🔗 Share this article Binge-Watching 2025's Holiday Movies: Highlights, Lowlights, and Unexpected Delights. It is the season to relax on the sofa and demolish a packet of mince pies in front of a great film, a poor film, or one that’s so bad it’s good. This year, a crop of fresh Christmas films aims to become part of our seasonal watchlist—perhaps even joining the ranks alongside enduring classics like Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually, and Die Hard (no arguments). Therefore, in a helpful attempt to distinguish the gems from the coal, and to find the festive feeling, I binged as many recent festive movies as possible in a single day. 7.17am - A Very Jonas Christmas Movie Kicking off, ideally, on a good foot. This film is the only 2025 entry on a well-known aggregator's list of the top 100 festive features of all time. The popular band end up stranded in the UK after wrapping up their world tour and must make it back for Christmas. Their efforts are thwarted by an evil Santa, who sings to state they won’t get home until they “find their sibling bond.” The back-and-forth between the squabbling siblings is amusing even for the non-fan, while devotees will no doubt notice lots of in-jokes as they attempt 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 good start to the day. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄 for Jonas Brothers fans or 🎄🎄🎄 for their relatives who are obliged to sit through it. Next: A Star in Panto Famous performer Kiefer Sutherland has been cast as a Hollywood star tricked into a "panto". “A panto-what?” asks Sutherland’s “difficult” and aging star Brad Mack, who has hit a rough patch and whose manager has deceived him into thinking he’s starring in prestigious English theatre. His pantomime co-stars inform him he’s playing Buttons. “Absolutely not,” he protests. You can guess their reply. Unless you’re unfamiliar with traditional panto catchphrases. There are some hilarious moments, some heartwarming sub-plots, and the supporting actors is brilliant, too. It’s the type of film that would be a bit tacky at another season, but is a great entertainment at Christmas. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄🎄 Mid-Morning: Christmas Karma An actor appears at the start of this film, too, delivering a signature line for the second film in a row. Is this a fresh holiday staple? This time, he’s a musical taxi operator 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 director of Gurinder Chadha. The well-known tale develops 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 cultural adaptation is at least different from all the others, but unfortunately he’s not very compelling and Nayyar’s portrayal is wooden—a problem when he’s so the main character. Festive score: 🎄🎄 12.04pm - Stuffed There’s time 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 £8,000 Christmas bonus at work, his wife (portrayed by Morgana Robinson) persuades him splurging the cash on a family trip to Lapland. There’s just one issue—he learns there was an error with his bonus, which should have been £800, and he has to devise a plan for how to return the remainder. Pleasant yet unmemorable. Festive score: 🎄🎄 A Classy Netflix Romance This is one of those holiday movies where the festive trappings are in the background—Christmas is the setting of the film rather than its main point—but it feels comfortable and seasonal all the same. Driven corporate star Sydney (starring Minka Kelly) is sent to a French chateau to secure an acquisition for a champagne business. On the way, she encounters a guy 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 recent era. That’s a bit of a stretch, but it is a festive dalliance with a hint of sophistication and gives the obligatory warm and fuzzy feels. The scene with a extended debate about Die Hard is very good too. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄 Mid-Afternoon: Finding Father Christmas Sixteen-year-old Chris, played by Lenny Rush, holds onto his belief in Father Christmas, despite the efforts of his dad (played by James Buckley) to tell him otherwise. The truth is out there, and Chris sets out to find it with the assistance of a panel of well-known scientists and personalities. It’s low-key but sweet, and ideal viewing while expecting Santa to visit. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄 4.39pm - Oh. What. Fun. Michelle Pfeiffer is the mother of a dysfunctional American family who gather for the holidays—including other 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 stating: “They need to make a movie about the real champions of the holidays—moms.” So that’s the concept, but in execution it’s really a jumble of those inspirations, at least until Pfeiffer’s character at last takes center stage. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄 Evening: A Scottish Christmas Secret The day’s gone downhill, but thankfully here’s a new offering in the crowded field of formulaic, schmaltzy, badly acted—and strangely compelling—holiday fare. It’s a tale as well-worn: An American woman goes on a quest to a distant snowy land and ends up stumbling across romance. In this case, Caprice Bourret plays a publisher
