🔗 Share this article Devouring The Latest Holiday Movies: The Hits, The Misses, and The Guilty Pleasures. It is the season to relax on the sofa 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. This year, a crop of fresh Christmas films hopes to be part of our seasonal watchlist—perhaps even finding a spot alongside beloved favorites like Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually, and Die Hard (no arguments). Thus, in a vital public service to sort the crackers from the turkeys, and to get into the festive feeling, I binged as many recent Christmas films as possible in a single day. First Up: The Jonas Brothers' Holiday Flick Beginning, ideally, on a high. This release is the only 2025 movie on a famous website's list of the greatest 100 holiday films of all time. The musical trio end up stuck in the UK after finishing their global concert series and must return for Christmas. Their attempts are hindered by an evil Santa, who breaks into song to declare they won’t get home until they “find their brotherly magic.” The back-and-forth between the arguing trio is enjoyable even for the non-fan, while fans will no doubt pick up on lots of references as they endeavor to get back using every mode of travel possible. It’s private planes, trains and automobiles. It’s not legendary, but is great for fans and a good start to the day. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄 for Jonas Brothers fans or 🎄🎄🎄 for their loved ones who are obliged to sit through it. Next: A Star in Panto Famous performer Kiefer Sutherland appears as a celebrity roped into a traditional British stage show. “A panto-what??” asks Sutherland’s “difficult” and older lead Brad Mack, who has seen better days and whose representative has misled him into thinking he’s appearing in high-class London stage. His Aladdin co-stars inform him he’s playing Buttons. “Oh no I’m not,” he protests. You can guess their response. Unless you’re not acquainted with traditional panto catchphrases. There are some very funny lines, some heartwarming sub-plots, and the supporting actors is cracking, too. It’s the kind of movie that would be a bit tacky at a different time, but is a highly enjoyable at Christmas. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄🎄 Mid-Morning: Christmas Karma Danny Dyer shows up at the beginning of this film, too, insulting someone for the second consecutive movie. Is this a new Christmas tradition? This time, he’s a crooning chauffeur 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 Bend It Like Beckham’s Gurinder Chadha. The classic narrative progresses as the tight-fisted Mr Sood is haunted by the spirits of Christmas past, present and future, played by Hugh Bonneville, Billy Porter, and Boy George. This South Asian reinterpretation is at least different from all the others, but sadly he’s not very compelling and Nayyar’s portrayal is lifeless—a major flaw when he’s so central to everything. Festive score: 🎄🎄 Lunchtime: Stuffed There's just enough time for a channel's holiday special—which stars Guz Khan as a charmingly cantankerous character who “avoids Christmas.” But after he is awarded an £8,000 Christmas bonus at work, his wife (played by Morgana Robinson) convinces him splurging the cash on a vacation to Lapland. There’s just one problem—he finds out there was an mistake with his bonus, which should have been £800, and he has to figure out how to return the difference. Enjoyable but forgettable. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄 Early Afternoon: Champagne Problems This is one of those Christmas films where the decorations and snow are in the setting—Christmas is the environment of the film rather than its core purpose—but it feels warm and holiday-like all the same. Ambitious executive 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 guy in a book store who promises to show her Christmas in Paris. A critic recently claimed this is the top new Christmas film of the past few years. That’s a bit of a overstatement, but it is a holiday love story with a hint of sophistication and gives the required warm and fuzzy feels. The scene with a extended debate about Die Hard is particularly strong too. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄 3.29pm - Finding Father Christmas Teenage Chris, played by Lenny Rush, continues to believe in Father Christmas, in spite of the attempts of his dad (starring James Buckley) to tell him the truth. The truth is out there, and Chris sets out to find it with the guidance of a team of well-known scientists and personalities. It’s gentle but sweet, and perfect viewing while waiting for Santa to visit. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄 A Star-Studded Family Drama Michelle Pfeiffer is the matriarch of a bickering 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 begins by referencing holiday staples like National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, It’s A Wonderful Life and Home Alone, before declaring: “They need to make a movie about the true heroes of the holidays—moms.” So that’s what this is, but in execution it’s really a jumble of those forerunner films, at least until Pfeiffer’s character eventually comes into her own. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄 Evening: A Scottish Christmas Secret The day’s gone downhill, but happily here’s a new offering in the saturated market of cliched, saccharine, over-the-top—and utterly watchable—seasonal comfort food. It’s a tale as well-worn: An American woman journeys to a distant snowy land and ends up stumbling across romance. In this case, Caprice Bourret plays a publisher
