The festival of lights is back and here is a list of Hanukkah movies to get you into the holiday spirit.

What is Hanukkah?

Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and days, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, which may occur at any time from late November to late December in the Gregorian calendar. The festival is observed by lighting the candles of a candelabrum with nine branches, commonly called a menorah or Hanukkah.

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One branch is typically placed above or below the others and its candle is used to light the other eight candles. This unique candle is called the shammash. Each night, one additional candle is lit by the shammash until all eight candles are lit together on the final night of the festival.

Other Hanukkah festivities include singing Hanukkah songs, playing the game of dreidel and eating oil-based foods, such as latkes and sufganiyot, and dairy foods. Since the 1970s, the worldwide Chabad Hasidic movement has initiated public menorah lightings in open public places in many countries.

Hanukkah Movie ‘Must Watch’ List

1

Eight Crazy Nights

Adam Sandler’s animated flick, which this hilarious adaptation the comedian plays a 30-something who parties a little too hard. He gets in legal trouble, but his judge gives him another chance since it’s the holiday season. He’s tasked with doing community service as a referee for the youth basketball league.

It can watched on Amazon Prime here.

2

Hitched for the Holidays

This list wouldn’t be complete without a holiday rom-com. In the film a bachelor signs up for a dating site to fulfill his grandmother’s wish of seeing him settle down. He meets another Jewish New Yorker, and they agree to accompany each other at their families’ holiday celebrations. Will their faux-mance become real?

It can be watched on TubiTV here.

3

Fiddler on the Roof

An oldie but good and classic. This adaptation of the 1964 Broadway musical follows a poor dad to five daughters in pre-revolutionary Russia who tries to keep up Jewish traditions against antisemitism while finding good husbands for them.

It can watched on Amazon Prime here.

4

A Rugrats Chanukah

Throw it back with this 1996 Hanukkah special from the beloved Rugrats cartoon. Tommy, Dil, Chucky, Angelica, Lil, and Phil learn about the history of the holiday from Tommy and Dil’s grandpa Boris during a trip to the synagogue.

It can watched on Paramount Plus here.

5

Little Fockers

This original was absolutely hilarious. In this sequel to Meet the Parents and Meet the Fockers it continues the story of Greg Focker. Like the first two films in the hilarious trilogy, Greg tries to impress and earn the trust of his uptight father-in-law, Jack.

It can be watched on Peacock TV here.

6

The Night Before

This one’s for the adults, three childhood best friends have a yearly Christmas Eve tradition of throwing the craziest parties. The tradition is changing as they’re growing up, but to make it a night to remember, they set out to find the best holiday party: the Nutcracka Ball. Seth Rogen plays a Jewish character in this comedy.

It can watched on Amazon Prime here.

7

Mistletoes & Menorahs

We all love the rom-coms and what the perfect mix with Hanukkah and Lifetime. They  make some of the best holiday movies out there, and Hanukkah is no exception. In this lighthearted film, a big-shot toy company executive must learn about the Jewish holiday to land a big account. She enlists the help of a bachelor who happens to need her help to impress his girlfriend’s family for Christmas.

It can be watched on Hulu here.

8

Jack and Jill

Adam Sandler is hilarious in anything to be honest which is why we have him as our top pick. This movie is no exception and is LOL funny, The comedian plays a pair of siblings that get off on the wrong foot during Thanksgiving. To make it up to his sister, Jack offers to let Jill stay through Hanukkah.

It can be watched on Netlix here.

9

Eight Gifts of Hanukkah

This holiday flick will put anyone in the holiday spirit. When Sara starts receiving anonymous Hanukkah gifts from a secret admirer, she realizes that she may find love where she least expects it.

It can be watched on Amazon Prime here.

10

Love, Lights, Hannukah!

When a restaurant owner learns she’s Jewish from a DNA test, she meets new family members and even finds an unexpected romance over the eight nights of Hanukkah.

It can be watched on Amazon Prime here.

So get your latkes and babka ready with some popcorn and prepare for a night on with all these movies.