure escapism high on the wish list, it’s no wonder more people are setting their sights on Alaska.

WANT to snap up a holiday next year for less? TUI Black Friday sale has something for every budget.

Whether you’re looking to book some New Year winter sun or next summer’s break, there are great deals to be had.

With TUI, you can bag Black Friday discount codes for offers that cover departure dates from January 1, 2026 to October 31, 2027.

Simply bookmark the Black Friday sales page at tui.co.uk, browse the discount codes, apply them to the trip of your choice and save big.

The world is your oyster – but where to go?

Long haul or short?