Christmas - The Best Festive Films
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- DirectorJon FavreauStarsWill FerrellJames CaanBob NewhartRaised as an oversized elf, Buddy travels from the North Pole to New York City to meet his biological father, Walter Hobbs, who doesn't know he exists and is in desperate need of some Christmas spirit.7.9
Christmas Spirit: ⛄⛄⛄⛄⛄
I forgot how much of a trip this film is. Low-budgeted bliss with Will Ferrell in his absolute element. It's gradually become one of the most iconic Christmas films of all time, and rightly so.
Christmas Themed - DirectorClay KaytisStarsKurt RussellDarby CampJudah LewisThe story of sister and brother, Kate and Teddy Pierce, whose Christmas Eve plan to catch Santa Claus on camera turns into an unexpected journey that most kids could only dream about.7.9
Christmas Spirit: ⛄⛄⛄⛄⛄
A feel good Christmas adventure, full of the spirit you long for at this time of year. Ridiculous, like any good festive film. Kurt Russell makes for perhaps the most ludicrously enjoyable Santa yet.
Christmas Themed - DirectorJohn PasquinStarsTim AllenJudge ReinholdWendy CrewsonWhen a man inadvertently makes Santa fall off his roof on Christmas Eve, he finds himself magically recruited to take his place.7.6
Christmas Spirit: ⛄⛄⛄⛄⛄
Surely one of the best Christmas films of all time. Its silly and requires you to take some liberties but it has a huge heart and will make you believe in the wonder of the festive season all over again.
Christmas Themed - DirectorChris ColumbusStarsMacaulay CulkinJoe PesciDaniel SternAn eight-year-old troublemaker, mistakenly left home alone, must defend his home against a pair of burglars on Christmas Eve.8.3
Christmas Spirit: ⛄⛄⛄⛄⛄
Iconic, essential Christmas viewing which epitomises the importance of family and the togetherness the holiday season represents.
Christmas Setting - DirectorRon HowardStarsJim CarreyTaylor MomsenKelleyOn the outskirts of Whoville lives a green, revenge-seeking Grinch who plans to ruin Christmas for all of the citizens of the town.7.4
Christmas Spirit: ⛄⛄⛄⛄
Carrey is as inspired as ever, but a mediocre, dated script can't match his enthusiasm. There are some good lessons about the purpose of our modern Christmas, and while the film on the whole doesn't land all its punches, it will help you get in the Christmas spirit nonetheless.
Christmas Themed - DirectorFrank CapraStarsJames StewartDonna ReedLionel BarrymoreAn angel is sent from Heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed.8.6
Christmas Spirit: ⛄⛄⛄⛄
Christmas Setting - DirectorTroy MillerStarsMichael KeatonKelly PrestonJoseph CrossA father who can't keep his promises is killed in a car accident. One year later, he returns as a snowman who has the final chance to put things right with his son before he is gone forever.7.5
Christmas Spirit: ⛄⛄⛄⛄
Christmas Themed - DirectorSergio PablosCarlos Martínez LópezStarsJason SchwartzmanJ.K. SimmonsRashida JonesA simple act of kindness always sparks another, even in a frozen, faraway place. When Smeerensburg's new postman, Jesper, befriends toymaker Klaus, their gifts melt an age-old feud and deliver a sleigh full of holiday traditions.7.5
Christmas Spirit: ⛄⛄⛄⛄
A creative original vision which admirably maps out our various Christmas traditions and beliefs, giving definition of how they came to be.
Christmas Themed - DirectorTerry ZwigoffStarsBilly Bob ThorntonBernie MacLauren GrahamA miserable conman and his partner pose as Santa and his Little Helper to rob department stores on Christmas Eve. But they run into problems when the conman befriends a troubled kid.7.5
Christmas Spirit: ⛄⛄⛄⛄
How did this and Elf come out for the same Christmas?! A naughty incarnation of your shopping mall Santa which Thornton plays to hilarious effect, it's a classic that's bad, in all the right ways.
Christmas Themed - DirectorPaul FeigStarsMadison IngoldsbyEmma ThompsonBoris IsakovicKate is a young woman subscribed to bad decisions. Working as an elf in a year-round Christmas store is not good for the wannabe singer. However, she meets Tom there. Her life takes a new turn--that seems too good to be true.7.0
Christmas Spirit: ⛄⛄⛄
Full of heart, 'Last Christmas' is a perfectly ridiculous festive delight, disguised in a Christmas coating. It is a story with its heart in the right place, and with a twist from out of absolutely nowhere, it's right up my ally.
