Binge-Watching The Latest Holiday Movies: The Hits, The Misses, and The Guilty Pleasures.
‘Tis the season to relax on the couch and devour a packet of mince pies in front of a terrific flick, a bad movie, or one that’s so bad it’s good.
As always, a selection of new holiday movies strives to join part of our holiday traditions—potentially even earning a place alongside beloved favorites like Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually, and Die Hard (we won’t debate it).
So, in a vital public service to distinguish the gems from the coal, and to get into the Christmas spirit, I marathoned as many recent holiday releases as possible in a single day.
Early Morning: A Very Jonas Christmas Movie
Kicking off, optimistically, on a high. This is the only 2025 title on a well-known aggregator's list of the best 100 holiday films of all time.
The popular band find themselves stranded in the UK after finishing their international trek and must return for Christmas. Their efforts are hindered by an villainous Saint Nick, who bursts into melody to declare they won’t get home until they “rekindle their brotherly magic.”
The repartee between the squabbling siblings is entertaining even for the non-fan, while devotees will undoubtedly catch lots of easter eggs as they attempt to get back using every mode of travel possible.
It’s a travelogue of mishaps.
It’s not an all-time classic, but is great for fans and a positive start to the day.
Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄 for Jonas Brothers fans or 🎄🎄🎄 for their relatives who will have to sit through it.
Next: A Star in Panto
A-list actor Kiefer Sutherland stars as a Hollywood star cast a traditional British stage show.
“A what's a panto??” asks Sutherland’s “difficult” and ageing star Brad Mack, who has seen better days and whose representative has tricked him into thinking he’s appearing in high-class London stage.
His pantomime co-stars inform him he’s playing Buttons. “Absolutely not,” he retorts. You can guess their reply. That is, unless you’re not acquainted with traditional stage call-and-response.
There are some hilarious moments, some touching storylines, and the ensemble is brilliant, too.
It’s the type of film that would be a bit cheesy at another season, but is a lot of fun at Christmas.
Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄🎄
A New Spin on Scrooge
A familiar face pops up at the start of this film, too, calling someone a mug for the next movie straight. Could this be a budding festive ritual?
This time, he’s a musical taxi operator who encounters 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 director of Gurinder Chadha. The classic narrative progresses 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 Indian Scrooge is at least different from all the others, but regrettably he’s not very captivating and Nayyar’s portrayal is lifeless—a major flaw when he’s so the focal point.
Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄
Lunchtime: Stuffed
There's just enough time for a major broadcaster's original festive film—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 holiday to Lapland.
There’s just one problem—he finds out there was an mix-up with his bonus, which should have been £800, and he has to determine how to pay back the remainder.
Fun while it lasts but not lasting.
Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄
A Classy Netflix Romance
This is one of those Christmas films where the tree, fairy lights and snow are in the background—Christmas is the environment of the film rather than its main point—but it feels comfortable and seasonal all the same.
High-powered businesswoman Sydney (starring Minka Kelly) is dispatched to a French chateau to negotiate a purchase for a sparkling wine company. En route, she meets a guy in a literary haven who offers to show her a festive Paris.
A critic 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 touch of class and gives the obligatory warm and fuzzy feels.
The scene with a lengthy discussion about Die Hard is very good too.
Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄
Mid-Afternoon: Finding Father Christmas
Teenage 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 the reality.
The secret is somewhere, and Chris embarks on a quest to find it with the guidance of a group of well-known experts and celebrities.
It’s low-key but charming, and ideal viewing while expecting Santa to visit.
Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄
Late Afternoon: Oh. What. Fun.
Michelle Pfeiffer is the mother of a bickering American family who gather for the holidays—including other 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 saying: “They need to make a movie about the unsung heroes of the holidays—moms.”
So that’s the premise, but in practice it’s really a combination of those inspirations, at least until Pfeiffer’s character eventually takes center stage.
Festive score: 🎄🎄
6.43pm - A Scottish Christmas Secret
The day’s taken a dip, but thankfully here’s a new addition in the crowded field of formulaic, schmaltzy, badly acted—and highly entertaining—holiday fare.
It’s a tale as familiar as can be: An American woman goes on a quest to a picturesque cold country and ends up stumbling across romance.
In this case, Caprice Bourret plays a publisher
