It’s a holiday tradition: Fire up the flat-screen and start streaming or watching movies and television shows that reflect the spirit of the season. Just add the egg nog and hit play.

Here’s a handy guide to five holiday movies everyone should see. Maybe everyone has seen them – but they’re all good enough and cheery enough that everyone should see them every year.

Happy holidays!

5. “Elf” – Will Farrell plays Buddy, a human raised as an elf at the North Pole. He learns he’s human and heads to New York to find his birth father (James Caan), who’s not interested in meeting him. It’s Christmas time, and Buddy finds love with Jovie (Zooey Deschanel) while teaching everyone about the Christmas spirit. The best parts involve Buddy trying to translate his elf habits to his human life – or when he decorates an entire department-stood floor overnight.

4. “A Christmas Story” – “You’ll shoot your eye out.” That’s the most-famous line, of course, from the story of Ralphie, the kid who wants a Red Ryder Carvine Action 200-shot Rnge Model air rifle for Christmas. (The famous line is the response from everyone he tells.) It’s not just a holiday story, but a funny, lovingly told movie about growing up.

3. “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” – (Note: This refers to the 1966 TV special, NOT the 2000 movie.) Whoville is read for Christmas, but the Grinch, whose heart is two sizes too small, will have none of it. But the heart and spirit of the Whoos – especially Cindy Lou Who – will win him over in the end. The best Dr. Seuss adaption ever. Boris Karloff as narrator is a bonus.

2. “A Charlie Brown Christmas” – Nothing can get Charlie Brown into the Christmas spirit (and friends like Lucy don’t help). Things hit a low point when he picks out a Christmas tree and it’s a disaster. But thanks to Linus explaining the true meaning of the holiday and “a little love,” the tree is saved, and so is Charlie Brown’s Christmas. Great music from the Vince Guaraldi Trio.

1. “It’s a Wonderful Life” – Jimmy Stewart thinks the world would have been a better place if he’d never been born. An angel trying to get his wings shows him otherwise. It’s a fascinating study of disappointment and redemption, and the realization that everyone has value.