Christmas Setting - DirectorChris ColumbusStarsMacaulay CulkinJoe PesciDaniel SternOne year after Kevin McCallister was left home alone and had to defeat a pair of bumbling burglars, he accidentally finds himself stranded in New York City - and the same criminals are not far behind.6.8
Christmas Spirit: ⛄⛄⛄⛄
A worthy return to the franchise, though it pales in comparison to its predecessor. It's a little repetitive if watched consecutively, though its message remains powerfully thoughtful.
Christmas Setting - DirectorChuck JonesBen WashamStarsBoris KarloffJune ForayDal McKennonA grumpy hermit hatches a plan to steal Christmas from the Whos of Whoville.7.5
Christmas Spirit: ⛄⛄⛄⛄⛄
A classic story in its purest form - it may only be 30 minutes long, but it tells the tale better than any adaptation.
Christmas Themed - DirectorJohn McTiernanStarsBruce WillisAlan RickmanBonnie BedeliaA New York City police officer tries to save his estranged wife and several others taken hostage by terrorists during a Christmas party at the Nakatomi Plaza in Los Angeles.8.4
Christmas Spirit: ⛄⛄⛄
Is it really a Christmas film? That is the question. Me personally, I love watching at anytime of the year, it doesn't make me feel particularly festive, though maybe that will change next year...
Christmas Setting - DirectorRichard CurtisStarsHugh GrantMartine McCutcheonLiam NeesonFollows the lives of eight very different couples in dealing with their love lives in various loosely interrelated tales all set during a frantic month before Christmas in London, England.7.4
Christmas Spirit: ⛄⛄
Christmas Setting - DirectorJeremiah S. ChechikStarsChevy ChaseBeverly D'AngeloJuliette LewisThe Griswold family's plans for a big family Christmas predictably turn into a big disaster.7.0
Christmas Spirit: ⛄⛄⛄
A difficult review to be impartial with as silly, slapstick, and in association Chase's films, aren't really my taste. All I'll say is it didn't change my mind.
Christmas Setting - DirectorRobert ZemeckisStarsTom HanksChris CoppolaMichael JeterOn Christmas Eve, a young boy embarks on a magical adventure to the North Pole on the Polar Express, while learning about friendship, bravery, and the spirit of Christmas.6.8
Christmas Spirit: ⛄⛄⛄
Christmas Themed - DirectorJonathan LevineStarsJoseph Gordon-LevittSeth RogenJillian BellOn Christmas Eve, three lifelong friends spend the night in New York City looking for the Holy Grail of Christmas parties.6.6
Christmas Spirit: ⛄⛄
An eccentric trip of drugs galore, set at the most wonderful time of the year. Experiencing the film through the trippy eyes of Rogen is the best way to enjoy it. It's main issue is casting - it's all wrong with Mackie and Levitt, the cast of 'This Is The End' would have been perfect.
Christmas Setting - DirectorBrian LevantStarsArnold SchwarzeneggerSinbadPhil HartmanA father vows to get his son a Turbo Man action figure for Christmas. However, every store is sold out, and he must travel all over town and compete with everybody else in order to find one.6.2
Christmas Spirit: ⛄⛄⛄
It's Arnie in a Christmas setting. Go in expecting that and you'll get exactly that (he literally becomes a superhero because, well, of course he does). Well intentioned, ultimately outdated and unsure on the message it sends. Was it just about consumerism? Am I just reading too much into it? Who knows.
Christmas Setting - DirectorChris ColumbusStarsKurt RussellGoldie HawnDarby CampKate Pierce, now a cynical teen, is unexpectedly reunited with Santa Claus when a mysterious troublemaker threatens to cancel Christmas--forever.6.1
Christmas Spirit: ⛄⛄⛄⛄
More 'Gremlins' than 'Chronicles'. It's a little overstuffed time, and its supervillian-esque baddie (who seems totally out of place with that accent) make for a totally predictable sequel. With that said, Kurt Russell is fantastic.
