the gift of the week after

The last week of December is for many of us getaway week, when families pack up the car or hop a flight for the slopes, the beach or a visit with family. In the spirit of the journey, we offer an inflight entertainment guide of sorts to our favorite travel movies to watch about travel.

Home Alone. Eight-year-old Kevin, who is accidentally left behind when his large, boisterous family takes off for Christmas vacation, ends up defending his house from inept burglars. Reprising his role as Kevin, 38-year-old Macauley Culkin recently released this advertisement for Google’s personal assistant and it’s actually pretty funny.

The Family Stone. Yes, we talked about this one last year but it bears repeating as an all-time favorite about adult siblings who gather back home for Christmas at a time when many of them face personal changes both good and bad. Sarah Jessica Parker is hilarious as one of the son’s uptight girlfriend, and the rest of the cast shines too. It’s funny, heartbreaking and reminds you why family is the most important bond of all. 

Bridesmaids. Technically not a holiday or travel movie, stream this one for the airplane scene, when Kristen Wiig is all of us on an awkward bachelorette party she can’t afford and Melissa McCarthy chats up a federal air marshall. Hilarious.

Up in the Air. George Clooney and Anna Kendrick take corporate downsizing to cruel heights then crash personally in this 2009 classic that shows no matter how many millions of airplane miles you earn, exclusive premium status will never bring you happiness.

National Lampoon’s Vacation / National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. I mean, how can we not include these classics, especially with lines like this: “This is no longer a vacation. It’s a quest. It’s a quest for fun. You’re gonna have fun, and I’m gonna have fun. We’re all gonna have so much f***ing fun we’re gonna need plastic surgery to remove our goddamn smiles!”

Safe travels, everyone!