🔗 Share this article Binge-Watching This Year's Holiday Movies: Highlights, Lowlights, and Unexpected Delights. It is the time of year to slob out on the sofa and demolish a box of mince pies in front of a terrific flick, a awful feature, or one that’s so bad it’s good. Once again, a crop of latest Christmas films hopes to be part of our seasonal watchlist—maybe even earning a place alongside enduring classics like Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually, and Die Hard (don’t start). Therefore, in a vital public service to separate the winners from the losers, and to get into the Christmas spirit, I watched as many recent Christmas films as possible in a single day. First Up: The Jonas Brothers' Holiday Flick Kicking off, optimistically, on a high. This film is the exclusive 2025 title on a famous website's list of the best 100 festive features of all time. The Jonas Brothers end up stranded in the UK after concluding their global concert series and must get home for Christmas. Their efforts are hindered by an malevolent Father Christmas, who bursts into melody to announce they won’t get home until they “rekindle their sibling bond.” The back-and-forth between the arguing trio is entertaining even for the non-fan, while followers will undoubtedly notice lots of references as they attempt to get back using every mode of travel possible. It’s a journey of epic proportions. It’s not legendary, but is excellent for devotees and a good start to the day. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄 for Jonas Brothers fans or 🎄🎄🎄 for their loved ones who are obliged to sit through it. Late Morning: Tinsel Town Hollywood star Kiefer Sutherland has been cast as a celebrity tricked into a traditional British stage show. “A panto-what?” asks Sutherland’s “temperamental” and older lead Brad Mack, who has hit a rough patch and whose manager has misled him into thinking he’s appearing in high-class London stage. His pantomime co-stars inform him he’s playing Buttons. “Oh no I’m not,” he insists angrily. You can guess their reply. That is, unless you’re not acquainted with traditional British theatre traditions. There are some great jokes, some cockle-warming sub-plots, and the ensemble is cracking, too. It’s the type of film that would be a bit naff at any other time of year, but is a highly enjoyable at Christmas. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄🎄 A New Spin on Scrooge Danny Dyer shows up at the beginning of this film, too, delivering a signature line for the next movie straight. Could this be a budding festive ritual? 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 a star of Kunal Nayyar and Christmas Karma is directed by the filmmaker behind Gurinder Chadha. The well-known tale unfolds 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 Indian Scrooge is at least distinct from all the others, but sadly he’s not very captivating and Nayyar’s acting is lifeless—a major flaw when he’s so the main character. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄 Noon: A BBC Special There's just enough time for a major broadcaster's original festive film—which stars Guz Khan as a lovably grouchy guy who “isn't big on Christmas.” But after he receives an large festive windfall at work, his wife (portrayed by Morgana Robinson) convinces him blowing the money on a vacation to Lapland. There’s just one issue—he finds out there was an mistake with his bonus, which should have been £800, and he has to determine how to return the excess. Fun while it lasts but not lasting. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄 A Classy Netflix Romance This is one of those Christmas films where the decorations and snow are in the setting—Christmas is the setting of the film rather than its core purpose—but it feels warm and holiday-like all the same. Driven corporate star Sydney (starring Minka Kelly) is assigned to a vineyard to secure an acquisition for a sparkling wine company. During her travels, she meets a man in a literary haven who vows to show her a festive Paris. An expert recently declared this is the best new Christmas film of the last several seasons. That’s a bit of a exaggeration, but it is a festive dalliance with a hint of sophistication and gives the necessary heartwarming sensation. The scene with a detailed conversation about Die Hard is particularly strong too. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄 3.29pm - Finding Father Christmas Young 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 answer is somewhere, and Chris ventures forth to find it with the assistance of a panel of well-known figures. It’s low-key but charming, and perfect viewing while expecting Santa to visit. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄 A Star-Studded Family Drama Michelle Pfeiffer is the head of a quarrelling American family who reunite for the holidays—including fellow Oscar nominee 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 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 jumble of those aforementioned movies, at least until Pfeiffer’s character finally takes center stage. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄 Evening: A Scottish Christmas Secret The day’s taken a dip, but thankfully here’s a new offering in the packed genre of cliched, saccharine, over-the-top—and utterly watchable—seasonal comfort food. It’s a story as familiar as can be: An American woman journeys to a far-off wintery locale and ends up finding romance. In this case, Caprice Bourret plays a publisher
