‘Tis the time of year to slob out on the sofa and devour a box of holiday pastries in front of a terrific flick, a awful feature, or one that’s terrible yet terrific.
This year, a batch of new holiday movies hopes to be part of our festive viewing—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 distinguish the gems from the coal, and to embrace the festive feeling, I watched as many fresh festive movies as possible in a single day.
Beginning, hopefully, on a positive note. This film is the sole 2025 movie on a popular review site's list of the best 100 holiday films of all time.
The Jonas Brothers end up trapped in the UK after finishing their world tour and must get home for Christmas. Their endeavors are thwarted by an evil Santa, who sings to state they won’t get home until they “rekindle their brotherly magic.”
The repartee between the arguing trio is entertaining even for the casual viewer, while followers will no doubt notice lots of easter eggs as they endeavor to get back using every mode of travel possible.
It’s private planes, trains and automobiles.
It’s not an all-time classic, but is excellent for devotees and a positive start to the day.
Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄 for Jonas Brothers fans or 🎄🎄🎄 for their family members who are obliged to sit through it.
Famous performer Kiefer Sutherland appears as a movie actor roped into a traditional British stage show.
“A what's a panto??” asks Sutherland’s “difficult” and ageing lead Brad Mack, who has seen better days and whose manager has tricked him into thinking he’s performing in renowned British drama.
His Aladdin cast-mates tell him he’s playing Buttons. “Oh no I’m not,” he protests. It's easy to predict their retort. Unless you’re unfamiliar with traditional stage call-and-response.
There are some hilarious moments, some touching storylines, and the ensemble is excellent, too.
It’s the sort of feature that would be a bit naff at any other time of year, but is a great entertainment at Christmas.
Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄🎄
Danny Dyer appears at the start of this film, too, delivering a signature line for the second consecutive movie. Could this be a fresh holiday staple?
This time, he’s a crooning chauffeur who encounters 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 classic narrative develops as the miserly Mr Sood is visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future, played by Hugh Bonneville, Billy Porter, and Boy George.
This Indian Scrooge is at least unique from all the others, but unfortunately he’s not very charismatic and Nayyar’s portrayal is wooden—a problem when he’s so central to everything.
Festive score: 🎄🎄
There’s time for a network's holiday special—which stars Guz Khan as a endearingly grumpy man who “isn't big on Christmas.”
But after he is awarded an sizable holiday payout at work, his wife (starring Morgana Robinson) persuades him splurging the cash on a vacation to Lapland.
There’s just one issue—he learns there was an mix-up with his bonus, which should have been £800, and he has to devise a plan for how to reimburse the difference.
Enjoyable but forgettable.
Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄
This is one of those Christmas films where the decorations and snow are in the setting—Christmas is the setting of the film rather than its core purpose—but it feels comfortable and seasonal all the same.
Ambitious executive Sydney (played by Minka Kelly) is assigned to a French chateau to do a deal for a sparkling wine company. On the way, she meets a man in a literary haven who promises to show her the holidays in the City of Light.
A commentator recently declared this is the finest new Christmas film of the past few years. That’s a bit of a exaggeration, but it is a festive dalliance with a hint of sophistication and gives the necessary cozy feelings.
The scene with a detailed conversation about Die Hard is notable too.
Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄
Young Chris, played by Lenny Rush, holds onto his belief in Father Christmas, despite the persuasion of his dad (played by James Buckley) to tell him otherwise.
The truth is somewhere, and Chris embarks on a quest to find it with the assistance of a team of well-known scientists and personalities.
It’s understated but endearing, and good viewing while anticipating Santa to visit.
Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄
Michelle Pfeiffer is the head 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 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 real champions of the holidays—moms.”
So that’s the premise, but in practice it’s really a jumble of those aforementioned movies, at least until Pfeiffer’s character eventually takes center stage.
Festive score: 🎄🎄
The day’s waned in quality, but happily here’s a new entry in the packed genre of cliched, saccharine, over-the-top—and strangely compelling—holiday fare.
It’s a tale as old as time: 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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