Devouring 2025's Christmas Films: Highlights, Lowlights, and Unexpected Delights.
It is the time of year to slob out on the sofa and consume a packet of holiday pastries in front of a terrific flick, a poor film, or one that’s awesomely awful.
Once again, a crop of latest 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 (we won’t debate it).
Thus, in a helpful attempt to separate the winners from the losers, and to get into the holiday mood, I watched as many fresh festive movies as possible in a single day.
Early Morning: A Very Jonas Christmas Movie
Starting, hopefully, on a good foot. This film is the sole 2025 movie on a popular review site's list of the top 100 holiday films of all time.
The popular band end up stranded in the UK after concluding their international trek and must make it back for Christmas. Their efforts are hampered by an evil Santa, who bursts into melody to announce they won’t get home until they “rekindle their sibling bond.”
The repartee between the squabbling siblings is entertaining even for the casual viewer, while followers will no doubt pick up on lots of references as they try to get back using every mode of travel possible.
It’s private planes, trains and automobiles.
It’s not legendary, but is excellent for fans and a good start to the day.
Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄 for Jonas Brothers fans or 🎄🎄🎄 for their relatives who are obliged to sit through it.
8.45am - Tinsel Town
Hollywood star Kiefer Sutherland stars as a Hollywood star cast a traditional British stage show.
“A panto-what?” asks Sutherland’s “difficult” and ageing lead Brad Mack, who has seen better days and whose manager has tricked him into thinking he’s starring in high-class London stage.
His Aladdin co-stars let him know he’s playing Buttons. “No I'm not,” he retorts. One can imagine their response. Except if you’re unfamiliar with traditional stage call-and-response.
There are some great jokes, some cockle-warming sub-plots, and the ensemble is excellent, too.
It’s the sort of feature that would be a bit naff at another season, but is a great entertainment at Christmas.
Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄🎄
Mid-Morning: Christmas Karma
Danny Dyer pops up at the start of this film, too, calling someone a mug for the second consecutive movie. Might this become a new Christmas tradition?
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 progresses as the tight-fisted Mr Sood is haunted by the apparitions 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 unfortunately he’s not very captivating and Nayyar’s acting is wooden—a significant issue when he’s so the focal point.
Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄
Noon: A BBC Special
There's just enough time for a major broadcaster'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 (portrayed by Morgana Robinson) convinces him spending the sum on a family trip to Lapland.
There’s just one problem—he discovers there was an mix-up with his bonus, which should have been £800, and he has to figure out how to return the difference.
Pleasant yet unmemorable.
Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄
A Classy Netflix Romance
This is one of those Christmas films where the festive trappings are in the backdrop—Christmas is the environment of the film rather than its main point—but it feels comfortable and seasonal all the same.
Driven corporate star Sydney (played by Minka Kelly) is assigned to a vineyard to negotiate a purchase for a champagne business. During her travels, she encounters a man in a bookshop who vows to show her the holidays in the City of Light.
A commentator recently claimed 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 hint of sophistication and gives the required warm and fuzzy feels.
The scene with a extended debate about Die Hard is notable too.
Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄
A Charming Quest
Teenage Chris, played by Lenny Rush, refuses to stop believing in Father Christmas, regardless of the efforts of his dad (played by James Buckley) to tell him otherwise.
The secret is out there, and Chris sets out to find it with the guidance of a panel of well-known experts and celebrities.
It’s understated but endearing, and perfect viewing while anticipating Santa to visit.
Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄
4.39pm - Oh. What. Fun.
Michelle Pfeiffer is the matriarch of a quarrelling American family who gather for the holidays—including fellow Oscar nominee Felicity Jones, Chloe Grace Moretz, Jason Schwartzman, and dad Denis Leary.
Pfeiffer begins by referencing 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 real champions of the holidays—moms.”
So that’s the premise, but in execution it’s really a combination of those inspirations, at least until Pfeiffer’s character finally finds her strength.
Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄
Evening: A Scottish Christmas Secret
The day’s gone downhill, but happily here’s a new addition in the saturated market of predictable, sentimental, cheesy—and strangely compelling—seasonal comfort food.
It’s a narrative as familiar as can be: An American woman goes on a quest to a far-off wintery locale and ends up stumbling across romance.
In this case, Caprice Bourret plays a publisher
