🔗 Share this article Devouring 2025's Christmas Films: The Good, The Bad and The So-Bad-It's-Good. It is the time of year to relax on the sofa and demolish a tin of festive treats in front of a great film, a bad movie, or one that’s terrible yet terrific. Once again, a selection of fresh Christmas films aims to become part of our holiday traditions—maybe even finding a spot alongside beloved favorites like Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually, and Die Hard (don’t start). So, in a vital public service to separate the winners from the losers, and to embrace the festive feeling, I watched as many fresh holiday releases as possible in a single day. Early Morning: A Very Jonas Christmas Movie Kicking off, optimistically, on a positive note. This is the sole 2025 title on a popular review site's list of the greatest 100 holiday films of all time. The popular band end up stranded in the UK after concluding their world tour and must get home for Christmas. Their efforts are hampered by an evil Santa, who bursts into melody to announce they won’t get home until they “rekindle their brotherly magic.” The repartee between the bickering brothers is amusing even for the casual viewer, while devotees will no doubt notice lots of easter eggs as they attempt to get back using all transportation available. It’s a travelogue of mishaps. It’s not legendary, but is great for fans and a positive start to the day. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄 for Jonas Brothers fans or 🎄🎄🎄 for their loved ones who must sit through it. Late Morning: Tinsel Town Famous performer Kiefer Sutherland has been cast as a movie actor tricked into a traditional British stage show. “A panto-what??” asks Sutherland’s “temperamental” and older star Brad Mack, who has fallen on hard times and whose manager has tricked him into thinking he’s performing in renowned British drama. His pantomime co-stars inform him he’s playing Buttons. “Oh no I’m not,” he protests. One can imagine their retort. That is, unless you’re ignorant of traditional stage call-and-response. There are some very funny lines, some cockle-warming sub-plots, and the supporting actors is excellent, too. It’s the sort of feature that would be a bit naff at a different time, but is a great entertainment at Christmas. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄🎄 Mid-Morning: Christmas Karma A familiar face appears at the start of this film, too, calling someone a mug for the second consecutive movie. Might this become a new Christmas tradition? This time, he’s a crooning chauffeur who collects 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 unfolds as the miserly Mr Sood is haunted by the ghosts 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 sadly he’s not very charismatic and Nayyar’s performance is wooden—a problem when he’s so central to everything. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄 Lunchtime: Stuffed There’s time for a major broadcaster's holiday special—which stars Guz Khan as a endearingly grumpy man who “doesn’t really do Christmas.” But after he is awarded an large festive windfall at work, his wife (starring Morgana Robinson) talks him into splurging the cash on a family trip to Lapland. There’s just one problem—he finds out there was an error with his bonus, which should have been £800, and he has to figure out how to pay back the remainder. Pleasant yet unmemorable. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄 1.12pm - Champagne Problems This is one of those Christmas films where the tree, fairy lights and snow are in the backdrop—Christmas is the environment of the film rather than its core purpose—but it feels warm and holiday-like all the same. High-powered businesswoman Sydney (played by Minka Kelly) is sent to a French chateau to do a deal for a champagne business. On the way, she runs into a fellow in a book store who vows to show her the holidays in the City of Light. A commentator recently declared this is the best new Christmas film of the last several seasons. That’s a bit of a stretch, but it is a holiday love story with a dash of elegance and gives the required cozy feelings. The scene with a detailed conversation about Die Hard is particularly strong too. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄 A Charming Quest Sixteen-year-old Chris, played by Lenny Rush, continues to believe in Father Christmas, despite the attempts of his dad (starring James Buckley) to tell him the truth. The answer is out there, and Chris ventures forth to find it with the guidance of a group of well-known scientists and personalities. It’s gentle but sweet, and good viewing while waiting for Santa to visit. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄 4.39pm - Oh. What. Fun. Michelle Pfeiffer is the matriarch of a bickering American family who gather for the holidays—including other Oscar nominee 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 saying: “They need to make a movie about the true heroes of the holidays—moms.” So that’s the concept, but in reality it’s really a jumble of those forerunner films, at least until Pfeiffer’s character at last finds her strength. Festive score: 🎄🎄 Formulaic Fun The day’s taken a dip, but fortunately here’s a new offering in the crowded field of cliched, saccharine, over-the-top—and highly entertaining—festive fodder. It’s a story as well-worn: An American woman journeys to a distant snowy land and ends up finding romance. In this case, Caprice Bourret plays a publisher
