Chanukah Movies Are Lacking in 2021

Maybe it’s because of the shanda that is Love, Lights, Hanukkah airing last December but there are no Chanukah films on this year’s schedule.

Most of the time, these films are marketed as Chanukah films. But when I watched them, it feels like it’s just another way of trying to brand Chanukah as Jewish Xmas. A Chanukah wreath, really? I beg of Hollywood studios or even indie filmmakers seeking to make a Chanukah film to please not brand Chanukah as Xmas. It is not, not by a mile. When the month of Tishrei ends, I do not countdown until the first night of Chanukah. I do not pull out the Chanukiah and place it on the windowsill. News flash: it sits there year-round but only because I live in a small studio.

When it comes to Chanukah films themselves, the only memorable one I can think of is Full-Court Miracle. Not familiar? The film originally aired back in November 2003 a Disney Channel Original Movie. This was solely a Chanukah movie. There was nothing Xmas about it. There are only two reviews on Rotten Tomatoes so maybe I’ll make myself review it later this month.