🔗 Share this article Devouring 2025's Holiday Movies: 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 box of holiday pastries in front of a terrific flick, a bad movie, or one that’s terrible yet terrific. As always, a crop of new seasonal stories aims to become part of our festive viewing—perhaps even earning a place alongside timeless staples like Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually, and Die Hard (no arguments). So, in a vital public service to separate the winners from the losers, and to find the Christmas spirit, I watched as many fresh Christmas films as possible in a single day. 7.17am - A Very Jonas Christmas Movie Kicking off, ideally, on a positive note. This release is the exclusive 2025 entry on a popular review site's list of the best 100 Christmas movies of all time. The Jonas Brothers find themselves stuck in the UK after concluding their world tour and must make it back for Christmas. Their efforts are hampered by an evil Santa, who breaks into song to declare they won’t get home until they “rekindle their brotherly magic.” The banter between the squabbling siblings is amusing even for the non-fan, while fans will undoubtedly pick up on lots of easter eggs as they attempt to get back using every mode of travel possible. It’s private planes, trains and automobiles. It’s not an all-time classic, but is superb for devotees and a solid start to the day. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄 for Jonas Brothers fans or 🎄🎄🎄 for their loved ones who must sit through it. Late Morning: Tinsel Town Famous performer Kiefer Sutherland stars as a Hollywood star roped into a "panto". “A panto-what?” asks Sutherland’s “temperamental” and ageing star Brad Mack, who has seen better days and whose representative has tricked him into thinking he’s performing in renowned British drama. His Aladdin co-stars let him know he’s playing Buttons. “No I'm not,” he protests. You can guess their retort. Unless you’re not acquainted with traditional stage call-and-response. There are some hilarious moments, some cockle-warming storylines, and the rest of the cast is cracking, 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: 🎄🎄🎄🎄 10.19am - Christmas Karma A familiar face appears at the outset of this film, too, delivering a signature line for the second film in a row. Might this become a new Christmas tradition? This time, he’s a musical taxi operator who picks up Mr Sood, the modern take on Mr Scrooge from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Mr Sood is played by The Big Bang Theory’s Kunal Nayyar and Christmas Karma is directed by the director of Gurinder Chadha. The classic narrative progresses as the stingy Mr Sood is visited by the apparitions of Christmas yesterday, today, and tomorrow, 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 charismatic and Nayyar’s acting is flat—a major flaw when he’s so central to everything. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄 12.04pm - Stuffed There’s time for a network's Christmas comedy-drama—which stars Guz Khan as a endearingly grumpy man who “doesn’t really do Christmas.” But after he receives an sizable holiday payout at work, his wife (portrayed by Morgana Robinson) convinces him blowing the money on a family trip to Lapland. There’s just one snag—he finds out there was an mix-up with his bonus, which should have been £800, and he has to determine how to return the remainder. Enjoyable but forgettable. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄 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 scene of the film rather than its core purpose—but it feels warm and holiday-like all the same. Ambitious executive Sydney (starring Minka Kelly) is sent to a vineyard to do a deal for a champagne business. On the way, she encounters a guy in a literary haven who vows to show her a festive Paris. A critic 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 festive dalliance with a hint of sophistication and gives the obligatory cozy feelings. The scene with a detailed conversation about Die Hard is notable too. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄 A Charming Quest Sixteen-year-old Chris, played by Lenny Rush, refuses to stop believing in Father Christmas, in spite of the persuasion of his dad (played by James Buckley) to tell him the truth. The secret is out there, and Chris sets out to find it with the assistance of a panel of well-known figures. It’s understated but endearing, and ideal viewing while expecting Santa to visit. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄 A Star-Studded Family Drama Michelle Pfeiffer is the head of a quarrelling American family who reunite for the holidays—including other Oscar nominee Felicity Jones, Chloe Grace Moretz, Jason Schwartzman, and dad Denis Leary. Pfeiffer begins by referencing holiday staples like National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, It’s A Wonderful Life and Home Alone, before declaring: “They need to make a movie about the real champions of the holidays—moms.” So that’s what this is, but in reality it’s really a mash-up of those inspirations, at least until Pfeiffer’s character finally comes into her own. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄 Evening: A Scottish Christmas Secret The day’s gone downhill, but happily here’s a new addition in the saturated market of cliched, saccharine, over-the-top—and utterly watchable—seasonal comfort food. It’s a tale as familiar as can be: An American woman goes on a quest to a picturesque cold country and ends up discovering romance. In this case, Caprice Bourret plays a publisher
