It is the time of year to lounge on the sofa and devour a tin of holiday pastries in front of a good movie, a poor film, or one that’s awesomely awful.
As always, a selection of fresh Christmas films strives to join part of our seasonal watchlist—maybe even earning a place alongside enduring classics like Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually, and Die Hard (no arguments).
So, in a helpful attempt to separate the winners from the losers, and to find the Christmas spirit, I watched as many fresh Christmas films as possible in a single day.
Beginning, hopefully, on a good foot. This release is the exclusive 2025 movie on a popular review site's list of the greatest 100 holiday films of all time.
The Jonas Brothers find themselves stranded in the UK after concluding their world tour and must return for Christmas. Their endeavors are thwarted by an villainous Saint Nick, who sings to state they won’t get home until they “rekindle their familial spark.”
The back-and-forth between the squabbling siblings is entertaining even for the casual viewer, while fans will certainly pick up on lots of references as they try to get back using any means of transport necessary.
It’s private planes, trains and automobiles.
It’s not legendary, but is excellent for fans 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.
A-list actor Kiefer Sutherland stars as a Hollywood star tricked into a traditional British stage show.
“A panto-what?” asks Sutherland’s “temperamental” and aging lead Brad Mack, who has hit a rough patch and whose agent has misled him into thinking he’s appearing in high-class London stage.
His Aladdin fellow actors inform him he’s playing Buttons. “Oh no I’m not,” he protests. It's easy to predict their retort. Except if you’re unfamiliar with traditional British theatre traditions.
There are some hilarious moments, some cockle-warming sub-plots, and the rest of the cast is excellent, too.
It’s the type of film that would be a bit naff at any other time of year, but is a great entertainment at Christmas.
Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄🎄
Danny Dyer appears at the beginning of this film, too, insulting someone for the second film in a row. Is this a budding festive ritual?
This time, he’s a musical taxi operator who picks up 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 familiar story unfolds as the stingy Mr Sood is confronted by the ghosts of Christmas yesterday, today, and tomorrow, played by Hugh Bonneville, Billy Porter, and Boy George.
This Indian Scrooge is at least different from all the others, but sadly he’s not very captivating and Nayyar’s portrayal is lifeless—a major flaw when he’s so the main character.
Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄
Before lunch for a major broadcaster's original festive film—which stars Guz Khan as a endearingly grumpy man who “avoids Christmas.”
But after he receives an sizable holiday payout at work, his wife (portrayed by Morgana Robinson) persuades him blowing the money on a holiday to Lapland.
There’s just one issue—he discovers there was an error with his bonus, which should have been £800, and he has to figure out how to pay back the remainder.
Fun while it lasts but not lasting.
Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄
This is one of those holiday movies where the tree, fairy lights and snow are in the backdrop—Christmas is the environment of the film rather than its main point—but it feels comfortable and seasonal all the same.
Ambitious executive Sydney (starring Minka Kelly) is sent to a vineyard to negotiate a purchase for a sparkling wine company. During her travels, she encounters a man in a literary haven who vows to show her Christmas in Paris.
A critic recently declared this is the finest new Christmas film of the past few years. That’s a bit of a overstatement, but it is a Christmas romance with a touch of class and gives the required cozy feelings.
The scene with a detailed conversation about Die Hard is notable too.
Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄
Sixteen-year-old Chris, played by Lenny Rush, refuses to stop believing in Father Christmas, despite the efforts of his dad (played by James Buckley) to tell him the truth.
The truth is to be discovered, and Chris embarks on a quest to find it with the assistance of a group of well-known scientists and personalities.
It’s understated but charming, and perfect viewing while anticipating Santa to visit.
Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄
Michelle Pfeiffer is the head of a dysfunctional American family who come back together for the holidays—including fellow Oscar nominee 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 saying: “They need to make a movie about the true heroes of the holidays—moms.”
So that’s the premise, but in execution it’s really a jumble of those aforementioned movies, at least until Pfeiffer’s character eventually takes center stage.
Festive score: 🎄🎄
The day’s taken a dip, but thankfully here’s a new addition in the saturated market of predictable, sentimental, cheesy—and strangely compelling—holiday fare.
It’s a story as familiar as can be: An American woman goes on a quest to a distant snowy land and ends up stumbling across romance.
In this case, Caprice Bourret plays a publisher
