Well, it seems that favorites lists are in season, so here is my all-time, top five holiday movies.

5) No, it’s not a porno: Coming in last and almost least – due only to the fact that the rest of my list is so high in caliber – “Babes In Toyland” (1986) takes the five spot in the Christma . I mean the “holiday” hall of fame.

A young Drew Barrymore plays Lisa, a little girl who has lost the spirit of Christmas in the tender years of childhood. And after a freak accident, little Lisa gets a concussion that sends her through parallel universes to Toyland, a place where evil hooligans live in a bowling ball and the cars are oddly phallic in appearance. The main entertainment of this movie is the chance to watch Keanu Reeves run around dressed like an elf.

4) Aaaaaahhhh!: What holiday list would be complete without that little delinquent Kevin serving a cup of hurt soup to a couple of idiot burglars. If you can’t pick out the film from that description, slam your head onto a nearby hard surface and then continue reading. Obviously, I am talking about “Home Alone” (1990) – the cult(ish) Christmas classic starring disputable child prodigy Macaulay Culkin.

What moviegoer can forget this child’s sadistic planning and set-ups to put Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern through the gauntlet of pain? By using iced stairwells and blowtorches, Culkin went down in the history books as one of the most successful child actors ever.

3) Where in the blazes is Whoville?: It doesn’t get much more classic than the animated holiday staple, “How The Grinch Stole Christmas!” (1966). Looney Toons pioneer Chuck Jones co-directed this hand-drawn adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ book, giving our holiday cheer some rhyme and making it one of the most memorable cartoons of all time.

The Grinch, a green, malevolent, seemingly asexual creature hates Christmas. Every year, he plots a new way to destroy the holiday jubilation of the Whos. Yet the overwhelming Whobiliation of the little Whos ultimately chisels away the ice that covers the Grinch’s tiny heart.

Nothing in the world can zonk you out better after that huge Christmas turkey than a couple hours spent with Boris Karloff and his deep narration. Yet, for me, I always get a little depressed when the pagan, anti-Kringle takes advantage of the naive Christian rodent, Cindy Lou Who, and takes all of her toys. Not the ham, NOT THE HAM!

2) He’s one bad F—in’ Santa: The movie “Bad Santa” (2003) brings an interesting anagram to mind: Santa = Satan. Such is the disposition of drunkard and womanizer Willie, as played by Billy Bob Thornton, who covers as a mall Santa to get on the inside and steal from mall stores on Christmas Eve. Something tells me Thornton’s real-life personality doesn’t fall too far from the Christmas tree.

The reason this is such a great holiday movie is because it is jam-packed with some of the twisted cynicism we East Coasters begin to miss during the holiday season.

On a serious, Christmas-themed note, it can be argued that “Bad Santa” shows more Christmas spirit than any other film out there. Usually, these types of movies try to persuade mild-mannered, small children to keep believing in charity and good will. But for some fat kid to get a depraved alcoholic to show some holiday spirit is mighty impressive.

1) Shower curtain rings make a great gift: The No. 1 holiday movie out there isn’t even about Christmas. Before there was “Dumb and Dumber,” there was “Planes, Trains & Automobiles,” (1987) starring one of the most talented duos ever imagined – Steve Martin and the late John Candy.

Trying to get home in time for Thanksgiving with his family, businessman Neal Page (Martin) unintentionally befriends the clumsy yet jolly Del Griffith (Candy). Together, the two attempt to travel cross-country by any means necessary.

The one reason this film is so fantastic is the rambunctious and raunchy interaction between these two polar opposites. It is “The Odd Couple” reborn as the OCD-suffering Martin clashes directly with Candy’s tendency to leave his socks and parachute-sized underwear in the bathroom sink. But the real gem is the film’s heartwarming ending.

Every aspect of this film is funny, dynamic and acted out to perfection. With classic scenes throughout, “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” is the greatest holiday film to make you both laugh and cry.

– Alex Switzer is a senior in journalism and mass communication from Shelburne, Vt.