12 Films of Christmas 2025 and Where to Watch Them

Christmas Film Feature by Chris Olson

Right, listen up. It’s that time of year again when the air gets crisper, the lights go up, and we, the great British public, collectively yearn for the cinematic comfort blanket that only a truly great Christmas film can provide. But in an age of streaming excess, where do you begin?

Fear not, cinephiles. As the resident Christmas curmudgeon-turned-cheerleader here at UK Film Review, I’ve done the heavy lifting. I’ve scoured the digital schedules of Netflix, Disney Plus, and NOW TV for December 2025 to craft the definitive, pre-Christmas viewing schedule. This is not just a list of films; it's an optimised, strategically brilliant 12-day cinematic countdown to Christmas morning.

The quality of this line-up speaks for itself. It’s a delightful mix of the established classics, the necessary modern staples, and even a brand new offering from one of our national treasures. So, grab a mince pie, pour a generous measure of something warming, and let’s get this festive season properly underway.

"Where to Watch" location correct as of date of publishing for UK audiences

Film 1: The New Arrival

16th of December – That Christmas

Where to watch: Netflix

We kick off our cinematic advent calendar with a brand-new slice of festive animated cheer, and one penned by the incomparable Richard Curtis, no less. That Christmas arrives on Netflix with the kind of prestige voice talent—Brian Cox, Fiona Shaw, Jodie Whittaker, and Bill Nighy—that suggests a film with both heart and proper comedic timing. Director Simon Otto, in his feature debut, has the formidable task of translating Curtis’s signature gentle, interconnected storytelling into animation, a format that offers endless visual possibilities. It’s based on a series of short stories, focusing on the small dramas and chaotic love lives of several families in a quaint seaside town.

What makes this so compelling is the promise of that quintessential Curtis warmth: the slightly awkward, deeply sincere moments of human connection that define British romance and comedy. We’re expecting something wholly charming, a film that doesn't just feature Christmas but truly embodies the feeling of it—the domestic messiness, the quiet miracles, and the absolute necessity of a giant, cumbersome turkey. Start the 12-day run with a fresh injection of optimism. It sets the tone perfectly.

Film 2: The Heart-Warming Retelling

17th of December – Miracle on 34th Street (1994)

Where to watch: Disney Plus

Next up is the 1994 retelling of the absolute cornerstone of Christmas cinema, Miracle on 34th Street. While many hold the 1947 original as sacrosanct, the John Hughes-penned update is a beautiful, glossy piece of nineties nostalgia that deserves its place in the rotation. It’s a film that asks us to simply believe, and sometimes, that’s precisely what we need when the Christmas shopping becomes unbearable.

Richard Attenborough is simply magnificent as Kris Kringle, embodying a serene and genuine warmth that is utterly convincing. His performance anchors the story, allowing the drama—the court case to prove his sanity and identity—to feel genuinely consequential. Alongside him, a young Mara Wilson brings a delightful cynicism that melts away beautifully as the magic takes hold. Director Les Mayfield keeps the tone light whilst ensuring the central message—the commercialisation of Christmas stifling true belief—shines through. It’s a beautifully shot, wonderfully acted film, and a sterling example of Hollywood festive filmmaking.

Film 3: The Modern Gold Standard

18th of December – Elf (2003)

Where to watch: NOW TV

If you were to poll the nation on the film that most defines the modern Christmas cinematic experience, Elf would be a frontrunner. Jon Favreau’s 2003 masterpiece is a joyous, relentlessly funny fish-out-of-water story. Will Ferrell’s turn as Buddy, a human raised in the North Pole who ventures to New York to find his biological father, is a career-defining performance of complete, unadulterated, and slightly terrifying sincerity.

The script is razor-sharp, delivering absurd comedic moments ("You sit on a throne of lies!") alongside genuinely touching scenes. James Caan, as Buddy's cynical businessman father, is the perfect foil, representing the exhausted, over-worked reality that Buddy’s pure, enthusiastic spirit must overcome. The aesthetic is perfect, blending the whimsical, stop-motion look of the North Pole with the gritty, slightly depressing colour palette of early-2000s New York. Elf isn't just a funny film; it’s a brilliant examination of what happens when innocence confronts the apathy of the adult world. It’s a mandatory viewing, and NOW TV has it ready for us.

Film 4: The Consumerism Critique

19th of December – Jingle All the Way (1996)

Where to watch: Disney Plus

Let's face it, Christmas is as much about the commercial pressure cooker as it is about goodwill. And no film skewers that particular panic quite like Brian Levant’s Jingle All the Way. Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as the workaholic father Howard Langston and Sinbad as his obsessive rival Myron, the film is a flat-out, frantic search for the must-have toy, Turbo Man, on Christmas Eve.

