DECEMBER 19 • 2019 | 55

Arts&Life

A Movie Marathon for All
8 Nights of Chanukah

ELANA SPIVACK ALMA VIA JTA
F

ry up some latkes and fulfill the 
11th commandment by observing 
a movie marathon for each day of 
Chanukah. Here are some suggestions 
perfect for the occasion:

Night 1: Little Fockers
This third installment of the Meet the 
Parents saga is a phenomenal way to 
start the holiday for five reasons:
1. Barbra Streisand
2. Barbra Streisand
3. Barbra Streisand
4. Barbra Streisand
5. The classic trope of neurotic Jewish 
family meets Waspy family for the holi-
days, and chaos ensues.
(Available on Amazon Prime and 
YouTube)

Night 2: An American Tail
Steven Spielberg’
s first animated pro-
duction tells the story of plucky young 
Fievel Mousekewitz. The film opens 
with a Chanukah celebration where Papa 
Mousekewitz gifts Fievel his hat before 
they embark to America. Oh, yeah, and 
it’
s a musical. Bring latkes and tissues.
(Available on Amazon Prime and 
Netflix)

Night 3: Full-Court Miracle
I’
m livid this Disney Channel original 
movie hasn’
t reached the heights of High 
School Musical or Cadet Kelly. Based on 
a true story, this uplifting 2003 movie 
puts a modern-day spin on the story of 
the Maccabees as a Jewish boys basket-
ball team searches for a coach to lead 
them to victory.
(Available on Amazon Prime and 
YouTube)

Night 4: Hitched for the Holidays
Would any holiday season be complete 

without a Hallmark TV movie? This 
cheesy romance from 2012 shows yet 
another Chanukah-meets-Christmas, but 
with a twist: Julie finds a temporary boy-
friend, Rob, to placate her Jewish moth-
er for the holiday season (#relatable). 
Will the nice Jewish girl really fall for a 
Catholic schoolboy? Yes. Obviously. It’
s a 
Hallmark TV movie.
(Available on Amazon Prime and 
YouTube)

Night 5: The TV specials
Binge these excellent holiday specials 
and skits all at once! Here is the absolute 
correct order in which to watch them:
• Saturday Night Live: “Chanukah 
Harry”
• Saturday Night Live: Adam Sandler’
s 
“Chanukah Song”
• Friends: “The One with the Holiday 
Armadillo”
• The OC: “Best Chrismukkah Ever”
• Rugrats: “A Rugrats Chanukah”

Night 6: Chanukah the Movie
Consider this the experimental day of 
Chanukah. Give the gift of funding the 
Indiegogo for this bizarre Chanukah-
slasher film. Then go call your parents.

Night 7: The Hebrew Hammer
This Jewish sendup of Blaxploitation 
films gives us the perfect Chanukah 
hero. Or at least a Chanukah hero.
(Available on Amazon Prime)

Night 8: 8 Crazy Nights
You knew this one was coming. It sums 
up the last eight days: animation, basket-
ball, Adam Sandler, Chanukah and lots 
of grownup humor.
(Available on Amazon Prime and 
YouTube) 

Elana Spivack is a New York City-based writer. 

COLLAGE BY ALMA