🔗 Share this article Binge-Watching This Year's Christmas Films: The Good, The Bad and The So-Bad-It's-Good. It is the season to slob out on the couch and devour a packet of holiday pastries in front of a great film, a awful feature, or one that’s so bad it’s good. Once again, a crop of new seasonal stories strives to join part of our festive viewing—maybe even earning a place alongside beloved favorites like Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually, and Die Hard (don’t start). Thus, in a vital public service to sort the crackers from the turkeys, and to get into the Christmas spirit, I watched as many fresh holiday releases as possible in a single day. Early Morning: A Very Jonas Christmas Movie Starting, ideally, on a good foot. This is the sole 2025 movie on a well-known aggregator's list of the greatest 100 holiday films of all time. The musical trio are stuck in the UK after finishing their global concert series and must make it back for Christmas. Their efforts are hampered by an evil Santa, who bursts into melody to declare they won’t get home until they “rediscover their sibling bond.” The banter between the arguing trio is enjoyable even for the uninitiated, while fans will certainly notice lots of in-jokes as they attempt to get back using all transportation available. It’s a travelogue of mishaps. It’s not an all-time classic, but is great for fans and a solid start to the day. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄 for Jonas Brothers fans or 🎄🎄🎄 for their relatives who must sit through it. Next: A Star in Panto A-list actor Kiefer Sutherland appears as a Hollywood star tricked into a traditional British stage show. “A what's a panto??” asks Sutherland’s “temperamental” and ageing lead Brad Mack, who has fallen on hard times and whose agent has tricked him into thinking he’s performing in prestigious English theatre. His pantomime co-stars tell him he’s playing Buttons. “No I'm not,” he insists angrily. It's easy to predict their reply. That is, unless you’re not acquainted with traditional panto catchphrases. There are some great jokes, some cockle-warming sub-plots, and the supporting actors is cracking, too. It’s the type of film that would be a bit naff at a different time, but is a highly enjoyable at Christmas. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄🎄 10.19am - Christmas Karma Danny Dyer appears at the outset of this film, too, calling someone a mug for the second consecutive movie. Could this be a fresh holiday staple? This time, he’s a singing black cab driver who collects Mr Sood, the latest spin on Mr Scrooge from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Mr Sood is played by The Big Bang Theory’s Kunal Nayyar and Christmas Karma is directed by the filmmaker behind Gurinder Chadha. The familiar story develops as the miserly Mr Sood is visited by the apparitions of Christmas past, present and future, played by Hugh Bonneville, Billy Porter, and Boy George. This cultural adaptation is at least different from all the others, but unfortunately he’s not very compelling and Nayyar’s portrayal is lifeless—a significant issue when he’s so central to everything. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄 Noon: A BBC Special There's just enough time for a network's holiday special—which stars Guz Khan as a endearingly grumpy man who “doesn’t really do Christmas.” But after he is awarded an £8,000 Christmas bonus at work, his wife (starring Morgana Robinson) persuades him spending the sum on a holiday to Lapland. There’s just one issue—he learns there was an error with his bonus, which should have been £800, and he has to devise a plan for how to pay back the difference. Enjoyable but forgettable. Festive score: 🎄🎄 1.12pm - Champagne Problems This is one of those Christmas films where the decorations and snow are in the backdrop—Christmas is the setting 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 dispatched to a French chateau to do a deal for a sparkling wine company. During her travels, she runs into a man in a bookshop who promises to show her Christmas in Paris. An expert recently declared this is the top new Christmas film of the recent era. That’s a bit of a overstatement, but it is a holiday love story with a hint of sophistication and gives the required cozy feelings. The scene with a detailed conversation about Die Hard is particularly strong too. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄 A Charming Quest Young Chris, played by Lenny Rush, continues to believe in Father Christmas, regardless of the persuasion of his dad (starring James Buckley) to tell him otherwise. The truth is to be discovered, and Chris ventures forth to find it with the guidance of a panel of well-known experts and celebrities. It’s understated but charming, and ideal viewing while waiting for Santa to visit. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄 Late Afternoon: Oh. What. Fun. Michelle Pfeiffer is the head of a dysfunctional American family who come back together for the holidays—including other acclaimed actress 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 saying: “They need to make a movie about the true heroes of the holidays—moms.” So that’s the premise, but in reality it’s really a combination of those forerunner films, at least until Pfeiffer’s character finally comes into her own. Festive score: 🎄🎄 Formulaic Fun The day’s taken a dip, but happily here’s a new addition in the crowded field of formulaic, schmaltzy, badly acted—and highly entertaining—seasonal comfort food. It’s a story as old as time: An American woman travels to a distant snowy land and ends up discovering romance. In this case, Caprice Bourret plays a publisher
