🔗 Share this article Marathon Viewing This Year's Christmas Films: The Hits, The Misses, and The Guilty Pleasures. ‘Tis the time of year to slob out on the couch and demolish a box of festive treats in front of a great film, a bad movie, or one that’s so bad it’s good. As always, a crop of fresh Christmas films strives to join part of our festive viewing—maybe even joining the ranks alongside timeless staples like Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually, and Die Hard (no arguments). Thus, in a vital public service to distinguish the gems from the coal, and to embrace the holiday mood, I marathoned as many new holiday releases as possible in a single day. 7.17am - A Very Jonas Christmas Movie Beginning, optimistically, on a positive note. This release is the sole 2025 movie on a famous website's list of the top 100 holiday films of all time. The popular band end up stuck in the UK after wrapping up their international trek and must return for Christmas. Their attempts are hindered by an villainous Saint Nick, who breaks into song to state they won’t get home until they “rediscover their sibling bond.” The back-and-forth between the squabbling siblings is entertaining even for the casual viewer, while fans will undoubtedly catch lots of easter eggs as they endeavor to get back using all transportation available. It’s private planes, trains and automobiles. It’s not a timeless masterpiece, but is great for devotees and a positive start to the day. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄 for Jonas Brothers fans or 🎄🎄🎄 for their family members who are obliged to sit through it. Next: A Star in Panto A-list actor Kiefer Sutherland appears as a Hollywood star cast a pantomime. “A panto-what?” asks Sutherland’s “hard-to-work-with” and ageing action hero Brad Mack, who has seen better days and whose manager has tricked him into thinking he’s performing in renowned British drama. His Aladdin fellow actors let him know he’s playing Buttons. “Absolutely not,” he protests. It's easy to predict their retort. Unless you’re ignorant of traditional British theatre traditions. There are some great jokes, some touching sub-plots, and the rest of the cast is cracking, too. It’s the type of film that would be a bit tacky at another season, but is a great entertainment at Christmas. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄🎄 A New Spin on Scrooge Danny Dyer pops up at the outset of this film, too, insulting someone for the second consecutive movie. Might this become a fresh holiday staple? This time, he’s a singing black cab driver who picks up Mr Sood, the latest spin 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 filmmaker behind Gurinder Chadha. The familiar story develops as the tight-fisted Mr Sood is visited by the apparitions of Christmas past, present and future, played by Hugh Bonneville, Billy Porter, and Boy George. This South Asian reinterpretation is at least unique from all the others, but sadly he’s not very compelling and Nayyar’s acting is lifeless—a significant issue when he’s so the focal point. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄 12.04pm - Stuffed There's just enough time for a major broadcaster's holiday special—which stars Guz Khan as a charmingly cantankerous character who “avoids Christmas.” But after he receives an large festive windfall at work, his wife (played by Morgana Robinson) convinces him blowing the money on a vacation to Lapland. There’s just one problem—he discovers there was an mix-up with his bonus, which should have been £800, and he has to determine how to return the remainder. Fun while it lasts but not lasting. Festive score: 🎄🎄 1.12pm - Champagne Problems This is one of those holiday movies where the tree, fairy lights and snow are in the background—Christmas is the scene of the film rather than its raison d’etre—but it feels cosy and festive all the same. High-powered businesswoman Sydney (starring Minka Kelly) is assigned to a vineyard to do a deal for a champagne business. During her travels, she meets a man in a literary haven who vows to show her the holidays in the City of Light. A critic recently stated this is the finest new Christmas film of the past few years. That’s a bit of a stretch, 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 particularly strong too. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄 Mid-Afternoon: Finding Father Christmas Young 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 otherwise. The truth is somewhere, and Chris embarks on a quest to find it with the guidance of a panel of well-known experts and celebrities. It’s understated but charming, and good viewing while expecting Santa to visit. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄 4.39pm - Oh. What. Fun. Michelle Pfeiffer is the mother of a bickering American family who gather for the holidays—including other acclaimed actress Felicity Jones, Chloe Grace Moretz, Jason Schwartzman, and dad Denis Leary. Pfeiffer opens by name-dropping holiday staples like National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, It’s A Wonderful Life and Home Alone, before saying: “They need to make a movie about the true heroes of the holidays—moms.” So that’s the concept, but in execution it’s really a mash-up of those inspirations, at least until Pfeiffer’s character finally comes into her own. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄 Formulaic Fun The day’s taken a dip, but thankfully here’s a new offering in the saturated market of formulaic, schmaltzy, badly acted—and highly entertaining—holiday fare. It’s a narrative as well-worn: An American woman travels to a picturesque cold country and ends up finding romance. In this case, Caprice Bourret plays a publisher
