‘Tis the time of year to relax on the couch and consume a packet of festive treats in front of a good movie, a awful feature, or one that’s so bad it’s good.
This year, a batch of fresh seasonal stories aims to become part of our festive viewing—potentially even earning a place alongside enduring classics like Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually, and Die Hard (don’t start).
Therefore, in a helpful attempt to distinguish the gems from the coal, and to embrace the festive feeling, I marathoned as many fresh festive movies as possible in a single day.
Kicking off, ideally, on a good foot. This is the only 2025 movie on a famous website's list of the greatest 100 holiday films of all time.
The popular band end up stuck in the UK after wrapping up their global concert series and must get home for Christmas. Their attempts are hampered by an evil Santa, who bursts into melody to state they won’t get home until they “find their brotherly magic.”
The back-and-forth between the squabbling siblings is amusing even for the casual viewer, while fans will no doubt pick up on lots of references as they attempt to get back using all transportation available.
It’s a travelogue of mishaps.
It’s not legendary, but is superb for devotees and a solid start to the day.
Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄 for Jonas Brothers fans or 🎄🎄🎄 for their family members who must sit through it.
Hollywood star Kiefer Sutherland has been cast as a movie actor cast a pantomime.
“A panto-what?” asks Sutherland’s “temperamental” and aging action hero Brad Mack, who has fallen on hard times and whose representative has deceived him into thinking he’s starring in high-class London stage.
His Aladdin cast-mates tell him he’s playing Buttons. “Absolutely not,” he protests. One can imagine their reply. Unless you’re not acquainted with traditional panto catchphrases.
There are some hilarious moments, some heartwarming storylines, and the supporting actors is brilliant, too.
It’s the kind of movie that would be a bit cheesy at another season, but is a highly enjoyable at Christmas.
Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄🎄
An actor shows up at the start of this film, too, delivering a signature line for the next movie straight. Is this a fresh holiday staple?
This time, he’s a singing black cab driver 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 progresses as the miserly Mr Sood is visited 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 distinct from all the others, but unfortunately he’s not very compelling and Nayyar’s performance is lifeless—a significant issue when he’s so central to everything.
Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄
Before lunch for a major broadcaster's original festive film—which stars Guz Khan as a charmingly cantankerous character who “isn't big on Christmas.”
But after he receives an sizable holiday payout at work, his wife (portrayed by Morgana Robinson) persuades him spending the sum on a vacation to Lapland.
There’s just one problem—he finds out there was an error with his bonus, which should have been £800, and he has to determine how to pay back the excess.
Fun while it lasts but not lasting.
Festive score: 🎄🎄
This is one of those Christmas films where the decorations and snow are in the background—Christmas is the environment of the film rather than its raison d’etre—but it feels comfortable and seasonal all the same.
High-powered businesswoman Sydney (played by Minka Kelly) is sent to a French chateau to secure an acquisition for a champagne business. During her travels, she runs into a fellow in a literary haven who vows 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 overstatement, but it is a holiday love story with a touch of class and gives the necessary cozy feelings.
The scene with a extended debate about Die Hard is particularly strong too.
Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄
Sixteen-year-old Chris, played by Lenny Rush, holds onto his belief in Father Christmas, despite the attempts of his dad (starring James Buckley) to tell him otherwise.
The secret is out there, and Chris embarks on a quest to find it with the guidance of a panel of well-known scientists and personalities.
It’s understated but charming, and good viewing while anticipating Santa to visit.
Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄
Michelle Pfeiffer is the mother of a bickering American family who reunite 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 practice it’s really a jumble of those aforementioned movies, at least until Pfeiffer’s character finally comes into her own.
Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄
The day’s waned in quality, but fortunately here’s a new addition in the packed genre of predictable, sentimental, cheesy—and highly entertaining—festive fodder.
It’s a narrative as familiar as can be: An American woman travels to a far-off wintery locale and ends up finding romance.
In this case, Caprice Bourret plays a publisher
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