By Allison Sadlier // SWNS
NEWS COPY w/ VIDEO & INFOGRAPHIC
One in three Americans have already turned on a holiday movie this year, according to new research.
The study of 2,000 Americans examined how many are getting into the festive spirit earlier than ever, with 64% of respondents looking forward to the holidays more than ever this year.
Of those who’ve already watched a Christmas movie two in five started in October while 37% first indulged in September. One in five began in August or earlier.
When asked why they decided to start on the holiday flicks early one in five admitted they needed some extra cheering up this year—which isn’t surprising, given 72% agree that watching holiday movies brings them comfort.
Fourteen percent had run out of things to watch and one in ten were just plain bored.
The survey commissioned by Tubi and conducted by OnePoll revealed 56% had a rule in previous years for when it was officially acceptable to embrace holiday content.
In years past, 25% wouldn’t start the holiday festivities until December 1st, while 23% opted to get in the holiday spirit on Thanksgiving Day.
Of those with a rule, two-thirds (67%) think they’ll need to break it this year and kick off the holidays early after such a difficult 2020.
For those who’ve already been watching holiday movies early it has increased the likelihood they’ll get through their traditional seasonal favorites fast and will need to find new ones—80% of respondents agreed they’ll likely watch more holiday movies than they normally would this year, with over one in five (21%) planning to watch 10-12 holiday flicks.
Four in five (79%) think since they started watching holiday movies early, they’ll have to branch out to watch some new titles.
It might be the perfect opportunity to finally watch some classics that have evaded them in the past. Some movies are such classics that not having seen them can be embarrassing—so embarrassing that one in five (21%) Americans have lied about seeing famous holiday films.
The most common classic movies for respondents to lie about seeing were “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “The Miracle on 34th Street” and “A Christmas Carol.”
A spokesperson for Tubi said, “Given the tough year it’s been, it’s understandable that many Americans are eagerly anticipating the holidays this year—and already getting into the holiday spirit by watching movies months in advance.”
Two in three respondents with school-age children plan to take advantage of the increased time at home to educate their kids on pop culture classics.
Three-quarters think their kids are finally old enough to appreciate some older holiday films.
Some parents will use their children’s lack of knowledge as an excuse to expand their own. Forty-eight percent will be using their kids as an excuse to finally watch the movies they haven’t seen.
Some flicks parents finally plan on watching with their kids are the “Home Alone” movies and “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
The spokesperson for Tubi added, “Whether you plan on revisiting a timeless classic or want to expand your holiday movie repertoire to watch something new this year, there are plenty of films to check out that are sure to bring a bit of festive joy into your life.”
TOP 30 HOLIDAY MOVIES AMERICANS REVISIT EVERY YEAR
- Home Alone 24%
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 23%
- It’s a Wonderful Life 22%
- A Christmas Story 22%
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas 22%
- Frosty the Snowman 21%
- A Charlie Brown Christmas 21%
- The Grinch 20%
- A Miracle on 34th Street 19%
- Home Alone 2: Lost in New York 19%
- The Santa Clause 19%
- A Christmas Carol 19%
- White Christmas 19%
- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 18%
- The Polar Express 18%
- Elf 17%
- The Santa Clause 2 16%
- Santa Clause is Coming to Town 16%
- Scrooge 15%
- Disney’s A Christmas Carol 14%
- A Nightmare Before Christmas 14%
- Bad Santa 14%
- Christmas With the Kranks 13%
- Last Christmas 12%
- The Holiday 12%
- Holiday Inn 12%
- Love Actually 11%
- Planes, Trains, and Automobiles 10%
- Christmas in Connecticut 10%
- The Shop Around the Corner 9%
