It's already late December. This means the TV in our living room will once again broadcast the "annual guests" that are never absent: Kevin McCallister from Home Alone and the lineup of classic Disney princesses.
For the 90s and 2000s generations, watching Home Alone or The Lion King during the Christmas and New Year holidays is a ritual. There is a warmth that spreads when hearing the Disney opening music or seeing Kevin set traps for the burglars. It's the taste of childhood nostalgia.
But, let's be honest for a moment. When was the last time we watched those movies on national TV and truly enjoyed them until the end?
Most likely, that experience is not as enjoyable as it used to be. Why? One cliché but real reason: Endless commercials.
Imagine the scenario: We are engrossed in watching the climax scene where Kevin prepares the paint can trap for Harry and Marv. Hearts pounding, we laugh at the villains' stupidity. Suddenly... BOOM!
The screen changes to show a syrup commercial, a noisy e-commerce ad, or a soap opera promo that can last 5 to 10 minutes.
When the movie returns, our mood is gone. The built-up emotion collapses instantly. A 90-minute film can stretch to 3 hours because of commercial breaks. Instead of being entertained, we get frustrated in front of the TV.
Classic movies like Cinderella, Aladdin, or Beauty and the Beast rely heavily on musical storytelling. The story is told through songs.
This is why, in 2025, the best way to enjoy nostalgia is no longer through cable TV or antennas, but through Premium Streaming services.
Platforms like Disney+ Hotstar are home to the entire Home Alone collection (from 1 to the latest) and all our childhood Disney cartoons.
Maybe this is what's on our minds. Why pay if TV is free? The answer: We pay for Time and Comfort. Besides, who says it has to be expensive?
At JoinBareng, we can get access to a Disney+ Hotstar Premium account for a price that might be cheaper than a bag of cinema popcorn. With a safe sharing system, we can marathon all classic Christmas movies with family or alone in the room, without a single ad interruption.
Christmas and the end of the year only come once a year. Don't let our holiday "magic" be ruined by ads. Let's reclaim our childhood memories in a more modern way.
