Marathon Viewing This Year's Christmas Films: Highlights, Lowlights, and Unexpected Delights.
‘Tis the season to relax on the sofa and consume a packet of mince pies in front of a great film, a bad movie, or one that’s awesomely awful.
This year, a selection of latest seasonal stories aims to become part of our holiday traditions—perhaps even earning a place alongside enduring classics like Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually, and Die Hard (we won’t debate it).
Therefore, in a helpful attempt to distinguish the gems from the coal, and to get into the Christmas spirit, I watched as many fresh festive movies as possible in a single day.
First Up: The Jonas Brothers' Holiday Flick
Kicking off, hopefully, on a high. This release is the sole 2025 title on a well-known aggregator's list of the best 100 Christmas movies of all time.
The popular band find themselves trapped in the UK after finishing their world tour and must make it back for Christmas. Their attempts are hindered by an malevolent Father Christmas, who bursts into melody to announce they won’t get home until they “rediscover their familial spark.”
The banter between the bickering brothers is enjoyable even for the uninitiated, while fans will no doubt catch lots of in-jokes as they attempt to get back using every mode of travel possible.
It’s a travelogue of mishaps.
It’s not legendary, but is excellent for devotees and a solid start to the day.
Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄 for Jonas Brothers fans or 🎄🎄🎄 for their loved ones who are obliged to sit through it.
Late Morning: Tinsel Town
Famous performer Kiefer Sutherland stars as a Hollywood star cast a "panto".
“A what's a panto??” asks Sutherland’s “hard-to-work-with” and older lead Brad Mack, who has fallen on hard times and whose agent has tricked him into thinking he’s appearing in renowned British drama.
His Aladdin co-stars let him know he’s playing Buttons. “Oh no I’m not,” he insists angrily. You can guess their retort. Except if you’re unfamiliar with traditional panto catchphrases.
There are some great jokes, some heartwarming storylines, and the supporting actors is cracking, too.
It’s the type of film that would be a bit naff at a different time, but is a great entertainment at Christmas.
Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄🎄
Mid-Morning: Christmas Karma
A familiar face pops up at the beginning of this film, too, delivering a signature line for the next movie straight. Might this become a fresh holiday staple?
This time, he’s a singing black cab driver who encounters Mr Sood, the newest interpretation on Mr Scrooge from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.
Mr Sood is played by a star of Kunal Nayyar and Christmas Karma is directed by the director of Gurinder Chadha. The well-known tale progresses as the tight-fisted Mr Sood is haunted by the spirits of Christmas past, present and future, played by Hugh Bonneville, Billy Porter, and Boy George.
This cultural adaptation is at least different from all the others, but regrettably he’s not very charismatic and Nayyar’s portrayal is wooden—a problem when he’s so central to everything.
Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄
Noon: A BBC Special
Before lunch for a major broadcaster's original festive film—which stars Guz Khan as a endearingly grumpy man who “avoids Christmas.”
But after he receives an large festive windfall at work, his wife (portrayed by Morgana Robinson) talks him into blowing the money on a family trip to Lapland.
There’s just one problem—he finds out there was an mix-up with his bonus, which should have been £800, and he has to figure out how to reimburse the excess.
Enjoyable but forgettable.
Festive score: 🎄🎄
Early Afternoon: Champagne Problems
This is one of those Christmas films where the tree, fairy lights and snow are in the background—Christmas is the environment of the film rather than its main point—but it feels warm and holiday-like all the same.
Ambitious executive Sydney (played by Minka Kelly) is dispatched to a vineyard to negotiate a purchase for a sparkling wine company. En route, she meets a guy in a literary haven who promises to show her the holidays in the City of Light.
A critic recently declared this is the best new Christmas film of the past few years. That’s a bit of a overstatement, but it is a holiday love story with a hint of sophistication and gives the necessary cozy feelings.
The scene with a lengthy discussion about Die Hard is very good too.
Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄
A Charming Quest
Teenage Chris, played by Lenny Rush, refuses to stop believing in Father Christmas, in spite of the efforts of his dad (starring James Buckley) to tell him otherwise.
The answer is to be discovered, and Chris ventures forth to find it with the assistance of a panel of well-known scientists and personalities.
It’s understated but charming, and perfect viewing while expecting Santa to visit.
Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄
4.39pm - Oh. What. Fun.
Michelle Pfeiffer is the head of a dysfunctional American family who reunite for the holidays—including other Oscar nominee Felicity Jones, Chloe Grace Moretz, Jason Schwartzman, and dad Denis Leary.
Pfeiffer begins by referencing Christmas classics like National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, It’s A Wonderful Life and Home Alone, before stating: “They need to make a movie about the unsung heroes of the holidays—moms.”
So that’s the concept, but in practice it’s really a mash-up of those inspirations, at least until Pfeiffer’s character finally finds her strength.
Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄
6.43pm - A Scottish Christmas Secret
The day’s waned in quality, but happily here’s a new entry in the packed genre of predictable, sentimental, cheesy—and strangely compelling—seasonal comfort food.
It’s a tale as familiar as can be: An American woman journeys to a picturesque cold country and ends up discovering romance.
In this case, Caprice Bourret plays a publisher
