Marathon Viewing This Year's Christmas Films: The Good, The Bad and The So-Bad-It's-Good.
‘Tis the time of year to slob out on the sofa and consume a packet of festive treats in front of a great film, a bad movie, or one that’s so bad it’s good.
Once again, a batch of new Christmas films hopes to be part of our holiday traditions—potentially even finding a spot alongside enduring classics like Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually, and Die Hard (we won’t debate it).
So, in a vital public service to distinguish the gems from the coal, and to embrace the festive feeling, I binged as many new festive movies as possible in a single day.
First Up: The Jonas Brothers' Holiday Flick
Starting, hopefully, on a positive note. This film is the sole 2025 movie on a popular review site's list of the greatest 100 holiday films of all time.
The Jonas Brothers are trapped in the UK after wrapping up their world tour and must return for Christmas. Their efforts are hampered by an evil Santa, who bursts into melody to announce they won’t get home until they “rekindle their familial spark.”
The back-and-forth between the squabbling siblings is amusing even for the casual viewer, while followers will certainly pick up on lots of in-jokes as they attempt to get back using all transportation available.
It’s a travelogue of mishaps.
It’s not an all-time classic, but is superb for devotees and a positive start to the day.
Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄 for Jonas Brothers fans or 🎄🎄🎄 for their family members who must sit through it.
8.45am - Tinsel Town
Hollywood star Kiefer Sutherland has been cast as a celebrity cast a "panto".
“A what's a panto??” asks Sutherland’s “temperamental” and older action hero Brad Mack, who has seen better days and whose agent has deceived him into thinking he’s starring in renowned British drama.
His pantomime cast-mates inform him he’s playing Buttons. “No I'm not,” he retorts. It's easy to predict their reply. Unless you’re ignorant of traditional British theatre traditions.
There are some hilarious moments, some heartwarming side stories, and the ensemble is brilliant, too.
It’s the sort of feature that would be a bit naff at a different time, but is a lot of fun at Christmas.
Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄🎄
Mid-Morning: Christmas Karma
Danny Dyer shows up at the beginning of this film, too, calling someone a mug for the second consecutive movie. Might this become a new Christmas tradition?
This time, he’s a musical taxi operator who picks up Mr Sood, the latest spin on Mr Scrooge from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.
Mr Sood is played by The Big Bang Theory’s Kunal Nayyar and Christmas Karma is directed by Bend It Like Beckham’s Gurinder Chadha. The familiar story develops as the stingy Mr Sood is haunted by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future, played by Hugh Bonneville, Billy Porter, and Boy George.
This cultural adaptation is at least unique from all the others, but regrettably he’s not very charismatic and Nayyar’s acting is lifeless—a problem when he’s so the focal point.
Festive score: 🎄🎄
Noon: A BBC Special
There’s time for a major broadcaster's Christmas comedy-drama—which stars Guz Khan as a lovably grouchy guy who “isn't big on Christmas.”
But after he gets an £8,000 Christmas bonus at work, his wife (starring Morgana Robinson) persuades him blowing the money on a vacation to Lapland.
There’s just one problem—he discovers there was an mistake with his bonus, which should have been £800, and he has to determine how to reimburse the excess.
Enjoyable but forgettable.
Festive score: 🎄🎄
A Classy Netflix Romance
This is one of those holiday movies where the festive trappings are in the background—Christmas is the scene of the film rather than its raison d’etre—but it feels comfortable and seasonal all the same.
Ambitious executive Sydney (played by Minka Kelly) is sent to a vineyard to negotiate a purchase for a sparkling wine company. En route, she encounters a fellow in a bookshop who offers to show her Christmas in Paris.
A critic recently declared this is the best new Christmas film of the last several seasons. That’s a bit of a overstatement, but it is a Christmas romance with a touch of class and gives the necessary cozy feelings.
The scene with a detailed conversation about Die Hard is notable too.
Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄
3.29pm - Finding Father Christmas
Teenage Chris, played by Lenny Rush, continues to believe in Father Christmas, in spite of the attempts of his dad (starring James Buckley) to tell him otherwise.
The truth is out there, and Chris ventures forth to find it with the guidance of a group of well-known scientists and personalities.
It’s understated but endearing, and perfect viewing while expecting Santa to visit.
Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄
A Star-Studded Family Drama
Michelle Pfeiffer is the mother of a bickering American family who reunite for the holidays—including fellow Oscar nominee Felicity Jones, Chloe Grace Moretz, Jason Schwartzman, and dad Denis Leary.
Pfeiffer begins by referencing holiday staples 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 premise, but in practice it’s really a mash-up of those forerunner films, at least until Pfeiffer’s character eventually finds her strength.
Festive score: 🎄🎄
Formulaic Fun
The day’s gone downhill, but fortunately here’s a new addition in the saturated market of predictable, sentimental, cheesy—and highly entertaining—festive fodder.
It’s a tale as old as time: An American woman goes on a quest to a picturesque cold country and ends up discovering romance.
In this case, Caprice Bourret plays a publisher
