🔗 Share this article Binge-Watching This Year's Holiday Movies: The Good, The Bad and The So-Bad-It's-Good. It is the time of year to relax on the couch and demolish a tin of mince pies in front of a good movie, a bad movie, or one that’s so bad it’s good. Once again, a batch of latest Christmas films aims to become part of our festive viewing—perhaps even joining the ranks alongside beloved favorites like Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually, and Die Hard (we won’t debate it). So, in a vital public service to distinguish the gems from the coal, and to get into the festive feeling, I marathoned as many fresh festive movies as possible in a single day. Early Morning: A Very Jonas Christmas Movie Kicking off, hopefully, on a positive note. This release is the sole 2025 title on a popular review site's list of the greatest 100 festive features of all time. The Jonas Brothers are trapped in the UK after finishing their international trek and must get home for Christmas. Their efforts are hindered by an malevolent Father Christmas, who breaks into song to announce they won’t get home until they “rekindle their brotherly magic.” The back-and-forth between the bickering brothers is amusing even for the non-fan, while devotees will no doubt catch lots of in-jokes as they attempt to get back using any means of transport necessary. It’s private planes, trains and automobiles. It’s not a timeless masterpiece, but is superb for devotees and a solid start to the day. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄 for Jonas Brothers fans or 🎄🎄🎄 for their relatives who are obliged to sit through it. Next: A Star in Panto A-list actor Kiefer Sutherland appears as a celebrity cast a "panto". “A panto-what?” asks Sutherland’s “temperamental” and older lead Brad Mack, who has hit a rough patch and whose representative has tricked him into thinking he’s starring in high-class London stage. His Aladdin fellow actors inform him he’s playing Buttons. “No I'm not,” he retorts. One can imagine their retort. Except if you’re ignorant of traditional panto catchphrases. There are some very funny lines, some cockle-warming side stories, and the rest of the cast is excellent, too. It’s the type of film that would be a bit cheesy at a different time, but is a great entertainment at Christmas. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄🎄 A New Spin on Scrooge Danny Dyer appears at the beginning of this film, too, calling someone a mug for the second film in a row. Is this a new Christmas tradition? This time, he’s a crooning chauffeur who collects Mr Sood, the newest interpretation 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 Bend It Like Beckham’s Gurinder Chadha. The classic narrative develops as the tight-fisted Mr Sood is haunted by the ghosts of Christmas yesterday, today, and tomorrow, played by Hugh Bonneville, Billy Porter, and Boy George. This Indian Scrooge is at least distinct from all the others, but regrettably he’s not very compelling and Nayyar’s portrayal is lifeless—a major flaw when he’s so central to everything. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄 12.04pm - Stuffed There's just enough time for a channel's holiday special—which stars Guz Khan as a lovably grouchy guy who “isn't big on Christmas.” But after he gets an sizable holiday payout at work, his wife (starring Morgana Robinson) convinces him spending the sum on a holiday to Lapland. There’s just one snag—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 remainder. Fun while it lasts but not lasting. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄 A Classy Netflix Romance This is one of those holiday movies where the decorations and snow are in the backdrop—Christmas is the scene of the film rather than its core purpose—but it feels warm and holiday-like all the same. Ambitious executive 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 bookshop who offers to show her a festive Paris. A commentator recently stated this is the top new Christmas film of the recent era. That’s a bit of a exaggeration, but it is a festive dalliance with a dash of elegance and gives the obligatory heartwarming sensation. The scene with a extended debate about Die Hard is notable too. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄 3.29pm - Finding Father Christmas Sixteen-year-old Chris, played by Lenny Rush, holds onto his belief in Father Christmas, in spite of the persuasion of his dad (played by James Buckley) to tell him the truth. The secret is to be discovered, and Chris ventures forth to find it with the assistance of a team of well-known scientists and personalities. It’s understated but endearing, and ideal viewing while waiting for Santa to visit. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄 4.39pm - Oh. What. Fun. Michelle Pfeiffer is the mother of a dysfunctional American family who gather for the holidays—including other acclaimed actress Felicity Jones, Chloe Grace Moretz, Jason Schwartzman, and dad Denis Leary. Pfeiffer begins by referencing holiday staples 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 premise, but in practice it’s really a combination of those aforementioned movies, at least until Pfeiffer’s character finally comes into her own. Festive score: 🎄🎄 6.43pm - A Scottish Christmas Secret The day’s gone downhill, but happily here’s a new addition in the saturated market of formulaic, schmaltzy, badly acted—and utterly watchable—seasonal comfort food. It’s a narrative as well-worn: 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
