Marathon Viewing The Latest Christmas Films: The Good, The Bad and The So-Bad-It's-Good.
It is the time of year to relax on the couch and devour a box of holiday pastries in front of a good movie, a poor film, or one that’s terrible yet terrific.
This year, a batch of fresh holiday movies aims to become part of our holiday traditions—potentially even joining the ranks alongside beloved favorites like Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually, and Die Hard (no arguments).
Thus, in a helpful attempt to sort the crackers from the turkeys, and to get into the holiday mood, I watched as many new Christmas films as possible in a single day.
7.17am - A Very Jonas Christmas Movie
Starting, hopefully, on a positive note. This release is the only 2025 title on a famous website's list of the greatest 100 holiday films of all time.
The popular band find themselves stranded in the UK after wrapping up their world tour and must make it back for Christmas. Their endeavors are hindered by an villainous Saint Nick, who sings to state they won’t get home until they “find their sibling bond.”
The banter between the squabbling siblings is amusing even for the non-fan, while followers will certainly notice lots of references as they try to get back using every mode of travel possible.
It’s a travelogue of mishaps.
It’s not a timeless masterpiece, but is excellent for devotees and a good start to the day.
Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄 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 appears as a Hollywood star tricked into a "panto".
“A panto-what?” asks Sutherland’s “difficult” and older lead Brad Mack, who has seen better days and whose agent has tricked him into thinking he’s appearing in prestigious English theatre.
His pantomime fellow actors inform him he’s playing Buttons. “Oh no I’m not,” he insists angrily. It's easy to predict their response. Unless you’re unfamiliar with traditional stage call-and-response.
There are some very funny lines, some touching sub-plots, and the rest of the cast is excellent, too.
It’s the sort of feature that would be a bit cheesy at a different time, but is a highly enjoyable at Christmas.
Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄🎄
Mid-Morning: Christmas Karma
Danny Dyer appears at the outset of this film, too, delivering a signature line for the second film in a row. Could this be a budding festive ritual?
This time, he’s a crooning chauffeur who picks up Mr Sood, the latest spin 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 classic narrative unfolds as the tight-fisted Mr Sood is haunted by the ghosts 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 unfortunately he’s not very captivating and Nayyar’s acting is flat—a significant issue when he’s so the focal point.
Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄
Noon: A BBC Special
There's just enough time for a channel's holiday special—which stars Guz Khan as a endearingly grumpy man who “isn't big on Christmas.”
But after he is awarded an large festive windfall at work, his wife (portrayed by Morgana Robinson) persuades him splurging the cash 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 reimburse the difference.
Enjoyable but forgettable.
Festive score: 🎄🎄
Early Afternoon: Champagne Problems
This is one of those Christmas films where the decorations and snow are in the backdrop—Christmas is the environment of the film rather than its raison d’etre—but it feels comfortable and seasonal all the same.
High-powered businesswoman Sydney (starring Minka Kelly) is assigned to a French chateau to negotiate a purchase for a champagne business. On the way, she encounters a man in a literary haven who vows to show her the holidays in the City of Light.
A critic recently declared this is the best new Christmas film of the recent era. That’s a bit of a exaggeration, but it is a festive dalliance with a dash of elegance and gives the obligatory cozy feelings.
The scene with a lengthy discussion about Die Hard is notable too.
Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄
A Charming Quest
Teenage Chris, played by Lenny Rush, continues to believe in Father Christmas, in spite of the attempts of his dad (played by James Buckley) to tell him otherwise.
The answer is somewhere, and Chris sets out to find it with the assistance of a panel of well-known scientists and personalities.
It’s gentle but charming, and perfect viewing while waiting for Santa to visit.
Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄
A Star-Studded Family Drama
Michelle Pfeiffer is the matriarch of a quarrelling American family who gather for the holidays—including other Oscar nominee Felicity Jones, Chloe Grace Moretz, Jason Schwartzman, and dad Denis Leary.
Pfeiffer opens by name-dropping 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 the concept, but in practice it’s really a mash-up of those inspirations, at least until Pfeiffer’s character eventually takes center stage.
Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄
Evening: A Scottish Christmas Secret
The day’s waned in quality, but fortunately here’s a new addition in the crowded field of formulaic, schmaltzy, badly acted—and utterly watchable—seasonal comfort food.
It’s a story as well-worn: An American woman journeys to a far-off wintery locale and ends up discovering romance.
In this case, Caprice Bourret plays a publisher