Christmas Themed - DirectorHenry SelickStarsDanny ElfmanChris SarandonCatherine O'HaraJack Skellington, king of Halloween Town, discovers Christmas Town, but his attempts to bring Christmas to his home causes confusion.7.4
Christmas Spirit: ⛄⛄
Christmas Themed - DirectorMark WatersStarsBilly Bob ThorntonKathy BatesTony CoxFueled by cheap whiskey, greed and hatred, Willie teams up once again with his angry little sidekick, Marcus, to knock off a Chicago charity on Christmas Eve.6.5
Christmas Spirit: ⛄⛄⛄
Christmas Setting - DirectorMarc LawrenceStarsAnna KendrickShirley MacLaineBill HaderSanta's daughter must take over the family business when her father retires and her brother, who is supposed to inherit the Santa role, gets cold feet.6.4
Christmas Spirit: ⛄⛄⛄⛄
Progressive, yet spliffed together, a little forced and altogether cheesy. If it wasn't a Disney flick, and even R-rated, it could have been a pretty original festive film. We'll just have to settle for feel-good fun, full of Christmas spirit.
Christmas Themed - DirectorJoe RothStarsTim AllenJamie Lee CurtisDan AykroydWith their daughter, Blair, away in Peru, Luther and Nora Krank decide to skip Christmas all together until she decides to come home, causing an uproar when they have to celebrate it at the last minute.6.5
Christmas Spirit: ⛄⛄
Christmas Themed - DirectorRobert ZemeckisStarsJim CarreyGary OldmanColin FirthAn animated retelling of Charles Dickens' classic novel about a Victorian-era miser taken on a journey of self-redemption, courtesy of several mysterious Christmas apparitions.6.4
Christmas Spirit: ⛄⛄
An imaginative retelling of a classic tale as old as time itself, yet lacking in true Christmas spirit. A little too weird to be special.
Christmas Themed - DirectorCatherine CyranStarsJay MohrDaphne ZunigaDavid MillbernKevin tries to be involved with his son and ex-wife's family for Christmas. During dinner, he thought his Christmas *day* couldn't be more screwed; his son suddenly wishes it was Christmas every day. After that, it was a regular Groundhog's Day. Kevin learns new dance moves and can actually sing. Don't let the caroling fool you.6.3
Christmas Spirit: ⛄⛄
Hugely repetitive but with its heart in the right place.
Christmas Setting - DirectorYarrow CheneyScott MosierStarsBenedict CumberbatchCameron SeelyRashida JonesA grumpy Grinch plots to ruin Christmas for the village of Whoville.6.2
Christmas Spirit: ⛄⛄⛄
A more kid friendly update to the classic tale, though its modern liberties find differing levels of success (Grinch here isn't nasty, just sad and sarcastic). I'd love to see what a studio like Pixar could do with a character like the Grinch - this incarnation just feels tame.
Christmas Themed - DirectorClea DuVallStarsKristen StewartMackenzie DavisMary SteenburgenA holiday romantic comedy that captures the range of emotions tied to wanting your family's acceptance, being true to yourself, and trying not to ruin Christmas.6.8
Christmas Spirit: ⛄
Unbalanced with an admirable message, it's almost like a female continuation of a similarly-themed 'Schitt's Creek' episode. Its dry humour, over-the-top nature and committed cast make it enjoyable, just not all too Christmassy.
Christmas Setting - DirectorMichael DoughertyStarsAdam ScottToni ColletteDavid KoechnerA boy who has a bad Christmas accidentally summons a festive demon to his family home.6.0
Christmas Spirit: ⛄
Starting as a silly family film which distinctly feels like 'Home Alone', it soon morphs into a much darker, yet still ridiculous entity. It's one of those films that you just need to embrace the stupidity. The only intriguing aspect is its ending.
Christmas Setting - DirectorMonika MitchellStarsVanessa HudgensJosh WhitehouseEmmanuelle ChriquiA medieval English knight is magically transported to present-day America where he falls for a high school science teacher who is disillusioned by love.5.7
Christmas Spirit: ⛄⛄
Christmas Setting - DirectorGeorge SeatonStarsEdmund GwennMaureen O'HaraJohn PayneAfter a divorced New York mother hires a nice old man to play Santa Claus at Macy's, she is startled by his claim to be the genuine article. When his sanity is questioned, a lawyer defends him in court by arguing that he's not mistaken.TBC
Christmas Spirit:
Review incoming...
