🔗 Share this article Binge-Watching The Latest Holiday Movies: Highlights, Lowlights, and Unexpected Delights. ‘Tis the season to lounge on the couch and demolish a box of mince pies in front of a great film, a bad movie, or one that’s terrible yet terrific. As always, a selection of latest seasonal stories aims to become part of our holiday traditions—maybe even finding a spot alongside timeless staples like Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually, and Die Hard (no arguments). So, in a helpful attempt to sort the crackers from the turkeys, and to embrace the holiday mood, I watched as many new Christmas films as possible in a single day. Early Morning: A Very Jonas Christmas Movie Starting, hopefully, on a positive note. This is the sole 2025 movie on a famous website's list of the greatest 100 Christmas movies of all time. The musical trio end up stuck in the UK after finishing their international trek and must return for Christmas. Their attempts are hampered by an malevolent Father Christmas, who bursts into melody to state they won’t get home until they “rekindle their sibling bond.” The banter between the squabbling siblings is entertaining even for the uninitiated, while fans will undoubtedly catch lots of easter eggs as they try to get back using every mode of travel possible. It’s a travelogue of mishaps. It’s not legendary, but is excellent for fans and a solid start to the day. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄 for Jonas Brothers fans or 🎄🎄🎄 for their family members who will have to sit through it. Late Morning: Tinsel Town A-list actor Kiefer Sutherland stars as a celebrity roped into a traditional British stage show. “A panto-what?” asks Sutherland’s “difficult” and ageing action hero Brad Mack, who has hit a rough patch and whose representative has deceived him into thinking he’s performing in renowned British drama. His Aladdin co-stars tell him he’s playing Buttons. “Absolutely not,” he retorts. You can guess their retort. That is, unless you’re not acquainted with traditional British theatre traditions. There are some very funny lines, some cockle-warming side stories, and the supporting actors is brilliant, too. It’s the kind of movie that would be a bit naff at any other time of year, but is a great entertainment at Christmas. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄🎄 Mid-Morning: Christmas Karma Danny Dyer pops up at the start of this film, too, delivering a signature line for the second film in a row. Might this become a new Christmas tradition? 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 familiar story develops as the miserly Mr Sood is haunted by the spirits of Christmas yesterday, today, and tomorrow, 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 charismatic and Nayyar’s performance is flat—a problem when he’s so central to everything. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄 Noon: A BBC Special There’s time for a network's Christmas comedy-drama—which stars Guz Khan as a lovably grouchy guy who “isn't big on Christmas.” But after he receives an large festive windfall at work, his wife (starring Morgana Robinson) convinces him blowing the money on a vacation to Lapland. There’s just one issue—he discovers there was an error with his bonus, which should have been £800, and he has to figure out how to pay back the difference. Pleasant yet unmemorable. Festive score: 🎄🎄 1.12pm - Champagne Problems This is one of those Christmas films where the festive trappings are in the background—Christmas is the scene of the film rather than its raison d’etre—but it feels warm and holiday-like all the same. Driven corporate star Sydney (played by Minka Kelly) is assigned to a French chateau to do a deal for a sparkling wine company. En route, she runs into a fellow in a literary haven who vows to show her a festive Paris. An expert recently stated this is the finest new Christmas film of the last several seasons. That’s a bit of a overstatement, but it is a Christmas romance with a hint of sophistication and gives the obligatory cozy feelings. The scene with a detailed conversation about Die Hard is notable too. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄 A Charming Quest Teenage Chris, played by Lenny Rush, refuses to stop believing in Father Christmas, in spite of the attempts of his dad (starring James Buckley) to tell him otherwise. The truth is somewhere, and Chris sets out to find it with the expert help of a group of well-known figures. It’s understated but endearing, and good viewing while expecting Santa to visit. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄 4.39pm - Oh. What. Fun. Michelle Pfeiffer is the head of a quarrelling American family who come back together for the holidays—including other Oscar nominee 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 declaring: “They need to make a movie about the unsung heroes of the holidays—moms.” So that’s the premise, but in reality it’s really a combination of those inspirations, at least until Pfeiffer’s character finally takes center stage. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄 Formulaic Fun The day’s taken a dip, but fortunately here’s a new addition in the packed genre of predictable, sentimental, cheesy—and highly entertaining—seasonal comfort food. It’s a story as old as time: An American woman goes on a quest to a picturesque cold country and ends up discovering romance. In this case, Caprice Bourret plays a publisher
