🔗 Share this article Devouring The Latest Holiday Movies: The Good, The Bad and The So-Bad-It's-Good. It is the time of year to relax on the sofa and devour a tin of festive treats in front of a good movie, a poor film, or one that’s terrible yet terrific. Once again, a batch of fresh Christmas films aims to become part of our festive viewing—potentially even earning a place alongside beloved favorites like Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually, and Die Hard (no arguments). Thus, in a vital public service to distinguish the gems from the coal, and to get into the festive feeling, I marathoned as many new holiday releases as possible in a single day. 7.17am - A Very Jonas Christmas Movie Starting, ideally, on a positive note. This film is the exclusive 2025 movie on a popular review site's list of the best 100 holiday films of all time. The popular band end up stranded in the UK after wrapping up their global concert series and must get home for Christmas. Their efforts are hindered by an malevolent Father Christmas, who breaks into song to announce they won’t get home until they “rekindle their brotherly magic.” The repartee between the bickering brothers is entertaining even for the casual viewer, while fans will certainly 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 legendary, but is superb for fans and a positive 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 stars as a movie actor roped into a traditional British stage show. “A what's a panto??” asks Sutherland’s “difficult” and aging action hero Brad Mack, who has hit a rough patch and whose agent has tricked him into thinking he’s starring in high-class London stage. His pantomime co-stars tell him he’s playing Buttons. “No I'm not,” he retorts. One can imagine their response. Except if you’re ignorant of traditional British theatre traditions. There are some very funny lines, some cockle-warming side stories, and the rest of the cast is brilliant, too. It’s the type of film that would be a bit cheesy at a different time, but is a lot of fun at Christmas. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄🎄 10.19am - Christmas Karma A familiar face shows up at the beginning of this film, too, insulting someone for the second film in a row. Is this a budding festive ritual? This time, he’s a musical taxi operator who collects 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 filmmaker behind Gurinder Chadha. The well-known tale unfolds as the miserly Mr Sood is haunted by the spirits of Christmas past, present and future, played by Hugh Bonneville, Billy Porter, and Boy George. This Indian Scrooge is at least distinct from all the others, but regrettably he’s not very captivating and Nayyar’s portrayal is wooden—a problem when he’s so central to everything. Festive score: 🎄🎄 12.04pm - Stuffed There’s time for a network's original festive film—which stars Guz Khan as a lovably grouchy guy who “isn't big on Christmas.” But after he receives an sizable holiday payout at work, his wife (played by Morgana Robinson) talks him into splurging the cash on a family trip to Lapland. There’s just one snag—he learns there was an mistake with his bonus, which should have been £800, and he has to devise a plan for how to reimburse the excess. Enjoyable but forgettable. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄 Early Afternoon: Champagne Problems This is one of those holiday movies where the tree, fairy lights and snow are in the backdrop—Christmas is the setting of the film rather than its raison d’etre—but it feels cosy and festive all the same. Ambitious executive Sydney (starring Minka Kelly) is sent to a country estate to secure an acquisition for a champagne business. En route, she meets a fellow in a book store who promises to show her a festive Paris. A commentator recently claimed this is the best new Christmas film of the last several seasons. That’s a bit of a stretch, but it is a festive dalliance with a touch of class and gives the required warm and fuzzy feels. The scene with a detailed conversation about Die Hard is notable too. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄 Mid-Afternoon: Finding Father Christmas Teenage Chris, played by Lenny Rush, refuses to stop believing in Father Christmas, despite the attempts of his dad (played by James Buckley) to tell him the truth. The secret is out there, and Chris ventures forth to find it with the assistance of a group of well-known scientists and personalities. It’s low-key but endearing, and perfect viewing while anticipating Santa to visit. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄 A Star-Studded Family Drama Michelle Pfeiffer is the mother of a quarrelling American family who reunite for the holidays—including fellow acclaimed actress Felicity Jones, Chloe Grace Moretz, Jason Schwartzman, and dad Denis Leary. Pfeiffer starts by mentioning Christmas classics like National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, It’s A Wonderful Life and Home Alone, before saying: “They need to make a movie about the real champions of the holidays—moms.” So that’s the concept, but in reality it’s really a combination of those inspirations, at least until Pfeiffer’s character finally comes into her own. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄 Evening: A Scottish Christmas Secret The day’s gone downhill, but fortunately here’s a new addition in the saturated market of predictable, sentimental, cheesy—and utterly watchable—holiday fare. It’s a story as well-worn: An American woman journeys to a far-off wintery locale and ends up finding romance. In this case, Caprice Bourret plays a publisher