Christmas Themed - DirectorBob ClarkStarsPeter BillingsleyMelinda DillonDarren McGavinIn the 1940s, a young boy named Ralphie Parker attempts to convince his parents, teacher, and Santa Claus that a Red Ryder Range 200 Shot BB gun really is the perfect Christmas gift.TBC
Christmas Spirit:
Review incoming...
Christmas Themed - DirectorBrian Desmond HurstStarsAlastair SimJack WarnerKathleen HarrisonEbenezer Scrooge, a curmudgeonly, miserly businessman, has no time for sentimentality and largely views Christmas as a waste of time. However, this Christmas Eve, he will be visited by three spirits who will show him the error of his ways.TBC
Christmas Spirit:
Review incoming...
Christmas Themed - DirectorDavid E. TalbertStarsForest WhitakerKeegan-Michael KeyHugh BonnevilleAn imaginary world comes to life in a holiday tale of an eccentric toymaker, his adventurous granddaughter, and a magical invention that has the power to change their lives forever.TBC
Christmas Spirit:
Review incoming...
Christmas Themed - DirectorJohn HamburgStarsZoey DeutchJames FrancoTangie AmbroseA holiday gathering threatens to go off the rails when Ned Fleming realizes that his daughter's Silicon Valley millionaire boyfriend is about to pop the question.TBC
Christmas Spirit:
Review incoming...
Christmas Setting - DirectorSarah SmithBarry CookStarsJames McAvoyJim BroadbentBill NighySanta's clumsy son Arthur sets out on a mission with Grandsanta to give out a misplaced present to a young girl in less than two hours on Christmas Day.TBC
Christmas Spirit:
Review incoming...
Christmas Themed - DirectorEshom NelmsIan NelmsStarsMel GibsonWalton GogginsMarianne Jean-BaptisteA rowdy, unorthodox Santa Claus is fighting to save his declining business. Meanwhile, Billy, a neglected and precocious 12 year old, hires a hit man to kill Santa after receiving a lump of coal in his stocking.7.0
Christmas Spirit:
An original vision for a Christmas movie - if only it actually leaned into the Santa side of things a bit more. Grounding the whole backdrop of Santa being a contractor of the US government was fantastic!
Christmas Themed - DirectorJosh GordonWill SpeckStarsJason BatemanOlivia MunnT.J. MillerWhen his uptight CEO sister threatens to shut down his branch, the branch manager throws an epic Christmas party in order to land a big client and save the day, but the party gets way out of hand...TBC
Christmas Spirit:
Review incoming...
Christmas Setting - DirectorDavid SteimanStarsBill GoldbergDouglas SmithEmilie de RavinSanta Claus is actually a demon who lost a bet with an angel, so he becomes the giver of toys and happiness. But when the bet is off, he returns to his evil ways.
- DirectorDavid SteimanStarsBill GoldbergDouglas SmithEmilie de RavinSanta Claus is actually a demon who lost a bet with an angel, so he becomes the giver of toys and happiness. But when the bet is off, he returns to his evil ways.
- DirectorMichael DowseStarsWinslow FegleyNeil Patrick HarrisSteve ZahnIn 1980s Chicago, a 10-year-old sets out on a quest to get the Christmas gift of his generation: the latest and greatest video-game system.
- DirectorGil KenanStarsMaggie SmithIsabella O'SullivanJoel FryIn this origin story of Father Christmas, an ordinary boy--with a loyal pet mouse and a reindeer at his side--sets out on an extraordinary adventure to find his father, who is on a quest to discover the fabled village of Elfhelm.6.8
- DirectorAml AmeenStarsAml AmeenAja Naomi KingLeigh-Anne PinnockMelvin, a British author in America, goes home to London for Christmas with his fiancée Lisa. She meets his eccentric family and their relationship is tested as she discovers his old world.
- DirectorTommy WirkolaStarsDavid HarbourJohn LeguizamoBeverly D'AngeloAn elite team of mercenaries breaks into a family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone hostage. However, they aren't prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus is on the grounds, and he's about to show why this Nick is no saint.
- DirectorDeclan LowneyStarsJason SudeikisHannah WaddinghamJeremy SwiftIt's Christmas in Richmond. Rebecca enlists Ted for a secret mission, Roy and Keeley search for a miracle and the Higginses open up their home.