🔗 Share this article Devouring The Latest Holiday Movies: The Good, The Bad and The So-Bad-It's-Good. ‘Tis the time of year to slob out on the couch and devour a tin of mince pies in front of a terrific flick, a bad movie, or one that’s awesomely awful. Once again, a selection of new Christmas films strives to join part of our festive viewing—perhaps even earning a place alongside beloved favorites like Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually, and Die Hard (we won’t debate it). So, in a noble effort to sort the crackers from the turkeys, and to embrace the Christmas spirit, I watched as many recent holiday releases as possible in a single day. 7.17am - A Very Jonas Christmas Movie Starting, optimistically, on a high. This film is the sole 2025 movie on a well-known aggregator's list of the greatest 100 holiday films of all time. The musical trio find themselves stuck in the UK after wrapping up their international trek and must make it back for Christmas. Their attempts are hampered by an evil Santa, who sings to announce they won’t get home until they “rekindle their brotherly magic.” The repartee between the arguing trio is enjoyable even for the non-fan, while followers will undoubtedly catch lots of easter eggs as they try to get back using any means of transport necessary. It’s a travelogue of mishaps. It’s not a timeless masterpiece, but is excellent for fans and a positive start to the day. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄 for Jonas Brothers fans or 🎄🎄🎄 for their loved ones who will have to sit through it. Next: A Star in Panto Hollywood star Kiefer Sutherland stars as a Hollywood star roped into a pantomime. “A panto-what??” asks Sutherland’s “difficult” and ageing lead Brad Mack, who has fallen on hard times and whose manager has deceived him into thinking he’s appearing in renowned British drama. His Aladdin fellow actors let him know he’s playing Buttons. “Absolutely not,” he retorts. You can guess their reply. Unless you’re ignorant of traditional British theatre traditions. There are some very funny lines, some heartwarming side stories, and the supporting actors is brilliant, too. It’s the kind of movie that would be a bit tacky at any other time of year, but is a great entertainment at Christmas. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄🎄 Mid-Morning: Christmas Karma An actor shows up at the beginning of this film, too, insulting someone for the next movie straight. Is this a fresh holiday staple? This time, he’s a crooning chauffeur who picks up Mr Sood, the newest interpretation 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 classic narrative progresses as the stingy Mr Sood is haunted by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future, played by Hugh Bonneville, Billy Porter, and Boy George. This Indian Scrooge is at least different from all the others, but sadly he’s not very compelling and Nayyar’s performance is flat—a major flaw when he’s so central to everything. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄 Noon: A BBC Special There's just enough 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 receives an £8,000 Christmas bonus at work, his wife (portrayed by Morgana Robinson) talks him into spending the sum on a holiday to Lapland. There’s just one snag—he finds out there was an mistake with his bonus, which should have been £800, and he has to determine how to reimburse the excess. Enjoyable but forgettable. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄 A Classy Netflix Romance This is one of those Christmas films where the decorations and snow are in the backdrop—Christmas is the scene of the film rather than its core purpose—but it feels cosy and festive all the same. Driven corporate star Sydney (played by Minka Kelly) is dispatched to a country estate to negotiate a purchase for a sparkling wine company. En route, she runs into a fellow in a book store who promises to show her the holidays in the City of Light. A critic recently stated this is the top new Christmas film of the past few years. That’s a bit of a stretch, but it is a festive dalliance with a hint of sophistication and gives the necessary heartwarming sensation. The scene with a detailed conversation about Die Hard is particularly strong too. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄 3.29pm - Finding Father Christmas Teenage Chris, played by Lenny Rush, continues to believe in Father Christmas, regardless of the persuasion of his dad (played by James Buckley) to tell him the truth. The secret is somewhere, and Chris ventures forth to find it with the guidance of a panel of well-known scientists and personalities. It’s low-key but charming, and ideal viewing while expecting Santa to visit. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄 Late Afternoon: Oh. What. Fun. Michelle Pfeiffer is the mother of a bickering American family who come back together for the holidays—including other 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 declaring: “They need to make a movie about the unsung heroes of the holidays—moms.” So that’s what this is, but in reality it’s really a mash-up of those inspirations, at least until Pfeiffer’s character eventually finds her strength. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄 Formulaic Fun The day’s waned in quality, but fortunately here’s a new addition in the saturated market of formulaic, schmaltzy, badly acted—and strangely compelling—seasonal comfort food. It’s a story as old as time: 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