It is the season to relax on the sofa and demolish a packet of mince pies in front of a great film, a poor film, or one that’s so bad it’s good. This year, a crop of fresh Christmas films aims to become part of our seasonal watchlist—perhaps even joining the ranks alongside enduring classics like Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually, and Die Hard (no arguments). Therefore, in a helpful attempt to distinguish the gems from the coal, and to find the festive feeling, I binged as many recent festive movies as possible in a single day. 7.17am - A Very Jonas Christmas Movie Kicking off, ideally, on a good foot. This film is the only 2025 entry on a well-known aggregator's list of the top 100 festive features of all time. The popular band end up stranded in the UK after wrapping up their world tour and must make it back for Christmas. Their efforts are thwarted by an evil Santa, who sings to state they won’t get home until they “find their sibling bond.” The back-and-forth between the squabbling siblings is amusing even for the non-fan, while devotees will no doubt notice lots of in-jokes as they attempt 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 good start to the day. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄 for Jonas Brothers fans or 🎄🎄🎄 for their relatives who are obliged to sit through it. Next: A Star in Panto Famous performer Kiefer Sutherland has been cast as a Hollywood star tricked into a "panto". “A panto-what?” asks Sutherland’s “difficult” and aging star Brad Mack, who has hit a rough patch and whose manager has deceived him into thinking he’s starring in prestigious English theatre. His pantomime co-stars inform him he’s playing Buttons. “Absolutely not,” he protests. You can guess their reply. Unless you’re unfamiliar with traditional panto catchphrases. There are some hilarious moments, some heartwarming sub-plots, and the supporting actors is brilliant, too. It’s the type of film that would be a bit tacky at another season, but is a great entertainment at Christmas. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄🎄 Mid-Morning: Christmas Karma An actor appears at the start of this film, too, delivering a signature line for the second film in a row. Is this a fresh holiday staple? This time, he’s a musical taxi operator 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 director of Gurinder Chadha. The well-known tale develops 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 cultural adaptation is at least different from all the others, but unfortunately he’s not very compelling and Nayyar’s portrayal is wooden—a problem when he’s so the main character. Festive score: 🎄🎄 12.04pm - Stuffed There’s time 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 £8,000 Christmas bonus at work, his wife (portrayed by Morgana Robinson) persuades him splurging the cash on a family trip to Lapland. There’s just one issue—he learns there was an error with his bonus, which should have been £800, and he has to devise a plan for how to return the remainder. Pleasant yet unmemorable. Festive score: 🎄🎄 A Classy Netflix Romance This is one of those holiday movies where the festive trappings are in the background—Christmas is the setting of the film rather than its main point—but it feels comfortable and seasonal all the same. Driven corporate star Sydney (starring Minka Kelly) is sent to a French chateau to secure an acquisition for a champagne business. On the way, she encounters a guy 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 recent era. That’s a bit of a stretch, but it is a festive dalliance with a hint of sophistication and gives the obligatory warm and fuzzy feels. The scene with a extended debate about Die Hard is very good too. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄 Mid-Afternoon: Finding Father Christmas Sixteen-year-old Chris, played by Lenny Rush, holds onto his belief in Father Christmas, despite the efforts of his dad (played by James Buckley) to tell him otherwise. The truth is out there, and Chris sets out to find it with the assistance of a panel of well-known scientists and personalities. It’s low-key but sweet, and ideal viewing while expecting Santa to visit. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄 4.39pm - Oh. What. Fun. Michelle Pfeiffer is the mother of a dysfunctional American family who gather for the holidays—including other 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 stating: “They need to make a movie about the real champions of the holidays—moms.” So that’s the concept, but in execution it’s really a jumble of those inspirations, at least until Pfeiffer’s character at last takes center stage. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄 Evening: A Scottish Christmas Secret The day’s gone downhill, but thankfully here’s a new offering in the crowded field of formulaic, schmaltzy, badly acted—and strangely compelling—holiday fare. It’s a tale as well-worn: An American woman goes on a quest to a distant snowy land and ends up stumbling across romance. In this case, Caprice Bourret plays a publisher