🔗 Share this article Marathon Viewing This Year's Festive Features: The Hits, The Misses, and The Guilty Pleasures. It is the time of year to slob out on the sofa and consume a packet of mince pies in front of a good movie, a awful feature, or one that’s so bad it’s good. Once again, a batch of latest Christmas films hopes to be part of our seasonal watchlist—maybe even earning a place alongside enduring classics like Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually, and Die Hard (we won’t debate it). Thus, in a helpful attempt to sort the crackers from the turkeys, and to embrace the festive feeling, I binged as many recent holiday releases as possible in a single day. First Up: The Jonas Brothers' Holiday Flick Kicking off, ideally, on a good foot. This film is the only 2025 title on a popular review site's list of the greatest 100 Christmas movies of all time. The musical trio are trapped in the UK after wrapping up their international trek and must get home for Christmas. Their efforts are hampered by an villainous Saint Nick, who breaks into song to declare they won’t get home until they “rediscover their brotherly magic.” The repartee between the squabbling siblings is entertaining even for the uninitiated, while followers will certainly pick up on lots of references as they attempt to get back using every mode of travel possible. It’s a travelogue of mishaps. It’s not an all-time classic, but is superb for fans and a positive 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 appears as a Hollywood star tricked into a pantomime. “A panto-what??” asks Sutherland’s “difficult” and ageing action hero Brad Mack, who has seen better days and whose representative has misled him into thinking he’s starring in renowned British drama. His Aladdin cast-mates tell him he’s playing Buttons. “Absolutely not,” he insists angrily. It's easy to predict their retort. That is, unless you’re ignorant of traditional panto catchphrases. There are some very funny lines, some touching sub-plots, and the supporting actors is excellent, too. It’s the kind of movie that would be a bit cheesy at a different time, but is a highly enjoyable at Christmas. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄🎄 10.19am - Christmas Karma A familiar face appears at the beginning of this film, too, delivering a signature line for the next movie straight. Could this be a new Christmas tradition? This time, he’s a crooning chauffeur who picks up Mr Sood, the latest spin on Mr Scrooge from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Mr Sood is played by a star of Kunal Nayyar and Christmas Karma is directed by Bend It Like Beckham’s Gurinder Chadha. The familiar story develops as the tight-fisted Mr Sood is confronted by the apparitions of Christmas past, present and future, played by Hugh Bonneville, Billy Porter, and Boy George. This South Asian reinterpretation is at least distinct from all the others, but sadly he’s not very charismatic and Nayyar’s portrayal is flat—a significant issue when he’s so the focal point. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄 Lunchtime: Stuffed Before lunch for a channel's Christmas comedy-drama—which stars Guz Khan as a lovably grouchy guy who “avoids Christmas.” But after he receives an sizable holiday payout at work, his wife (played by Morgana Robinson) persuades him blowing the money on a holiday to Lapland. There’s just one problem—he discovers there was an error with his bonus, which should have been £800, and he has to devise a plan for how to pay back the excess. Fun while it lasts but not lasting. Festive score: 🎄🎄 Early Afternoon: Champagne Problems This is one of those holiday movies where the decorations and snow are in the background—Christmas is the setting of the film rather than its core purpose—but it feels cosy and festive all the same. Ambitious executive Sydney (starring Minka Kelly) is dispatched to a French chateau to negotiate a purchase for a champagne business. En route, she runs into a fellow 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 recent era. That’s a bit of a stretch, but it is a Christmas romance with a dash of elegance and gives the required heartwarming sensation. The scene with a lengthy discussion about Die Hard is very good too. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄 A Charming Quest Teenage Chris, played by Lenny Rush, continues to believe in Father Christmas, regardless of the attempts of his dad (starring James Buckley) to tell him otherwise. The truth is somewhere, and Chris ventures forth to find it with the expert help of a group of well-known figures. It’s low-key but endearing, and perfect viewing while waiting for Santa to visit. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄 Late Afternoon: Oh. What. Fun. Michelle Pfeiffer is the matriarch of a bickering American family who reunite for the holidays—including other Oscar nominee Felicity Jones, Chloe Grace Moretz, Jason Schwartzman, and dad Denis Leary. Pfeiffer starts by mentioning 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 true heroes of the holidays—moms.” So that’s the concept, but in practice it’s really a jumble of those aforementioned movies, at least until Pfeiffer’s character at last finds her strength. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄 6.43pm - A Scottish Christmas Secret The day’s taken a dip, but happily here’s a new addition in the packed genre of formulaic, schmaltzy, badly acted—and highly entertaining—festive fodder. It’s a narrative as old as time: An American woman journeys to a picturesque cold country and ends up finding romance. In this case, Caprice Bourret plays a publisher