‘Tis the time of year to slob out on the couch and devour a tin of mince pies in front of a terrific flick, a bad movie, or one that’s awesomely awful. Once again, a selection of new Christmas films strives to join part of our festive viewing—perhaps even earning a place alongside beloved favorites like Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually, and Die Hard (we won’t debate it). So, in a noble effort to sort the crackers from the turkeys, and to embrace the Christmas spirit, I watched as many recent holiday releases as possible in a single day. 7.17am - A Very Jonas Christmas Movie Starting, optimistically, on a high. This film is the sole 2025 movie on a well-known aggregator's list of the greatest 100 holiday films of all time. The musical trio find themselves stuck in the UK after wrapping up their international trek and must make it back for Christmas. Their attempts are hampered by an evil Santa, who sings to announce they won’t get home until they “rekindle their brotherly magic.” The repartee between the arguing trio is enjoyable even for the non-fan, while followers will undoubtedly catch lots of easter eggs as they try to get back using any means of transport necessary. It’s a travelogue of mishaps. It’s not a timeless masterpiece, but is excellent for fans and a positive start to the day. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄 for Jonas Brothers fans or 🎄🎄🎄 for their loved ones who will have to sit through it. Next: A Star in Panto Hollywood star Kiefer Sutherland stars as a Hollywood star roped into a pantomime. “A panto-what??” asks Sutherland’s “difficult” and ageing lead Brad Mack, who has fallen on hard times and whose manager has deceived him into thinking he’s appearing in renowned British drama. His Aladdin fellow actors let him know he’s playing Buttons. “Absolutely not,” he retorts. You can guess their reply. Unless you’re ignorant of traditional British theatre traditions. There are some very funny lines, some heartwarming side stories, and the supporting actors is brilliant, too. It’s the kind of movie that would be a bit tacky at any other time of year, but is a great entertainment at Christmas. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄🎄 Mid-Morning: Christmas Karma An actor shows up at the beginning of this film, too, insulting someone for the next movie straight. Is this a fresh holiday staple? This time, he’s a crooning chauffeur who picks up Mr Sood, the newest interpretation 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 classic narrative progresses as the stingy Mr Sood is haunted by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future, played by Hugh Bonneville, Billy Porter, and Boy George. This Indian Scrooge is at least different from all the others, but sadly he’s not very compelling and Nayyar’s performance is flat—a major flaw when he’s so central to everything. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄 Noon: A BBC Special There's just enough 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 receives an £8,000 Christmas bonus at work, his wife (portrayed by Morgana Robinson) talks him into spending the sum on a holiday to Lapland. There’s just one snag—he finds out there was an mistake with his bonus, which should have been £800, and he has to determine how to reimburse the excess. Enjoyable but forgettable. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄 A Classy Netflix Romance This is one of those Christmas films where the decorations and snow are in the backdrop—Christmas is the scene of the film rather than its core purpose—but it feels cosy and festive all the same. Driven corporate star Sydney (played by Minka Kelly) is dispatched to a country estate to negotiate a purchase for a sparkling wine company. En route, she runs into a fellow in a book store who promises to show her the holidays in the City of Light. A critic recently stated this is the top new Christmas film of the past few years. That’s a bit of a stretch, but it is a festive dalliance with a hint of sophistication and gives the necessary heartwarming sensation. The scene with a detailed conversation about Die Hard is particularly strong too. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄 3.29pm - Finding Father Christmas Teenage Chris, played by Lenny Rush, continues to believe in Father Christmas, regardless of the persuasion of his dad (played by James Buckley) to tell him the truth. The secret is somewhere, and Chris ventures forth to find it with the guidance of a panel of well-known scientists and personalities. It’s low-key but charming, and ideal viewing while expecting Santa to visit. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄 Late Afternoon: Oh. What. Fun. Michelle Pfeiffer is the mother of a bickering American family who come back together for the holidays—including other 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 declaring: “They need to make a movie about the unsung heroes of the holidays—moms.” So that’s what this is, but in reality it’s really a mash-up of those inspirations, at least until Pfeiffer’s character eventually finds her strength. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄 Formulaic Fun The day’s waned in quality, but fortunately here’s a new addition in the saturated market of formulaic, schmaltzy, badly acted—and strangely compelling—seasonal comfort food. It’s a story as old as time: 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