It’s an action-comedy, yes, but its satire of parental desperation and marketing hysteria is still painfully accurate today. Schwarzenegger, with his wonderfully wooden but utterly committed performance, throws himself into increasingly ludicrous situations, including brawling with a department store Santa and fighting Sinbad's Myron through the streets of Minneapolis. It is a loud, brash, and at times wonderfully silly film. The plot is simple, but the energy is infectious, making it a perfect Friday night watch as we edge closer to the big day. It’s the perfect antidote to the saccharine sweet flicks, offering a necessary dose of explosive holiday stress.

Film 5: The Mean One

20th of December – How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

Where to watch: Disney Plus

Ron Howard’s adaptation of the Dr. Seuss classic is a visually astonishing spectacle. It’s also unapologetically dark and strange, largely thanks to Jim Carrey's utterly transformative performance as the titular, green-furred misanthrope. Carrey, buried under some of the most impressive and Oscar-winning makeup of the era, turns the Grinch into a creature of gleeful, vaudevillian malice.

The town of Whoville itself is a stunning, sugar-rush explosion of production design, contrasting brilliantly with the Grinch's desolate mountain lair. Whilst the film sometimes struggles with the necessary expansion from a slim children's book to a feature-length production, its central theme remains powerful: the true spirit of Christmas cannot be bought or stolen. The introduction of a backstory for the Grinch, showing how the consumerist obsession of the Whos created his hatred, adds a compelling, albeit tragic, layer to the narrative. It’s a maximalist, high-energy affair, ideal for getting into the full swing of the final festive week.

Film 6: The Chaos Classic

21st of December – National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

Where to watch: NOW TV

The Sunday night before Christmas Eve is reserved for the undisputed king of festive calamity: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Once again, written by the masterful John Hughes, this is the ultimate portrait of a man’s delusional pursuit of the ‘perfect’ Christmas. Chevy Chase’s Clark Griswold is a glorious study in optimistic hubris, a man whose best intentions always pave the road to utter disaster.

Directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik, the film ratchets up the domestic chaos to an almost unbearable degree, from the infamous 25,000 twinkle lights debacle to the arrival of the spectacularly uncouth Cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid). It’s an American story, yes, but the anxieties—the forced family togetherness, the disappointment of the year-end bonus, the struggle to carve the turkey—are universally relatable. It’s rude, loud, and utterly brilliant, finding genuine warmth amidst the anarchy. It’s a cultural touchstone that never fails to land its punches and remind us that sometimes, imperfection is the most festive thing of all.

Film 7: The Aardman Masterpiece

22nd of December – Arthur Christmas (2011)

Where to watch: NOW TV

Mid-week madness calls for a film that perfectly blends innovative storytelling with classic British charm, and Aardman's Arthur Christmas is a near-perfect animated feature. Directed by Sarah Smith, this film offers a thrilling, high-tech update on the logistics of Santa’s operation, imagining it as a military-grade, precision-engineered marvel run by Santa's eldest son, Steve (Hugh Laurie).

The real hero, however, is James McAvoy’s voice performance as Arthur, the clumsy, over-eager youngest son whose faith in the old ways is reignited when a single present is misplaced. Alongside the brilliant Bill Nighy as Grandsanta, this is a beautiful blend of slapstick, heart, and adventure. It’s a timely reminder that the essence of Christmas is not efficiency or speed, but making every single child feel special. The design is wonderful, the pacing is fantastic, and the vocal performances, particularly Jim Broadbent as a rather tired, modern Santa, are pitch-perfect. It's a hugely underrated festive classic that deserves to be seen.

Film 8 (Double Bill Part I): The Rom-Com Kick-Off

23rd of December – Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)

Where to watch: NOW TV

Now we enter the true home stretch. For the day before Christmas Eve, we’ve opted for a double bill of essential British rom-com. Starting us off is the film that firmly established the career of Renée Zellweger in the UK: Bridget Jones’s Diary. While not exclusively a Christmas film, it starts and ends with those crucial New Year periods and features THAT magnificent reindeer jumper, giving it all the festive credentials we require.

Directed by Sharon Maguire, the film is a triumph of relatable chaos. Bridget, in her early thirties, single, obsessed with her weight and finding a man, resolves to take control of her life by keeping a diary. Her romantic tug-of-war between the roguishly charming Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant) and the stiff, yet sincere, Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) is cinema gold. The chemistry between the leads is electric, and the supporting cast—Jim Broadbent and Gemma Jones as her well-meaning but overbearing parents—adds necessary warmth. It’s funny, deeply empathetic, and an absolute joy to watch before we shift gears for our second feature of the night.

Film 9 (Double Bill Part II): The Great Ensemble

23rd of December – Love, Actually (2003)

Where to watch: NOW TV/Netflix

Could we truly have a UK Christmas countdown without Richard Curtis’s multi-layered behemoth? Love, Actually is the great debate of British festive cinema—cynical masterpiece or saccharine schmaltz? Regardless of where you land, its presence is undeniable, and its interconnected stories, all set during the frantic month before Christmas, capture the complicated, messy reality of love better than almost any other holiday film.