‘Tis the time of year to slob out on the couch and demolish a box of festive treats in front of a great film, a bad movie, or one that’s so bad it’s good. As always, a crop of fresh Christmas films strives to join part of our festive viewing—maybe even joining the ranks alongside timeless staples like Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually, and Die Hard (no arguments). Thus, in a vital public service to distinguish the gems from the coal, and to embrace the holiday mood, I marathoned as many new holiday releases as possible in a single day. 7.17am - A Very Jonas Christmas Movie Beginning, optimistically, on a positive note. This release is the sole 2025 movie on a famous website's list of the top 100 holiday films of all time. The popular band end up stuck in the UK after wrapping up their international trek and must return for Christmas. Their attempts are hindered by an villainous Saint Nick, who breaks into song to state they won’t get home until they “rediscover their sibling bond.” The back-and-forth between the squabbling siblings is entertaining even for the casual viewer, while fans will undoubtedly catch lots of easter eggs as they endeavor to get back using all transportation available. It’s private planes, trains and automobiles. It’s not a timeless masterpiece, but is great for devotees and a positive start to the day. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄 for Jonas Brothers fans or 🎄🎄🎄 for their family members who are obliged to sit through it. Next: A Star in Panto A-list actor Kiefer Sutherland appears as a Hollywood star cast a pantomime. “A panto-what?” asks Sutherland’s “hard-to-work-with” and ageing action hero Brad Mack, who has seen better days and whose manager has tricked him into thinking he’s performing in renowned British drama. His Aladdin fellow actors let him know he’s playing Buttons. “Absolutely not,” he protests. It's easy to predict their retort. Unless you’re ignorant of traditional British theatre traditions. There are some great jokes, some touching sub-plots, and the rest of the cast is cracking, too. It’s the type of film that would be a bit tacky at another season, but is a great entertainment at Christmas. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄🎄 A New Spin on Scrooge Danny Dyer pops up at the outset of this film, too, insulting someone for the second consecutive movie. Might this become a fresh holiday staple? This time, he’s a singing black cab driver who picks up Mr Sood, the latest spin 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 filmmaker behind Gurinder Chadha. The familiar story develops as the tight-fisted Mr Sood is visited by the apparitions of Christmas past, present and future, played by Hugh Bonneville, Billy Porter, and Boy George. This South Asian reinterpretation is at least unique from all the others, but sadly he’s not very compelling and Nayyar’s acting is lifeless—a significant issue when he’s so the focal point. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄 12.04pm - Stuffed There's just enough time for a major broadcaster's holiday special—which stars Guz Khan as a charmingly cantankerous character who “avoids Christmas.” But after he receives an large festive windfall at work, his wife (played by Morgana Robinson) convinces him blowing the money on a vacation to Lapland. There’s just one problem—he discovers there was an mix-up with his bonus, which should have been £800, and he has to determine how to return the remainder. Fun while it lasts but not lasting. Festive score: 🎄🎄 1.12pm - Champagne Problems This is one of those holiday movies where the tree, fairy lights and snow are in the background—Christmas is the scene of the film rather than its raison d’etre—but it feels cosy and festive all the same. High-powered businesswoman Sydney (starring Minka Kelly) is assigned to a vineyard to do a deal for a champagne business. During her travels, she meets a man in a literary haven who vows to show her the holidays in the City of Light. A critic recently stated this is the finest new Christmas film of the past few years. That’s a bit of a stretch, 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 particularly strong too. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄 Mid-Afternoon: Finding Father Christmas Young 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 otherwise. The truth is somewhere, and Chris embarks on a quest to find it with the guidance of a panel of well-known experts and celebrities. It’s understated but charming, and good viewing while expecting Santa to visit. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄 4.39pm - Oh. What. Fun. Michelle Pfeiffer is the mother of a bickering American family who gather for the holidays—including other acclaimed actress Felicity Jones, Chloe Grace Moretz, Jason Schwartzman, and dad Denis Leary. Pfeiffer opens by name-dropping holiday staples like National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, It’s A Wonderful Life and Home Alone, before saying: “They need to make a movie about the true heroes of the holidays—moms.” So that’s the concept, but in execution it’s really a mash-up of those inspirations, at least until Pfeiffer’s character finally comes into her own. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄 Formulaic Fun The day’s taken a dip, but thankfully here’s a new offering in the saturated market of formulaic, schmaltzy, badly acted—and highly entertaining—holiday fare. It’s a narrative as well-worn: An American woman travels to a picturesque cold country and ends up finding romance. In this case, Caprice Bourret plays a publisher