As the years come to an end and the holiday season blankets the world with warmth, joy, and comfort. We are sure you are also ready with a pre-holiday checklist that includes watching holiday movies with your family. People around the world indulge in the timeless tradition of watching classic Christmas movies with their families. There is no shortage of Christmas movies but beneath the comfort and compassion that these movies have lies the tinsel and carols of legal issues that are waiting to be unwrapped.
We are ready to unwrap some of the legal quandaries that are part of your favorite Christmas movies. So cozy up on the sofa in your new Christmas pajamas, grab a cup of hot chocolate, and enjoy reading!
Home Alone
Home Alone is one of the best Christmas movies that were ever made. This classic Christmas movie is full of criminal activities. In this movie, the McCallister family’s inadvertent abandonment of the kid Kevin. Kevin himself is no saint, so the movie triggers comedic chaos but also raises legal questions about the negligence of his parents.
Experts might debate about the potential liability of leaving a child unattended during the holiday season. It is against the law and the intervention of Child Protective Services.
It’s a Wonderful Life
It’s a Wonderful Life might not be Stewart’s finest film, but it is one of the most entertaining Christmas movies. The character George Bailey is facing financial difficulties and contemplating decision suicide. Mr. Potter, the antagonist, may also face legal consequences as he was profiting from the Bailey Building and Loan’s struggles. The young George Bailey would have committed the crime in the movie if he had knowingly delivered poisoned medicine to a sick child.
The Snowman
The movie Snowman is a straightforward case of child abduction. In the movie, a young boy and his magical snowman take flight over snowy landscapes, which raises the question of abduction under section 2 of the Child Abduction Act 1984. It might appear like a cute and dreamy movie on the surface as the snowman takes a child to meet his father. But in reality, all this is happening without the consent of the parents, which is against the law and can raise questions about child safety. Snowman might want to do a good deed and help the child, but in the real world, he could have ended in jail.
A Christmas Story
The movie Christmas story is set in the 1940s and raises a concern as the child Ralphie Parker is on a quest to find a Red Ryder BB gun. Football is a safe alternative to the BB gun that other characters of the movie suggested. The legal world here might question the liability issues of such a gift. It can cause personal injury and might lead to various legal issues.
ELF
Sorry to ruin it, but ELF is one Christmas story movie with lots of legal issues and questions. The theme of child abduction in Christmas movies continues, but this time Santa Claus is the culprit. Santa might have taken away Buddy unintentionally from the orphanage, but he failed to return him back. Buddy’s situation also raises questions about immigration laws in the movie.
The Polar Express
Not again, one more movie about child abduction (looks like it is a regular theme in Christmas movies). The universe only knows how many kids were on the polar express without the consent of their parents. The midnight adventure to the North Pole doesn’t seem like a fun idea without parent’s consent, right? In real life, you can end up in jail for doing so.
The Grinch
When we are talking about Christmas movies, how can we forget about the very famous serial burglar, The Grinch? Legal experts might say the movie has an intellectual property issue. He broke in and stole all the Christmas gifts. It’s a clear case of burglary. Even if he returns all the gifts at the end, it is not exempted.
Miracle on 34th Street
This movie is about the courtroom. It is based on the 1947 miracle on34th Street. Lawyers is the main hero in the movie and he is deafening Santa Claus. The film portrays the difficulty of being a district attorney and judge in a high-profile case. The movie explores the boundaries between belief and evidence in a court of law.
Final Thoughts On Legal Movies
As we revisit these popular Christmas movies, let’s appreciate the legal part of these movies. From immigration laws in the North Pole to intellectual property rights in Whoville these movies will offer you different lenses towards the legal world. To avoid holiday stress, get ready to watch these Christmas movies this holiday season and learn something new.
Additionally, if you are looking for holiday marketing ideas or gift ideas for lawyers make sure to check out our popular holiday blogs.