‘Tis the season to lounge on the couch and demolish a box of mince pies in front of a great film, a bad movie, or one that’s terrible yet terrific. As always, a selection of latest seasonal stories aims to become part of our holiday traditions—maybe even finding a spot alongside timeless staples like Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually, and Die Hard (no arguments). So, in a helpful attempt to sort the crackers from the turkeys, and to embrace the holiday mood, I watched as many new Christmas films as possible in a single day. Early Morning: A Very Jonas Christmas Movie Starting, hopefully, on a positive note. This is the sole 2025 movie on a famous website's list of the greatest 100 Christmas movies of all time. The musical trio end up stuck in the UK after finishing their international trek and must return for Christmas. Their attempts are hampered by an malevolent Father Christmas, who bursts into melody to state they won’t get home until they “rekindle their sibling bond.” The banter between the squabbling siblings is entertaining even for the uninitiated, while fans will undoubtedly catch lots of easter eggs as they try to get back using every mode of travel possible. It’s a travelogue of mishaps. It’s not legendary, but is excellent for fans and a solid start to the day. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄 for Jonas Brothers fans or 🎄🎄🎄 for their family members who will have to sit through it. Late Morning: Tinsel Town A-list actor Kiefer Sutherland stars as a celebrity roped into a traditional British stage show. “A panto-what?” asks Sutherland’s “difficult” and ageing action hero Brad Mack, who has hit a rough patch and whose representative has deceived him into thinking he’s performing in renowned British drama. His Aladdin co-stars tell him he’s playing Buttons. “Absolutely not,” he retorts. You can guess their retort. That is, unless you’re not acquainted with traditional British theatre traditions. There are some very funny lines, some cockle-warming side stories, and the supporting actors is brilliant, too. It’s the kind of movie that would be a bit naff at any other time of year, but is a great entertainment at Christmas. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄🎄 Mid-Morning: Christmas Karma Danny Dyer pops up at the start of this film, too, delivering a signature line for the second film in a row. Might this become a new Christmas tradition? 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 familiar story develops as the miserly Mr Sood is haunted by the spirits of Christmas yesterday, today, and tomorrow, 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 charismatic and Nayyar’s performance is flat—a problem when he’s so central to everything. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄 Noon: A BBC Special There’s time for a network's Christmas comedy-drama—which stars Guz Khan as a lovably grouchy guy who “isn't big on Christmas.” But after he receives an large festive windfall at work, his wife (starring Morgana Robinson) convinces him blowing the money on a vacation to Lapland. There’s just one issue—he discovers there was an error with his bonus, which should have been £800, and he has to figure out how to pay back the difference. Pleasant yet unmemorable. Festive score: 🎄🎄 1.12pm - Champagne Problems This is one of those Christmas films where the festive trappings are in the background—Christmas is the scene of the film rather than its raison d’etre—but it feels warm and holiday-like all the same. Driven corporate star Sydney (played by Minka Kelly) is assigned to a French chateau to do a deal for a sparkling wine company. En route, she runs into a fellow in a literary haven who vows to show her a festive Paris. An expert recently stated this is the finest new Christmas film of the last several seasons. That’s a bit of a overstatement, but it is a Christmas romance with a hint of sophistication and gives the obligatory cozy feelings. The scene with a detailed conversation about Die Hard is notable too. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄 A Charming Quest Teenage Chris, played by Lenny Rush, refuses to stop believing in Father Christmas, in spite of the attempts of his dad (starring James Buckley) to tell him otherwise. The truth is somewhere, and Chris sets out to find it with the expert help of a group of well-known figures. It’s understated but endearing, and good viewing while expecting Santa to visit. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄 4.39pm - Oh. What. Fun. Michelle Pfeiffer is the head of a quarrelling American family who come back together for the holidays—including other Oscar nominee 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 declaring: “They need to make a movie about the unsung heroes of the holidays—moms.” So that’s the premise, but in reality it’s really a combination of those inspirations, at least until Pfeiffer’s character finally takes center stage. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄 Formulaic Fun The day’s taken a dip, but fortunately here’s a new addition in the packed genre of predictable, sentimental, cheesy—and highly entertaining—seasonal comfort food. It’s a story as old as time: An American woman goes on a quest to a picturesque cold country and ends up discovering romance. In this case, Caprice Bourret plays a publisher