It is the time of year to relax on the sofa and demolish a tin of festive treats in front of a great film, a bad movie, or one that’s terrible yet terrific. Once again, a selection of fresh Christmas films aims to become part of our holiday traditions—maybe even finding a spot alongside beloved favorites like Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually, and Die Hard (don’t start). So, in a vital public service to separate the winners from the losers, and to embrace the festive feeling, I watched as many fresh holiday releases as possible in a single day. Early Morning: A Very Jonas Christmas Movie Kicking off, optimistically, on a positive note. This is the sole 2025 title on a popular review site's list of the greatest 100 holiday films of all time. The popular band end up stranded in the UK after concluding their world tour and must get home for Christmas. Their efforts are hampered by an evil Santa, who bursts into melody to announce they won’t get home until they “rekindle their brotherly magic.” The repartee between the bickering brothers is amusing even for the casual viewer, while devotees will no doubt notice lots of easter eggs as they attempt to get back using all transportation available. It’s a travelogue of mishaps. It’s not legendary, but is great for fans and a positive start to the day. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄 for Jonas Brothers fans or 🎄🎄🎄 for their loved ones who must sit through it. Late Morning: Tinsel Town Famous performer Kiefer Sutherland has been cast as a movie actor tricked into a traditional British stage show. “A panto-what??” asks Sutherland’s “temperamental” and older star Brad Mack, who has fallen on hard times and whose manager has tricked him into thinking he’s performing in renowned British drama. His pantomime co-stars inform him he’s playing Buttons. “Oh no I’m not,” he protests. One can imagine their retort. That is, unless you’re ignorant of traditional stage call-and-response. There are some very funny lines, some cockle-warming sub-plots, and the supporting actors is excellent, too. It’s the sort of feature that would be a bit naff at a different time, but is a great entertainment at Christmas. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄🎄 Mid-Morning: Christmas Karma A familiar face appears at the start of this film, too, calling someone a mug for the second consecutive movie. Might this become a new Christmas tradition? This time, he’s a crooning chauffeur who collects 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 unfolds as the miserly Mr Sood is haunted by the ghosts 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 sadly he’s not very charismatic and Nayyar’s performance is wooden—a problem when he’s so central to everything. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄 Lunchtime: Stuffed There’s time for a major broadcaster's holiday special—which stars Guz Khan as a endearingly grumpy man who “doesn’t really do Christmas.” But after he is awarded an large festive windfall at work, his wife (starring Morgana Robinson) talks him into splurging the cash on a family trip to Lapland. There’s just one problem—he finds out there was an error with his bonus, which should have been £800, and he has to figure out how to pay back the remainder. Pleasant yet unmemorable. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄 1.12pm - Champagne Problems This is one of those Christmas films where the tree, fairy lights and snow are in the backdrop—Christmas is the environment of the film rather than its core purpose—but it feels warm and holiday-like all the same. High-powered businesswoman Sydney (played by Minka Kelly) is sent to a French chateau to do a deal for a champagne business. On the way, she runs into a fellow in a book store who vows to show her the holidays in the City of Light. A commentator recently declared this is the best new Christmas film of the last several seasons. That’s a bit of a stretch, but it is a holiday love story with a dash of elegance and gives the required cozy feelings. The scene with a detailed conversation about Die Hard is particularly strong too. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄🎄 A Charming Quest Sixteen-year-old Chris, played by Lenny Rush, continues to believe in Father Christmas, despite the attempts of his dad (starring James Buckley) to tell him the truth. The answer is out there, and Chris ventures forth to find it with the guidance of a group of well-known scientists and personalities. It’s gentle but sweet, and good viewing while waiting for Santa to visit. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄 4.39pm - Oh. What. Fun. Michelle Pfeiffer is the matriarch of a bickering American family who gather for the holidays—including other Oscar nominee 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 saying: “They need to make a movie about the true heroes of the holidays—moms.” So that’s the concept, but in reality it’s really a jumble of those forerunner films, at least until Pfeiffer’s character at last finds her strength. Festive score: 🎄🎄 Formulaic Fun The day’s taken a dip, but fortunately here’s a new offering in the crowded field of cliched, saccharine, over-the-top—and highly entertaining—festive fodder. It’s a story as well-worn: An American woman journeys to a distant snowy land and ends up finding romance. In this case, Caprice Bourret plays a publisher