🔗 Share this article Marathon Viewing This Year's Holiday Movies: The Hits, The Misses, and The Guilty Pleasures. It is the season to slob out on the sofa and devour a tin of festive treats in front of a great film, a bad movie, or one that’s awesomely awful. Once again, a selection of new holiday movies strives to join part of our festive viewing—maybe even joining the ranks alongside beloved favorites like Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually, and Die Hard (don’t start). Thus, in a noble effort to distinguish the gems from the coal, and to embrace the festive feeling, I binged as many fresh festive movies as possible in a single day. Early Morning: A Very Jonas Christmas Movie Kicking off, hopefully, on a high. This release is the exclusive 2025 title on a well-known aggregator's list of the greatest 100 festive features of all time. The popular band find themselves stranded in the UK after concluding their international trek and must make it back for Christmas. Their efforts are hampered by an malevolent Father Christmas, who breaks into song to declare they won’t get home until they “rekindle their sibling bond.” The back-and-forth between the arguing trio is amusing even for the casual viewer, while followers will undoubtedly catch lots of easter eggs 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. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄 for Jonas Brothers fans or 🎄🎄🎄 for their relatives who will have to sit through it. Late Morning: Tinsel Town A-list actor Kiefer Sutherland stars as a movie actor roped into a pantomime. “A what's a panto??” asks Sutherland’s “difficult” and ageing lead Brad Mack, who has fallen on hard times and whose agent has tricked him into thinking he’s starring in prestigious English theatre. His Aladdin cast-mates let him know he’s playing Buttons. “Absolutely not,” he insists angrily. One can imagine their reply. Unless you’re unfamiliar with traditional British theatre traditions. There are some very funny lines, some touching side stories, and the supporting actors is cracking, too. It’s the type of film that would be a bit naff at another season, but is a great entertainment at Christmas. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄🎄 Mid-Morning: Christmas Karma A familiar face pops up at the outset of this film, too, insulting someone for the second consecutive movie. Might this become a new Christmas tradition? 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 an actor from Kunal Nayyar and Christmas Karma is directed by the filmmaker behind Gurinder Chadha. The well-known tale unfolds as the stingy Mr Sood is haunted by the ghosts of Christmas yesterday, today, and tomorrow, played by Hugh Bonneville, Billy Porter, and Boy George. This South Asian reinterpretation is at least distinct from all the others, but regrettably he’s not very captivating and Nayyar’s performance is wooden—a major flaw when he’s so the focal point. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄 Lunchtime: Stuffed There’s time for a channel's original festive film—which stars Guz Khan as a lovably grouchy guy who “doesn’t really do Christmas.” But after he is awarded an large festive windfall at work, his wife (starring Morgana Robinson) persuades him spending the sum on a family trip to Lapland. There’s just one issue—he learns there was an mistake with his bonus, which should have been £800, and he has to determine how to return the difference. Enjoyable but forgettable. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄 1.12pm - Champagne Problems This is one of those holiday movies where the tree, fairy lights and snow are in the backdrop—Christmas is the scene of the film rather than its core purpose—but it feels warm and holiday-like all the same. Ambitious executive Sydney (played by Minka Kelly) is sent to a country estate to do a deal for a sparkling wine company. En route, she meets a fellow in a literary haven who offers to show her the holidays in the City of Light. A commentator recently declared this is the top new Christmas film of the recent era. That’s a bit of a overstatement, but it is a festive dalliance with a hint of sophistication and gives the necessary cozy feelings. The scene with a lengthy discussion about Die Hard is very good too. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄 3.29pm - Finding Father Christmas Teenage Chris, played by Lenny Rush, refuses to stop believing in Father Christmas, despite the persuasion of his dad (played by James Buckley) to tell him the truth. The secret is to be discovered, and Chris ventures forth to find it with the expert help of a panel of well-known scientists and personalities. It’s low-key but endearing, and ideal viewing while waiting for Santa to visit. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄 4.39pm - Oh. What. Fun. Michelle Pfeiffer is the matriarch of a quarrelling American family who gather for the holidays—including fellow acclaimed actress Felicity Jones, Chloe Grace Moretz, Jason Schwartzman, and dad Denis Leary. Pfeiffer starts by mentioning classic festive films like National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, It’s A Wonderful Life and Home Alone, before stating: “They need to make a movie about the real champions of the holidays—moms.” So that’s the concept, but in reality it’s really a jumble of those forerunner films, at least until Pfeiffer’s character finally finds her strength. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄 Formulaic Fun The day’s taken a dip, but fortunately here’s a new entry in the packed genre of cliched, saccharine, over-the-top—and highly entertaining—festive fodder. It’s a narrative as familiar as can be: An American woman travels to a far-off wintery locale and ends up finding romance. In this case, Caprice Bourret plays a publisher
