🔗 Share this article Binge-Watching This Year's Christmas Films: Highlights, Lowlights, and Unexpected Delights. It is the time of year to slob out on the sofa and demolish a packet of mince pies in front of a terrific flick, a poor film, or one that’s terrible yet terrific. This year, a batch of latest seasonal stories hopes to be part of our seasonal watchlist—perhaps even earning a place alongside enduring classics like Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually, and Die Hard (we won’t debate it). Therefore, in a noble effort to sort the crackers from the turkeys, and to find the Christmas spirit, I marathoned as many new Christmas films as possible in a single day. 7.17am - A Very Jonas Christmas Movie Starting, ideally, on a good foot. This film is the only 2025 title on a famous website's list of the best 100 holiday films of all time. The musical trio find themselves trapped in the UK after finishing their global concert series and must return for Christmas. Their efforts are hampered by an malevolent Father Christmas, who sings to declare they won’t get home until they “rediscover their sibling bond.” The back-and-forth between the arguing trio is entertaining even for the uninitiated, while fans will undoubtedly catch lots of references as they endeavor to get back using any means of transport necessary. It’s a travelogue of mishaps. It’s not an all-time classic, but is great for devotees and a solid start to the day. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄 for Jonas Brothers fans or 🎄🎄🎄 for their loved ones who must sit through it. Late Morning: Tinsel Town Hollywood star Kiefer Sutherland appears as a celebrity tricked into a "panto". “A panto-what?” asks Sutherland’s “temperamental” and aging lead Brad Mack, who has seen better days and whose manager has deceived him into thinking he’s appearing in prestigious English theatre. His pantomime cast-mates inform him he’s playing Buttons. “No I'm not,” he protests. You can guess their response. Except if you’re ignorant of traditional panto catchphrases. There are some very funny lines, some cockle-warming side stories, and the supporting actors is brilliant, too. It’s the kind of movie that would be a bit cheesy at a different time, but is a great entertainment at Christmas. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄🎄 10.19am - Christmas Karma A familiar face pops up at the outset of this film, too, insulting someone for the next movie straight. Is this a new Christmas tradition? This time, he’s a musical taxi operator who collects Mr Sood, the modern take 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 director of Gurinder Chadha. The well-known tale unfolds as the stingy Mr Sood is haunted by the ghosts of Christmas yesterday, today, and tomorrow, played by Hugh Bonneville, Billy Porter, and Boy George. This South Asian reinterpretation is at least different from all the others, but unfortunately he’s not very charismatic and Nayyar’s portrayal is flat—a major flaw when he’s so central to everything. Festive score: 🎄🎄 12.04pm - Stuffed There's just enough time for a channel's holiday special—which stars Guz Khan as a endearingly grumpy man who “avoids Christmas.” But after he is awarded an sizable holiday payout at work, his wife (portrayed by Morgana Robinson) convinces him blowing the money on a family trip to Lapland. There’s just one snag—he finds out there was an error 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 Christmas films where the festive trappings are in the background—Christmas is the environment of the film rather than its main point—but it feels cosy and festive all the same. High-powered businesswoman Sydney (starring Minka Kelly) is assigned to a country estate to do a deal for a sparkling wine company. On the way, she meets a fellow in a bookshop who offers to show her the holidays in the City of Light. A critic recently declared this is the top new Christmas film of the past few years. That’s a bit of a stretch, but it is a holiday love story with a dash of elegance and gives the required heartwarming sensation. The scene with a lengthy discussion about Die Hard is very good too. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄 3.29pm - Finding Father Christmas Young Chris, played by Lenny Rush, refuses to stop believing in Father Christmas, in spite of the persuasion of his dad (starring James Buckley) to tell him otherwise. The answer is somewhere, and Chris sets out to find it with the guidance of a team of well-known figures. It’s gentle but charming, and ideal viewing while expecting Santa to visit. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄 A Star-Studded Family Drama Michelle Pfeiffer is the head of a quarrelling American family who come back together for the holidays—including fellow acclaimed actress 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 saying: “They need to make a movie about the unsung heroes of the holidays—moms.” So that’s what this is, but in execution it’s really a mash-up of those inspirations, at least until Pfeiffer’s character eventually finds her strength. