by Karen Alexander, Sunshima guest blog writer
At the end of a testing year we are all ready to relax, snuggle down and enjoy some Christmas films. The emergence of a new Covid variant has meant that many of us have cancelled planned Christmas outings, so losing yourself in some heart-warming, feel-good Christmas movie fare is a great mood booster. There really has never been so much choice thanks to TV channels such as ITV, BBC, Channel 4 and Channel 5 along with streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon, Apple TV and the new kid on the block Disney +.
This list provides some great suggestions for you to check out which are easily found on TV, and well-known streaming platforms. There are a mix of classics and modern movies that have good reviews from critics and regular movie buffs.
New Movies
These are movies released this Christmas that are on most new Christmas film lists. Having new movies to watch despite the challenges faced by the entertainment industry working within Covid -19 restrictions is pretty amazing. Listed in no particular order:
Love Hard – Netflix – LA writer discovers she’s been catfished when she decides to surprise the ideal match she met on a dating app with a Christmas visit.
Father Christmas is Back – Netflix – Stellar cast with Elizabeth Hurley, John Cleese and Kelsey Grammer. Feuding sisters get a crash course in family togetherness.
A Castle for Christmas – Netflix – with Brook Shields as a famous writer hoping to buy a small castle and Cary Elwes (The Princess Bride) the owner reluctant to sell to a foreigner.
Single All the Way – Netflix’s first gay rom-com. Peter convinces his best friend to pretend to be his boyfriend on a Christmas visit home, surprisingly things do not go as planned.
The Princess Switch 3 – Netflix – Vanessa Hudgens is back playing three roles and this time a priceless relic is stolen.
Home Sweet Home Alone – Disney + – Home Alone reboot, young boy left behind faces a married couple trying to retrieve an heirloom from his house.
Old (and Some New) Classics
These are movies that come to mind every Christmas. Some are cult classics and some are more recent contenders to our regular Christmas viewing. Again in no particular order:
The Santa Claus
Last Christmas – new contender set in London with Emilia Clark
Love Actually
The Holiday
Elf
Nativity! – the original and I think the best
It’s A Wonderful Life
Home Alone
Die Hard
White Christmas
The Muppet Christmas Carol
Holidate – similar storyline to “Single all the Way”, 2 fed up singles agree to be each other’s platonic plus-ones all year long and start to fall for one another.
TV Movies
Some of these do not have a Christmas theme but are still great for watching with the family while you have another mince pie. Plus many Christmas Classics are on TV as well as being available on streaming platforms. Some of these are just my favourites:
Frozen – BBC1 – Christmas Eve
Uncle Buck – ITV2 – Christmas Eve
Mary Poppins Returns – BBC1 – Christmas Day with Emily Blunt
How to Train Your Dragon – Channel 4 – Christmas Day
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – Channel 5 – Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve
Paddington – BBC1 – Boxing Day
Singing in the Rain – BBC2 – Boxing Day
Shrek – ITV 2 – Boxing Day
Paddington 2 – BBC 1 – December 27th
Planes, Trains and Automobiles – Channel 5 – December 28th
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom – Channel 4 – New Year’s Eve
Watching movies during the festive season is an enjoyable way to spend time and be with your family. And with so much choice the biggest problem will be deciding what to watch! Hope you have a Merry Christmas ?