It is the season to slob out on the sofa and devour a tin of festive treats in front of a great film, a bad movie, or one that’s awesomely awful. Once again, a selection of new holiday movies strives to join part of our festive viewing—maybe even joining the ranks alongside beloved favorites like Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually, and Die Hard (don’t start). Thus, in a noble effort to distinguish the gems from the coal, and to embrace the festive feeling, I binged as many fresh festive movies as possible in a single day. Early Morning: A Very Jonas Christmas Movie Kicking off, hopefully, on a high. This release is the exclusive 2025 title on a well-known aggregator's list of the greatest 100 festive features of all time. The popular band find themselves stranded in the UK after concluding their international trek and must make it back for Christmas. Their efforts are hampered by an malevolent Father Christmas, who breaks into song to declare they won’t get home until they “rekindle their sibling bond.” The back-and-forth between the arguing trio is amusing even for the casual viewer, while followers will undoubtedly catch lots of easter eggs 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. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄 for Jonas Brothers fans or 🎄🎄🎄 for their relatives who will have to sit through it. Late Morning: Tinsel Town A-list actor Kiefer Sutherland stars as a movie actor roped into a pantomime. “A what's a panto??” asks Sutherland’s “difficult” and ageing lead Brad Mack, who has fallen on hard times and whose agent has tricked him into thinking he’s starring in prestigious English theatre. His Aladdin cast-mates let him know he’s playing Buttons. “Absolutely not,” he insists angrily. One can imagine their reply. Unless you’re unfamiliar with traditional British theatre traditions. There are some very funny lines, some touching side stories, and the supporting actors is cracking, too. It’s the type of film that would be a bit naff at another season, but is a great entertainment at Christmas. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄🎄 Mid-Morning: Christmas Karma A familiar face pops up at the outset of this film, too, insulting someone for the second consecutive movie. Might this become a new Christmas tradition? 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 an actor from Kunal Nayyar and Christmas Karma is directed by the filmmaker behind Gurinder Chadha. The well-known tale unfolds as the stingy Mr Sood is haunted by the ghosts of Christmas yesterday, today, and tomorrow, played by Hugh Bonneville, Billy Porter, and Boy George. This South Asian reinterpretation is at least distinct from all the others, but regrettably he’s not very captivating and Nayyar’s performance is wooden—a major flaw when he’s so the focal point. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄 Lunchtime: Stuffed There’s time for a channel's original festive film—which stars Guz Khan as a lovably grouchy guy who “doesn’t really do Christmas.” But after he is awarded an large festive windfall at work, his wife (starring Morgana Robinson) persuades him spending the sum on a family trip to Lapland. There’s just one issue—he learns there was an mistake with his bonus, which should have been £800, and he has to determine how to return the difference. Enjoyable but forgettable. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄 1.12pm - Champagne Problems This is one of those holiday movies where the tree, fairy lights and snow are in the backdrop—Christmas is the scene of the film rather than its core purpose—but it feels warm and holiday-like all the same. Ambitious executive Sydney (played by Minka Kelly) is sent to a country estate to do a deal for a sparkling wine company. En route, she meets a fellow in a literary haven who offers to show her the holidays in the City of Light. A commentator recently declared this is the top new Christmas film of the recent era. That’s a bit of a overstatement, but it is a festive dalliance with a hint of sophistication and gives the necessary cozy feelings. The scene with a lengthy discussion about Die Hard is very good too. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄 3.29pm - Finding Father Christmas Teenage Chris, played by Lenny Rush, refuses to stop believing in Father Christmas, despite the persuasion of his dad (played by James Buckley) to tell him the truth. The secret is to be discovered, and Chris ventures forth to find it with the expert help of a panel of well-known scientists and personalities. It’s low-key but endearing, and ideal viewing while waiting for Santa to visit. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄 4.39pm - Oh. What. Fun. Michelle Pfeiffer is the matriarch of a quarrelling American family who gather for the holidays—including fellow acclaimed actress Felicity Jones, Chloe Grace Moretz, Jason Schwartzman, and dad Denis Leary. Pfeiffer starts by mentioning classic festive films like National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, It’s A Wonderful Life and Home Alone, before stating: “They need to make a movie about the real champions of the holidays—moms.” So that’s the concept, but in reality it’s really a jumble of those forerunner films, at least until Pfeiffer’s character finally finds her strength. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄 Formulaic Fun The day’s taken a dip, but fortunately here’s a new entry in the packed genre of cliched, saccharine, over-the-top—and highly entertaining—festive fodder. It’s a narrative as familiar as can be: An American woman travels to a far-off wintery locale and ends up finding romance. In this case, Caprice Bourret plays a publisher