Not only is Christmas a great time for getting families together, sharing gifts and gorging yourself on mince pies and Quality Street, it is also one of the best times of the year to watch some great films and TV shows.
Streaming servicesin particular are going festive movie mad and you can catch some of the very best holiday classics onNetflix,Amazon Prime Video,Disney+and Now TV.
Here are our picks of the best Christmas films to catch on one of the online services.
The Christmas Chronicles
This one Kurt Russell as Santa and is a Netflix exclusive. He gets a couple of kids to help him after his sleigh breaks down, which leads to a great adventure
Devised by the same production team behind Home Alone and Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, The Christmas Chronicles stars Kurt Russell as Santa and is a Netflix exclusive. He gets a couple of kids to help him after his sleigh breaks down, which leads to a great adventure.
The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two
A sequel is now also available on the platform too, with Russell returning as Santa alongside real-world wife Goldie Hawn as Mrs Claus.
A sequel is now also available on the platform too, with Russell returning as Santa alongside real-world wife Goldie Hawn as Mrs Claus. Expect more action fun for all the family.
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
This family musical is the kid-friendly, Christmas-themed equivalent of The Greatest Showman.
Another Netflix exclusive - which it snapped up when a cinema release was not possible - this family musical is the kid-friendly, Christmas-themed equivalent to The Greatest Showman. Forest Whitaker stars as an eccentric toymaker who creates a magical invention.
This flick has become an instant classic. Klaus is a heartwarming tale reimagining the classic Santa Claus mythology.
With beautiful hand-drawn animation and a roster of fantastic voice actors such as J.K. Simmons, Rashida Jones and Norm Macdonald, this flick has become an instant classic. Klaus is a heartwarming tale reimagining the classic Santa Claus mythology.
So good they couldn’t stop making it, Nativity is a charming tale of a classic Christmas tradition.
The first in a series of films that has just spawned a third sequel, Nativity is a heart warming, funny tale starring Martin Freeman as a teacher who misguidedly fibs about getting his school nativity turned into a film, just to impress a girl. Hilarity ensues in this surprisingly fun, family British caper.
The Holidate
The film follows two strangers who agree to become year-long platonic plus-ones, but inevitably start to fall for one another as time goes by.
This 2020 Netflix Original is a self-aware rom-com that’s on the raunchy side, so definitely not one to watch with the kids. The film follows two strangers who agree to become year-long platonic plus-ones, but inevitably start to fall for one another as time goes by.
A Very Murray Christmas
Bill and some of his celebrity friends unite to sing some Christmas classics within a comedy film that will keep you entertained this year.
Bill Murray’s Christmas extravaganza debuted on Netflix in 2015 and became an instant classic, albeit a rather odd one at times. Bill and some of his celebrity friends unite to sing some Christmas classics within a comedy film that will keep you entertained this year.
Deck The Halls
There’s nothing like a bit of friendly competition on the decorations front, although Deck The Halls shows that one can go a bit far.
Buddy Hall (Danny DeVito) has just moved into the neighbourhood and plans to decorate his house with enough Christmas lights so that it can be seen from space. His new neighbour Steve (Matthew Broderick) has always been known as “the Christmas guy” and so doesn’t take kindly to Buddy’s plans. Thus ensues a comedy caper of Steve trying to sabotage the festivities, but things don’t always go his way.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
The Grinch is a classic Christmas tale and when combined with the awesome acting hilarity of Kim Carrey it can hardly be better.
