It is the season to relax on the sofa and demolish a packet of festive treats in front of a good movie, a bad movie, or one that’s terrible yet terrific.
Once again, a batch of latest seasonal stories strives to join part of our holiday traditions—potentially even finding a spot alongside timeless staples like Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually, and Die Hard (don’t start).
Therefore, in a vital public service to distinguish the gems from the coal, and to embrace the holiday mood, I watched as many fresh holiday releases as possible in a single day.
Kicking off, optimistically, on a good foot. This is the sole 2025 movie on a popular review site's list of the top 100 festive features of all time.
The popular band are trapped in the UK after finishing their world tour and must return for Christmas. Their endeavors are hampered by an evil Santa, who bursts into melody to declare they won’t get home until they “rediscover their brotherly magic.”
The banter between the bickering brothers is amusing even for the casual viewer, while followers will no doubt notice lots of in-jokes as they endeavor to get back using any means of transport necessary.
It’s private planes, trains and automobiles.
It’s not a timeless masterpiece, but is excellent for fans and a solid start to the day.
Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄 for Jonas Brothers fans or 🎄🎄🎄 for their family members who are obliged to sit through it.
Famous performer Kiefer Sutherland stars as a Hollywood star cast a traditional British stage show.
“A what's a panto??” asks Sutherland’s “difficult” and aging star Brad Mack, who has hit a rough patch and whose representative has tricked him into thinking he’s performing in prestigious English theatre.
His pantomime co-stars tell him he’s playing Buttons. “No I'm not,” he insists angrily. It's easy to predict their response. Unless you’re not acquainted with traditional panto catchphrases.
There are some very funny lines, some cockle-warming side stories, and the supporting actors is brilliant, too.
It’s the type of film that would be a bit naff at any other time of year, but is a great entertainment at Christmas.
Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄🎄
An actor appears at the beginning of this film, too, calling someone a mug for the second consecutive movie. Might this become a fresh holiday staple?
This time, he’s a crooning chauffeur who collects Mr Sood, the modern take on Mr Scrooge from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.
Mr Sood is played by an actor from Kunal Nayyar and Christmas Karma is directed by the director of Gurinder Chadha. The well-known tale progresses as the miserly Mr Sood is haunted by the spirits of Christmas past, present and future, played by Hugh Bonneville, Billy Porter, and Boy George.
This South Asian reinterpretation is at least unique from all the others, but unfortunately he’s not very captivating and Nayyar’s performance is lifeless—a significant issue when he’s so central to everything.
Festive score: 🎄🎄
There’s time for a major broadcaster's Christmas comedy-drama—which stars Guz Khan as a charmingly cantankerous character who “doesn’t really do Christmas.”
But after he is awarded an sizable holiday payout at work, his wife (starring Morgana Robinson) talks him into blowing the money on a family trip to Lapland.
There’s just one problem—he learns there was an mistake with his bonus, which should have been £800, and he has to figure out how to pay back the excess.
Pleasant yet unmemorable.
Festive score: 🎄🎄
This is one of those holiday movies where the festive trappings are in the backdrop—Christmas is the setting of the film rather than its raison d’etre—but it feels warm and holiday-like all the same.
Driven corporate star Sydney (starring Minka Kelly) is assigned to a vineyard to negotiate a purchase for a sparkling wine company. During her travels, she meets a man in a book store who vows to show her Christmas in Paris.
A commentator recently claimed this is the finest new Christmas film of the past few years. That’s a bit of a overstatement, but it is a festive dalliance with a touch of class and gives the required heartwarming sensation.
The scene with a extended debate about Die Hard is very good too.
Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄
Teenage Chris, played by Lenny Rush, continues to believe in Father Christmas, in spite of the efforts of his dad (played by James Buckley) to tell him the truth.
The secret is somewhere, and Chris embarks on a quest to find it with the guidance of a group of well-known figures.
It’s understated but charming, and perfect viewing while expecting Santa to visit.
Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄
Michelle Pfeiffer is the head of a dysfunctional American family who reunite for the holidays—including fellow Oscar nominee Felicity Jones, Chloe Grace Moretz, Jason Schwartzman, and dad Denis Leary.
Pfeiffer starts by mentioning Christmas classics like National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, It’s A Wonderful Life and Home Alone, before stating: “They need to make a movie about the unsung heroes of the holidays—moms.”
So that’s the premise, but in reality it’s really a jumble of those forerunner films, at least until Pfeiffer’s character at last comes into her own.
Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄
The day’s gone downhill, but happily here’s a new addition in the packed genre of formulaic, schmaltzy, badly acted—and utterly watchable—festive fodder.
It’s a tale as well-worn: An American woman journeys to a picturesque cold country and ends up finding romance.
In this case, Caprice Bourret plays a publisher
Elena Vance is a digital strategist and creative director with over a decade of experience in transforming brands through innovative design.