It is the season to slob out on the couch and devour a packet of holiday pastries in front of a great film, a awful feature, or one that’s so bad it’s good. Once again, a crop of new seasonal stories strives to join part of our festive viewing—maybe even earning a place alongside beloved favorites like Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually, and Die Hard (don’t start). Thus, in a vital public service to sort the crackers from the turkeys, and to get into the Christmas spirit, I watched as many fresh holiday releases as possible in a single day. Early Morning: A Very Jonas Christmas Movie Starting, ideally, on a good foot. This is the sole 2025 movie on a well-known aggregator's list of the greatest 100 holiday films of all time. The musical trio are stuck in the UK after finishing their global concert series and must make it back for Christmas. Their efforts are hampered by an evil Santa, who bursts into melody to declare they won’t get home until they “rediscover their sibling bond.” The banter between the arguing trio is enjoyable even for the uninitiated, while fans will certainly notice lots of in-jokes as they attempt to get back using all transportation available. It’s a travelogue of mishaps. It’s not an all-time classic, but is great for fans and a solid start to the day. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄 for Jonas Brothers fans or 🎄🎄🎄 for their relatives who must sit through it. Next: A Star in Panto A-list actor Kiefer Sutherland appears as a Hollywood star tricked into a traditional British stage show. “A what's a panto??” asks Sutherland’s “temperamental” and ageing lead Brad Mack, who has fallen on hard times and whose agent has tricked him into thinking he’s performing in prestigious English theatre. His pantomime co-stars tell him he’s playing Buttons. “No I'm not,” he insists angrily. It's easy to predict their reply. That is, unless you’re not acquainted with traditional panto catchphrases. There are some great jokes, some cockle-warming sub-plots, and the supporting actors is cracking, too. It’s the type of film that would be a bit naff at a different time, but is a highly enjoyable at Christmas. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄🎄 10.19am - Christmas Karma Danny Dyer appears at the outset of this film, too, calling someone a mug for the second consecutive movie. Could this be a fresh holiday staple? This time, he’s a singing black cab driver who collects Mr Sood, the latest spin on Mr Scrooge from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Mr Sood is played by The Big Bang Theory’s Kunal Nayyar and Christmas Karma is directed by the filmmaker behind Gurinder Chadha. The familiar story develops as the miserly Mr Sood is visited by the apparitions of Christmas past, present and future, played by Hugh Bonneville, Billy Porter, and Boy George. This cultural adaptation is at least different from all the others, but unfortunately he’s not very compelling and Nayyar’s portrayal is lifeless—a significant issue when he’s so central to everything. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄 Noon: A BBC Special There's just enough time for a network's holiday special—which stars Guz Khan as a endearingly grumpy man who “doesn’t really do Christmas.” But after he is awarded an £8,000 Christmas bonus at work, his wife (starring Morgana Robinson) persuades him spending the sum on a holiday to Lapland. There’s just one issue—he learns there was an error with his bonus, which should have been £800, and he has to devise a plan for how to pay back the difference. Enjoyable but forgettable. Festive score: 🎄🎄 1.12pm - Champagne Problems This is one of those Christmas films where the decorations and snow are in the backdrop—Christmas is the setting 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 dispatched to a French chateau to do a deal for a sparkling wine company. During her travels, she runs into a man in a bookshop who promises to show her Christmas in Paris. An expert recently declared this is the top new Christmas film of the recent era. That’s a bit of a overstatement, but it is a holiday love story with a hint of sophistication and gives the required cozy feelings. The scene with a detailed conversation about Die Hard is particularly strong too. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄 A Charming Quest Young Chris, played by Lenny Rush, continues to believe in Father Christmas, regardless of the persuasion of his dad (starring James Buckley) to tell him otherwise. The truth is to be discovered, and Chris ventures forth to find it with the guidance of a panel of well-known experts and celebrities. It’s understated but charming, and ideal viewing while waiting for Santa to visit. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄 Late Afternoon: Oh. What. Fun. Michelle Pfeiffer is the head of a dysfunctional American family who come back together for the holidays—including other acclaimed actress 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 saying: “They need to make a movie about the true heroes of the holidays—moms.” So that’s the premise, but in reality it’s really a combination of those forerunner films, at least until Pfeiffer’s character finally comes into her own. Festive score: 🎄🎄 Formulaic Fun The day’s taken a dip, but happily here’s a new addition in the crowded field of formulaic, schmaltzy, badly acted—and highly entertaining—seasonal comfort food. It’s a story as old as time: An American woman travels to a distant snowy land and ends up discovering romance. In this case, Caprice Bourret plays a publisher