The Intricacies of Christmas Movie Music

If you want your movie to scream CHRISTMAS! you have to have the music. That means the familiar songs we hear every year until our brains automatically make that association. That may be the reason that we don't think of Trading Places as a Christmas movie, despite the setting (except in Italy). It's just not infused with the songs of the season. To force that Christmassy feel, movies go to great lengths to put you in the musical mood.

Which songs are used in a Christmas depends on how much the rights are going to cost, and how much it's going to affect the overall movie budget. Vox explains how music is selected for Christmas movies, and why it's so important for the finished product.