It is the season to relax on the sofa 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. This year, a crop of fresh Christmas films hopes to be part of our seasonal watchlist—perhaps even finding a spot alongside beloved favorites like Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually, and Die Hard (no arguments). Thus, in a vital public service to sort the crackers from the turkeys, and to get into the festive feeling, I binged as many recent Christmas films as possible in a single day. First Up: The Jonas Brothers' Holiday Flick Beginning, ideally, on a high. This release is the only 2025 movie on a famous website's list of the greatest 100 holiday films of all time. The musical trio end up stuck in the UK after finishing their global concert series and must return for Christmas. Their attempts are hindered by an evil Santa, who breaks into song to declare they won’t get home until they “find their brotherly magic.” The back-and-forth between the arguing trio is enjoyable even for the non-fan, while fans will no doubt pick up on lots of references as they endeavor to get back using every mode of travel possible. It’s private planes, trains and automobiles. It’s not legendary, but is great for fans and a good start to the day. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄 for Jonas Brothers fans or 🎄🎄🎄 for their loved ones who are obliged to sit through it. Next: A Star in Panto Famous performer Kiefer Sutherland appears as a celebrity roped into a traditional British stage show. “A panto-what??” asks Sutherland’s “difficult” and older lead Brad Mack, who has seen better days and whose representative has misled him into thinking he’s appearing in high-class London stage. His Aladdin co-stars inform him he’s playing Buttons. “Oh no I’m not,” he protests. You can guess their response. Unless you’re not acquainted with traditional panto catchphrases. There are some very funny lines, some heartwarming sub-plots, and the supporting actors is cracking, too. It’s the kind of movie that would be a bit tacky at a different time, but is a highly enjoyable at Christmas. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄🎄 Mid-Morning: Christmas Karma Danny Dyer shows up at the beginning of this film, too, insulting someone for the second consecutive movie. Is this a new Christmas tradition? This time, he’s a crooning chauffeur 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 Bend It Like Beckham’s Gurinder Chadha. The classic narrative progresses as the tight-fisted Mr Sood is haunted by the spirits of Christmas past, present and future, played by Hugh Bonneville, Billy Porter, and Boy George. This South Asian reinterpretation is at least different from all the others, but sadly he’s not very compelling and Nayyar’s portrayal is lifeless—a major flaw when he’s so central to everything. Festive score: 🎄🎄 Lunchtime: Stuffed There's just enough time for a channel's holiday special—which stars Guz Khan as a charmingly cantankerous character who “avoids Christmas.” But after he is awarded an £8,000 Christmas bonus at work, his wife (played by Morgana Robinson) convinces him splurging the cash on a vacation to Lapland. There’s just one problem—he finds out there was an mistake with his bonus, which should have been £800, and he has to figure out how to return the difference. Enjoyable but forgettable. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄 Early Afternoon: Champagne Problems This is one of those Christmas films where the decorations and snow are in the setting—Christmas is the environment of the film rather than its core purpose—but it feels warm and holiday-like all the same. Ambitious executive 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 guy in a book store who promises to show her Christmas in Paris. A critic recently claimed this is the top new Christmas film of the past few years. That’s a bit of a overstatement, but it is a holiday love story with a hint of sophistication and gives the required warm and fuzzy feels. The scene with a extended debate about Die Hard is particularly strong too. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄 3.29pm - Finding Father Christmas Teenage Chris, played by Lenny Rush, continues to believe in Father Christmas, in spite of the attempts of his dad (starring James Buckley) to tell him the truth. The truth is out there, and Chris sets out to find it with the guidance of a team of well-known scientists and personalities. It’s gentle but sweet, and perfect viewing while waiting for Santa to visit. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄 A Star-Studded Family Drama Michelle Pfeiffer is the matriarch of a bickering 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 begins by referencing holiday staples like National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, It’s A Wonderful Life and Home Alone, before declaring: “They need to make a movie about the true heroes of the holidays—moms.” So that’s what this is, but in execution it’s really a jumble of those forerunner films, at least until Pfeiffer’s character eventually comes into her own. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄 Evening: A Scottish Christmas Secret The day’s gone downhill, but happily here’s a new offering in the saturated market of cliched, saccharine, over-the-top—and utterly watchable—seasonal comfort food. It’s a tale as well-worn: An American woman journeys to a distant snowy land and ends up stumbling across romance. In this case, Caprice Bourret plays a publisher