What’s the best thing about Christmas? Apart from the presents, the food and the family time, there’s something else we’ve missed. And that’s a great festive film. There’s nothing better than cosying up with a tasty mince pie and watching something heart-warming.
We’ve combed through Netflix and Amazon’s festive-flavoured flicks to create our essential list of must-see Christmas films. And the best part is you can stream them all right now. Whether it’s a Christmas classic or a newer holiday fave, we’ve got them all.
Magical movies for the whole family
Got the entire extended family round this year? Here’s a couple of great films guaranteed to get everyone in the Christmas spirit.
Elf
A proper stone-cold Christmas classic, Elf follows Buddy – played by the hilarious Will Ferrell – who’s got something a bit different about him. Accidentally kidnapped by Santa after a sack-related mishap one Christmas Eve, Buddy is raised by his elves as one of their own.
But Buddy doesn’t fit in. And as a human, he’s desperate to know exactly who his real parents are. A journey to New York quickly descends into complete chaos as he navigates a whole new world he doesn’t understand. With comedic scrapes from start to finish, this is a real feel-good adventure that everyone can enjoy.
While you’ve probably seen this one a hundred times already, it never gets old. You definitely owe it to your elf to give it another watch…
Klaus
This charming, animated film from the creator of Despicable Me is a Santa origin story set in Norway. Jesper (Jason Schwartzman) is packed off by his father to the joyless town of Smeerenburg, where he must learn the ropes of the family business – running the postal service.
There’s only one problem. Everyone in Smeerenburg is so utterly unfriendly that no one sends each other letters. With the help of schoolteacher Alva (Rashida Jones), Jesper encourages the children of the town to write to a mysterious hermit toymaker (J.K. Simmons) living in the nearby woods.
This quirky mix of old and new is one for kids and parents, with brilliant and genuinely funny performances from the whole cast.
Seasonal thrills to keep the kids entertained
Looking for something to stop the little ones from causing carnage? Check out our pick of the best kids’ festive thrills.
The Christmas Chronicles
Fronted by Kurt Russell as Santa Claus, The Christmas Chronicles follows Teddy and Kate, two children who get themselves into a bit of a pickle. Spotting Santa doing his thing in the run up to the big day, the pair sneak onto his sleigh – because as a kid, you absolutely would, right?
Things don’t go to plan though. They make the sleigh crash and all the presents are lost. With Christmas morning approaching fast, they’ve got to team up with the big man himself to try and save the day.
With a sequel already available to stream too, why not make it a festive double bill that your kids will love.
Alien Xmas
It’s sci-fi meets the holidays in Alien Xmas. Meet X - an extra-terrestrial being sent to earth by the Klepts. These out of this world schemers are known across the galaxy as excellent thieves. And they’re here to steal all the presents. Oh, and destroy Earth’s gravity.
Mistaken as a Christmas gift by one of Santa’s young elves, X is ready to cause havoc. But who’s going to be able to stop them?
Christmas flicks for the grown-ups
And once you’ve packed the little ones off to bed, it’s time for a little grown-up telly…
Love Actually
Saying that Love Actually has a star-studded cast is a bit of an understatement. Keira Knightley. Rowan Atkinson. Alan Rickman. Emma Thompson. Colin Firth. Hugh Grant. They’re all here. And that’s only scratching the surface.
This romantic comedy follows the stellar group of characters across 10 different stories, exploring different kinds of love along the way. And as the tales develop, it turns out many of them are linked together…
Directed by Richard Curtis (of Bridget Jones’s Diary and Mr Bean’s Holiday fame), it’s got laughs and heart by the bucket load.
The Holiday
Since it landed in cinemas all the way back in 2006, The Holiday has cemented itself as a must-watch Christmas hit. Set in London and LA, the film centres around Amanda and Iris who have both recently split up with their partners. They decide to get away for the holidays, swapping homes and lives for two weeks.
When they get there, they both find romance with people from each other’s lives, immersing themselves in the other’s drastically different lifestyle. It’s one of the best romantic Christmas movies out there and features a mega cast of Kate Winslet, Jack Black, Jude Law and Cameron Diaz. What’s not to love?
You’ve got the films, now let’s make sure you’ve got the TV to match. If you’re thinking about upgrading this Christmas, check out our top tips for finding the perfect 4K TV.