It is the time of year to relax on the couch and demolish a tin of mince pies in front of a good movie, a bad movie, or one that’s so bad it’s good. Once again, a batch of latest Christmas films aims to become part of our festive viewing—perhaps even joining the ranks alongside beloved favorites like Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually, and Die Hard (we won’t debate it). So, in a vital public service to distinguish the gems from the coal, and to get into the festive feeling, I marathoned as many fresh festive movies as possible in a single day. Early Morning: A Very Jonas Christmas Movie Kicking off, hopefully, on a positive note. This release is the sole 2025 title on a popular review site's list of the greatest 100 festive features of all time. The Jonas Brothers are trapped in the UK after finishing their international trek and must get home for Christmas. Their efforts are hindered by an malevolent Father Christmas, who breaks into song to announce they won’t get home until they “rekindle their brotherly magic.” The back-and-forth between the bickering brothers is amusing even for the non-fan, while devotees will no doubt catch lots of in-jokes as they attempt to get back using any means of transport necessary. It’s private planes, trains and automobiles. It’s not a timeless masterpiece, but is superb for devotees and a solid start to the day. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄 for Jonas Brothers fans or 🎄🎄🎄 for their relatives who are obliged to sit through it. Next: A Star in Panto A-list actor Kiefer Sutherland appears as a celebrity cast a "panto". “A panto-what?” asks Sutherland’s “temperamental” and older lead Brad Mack, who has hit a rough patch and whose representative has tricked him into thinking he’s starring in high-class London stage. His Aladdin fellow actors inform him he’s playing Buttons. “No I'm not,” he retorts. One can imagine their retort. Except if you’re ignorant of traditional panto catchphrases. There are some very funny lines, some cockle-warming side stories, and the rest of the cast is excellent, too. It’s the type of film that would be a bit cheesy at a different time, but is a great entertainment at Christmas. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄🎄 A New Spin on Scrooge Danny Dyer appears at the beginning of this film, too, calling someone a mug for the second film in a row. Is this a new Christmas tradition? This time, he’s a crooning chauffeur who collects Mr Sood, the newest interpretation 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 Bend It Like Beckham’s Gurinder Chadha. The classic narrative develops as the tight-fisted Mr Sood is haunted by the ghosts of Christmas yesterday, today, and tomorrow, played by Hugh Bonneville, Billy Porter, and Boy George. This Indian Scrooge is at least distinct from all the others, but regrettably he’s not very compelling and Nayyar’s portrayal is lifeless—a major flaw when he’s so central to everything. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄 12.04pm - Stuffed There's just enough time for a channel's holiday special—which stars Guz Khan as a lovably grouchy guy who “isn't big on Christmas.” But after he gets an sizable holiday payout at work, his wife (starring Morgana Robinson) convinces him spending the sum on a holiday to Lapland. There’s just one snag—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 remainder. Fun while it lasts but not lasting. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄 A Classy Netflix Romance This is one of those holiday movies where the decorations and snow are in the backdrop—Christmas is the scene of the film rather than its core purpose—but it feels warm and holiday-like all the same. Ambitious executive 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 bookshop who offers to show her a festive Paris. A commentator recently stated this is the top new Christmas film of the recent era. That’s a bit of a exaggeration, but it is a festive dalliance with a dash of elegance and gives the obligatory heartwarming sensation. The scene with a extended debate about Die Hard is notable too. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄 3.29pm - Finding Father Christmas Sixteen-year-old Chris, played by Lenny Rush, holds onto his belief in Father Christmas, in spite of the persuasion of his dad (played by James Buckley) to tell him the truth. The secret is to be discovered, and Chris ventures forth to find it with the assistance of a team of well-known scientists and personalities. It’s understated but endearing, and ideal viewing while waiting for Santa to visit. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄 4.39pm - Oh. What. Fun. Michelle Pfeiffer is the mother of a dysfunctional American family who gather for the holidays—including other acclaimed actress Felicity Jones, Chloe Grace Moretz, Jason Schwartzman, and dad Denis Leary. Pfeiffer begins by referencing holiday staples 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 premise, but in practice it’s really a combination of those aforementioned movies, at least until Pfeiffer’s character finally comes into her own. Festive score: 🎄🎄 6.43pm - A Scottish Christmas Secret The day’s gone downhill, but happily here’s a new addition in the saturated market of formulaic, schmaltzy, badly acted—and utterly watchable—seasonal comfort food. It’s a narrative as well-worn: 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