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄 6.43pm - A Scottish Christmas Secret The day’s taken a dip, but fortunately here’s a new entry in the packed genre of formulaic, schmaltzy, badly acted—and strangely compelling—festive fodder. It’s a tale as familiar as can be: An American woman travels to a picturesque cold country 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 packet of mince pies in front of a terrific flick, a poor film, or one that’s terrible yet terrific. This year, a batch of latest seasonal stories hopes to be part of our seasonal watchlist—perhaps even earning a place alongside enduring classics like Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually, and Die Hard (we won’t debate it). Therefore, in a noble effort to sort the crackers from the turkeys, and to find the Christmas spirit, I marathoned as many new Christmas films as possible in a single day. 7.17am - A Very Jonas Christmas Movie Starting, ideally, on a good foot. This film is the only 2025 title on a famous website's list of the best 100 holiday films of all time. The musical trio find themselves trapped in the UK after finishing their global concert series and must return for Christmas. Their efforts are hampered by an malevolent Father Christmas, who sings to declare they won’t get home until they “rediscover their sibling bond.” The back-and-forth between the arguing trio is entertaining even for the uninitiated, while fans will undoubtedly catch lots of references as they endeavor to get back using any means of transport necessary. It’s a travelogue of mishaps. It’s not an all-time classic, but is great for devotees and a solid start to the day. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄 for Jonas Brothers fans or 🎄🎄🎄 for their loved ones who must sit through it. Late Morning: Tinsel Town Hollywood star Kiefer Sutherland appears as a celebrity tricked into a "panto". “A panto-what?” asks Sutherland’s “temperamental” and aging lead Brad Mack, who has seen better days and whose manager has deceived him into thinking he’s appearing in prestigious English theatre. His pantomime cast-mates inform him he’s playing Buttons. “No I'm not,” he protests. You can guess their response. Except if you’re ignorant of traditional panto catchphrases. There are some very funny lines, some cockle-warming side stories, and the supporting actors is brilliant, too. It’s the kind of movie that would be a bit cheesy at a different time, but is a great entertainment at Christmas. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄🎄 10.19am - Christmas Karma A familiar face pops up at the outset of this film, too, insulting someone for the next movie straight. Is this a new Christmas tradition? This time, he’s a musical taxi operator who collects Mr Sood, the modern take 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 director of Gurinder Chadha. The well-known tale unfolds as the stingy Mr Sood is haunted by the ghosts of Christmas yesterday, today, and tomorrow, played by Hugh Bonneville, Billy Porter, and Boy George. This South Asian reinterpretation is at least different from all the others, but unfortunately he’s not very charismatic and Nayyar’s portrayal is flat—a major flaw when he’s so central to everything. Festive score: 🎄🎄 12.04pm - Stuffed There's just enough time for a channel's holiday special—which stars Guz Khan as a endearingly grumpy man who “avoids Christmas.” But after he is awarded an sizable holiday payout at work, his wife (portrayed by Morgana Robinson) convinces him blowing the money on a family trip to Lapland. There’s just one snag—he finds out there was an error 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 Christmas films where the festive trappings are in the background—Christmas is the environment of the film rather than its main point—but it feels cosy and festive all the same. High-powered businesswoman Sydney (starring Minka Kelly) is assigned to a country estate to do a deal for a sparkling wine company. On the way, she meets a fellow in a bookshop who offers to show her the holidays in the City of Light. A critic recently declared this is the top new Christmas film of the past few years. That’s a bit of a stretch, but it is a holiday love story with a dash of elegance and gives the required heartwarming sensation. The scene with a lengthy discussion about Die Hard is very good too. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄 3.29pm - Finding Father Christmas Young Chris, played by Lenny Rush, refuses to stop believing in Father Christmas, in spite of the persuasion of his dad (starring James Buckley) to tell him otherwise. The answer is somewhere, and Chris sets out to find it with the guidance of a team of well-known figures. It’s gentle but charming, and ideal viewing while expecting Santa to visit. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄 A Star-Studded Family Drama Michelle Pfeiffer is the head of a quarrelling American family who come back together for the holidays—including fellow acclaimed actress 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 saying: “They need to make a movie about the unsung heroes of the holidays—moms.” So that’s what this is, but in execution it’s really a mash-up of those inspirations, at least until Pfeiffer’s character eventually finds her strength. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄 6.43pm - A Scottish Christmas Secret The day’s taken a dip, but fortunately here’s a new entry in the packed genre of formulaic, schmaltzy, badly acted—and strangely compelling—festive fodder. It’s a tale as familiar as can be: An American woman travels to a picturesque cold country and ends up finding romance. In this case, Caprice Bourret plays a publisher