It is the time of year to slob out on the sofa and demolish a box of mince pies in front of a terrific flick, a awful feature, or one that’s so bad it’s good. Once again, a crop of latest Christmas films hopes to be part of our seasonal watchlist—maybe even earning a place alongside enduring classics like Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually, and Die Hard (don’t start). Therefore, in a vital public service to separate the winners from the losers, and to get into the Christmas spirit, I watched as many recent Christmas films as possible in a single day. First Up: The Jonas Brothers' Holiday Flick Kicking off, optimistically, on a high. This film is the exclusive 2025 title on a famous website's list of the best 100 festive features of all time. The Jonas Brothers end up stranded in the UK after concluding their global concert series and must get home for Christmas. Their efforts are hindered by an malevolent Father Christmas, who bursts into melody to announce they won’t get home until they “rekindle their sibling bond.” The back-and-forth between the arguing trio is entertaining even for the non-fan, while followers will undoubtedly notice lots of references as they attempt to get back using every mode of travel possible. It’s a journey of epic proportions. It’s not legendary, but is excellent for devotees and a good start to the day. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄 for Jonas Brothers fans or 🎄🎄🎄 for their loved ones who are obliged to sit through it. Late Morning: Tinsel Town Hollywood star Kiefer Sutherland has been cast as a celebrity tricked into a traditional British stage show. “A panto-what?” asks Sutherland’s “temperamental” and older lead Brad Mack, who has hit a rough patch and whose manager has misled him into thinking he’s appearing in high-class London stage. His pantomime co-stars inform him he’s playing Buttons. “Oh no I’m not,” he insists angrily. You can guess their reply. That is, unless you’re not acquainted with traditional British theatre traditions. There are some great jokes, some cockle-warming sub-plots, and the ensemble is cracking, too. It’s the type of film that would be a bit naff at any other time of year, but is a highly enjoyable at Christmas. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄🎄 A New Spin on Scrooge Danny Dyer shows up at the beginning of this film, too, delivering a signature line for the next movie straight. Could this be a budding festive ritual? 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 a star of Kunal Nayyar and Christmas Karma is directed by the filmmaker behind Gurinder Chadha. The well-known tale unfolds 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 Indian Scrooge is at least distinct from all the others, but sadly he’s not very captivating and Nayyar’s acting is lifeless—a major flaw when he’s so the main character. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄 Noon: A BBC Special There's just enough time for a major broadcaster's original festive film—which stars Guz Khan as a lovably grouchy guy who “isn't big on Christmas.” But after he receives an large festive windfall at work, his wife (portrayed by Morgana Robinson) convinces him blowing the money on a vacation to Lapland. There’s just one issue—he finds out there was an mistake with his bonus, which should have been £800, and he has to determine how to return the excess. Fun while it lasts but not lasting. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄 A Classy Netflix Romance This is one of those Christmas films where the decorations and snow are in the setting—Christmas is the setting of the film rather than its core purpose—but it feels warm and holiday-like all the same. Driven corporate star Sydney (starring Minka Kelly) is assigned to a vineyard to secure an acquisition for a sparkling wine company. During her travels, she meets a man in a literary haven who vows to show her a festive Paris. An expert recently declared this is the best new Christmas film of the last several seasons. That’s a bit of a exaggeration, but it is a festive dalliance with a hint of sophistication and gives the necessary heartwarming sensation. The scene with a detailed conversation about Die Hard is particularly strong too. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄 3.29pm - Finding Father Christmas Young 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 answer is somewhere, and Chris ventures forth to find it with the assistance of a panel of well-known figures. It’s low-key but charming, and perfect viewing while expecting Santa to visit. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄 A Star-Studded Family Drama Michelle Pfeiffer is the head of a quarrelling American family who reunite for the holidays—including fellow Oscar nominee 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 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 jumble of those aforementioned movies, at least until Pfeiffer’s character finally takes center stage. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄 Evening: A Scottish Christmas Secret The day’s taken a dip, but thankfully here’s a new offering in the packed genre of cliched, saccharine, over-the-top—and utterly watchable—seasonal comfort food. It’s a story as familiar as can be: An American woman journeys to a far-off wintery locale and ends up finding romance. In this case, Caprice Bourret plays a publisher