It is the time of year to relax on the sofa and demolish a box of holiday pastries in front of a terrific flick, a bad movie, or one that’s terrible yet terrific. As always, a crop of new seasonal stories aims to become part of our festive viewing—perhaps even earning a place alongside timeless staples like Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually, and Die Hard (no arguments). So, in a vital public service to separate the winners from the losers, and to find the Christmas spirit, I watched as many fresh Christmas films as possible in a single day. 7.17am - A Very Jonas Christmas Movie Kicking off, ideally, on a positive note. This release is the exclusive 2025 entry on a popular review site's list of the best 100 Christmas movies of all time. The Jonas Brothers find themselves stuck in the UK after concluding their world tour and must make it back for Christmas. Their efforts are hampered by an evil Santa, who breaks into song to declare they won’t get home until they “rekindle their brotherly magic.” The banter between the squabbling siblings is amusing even for the non-fan, while fans will undoubtedly pick up on lots of easter eggs as they attempt to get back using every mode of travel possible. It’s private planes, trains and automobiles. It’s not an all-time classic, but is superb for devotees and a solid start to the day. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄 for Jonas Brothers fans or 🎄🎄🎄 for their loved ones who must sit through it. Late Morning: Tinsel Town Famous performer Kiefer Sutherland stars as a Hollywood star roped into a "panto". “A panto-what?” asks Sutherland’s “temperamental” and ageing star Brad Mack, who has seen better days and whose representative has tricked him into thinking he’s performing in renowned British drama. His Aladdin co-stars let him know he’s playing Buttons. “No I'm not,” he protests. You can guess their retort. Unless you’re not acquainted with traditional stage call-and-response. There are some hilarious moments, some cockle-warming storylines, and the rest of the cast is cracking, 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: 🎄🎄🎄🎄 10.19am - Christmas Karma A familiar face appears at the outset of this film, too, delivering a signature line for the second film in a row. Might this become a new Christmas tradition? This time, he’s a musical taxi operator who picks up Mr Sood, the modern take on Mr Scrooge from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Mr Sood is played by The Big Bang Theory’s Kunal Nayyar and Christmas Karma is directed by the director of Gurinder Chadha. The classic narrative progresses as the stingy Mr Sood is visited by the apparitions of Christmas yesterday, today, and tomorrow, 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 charismatic and Nayyar’s acting is flat—a major flaw when he’s so central to everything. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄 12.04pm - Stuffed There’s time for a network's Christmas comedy-drama—which stars Guz Khan as a endearingly grumpy man who “doesn’t really do Christmas.” But after he receives an sizable holiday payout at work, his wife (portrayed by Morgana Robinson) convinces him blowing the money on a family trip to Lapland. There’s just one snag—he finds out there was an mix-up with his bonus, which should have been £800, and he has to determine how to return the remainder. Enjoyable but forgettable. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄 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 scene of the film rather than its core purpose—but it feels warm and holiday-like all the same. Ambitious executive Sydney (starring Minka Kelly) is sent to a vineyard to do a deal for a champagne business. On the way, she encounters a guy in a literary haven who vows to show her a festive Paris. A critic 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 festive dalliance with a hint of sophistication and gives the obligatory cozy feelings. The scene with a detailed conversation about Die Hard is notable too. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄 A Charming Quest Sixteen-year-old Chris, played by Lenny Rush, refuses to stop believing in Father Christmas, in spite of the persuasion of his dad (played by James Buckley) to tell him the truth. The secret is out there, and Chris sets out to find it with the assistance of a panel of well-known figures. It’s understated but endearing, and ideal viewing while expecting Santa to visit. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄 A Star-Studded Family Drama Michelle Pfeiffer is the head of a quarrelling American family who reunite for the holidays—including other Oscar nominee Felicity Jones, Chloe Grace Moretz, Jason Schwartzman, and dad Denis Leary. Pfeiffer begins by referencing holiday staples like National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, It’s A Wonderful Life and Home Alone, before declaring: “They need to make a movie about the real champions of the holidays—moms.” So that’s what this is, but in reality it’s really a mash-up of those inspirations, at least until Pfeiffer’s character finally comes into her own. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄 Evening: A Scottish Christmas Secret The day’s gone downhill, but happily here’s a new addition in the saturated market of cliched, saccharine, over-the-top—and utterly watchable—seasonal comfort food. It’s a tale as familiar as can be: An American woman goes on a quest to a picturesque cold country and ends up discovering romance. In this case, Caprice Bourret plays a publisher