Hanukkah (or, more traditionally, Chanukah) begins on Sunday, December 18 this year and ends in the evening of Monday, December 26. Compared to the myriad movies about Christmas, there is a significant lack of representation of Hanukkah in film. When you search for films about Hanukkah, you will generally findfilms with Jewish characters, not movies which are literally about the holiday, which has to do with the Second Temple in Jerusalem and the Maccabean Revolt.
The film industry has yet to make an influx of Hanukkah movies as they do for Christmas movies. Therefore, it can be said that Christmas movies are overpopulated, especially during the holiday season, while Hanukkah movies have the opposite issue: they are challenging to track down and are not playing as frequently on TV as Christmas movies. For example, amidst the literally 40 newChristmas movies on Hallmarkthis year, there is only one about Hanukkah, titledHanukkah on Rye(which premieres on the channel the night of December 18).
So what makes a Hanukkah movie? Well, one focused more on the holiday and what it means to people. One that doesn’t also involve more Christmas than Hanukkah. It’s a lot harder to find than you would think. There are, of course, great Jewish films, such asFiddler on the Roof,A Serious Man, andSpaceballs, but which films are actually about Hanukkah? Well, here are three of the best.
Mistletoe & Menorahs
A perfectionist, overworked executive has to learn about Hanukkah quickly in order to complete a deal with a new client. She ends up reaching out to her co-worker’s Jewish friend for help. But this friend is struggling, as his girlfriend’s dad is coming over to his bachelor pad soon, and he needs to turn it into a winter wonderland to impress him. The characters realize they could use each other’s knowledge to help in their struggles. After initially not getting along, they quickly understand what they have in common, and romance blossoms.
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Unfortunately, this is an example of afilm which ultimately includes Christmasjust as much as it does Hanukkah. But it still gives Hanukkah more light than most films, which lands it on the list. It’s a classic Hallmark-style romance that always plays around the holidays, and it’s good that there was at least one representing Hanukkah in those masses of holiday romances. Now, withHanukkah on Rye, fans of these made-for-TV movies should get something more substantial.
The Hebrew Hammer
This movie is about an orthodox Jew who goes on a mission to fight Santa’s evil son named Damian because he wants to destroy Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. The main character called himself theHebrew Hammer, adding to the layers of ridiculousness. This 2003 comedy is a bit dated but still funny. Starring Adam Goldberg andthe always great Judy Greer, the movie has a strong cast of comedic actors.
While a satirical comedy, it still focuses firmly on Jewish culture and principles. For example, at the beginning of this movie, the film shows the character felt left out and outcast when his friends celebrate Christmas, and he does not. This is a feeling many young kids who celebrate Hanukkah relate to, as they are outnumbered by the kids who celebrate Christmas in their classrooms.
Eight Crazy Nights
Adam Sandler playsa 30-something party animal who goes over the top so severely that he faces legal trouble. But, since it’s the holidays, the judge allows Sandler’s character one last chance at redemption, so he avoids jail time by doing community service instead. But his service is to referee a youth basketball league. At first, it seems excellent, but then he meets his boss.
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When the judge allows him to go home for the holidays and perform community service, Sandler’s character celebrates Hanukkah throughout the film. It is so prominent that if you ask a stranger which Hanukkah movie they enjoy best, they will most likely only be able to name this one. This animated feature, rated PG-13, is not meant for very small children. However, it’s probably the most well-known Hanukkah movie and would be great to watch with teenage kids or even your pre-teens in order to get some of the same fun, inspiration, and education in a Hanukkah movie that other people get from Christmas films.
We Need More Hanukkah Movies
Other honorable mentions that are not Hanukkah movies but have Jewish characters of relevance and focus on the culture areFull-Court Miracle, All I Want Is Christmas, Little Fockers, Hitched For The Holidays, The Night Before, Double Holiday, An American Pickle, Crossing Delancey, A Serious Man, Holiday Date,and of courseFiddler on the Roof. While these did not make the ranking because they were not primarily focused on Hanukkah, they have varying degrees of Jewish culture throughout. Ironically, perhaps the most insightful and educational piece of media about the holiday is from the kids programRugrats, in their fourth season episodeA Rugrats Chanukah. It’s a short episode of television, but it’s delightful and authentic.
In review, the film industry seems to need to represent Hanukkah more in films. The holiday has a lot of history and culture, and it’s being underused for cinematic ideas. There are multiple days of Hanukkah, a tool that could easily be used for plot devices, as characters might be forced to spend numerous days together rather than one. Films can also look into the rich culture and values Hanukkah stands for, or even the interesting political history of the Maccabees, instead of the overused Christmas miracle or romance. Hopefully in the future, lists like these will be longer.