It is the time of year to slob out on the sofa and consume a packet of mince pies in front of a good movie, a awful feature, or one that’s so bad it’s good. Once again, a batch of latest Christmas films hopes to be part of our seasonal watchlist—maybe even earning a place alongside enduring classics like Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually, and Die Hard (we won’t debate it). Thus, in a helpful attempt to sort the crackers from the turkeys, and to embrace the festive feeling, I binged as many recent holiday releases as possible in a single day. First Up: The Jonas Brothers' Holiday Flick Kicking off, ideally, on a good foot. This film is the only 2025 title on a popular review site's list of the greatest 100 Christmas movies of all time. The musical trio are trapped in the UK after wrapping up their international trek and must get home for Christmas. Their efforts are hampered by an villainous Saint Nick, who breaks into song to declare they won’t get home until they “rediscover their brotherly magic.” The repartee between the squabbling siblings is entertaining even for the uninitiated, while followers will certainly pick up on lots of references as they attempt to get back using every mode of travel possible. It’s a travelogue of mishaps. It’s not an all-time classic, but is superb for fans and a positive 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 appears as a Hollywood star tricked into a pantomime. “A panto-what??” asks Sutherland’s “difficult” and ageing action hero Brad Mack, who has seen better days and whose representative has misled him into thinking he’s starring in renowned British drama. His Aladdin cast-mates tell him he’s playing Buttons. “Absolutely not,” he insists angrily. It's easy to predict their retort. That is, unless you’re ignorant of traditional panto catchphrases. There are some very funny lines, some touching sub-plots, and the supporting actors is excellent, too. It’s the kind of movie that would be a bit cheesy at a different time, but is a highly enjoyable at Christmas. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄🎄 10.19am - Christmas Karma A familiar face appears at the beginning of this film, too, delivering a signature line for the next movie straight. Could this be a new Christmas tradition? This time, he’s a crooning chauffeur who picks up Mr Sood, the latest spin on Mr Scrooge from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Mr Sood is played by a star of Kunal Nayyar and Christmas Karma is directed by Bend It Like Beckham’s Gurinder Chadha. The familiar story develops as the tight-fisted Mr Sood is confronted by the apparitions of Christmas past, present and future, played by Hugh Bonneville, Billy Porter, and Boy George. This South Asian reinterpretation is at least distinct from all the others, but sadly he’s not very charismatic and Nayyar’s portrayal is flat—a significant issue when he’s so the focal point. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄 Lunchtime: Stuffed Before lunch for a channel's Christmas comedy-drama—which stars Guz Khan as a lovably grouchy guy who “avoids Christmas.” But after he receives an sizable holiday payout at work, his wife (played by Morgana Robinson) persuades him blowing the money on a holiday to Lapland. There’s just one problem—he discovers there was an error with his bonus, which should have been £800, and he has to devise a plan for how to pay back the excess. Fun while it lasts but not lasting. Festive score: 🎄🎄 Early Afternoon: Champagne Problems This is one of those holiday movies where the decorations and snow are in the background—Christmas is the setting of the film rather than its core purpose—but it feels cosy and festive all the same. Ambitious executive Sydney (starring Minka Kelly) is dispatched to a French chateau to negotiate a purchase for a champagne business. En route, she runs into a fellow 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 recent era. That’s a bit of a stretch, but it is a Christmas romance with a dash of elegance and gives the required heartwarming sensation. The scene with a lengthy discussion about Die Hard is very good too. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄 A Charming Quest Teenage Chris, played by Lenny Rush, continues to believe in Father Christmas, regardless of the attempts of his dad (starring James Buckley) to tell him otherwise. The truth is somewhere, and Chris ventures forth to find it with the expert help of a group of well-known figures. It’s low-key but endearing, and perfect viewing while waiting for Santa to visit. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄 Late Afternoon: Oh. What. Fun. Michelle Pfeiffer is the matriarch of a bickering American family who reunite for the holidays—including other Oscar nominee Felicity Jones, Chloe Grace Moretz, Jason Schwartzman, and dad Denis Leary. Pfeiffer starts by mentioning 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 true heroes of the holidays—moms.” So that’s the concept, but in practice it’s really a jumble of those aforementioned movies, at least until Pfeiffer’s character at last finds her strength. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄 6.43pm - A Scottish Christmas Secret The day’s taken a dip, but happily here’s a new addition in the packed genre of formulaic, schmaltzy, badly acted—and highly entertaining—festive fodder. It’s a narrative as old as time: An American woman journeys to a picturesque cold country and ends up finding romance. In this case, Caprice Bourret plays a publisher