🔗 Share this article Marathon Viewing 2025's Festive Features: The Good, The Bad and The So-Bad-It's-Good. ‘Tis the time of year to slob out on the sofa and demolish a packet of mince pies in front of a good movie, a awful feature, or one that’s awesomely awful. As always, a crop of latest holiday movies aims to become part of our holiday traditions—perhaps even joining the ranks alongside enduring classics like Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually, and Die Hard (don’t start). Thus, in a helpful attempt to distinguish the gems from the coal, and to embrace the Christmas spirit, I watched as many recent Christmas films as possible in a single day. 7.17am - A Very Jonas Christmas Movie Starting, hopefully, on a high. This release is the sole 2025 movie on a famous website's list of the greatest 100 holiday films of all time. The popular band end up stuck in the UK after wrapping up their international trek and must return for Christmas. Their attempts are hampered by an evil Santa, who breaks into song to declare they won’t get home until they “rediscover their brotherly magic.” The repartee between the bickering brothers is enjoyable even for the non-fan, while followers will undoubtedly catch lots of easter eggs as they endeavor to get back using any means of transport necessary. 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. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄 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 appears as a celebrity roped into a "panto". “A what's a panto??” asks Sutherland’s “difficult” and older star Brad Mack, who has hit a rough patch and whose manager has tricked him into thinking he’s performing in renowned British drama. His pantomime cast-mates tell him he’s playing Buttons. “Absolutely not,” he retorts. You can guess their retort. Unless you’re unfamiliar with traditional stage call-and-response. There are some hilarious moments, some touching sub-plots, and the ensemble 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. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄🎄 Mid-Morning: Christmas Karma A familiar face shows up at the beginning of this film, too, delivering a signature line for the next movie straight. Is this a new Christmas tradition? 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 an actor from Kunal Nayyar and Christmas Karma is directed by the filmmaker behind Gurinder Chadha. The well-known tale develops as the stingy Mr Sood is visited by the spirits 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 regrettably he’s not very charismatic and Nayyar’s performance is lifeless—a major flaw when he’s so the focal point. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄 Lunchtime: Stuffed Before lunch for a network's holiday special—which stars Guz Khan as a endearingly grumpy man who “avoids Christmas.” But after he is awarded an sizable holiday payout 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 learns there was an error with his bonus, which should have been £800, and he has to figure out how to reimburse the excess. Enjoyable but forgettable. Festive score: 🎄🎄 1.12pm - Champagne Problems This is one of those holiday movies where the festive trappings are in the backdrop—Christmas is the environment of the film rather than its main point—but it feels cosy and festive all the same. Driven corporate star Sydney (played by Minka Kelly) is assigned to a French chateau to negotiate a purchase for a sparkling wine company. On the way, she runs into a guy in a literary haven who offers to show her a festive Paris. A commentator recently stated this is the best new Christmas film of the last several seasons. 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 extended debate about Die Hard is notable too. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄 A Charming Quest Young 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 reality. The truth is to be discovered, and Chris ventures forth to find it with the guidance of a group of well-known experts and celebrities. It’s low-key but sweet, and perfect viewing while anticipating Santa to visit. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄 A Star-Studded Family Drama Michelle Pfeiffer is the matriarch of a quarrelling 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 classic festive films like National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, It’s A Wonderful Life and Home Alone, before declaring: “They need to make a movie about the true heroes of the holidays—moms.” So that’s the premise, but in execution it’s really a jumble of those aforementioned movies, at least until Pfeiffer’s character eventually takes center stage. Festive score: 🎄🎄 6.43pm - A Scottish Christmas Secret The day’s taken a dip, but happily here’s a new entry in the packed genre of predictable, sentimental, cheesy—and highly entertaining—seasonal comfort food. It’s a story as well-worn: An American woman journeys to a distant snowy land and ends up discovering romance. In this case, Caprice Bourret plays a publisher
‘Tis the time of year to slob out on the sofa and demolish a packet of mince pies in front of a good movie, a awful feature, or one that’s awesomely awful. As always, a crop of latest holiday movies aims to become part of our holiday traditions—perhaps even joining the ranks alongside enduring classics like Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually, and Die Hard (don’t start). Thus, in a helpful attempt to distinguish the gems from the coal, and to embrace the Christmas spirit, I watched as many recent Christmas films as possible in a single day. 7.17am - A Very Jonas Christmas Movie Starting, hopefully, on a high. This release is the sole 2025 movie on a famous website's list of the greatest 100 holiday films of all time. The popular band end up stuck in the UK after wrapping up their international trek and must return for Christmas. Their attempts are hampered by an evil Santa, who breaks into song to declare they won’t get home until they “rediscover their brotherly magic.” The repartee between the bickering brothers is enjoyable even for the non-fan, while followers will undoubtedly catch lots of easter eggs as they endeavor to get back using any means of transport necessary. 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. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄 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 appears as a celebrity roped into a "panto". “A what's a panto??” asks Sutherland’s “difficult” and older star Brad Mack, who has hit a rough patch and whose manager has tricked him into thinking he’s performing in renowned British drama. His pantomime cast-mates tell him he’s playing Buttons. “Absolutely not,” he retorts. You can guess their retort. Unless you’re unfamiliar with traditional stage call-and-response. There are some hilarious moments, some touching sub-plots, and the ensemble 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. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄🎄 Mid-Morning: Christmas Karma A familiar face shows up at the beginning of this film, too, delivering a signature line for the next movie straight. Is this a new Christmas tradition? 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 an actor from Kunal Nayyar and Christmas Karma is directed by the filmmaker behind Gurinder Chadha. The well-known tale develops as the stingy Mr Sood is visited by the spirits 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 regrettably he’s not very charismatic and Nayyar’s performance is lifeless—a major flaw when he’s so the focal point. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄 Lunchtime: Stuffed Before lunch for a network's holiday special—which stars Guz Khan as a endearingly grumpy man who “avoids Christmas.” But after he is awarded an sizable holiday payout 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 learns there was an error with his bonus, which should have been £800, and he has to figure out how to reimburse the excess. Enjoyable but forgettable. Festive score: 🎄🎄 1.12pm - Champagne Problems This is one of those holiday movies where the festive trappings are in the backdrop—Christmas is the environment of the film rather than its main point—but it feels cosy and festive all the same. Driven corporate star Sydney (played by Minka Kelly) is assigned to a French chateau to negotiate a purchase for a sparkling wine company. On the way, she runs into a guy in a literary haven who offers to show her a festive Paris. A commentator recently stated this is the best new Christmas film of the last several seasons. 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 extended debate about Die Hard is notable too. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄 A Charming Quest Young 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 reality. The truth is to be discovered, and Chris ventures forth to find it with the guidance of a group of well-known experts and celebrities. It’s low-key but sweet, and perfect viewing while anticipating Santa to visit. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄 A Star-Studded Family Drama Michelle Pfeiffer is the matriarch of a quarrelling 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 classic festive films like National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, It’s A Wonderful Life and Home Alone, before declaring: “They need to make a movie about the true heroes of the holidays—moms.” So that’s the premise, but in execution it’s really a jumble of those aforementioned movies, at least until Pfeiffer’s character eventually takes center stage. Festive score: 🎄🎄 6.43pm - A Scottish Christmas Secret The day’s taken a dip, but happily here’s a new entry in the packed genre of predictable, sentimental, cheesy—and highly entertaining—seasonal comfort food. It’s a story as well-worn: An American woman journeys to a distant snowy land and ends up discovering romance. In this case, Caprice Bourret plays a publisher