The cast is a who's who of British talent: Hugh Grant’s dancing Prime Minister, Emma Thompson’s heartbreaking betrayal scene, Liam Neeson’s grieving stepfather, and Bill Nighy’s scene-stealing, washed-up rocker Billy Mack. Curtis directs with a sprawling ambition, weaving the narratives together with the kind of emotional manipulation that only he can pull off with such sincerity. It’s a film that asks us to look closely at all forms of love—familial, romantic, platonic, and even self-love—and concludes, simply, that it is ‘actually’ all around. It's the perfect pre-Christmas Eve film: long, star-studded, and deeply romantic.

Film 10 (Double Bill Part I): The Ultimate Latchkey Kid

24th of December – Home Alone (1990)

Where to watch: Disney Plus

Christmas Eve is the main event, and we are celebrating with a classic double bill of John Hughes-scripted, Chris Columbus-directed genius. First up is the original, Home Alone. Macaulay Culkin’s Kevin McCallister, accidentally left behind as his family jets off to France, is the ultimate wish-fulfilment fantasy for any child who has ever felt overlooked.

The film operates on two levels. Firstly, it’s a sweet, if slightly tear-jerking, story of Kevin learning self-reliance and the true value of his family. Secondly, and more memorably, it is a masterclass in slapstick violence. Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern, as the ‘Wet Bandits’ Harry and Marv, endure a battery of elaborate and utterly ludicrous booby traps that are simultaneously horrifying and side-splittingly funny. The comedy is broad, the stakes are high, and the John Williams score is pure Christmas magic. It’s the perfect warm-up for a night of present wrapping and last-minute tidying.

Film 11 (Double Bill Part II): The Big Apple Adventure

24th of December – Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)

Where to watch: Disney Plus

You could argue that Home Alone 2: Lost in New York is simply a bigger, louder retread of the original, and you wouldn't be entirely wrong. But sometimes, bigger and louder is exactly what Christmas Eve demands. The sequel once again sees Kevin separated from his family, this time boarding a flight to New York City whilst the rest of the McCallisters head to Florida. Armed with his father’s credit card, Kevin turns the Plaza Hotel into his playground.

The film benefits hugely from the change of setting. New York at Christmas is a glorious, glittering backdrop for Kevin’s exploits, culminating in an epic showdown with the (now ‘Sticky’) Bandits in an abandoned brownstone. Chris Columbus maintains the same chaotic energy and heartwarming centre, but the booby traps here are even more inventive, and the inclusion of Tim Curry as the concierge adds a fantastic layer of sophisticated comedy. It perfectly complements the original, providing a crescendo of comic action before the quiet anticipation of Christmas morning descends.

Film 12: The Grand Finale

25th of December – The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

Where to watch: Disney Plus

And finally, Christmas Day. After the presents have been opened, the turkey is resting, and the initial frenzy has subsided, the day demands a film of maximum comfort and undeniable festive quality. There is only one choice: Brian Henson’s masterpiece, The Muppet Christmas Carol.

It is, quite simply, the greatest adaptation of Charles Dickens's classic novella ever committed to film. Michael Caine, as Ebenezer Scrooge, plays his role with utter conviction, never once acknowledging the felt and foam creatures surrounding him. His performance grounds the film, allowing the Muppets to inject their signature irreverence and brilliant comic timing without sacrificing the gravitas of Dickens's moral tale. Gonzo, as Charles Dickens, and Rizzo the Rat, are the perfect narrative guides, providing running commentary and much-needed levity.

The Paul Williams songs are sublime, particularly the haunting ‘When Love Is Gone’ and the rousing, life-affirming ‘Thankful Heart.’ The film captures the spirit of redemption, generosity, and the joyous transition from cynicism to warmth better than any other. It’s beautifully designed, wonderfully British in its execution, and a film that appeals to every generation watching. It’s a magnificent, perfect piece of Christmas cinema, and the only logical choice to cap off our ultimate festive viewing schedule.

There you have it—your full, 12-day, stress-free guide to Christmas cinematic viewing for 2025. It’s a schedule designed to optimise the festive feelings, moving from sweet anticipation through hilarious calamity, and culminating in a moment of pure, heartfelt redemption.

Streaming services like Netflix, Disney Plus, and NOW TV offer a marvellous opportunity to curate a perfect holiday season, bypassing the tiresome search and cutting straight to the quality. These films are more than mere entertainment; they are cultural mainstays, the cinematic shorthand for Christmas itself.

So, get your viewing schedule pinned up, inform the family of the required viewing dates, and prepare for a Christmas that is truly and properly filled with outstanding British and American filmmaking. From the whole team here at UK Film Review, may your screens be bright, and your heart be light. Merry Christmas. And read more Christmas film reviews here.