Marathon Viewing The Latest Christmas Films: The Hits, The Misses, and The Guilty Pleasures.
It is the time of year to lounge on the couch and consume a box of festive treats in front of a good movie, a bad movie, or one that’s so bad it’s good.
This year, a crop of new seasonal stories hopes to be part of our seasonal watchlist—maybe even joining the ranks alongside enduring classics like Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually, and Die Hard (we won’t debate it).
So, in a noble effort to separate the winners from the losers, and to embrace the holiday mood, I watched as many recent Christmas films as possible in a single day.
Early Morning: A Very Jonas Christmas Movie
Starting, optimistically, on a high. This is the sole 2025 entry on a popular review site's list of the greatest 100 holiday films of all time.
The musical trio find themselves stranded in the UK after wrapping up their international trek and must make it back for Christmas. Their attempts are hindered by an evil Santa, who bursts into melody to state they won’t get home until they “rediscover their sibling bond.”
The back-and-forth between the squabbling siblings is amusing even for the non-fan, while fans will certainly notice lots of references as they attempt to get back using any means of transport necessary.
It’s a journey of epic proportions.
It’s not legendary, but is superb for devotees and a good start to the day.
Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄 for Jonas Brothers fans or 🎄🎄🎄 for their loved ones who are obliged to sit through it.
8.45am - Tinsel Town
A-list actor Kiefer Sutherland has been cast as a celebrity tricked into a pantomime.
“A panto-what?” asks Sutherland’s “hard-to-work-with” and older star Brad Mack, who has seen better days and whose representative has misled him into thinking he’s performing in renowned British drama.
His Aladdin fellow actors let him know he’s playing Buttons. “Oh no I’m not,” he protests. One can imagine their reply. That is, unless you’re not acquainted with traditional British theatre traditions.
There are some very funny lines, some cockle-warming side stories, 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 highly enjoyable at Christmas.
Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄🎄
10.19am - Christmas Karma
Danny Dyer pops up at the start of this film, too, insulting someone for the second consecutive movie. Is this a fresh holiday staple?
This time, he’s a musical taxi operator who collects 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 director of Gurinder Chadha. The familiar story develops as the miserly Mr Sood is visited by the ghosts of Christmas yesterday, today, and tomorrow, played by Hugh Bonneville, Billy Porter, and Boy George.
This Indian Scrooge is at least unique from all the others, but sadly he’s not very captivating and Nayyar’s acting is lifeless—a significant issue when he’s so the main character.
Festive score: 🎄🎄
12.04pm - Stuffed
There's just enough time for a major broadcaster's original festive film—which stars Guz Khan as a charmingly cantankerous character who “isn't big on Christmas.”
But after he is awarded an sizable holiday payout at work, his wife (starring Morgana Robinson) persuades him spending the sum on a holiday to Lapland.
There’s just one snag—he discovers there was an mix-up with his bonus, which should have been £800, and he has to determine how to return the difference.
Pleasant yet unmemorable.
Festive score: 🎄🎄
Early Afternoon: Champagne Problems
This is one of those Christmas films where the decorations and snow are in the background—Christmas is the setting of the film rather than its core purpose—but it feels cosy and festive all the same.
Ambitious executive Sydney (starring Minka Kelly) is dispatched to a country estate to negotiate a purchase for a sparkling wine company. During her travels, she runs into a guy in a literary haven who vows to show her the holidays in the City of Light.
A commentator recently stated this is the best new Christmas film of the past few years. That’s a bit of a stretch, but it is a festive dalliance with a touch of class and gives the required cozy feelings.
The scene with a detailed conversation about Die Hard is notable too.
Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄
Mid-Afternoon: Finding Father Christmas
Sixteen-year-old Chris, played by Lenny Rush, continues to believe in Father Christmas, in spite of the efforts of his dad (played by James Buckley) to tell him the reality.
The truth is somewhere, and Chris embarks on a quest to find it with the expert help of a panel of well-known figures.
It’s understated but endearing, and ideal viewing while waiting for Santa to visit.
Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄
4.39pm - Oh. What. Fun.
Michelle Pfeiffer is the matriarch of a quarrelling American family who reunite for the holidays—including fellow acclaimed actress Felicity Jones, Chloe Grace Moretz, Jason Schwartzman, and dad Denis Leary.
Pfeiffer begins by referencing 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 unsung heroes of the holidays—moms.”
So that’s what this is, but in reality it’s really a jumble of those aforementioned movies, at least until Pfeiffer’s character finally finds her strength.
Festive score: 🎄🎄
Evening: A Scottish Christmas Secret
The day’s taken a dip, but happily here’s a new addition in the crowded field of formulaic, schmaltzy, badly acted—and utterly watchable—festive fodder.
It’s a tale as familiar as can be: An American woman journeys to a picturesque cold country and ends up stumbling across romance.
In this case, Caprice Bourret plays a publisher