It is the time of year to relax on the sofa and devour a tin of festive treats in front of a good movie, a poor film, or one that’s terrible yet terrific. Once again, a batch of fresh Christmas films aims to become part of our festive viewing—potentially even earning a place alongside beloved favorites like Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually, and Die Hard (no arguments). Thus, in a vital public service to distinguish the gems from the coal, and to get into the festive feeling, I marathoned as many new holiday releases as possible in a single day. 7.17am - A Very Jonas Christmas Movie Starting, ideally, on a positive note. This film is the exclusive 2025 movie on a popular review site's list of the best 100 holiday films of all time. The popular band end up stranded in the UK after wrapping up their global concert series and must get home for Christmas. Their efforts are hindered by an malevolent Father Christmas, who breaks into song to announce they won’t get home until they “rekindle their brotherly magic.” The repartee between the bickering brothers is entertaining even for the casual viewer, while fans will certainly 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 legendary, but is superb for fans and a positive 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 stars as a movie actor roped into a traditional British stage show. “A what's a panto??” asks Sutherland’s “difficult” and aging action hero Brad Mack, who has hit a rough patch and whose agent has tricked him into thinking he’s starring in high-class London stage. His pantomime co-stars tell him he’s playing Buttons. “No I'm not,” he retorts. One can imagine their response. Except if you’re ignorant of traditional British theatre traditions. There are some very funny lines, some cockle-warming side stories, and the rest of the cast is brilliant, too. It’s the type of film that would be a bit cheesy at a different time, but is a lot of fun at Christmas. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄🎄 10.19am - Christmas Karma A familiar face shows up at the beginning of this film, too, insulting someone for the second film in a row. Is this a budding festive ritual? This time, he’s a musical taxi operator who collects 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 filmmaker behind Gurinder Chadha. The well-known tale unfolds as the miserly Mr Sood is haunted by the spirits of Christmas past, present and future, played by Hugh Bonneville, Billy Porter, and Boy George. This Indian Scrooge is at least distinct from all the others, but regrettably he’s not very captivating and Nayyar’s portrayal is wooden—a problem when he’s so central to everything. Festive score: 🎄🎄 12.04pm - Stuffed There’s time for a network's original festive film—which stars Guz Khan as a lovably grouchy guy who “isn't big on Christmas.” But after he receives an sizable holiday payout at work, his wife (played by Morgana Robinson) talks him into splurging the cash on a family trip to Lapland. There’s just one snag—he learns there was an mistake with his bonus, which should have been £800, and he has to devise a plan for how to reimburse the excess. Enjoyable but forgettable. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄 Early Afternoon: Champagne Problems This is one of those holiday movies where the tree, fairy lights and snow are in the backdrop—Christmas is the setting of the film rather than its raison d’etre—but it feels cosy and festive all the same. Ambitious executive Sydney (starring Minka Kelly) is sent to a country estate to secure an acquisition for a champagne business. En route, she meets a fellow in a book store who promises to show her a festive Paris. A commentator recently claimed this is the best new Christmas film of the last several seasons. That’s a bit of a stretch, but it is a festive dalliance with a touch of class and gives the required warm and fuzzy feels. The scene with a detailed conversation about Die Hard is notable too. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄 Mid-Afternoon: Finding Father Christmas Teenage Chris, played by Lenny Rush, refuses to stop believing in Father Christmas, despite the attempts of his dad (played by James Buckley) to tell him the truth. The secret is out there, and Chris ventures forth to find it with the assistance of a group of well-known scientists and personalities. It’s low-key but endearing, and perfect viewing while anticipating Santa to visit. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄 A Star-Studded Family Drama Michelle Pfeiffer is the mother of a quarrelling American family who reunite for the holidays—including fellow acclaimed actress Felicity Jones, Chloe Grace Moretz, Jason Schwartzman, and dad Denis Leary. Pfeiffer starts by mentioning Christmas classics like National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, It’s A Wonderful Life and Home Alone, before saying: “They need to make a movie about the real champions of the holidays—moms.” So that’s the concept, but in reality it’s really a combination of those inspirations, at least until Pfeiffer’s character finally comes into her own. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄 Evening: A Scottish Christmas Secret The day’s gone downhill, but fortunately here’s a new addition in the saturated market of predictable, sentimental, cheesy—and utterly watchable—holiday fare. It’s a story as well-worn: An American woman journeys to a far-off wintery locale and ends up finding romance. In this case, Caprice Bourret plays a publisher