Do you ever watch holiday movies and think, “I wonder how much their insurance costs for that?” Alright, perhaps you only focus on the actual entertainment. That said, when you look at it from a different perspective, you realize how ridiculous it might be! Today, isure brings you into a world where insurance and entertainment collide. Below, we list our favourite holiday movies and point out all the ways we hope they had good insurance.
1. Home Alone (1990)
One of the most classic holiday movies of our time is also, in reality, an insurance nightmare! It was every kid’s fantasy to turn their home into a booby-trap mansion. To start, we really hope everyone in the neighbourhood has great home insurance. When first introduced to Marv and Harry, they are not only robbing houses but also often leaving the water running to flood the basements as a signature. Secondly, we hope the McCallisters had proper extended coverage on their home after all of the damage inflicted by Kevin.
Although all those traps were orchestrated to stop thieves, they could have caused deathly harm to the robbers. In fact, there have been multiple stories of robbers suing homeowners for injuries! Most of these events could have been prevented if the McCallisters had some travel and trip cancellation insurance! It would have helped them get back home to Kevin much sooner if they had had some extra resources.
2. Elf (2003)
We all remember Buddy the Elf and how badly he wants to be reunited with his family for the holidays! However, as lovable as he is, there are some significant concerns regarding Buddy’s total disregard for safety. When Buddy drinks the special ‘maple syrup’ in the mailroom at the office, the results could have been a lot worse. Even the suction-based mail tube system may have caused injury to himself or others while on the job. Had he been more litigious, the company could have undergone a lawsuit. On top of this, when Miles Finch lunged from his chair and attacked Buddy for calling him an “elf,” it exposed the company to a potential lawsuit. In this instance, the company would have needed to invoke their commercial insurance policy.
Back at the house, it’s another story. Buddy may have caused significant damage to the home when decorating or by being himself. Jumping from the couch to the tree could have resulted in bodily harm or a potential fire! And let’s not get started on his lack of street smarts and hazardous behaviour towards drivers.
3. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
Every year, there are claims of slips and falls, but falling off a roof while hanging Christmas lights is a terrifying prospect. However, if you have the proper coverage, injuries are typically covered!
As the Griswold family heads out on their annual Christmas vacation, we hope the vehicles in the film have the right auto insurance coverage! The road-warrior highway-racing scene was quite problematic in its own right. The scene of the vehicle ending up underneath the truck is also a dangerous situation, which could have resulted in multiple collisions or fatalities. On top of this, the resulting crash into the snowbank would definitely affect his insurance rates! With so many incidents happening during the Griswolds’ trip, Clark would most likely be a high-risk driver for some time. Luckily, isure offers insurance options for high-risk drivers!
4. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
Though this film takes place in the fictional town of “Whoville,” we still can’t help but hope the residents have good coverage! We all know the Grinch had a plan to steal Christmas. But we bet you didn’t think about just how much damage he causes during his evening of wickedness. To begin, the families of Whoville would have their hands full with incidents to claim.
Not only is the Grinch responsible for numerous thefts and break-ins within households, but also for numerous accounts of property damage! And who can forget the burning of the city’s Christmas tree? This is also the case for multiple businesses the Grinch hit around Whoville, especially when he crashes the mini car, leading to an explosion. To end it off, we hope the Grinch himself has some sleigh insurance, as he doesn’t seem to be the most careful when flying!
5. The Santa Clause (1994)
At first sight, you may not think many incidents take place in this film. What can be wrong with it? Scott Calvin goes out of his way to save Christmas by becoming Santa Claus. However, upon closer inspection, there are quite a handful of situations where insurance comes to mind! At the film’s beginning, Scott burns the turkey, forcing him to use a fire extinguisher to put it out. This situation could have escalated into a full-blown house fire if it hadn’t been noticed at first. Luckily, a proper home insurance policy covers any damage this tiny fire can cause.
As the film progresses, Scott scares the previous Santa into falling off his roof. Although this is ‘trespassing’, it’s another case where Santa could have sued the Calvins for injury. We see Scott Calvin turn into Santa Claus and get into all types of dangerous situations where insurance would be crucial! From walking into a ladder and jumping across roofs to even taking a shovel to the face, we hope Scott had coverage!
Read on for our list of cozy fall movies to enjoy during the autumn season.
6. The Polar Express (2004)
Next, this holiday classic is a cozy watch about a magical train ride to the North Pole that helps a kid believe in Christmas again. In real life, a business running something like that would lean on commercial liability insurance to cover mishaps involving customers.
This movie has plenty of moments where some real-world insurance would’ve been a lifesaver. Like when the train slides wildly across the frozen lake or when everyone gets tossed around during those sudden stops, this coverage would definitely be needed. Therefore, all that chaos would definitely make commercial liability insurance a brilliant idea for handling near-derailment situations.
Plus, with kids wandering on rooftops, nearly tumbling off the train, and zooming through those wild twists and turns, passenger accident coverage would be perfect to protect anyone who takes an unexpected spill. The magic is fun, just not always the safest.
7. Jingle All the Way (1996)
While this film is tons of fun, it is also a property-damage extravaganza. From smashing through store windows, toys flying everywhere, and that chaotic parade finale wrecking everything it touches! In this case, property damage liability insurance would be a lifesaver. Plus, liability insurance for the Turbo Man suit would cover any damage or injuries caused by those antics.
Basically, if that iconic jetpack-powered hero ends up smashing a store window or knocking over a parade float, the insurance would handle the cleanup, while keeping the holiday hero from footing the entire bill.
8. The Holiday (2006)
The Holiday is a feel-good rom-com where two women swap homes for the holidays and end up finding love and learning a lot about themselves. In real life, swapping homes isn’t quite as magical; there’s always a chance of broken stuff, accidental disasters, or insurance refusing to cover the mess.
Some people have come home to hundreds or even thousands in damages that their insurer or the platform didn’t cover, or had awkward liability headaches if someone got hurt. To keep it fun and stress-free, it’s smart to check with your insurance provider, pick a trusted platform, take lots of photos, and maybe even draft a simple agreement with your swap buddy.
9. Deck the Halls (2006)
From overloaded electrical systems that would make any home insurance provider break into a sweat, to fireworks displays launched far too close to property lines, the whole town is basically one festive mishap away from a hike in premiums. And it is not just Buddy that is racking up the insurance claims. Even Steve Finch’s various misadventures, like the horse-dragging incident or the icy lake tumble, are textbook examples of liability claims waiting to happen! The movie may be about spreading Christmas cheer, but any insurer watching it may be a little too distracted by the risks to get into the season.
10. Four Christmases (2008)
In Four Christmases, the holiday chaos doubles as a lively reminder of how tricky liability can get when you’re visiting other people’s homes. Each stop on Brad and Kate’s family tour turns into a case study in guest liability. From overly enthusiastic relatives, roughhousing babies, and visitors alike, this Christmas classic certainly raises all sorts of questions about who’s covered under guest medical if someone actually takes a tumble.
Then there’s the accidental property damage: from shattered décor to that ill-fated rooftop satellite dish, the movie is basically a montage of “oops, that’s coming out of someone’s policy.” By the end, it’s clear that while family gatherings can warm your heart, a good liability clause warms your peace of mind.
Though the situations in these holiday movies are all fictional, they give you a good outlook as to why the proper home insurance coverage is so important! Protect your home from unnecessary risk and request a quote with isure today.
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