If there are just ~so many Jews running Hollywood~, can someone please explain to me why there is zero, zilch, nada quality Hanukkah content?? We literally have eight nights to work with, just as much family drama as Christians, and we’re inherently interesting because we’re not like the other girls. Year after year, I get the urge to watch Hanukkah-themed movies and TV, and year after year, I’m depressed when I remember that the choices are so limited and bleak. Listen, I’m not gonna pretend like I found all these hidden Hanukkah gems for you to enjoy. I didn’t. These are… as good as it gets in this category, I’m afraid. Radical honesty: The TV episodes are better than the movies. If you’re a Jewish filmmaker, please make a good goddamn Hanukkah movie. I beg you. That being said, these are the best Hanukkah movies and TV episodes I found after doing some serious digging.
Hanukkah Movies & TV Episodes That Don’t Suck
Gossip Girl Reboot Season 1, Episode 10: “Final Cancellation”
I know, I know… the reboot does not exactly do the original Gossip Girl justice. That’s a generous way to put it. However! There’s a fun Hanukkah episode in season 1 where a bunch of OG characters are back for a dramatic Hanukkah dinner. Margaret Colin returned as Eleanor, Wallace Shawn came back to play Jewish king Cyrus, and Zuzanna Szadkowski and Aaron Schwartz reprised their roles as Dorota and Vanya, respectively. A win for original GG fans and a win for Jews!
The OC Season 1, Episode 13: “The Best Chrismukkah Ever”
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Oh, Seth Cohen, you thought you ate with this Chrismukkah concept. And you did. You devoured. This classic multi-holiday episode of The OC is for the girlies celebrating Hanukkah and Christmas. Still, I’m also claiming it as a full Jew because, frankly, we need every crumb of quality Hanukkah content we can get.
Hitched For The Holidays (Hallmark)
Okay, this is another Christmas and Hanukkah mashup situation because the options are very fucking limited, people. Don’t blame me, an innocent Jew who wants more for us, too. Hallmark’s Hitched for the Holidays stars Schitt’s Creek queen Emily Hampshire, one of the main reasons it made the list. It’s certainly not the most high-quality movie. Still, it’s a wholesome, relatively enjoyable rom-com about singles who meet on a dating site and pretend to be dating at their families’ Christmas and Hanukkah celebrations.
Dash & Lily Episode 3: “Hanukkah”
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I LOVE THIS SHOW, AND I LOVE THIS EPISODE. It’s an all-caps kind of passion. Dash & Lily is such a fabulous holiday season show in general, but this Hanukkah episode is especially iconic. One of Dash’s cutesy little challenges involves sending Lily to an underground club where a Jewish punk band, the Challah Back Boys, plays. She wears an adorable, sparkly blue dress for the occasion and has quite the wild evening/morning.
Eight Gifts Of Hanukkah (Hallmark)
In this silly little Hallmark Hanukkah movie (with truly the most Hallmark title ever), an optometrist named Sarah has a secret admirer sending her gifts every night of the holiday. This happens to me every Hanukkah. I just can’t get rid of all the mystery suitors. Naturally, Sarah discovers that her soulmate is someone ~she never would have expected~. Another dumb but just entertaining enough watch for Hanukkah!
Eight Crazy Nights (Tubi)
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You’re not a Jew if you don’t appreciate a kooky Adam Sandler movie that will kill some brain cells, so here ya go. The Jewish icon made an animated Hanukkah movie, Eight Crazy Nights, in 2002, and it features his famous Hanukkah song. I WISH I HAD BETTER RECS FOR YOU, TOO, OKAY??