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Greetings all, or should I say Season's Greetings?

It is that time of year again for Christmas Movies to be filling up our watch Queues. Some of you may recall, that My wife loves Christmas movies and we have seen just about every single one out there on most common streaming services and a few more. Unless it was made in 2025, chances are she has seen it.

Well, it is that time to document them as I go through the season. We watched our first one this season of 2025.

Joy to the World
An author of life-style books writes a Christmas book, and to promote it they decide to film a live show from her home on Christmas. The only problem is that her book family is all made-up. Instead, she recruits an old boyfriend, the neighbor's kids, her cleaning lady, and the postman to be her family. Predicatble hijinks ensue and that is the biggest issue. The whoel thing is very predictable and by the numbers, which can sometimes be a charm of these but it did not work for me this time.

My favorite part is that the ex-boyfriend is a painter, but all his paintings revolve around geese. However, he does not even know the plural of goose is geese. The paintings were fun to see in the background and on scree because they were so silly. Thomas Kincaid with Geese in them.



So, now it is your turn to help fill out this thread with the Christmas Movies you are watching this year. No need to fill up the Mini-Review thread with these seasonal appropriate flicks.Most were never meant for anything more than throw away content anyway!

Scrooge (1970) Albert Finney musical version of the Charles Dickens classic.

This year, as every year, we'll all be settling down as a family on Xmas Eve to watch the Muppets Christmas Carol. Absolute perfection.

Still looking for a decent Hanukkah movie. We’ll probably end up rewatching history YouTuber Sam Aronow’s Hanukkah trilogy, and if we get desperate The Hebrew Hammer.

For actual Christmas movies, Gremlins and Die Hard are guaranteed. My parents generally leave on 24 Hours of A Christmas Story, and my friends love quoting Scrooged. Might try to convince them to try new classics Violent Night and Santa’s Slay.


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Oh, and at least one ritual watching of the “Garbage Day!” Clip.


Edit: are these supposed to be movies we watch for Christmas 2025 or Christmas movies released in 2025?

The 60th volume in the 88films Slasher Collection is out 10 Dec. And is entitled “Don’t Open Till Christmas”.

So, obviously that’s got a pre-order and is on me list.

Beyond that and the usual classics? I’ll again be spelunking in Hallmark stuff as Prime and D+ suggest them.

Die Hard is the obvious choice.

Not a film, but Metal Gear 2 all takes place on Christmas Eve and Big Boss uses Christmas music as the national anthem of Zanzibar, so do with that what you will.
Can't think of anything else.

Come Dec.1 I'll start watching 2-3 of whatever new ones come across my Prime/D+/HBO feeds.
Somewhere in there I'll also watch Nightmare Before Christmas & Die Hard.
Watch X-Mas movies, build WH stuff.

Christmas Eve? It'll be The Santa Clause I & II as I wrap presents. Then I'll fall asleep during SC III....

Seems like a theme emerging but I will also be watching (in no particular order):

Die Hard
Muppets Christmas Carol
Nightmare Before Christmas

But also:

Gremlins
Krampus
Frozen (guilty pleasure.....)
Toy Story

As far as more recent Christmas movies goes, Klaus is a legitimately good and surprisingly decent original from Netflix. Great classic 2D animation, heartfelt messaging and a classic Christmas movie you'd feel you'd see from Disney during the Renaissance days.

Otherwise, in terms of older offerings, these are some of my go to's:

Elf
The Bishop's Wife
Wakko's Wish

Still waiting for MDG to bring up Silent Night, Deadly Night.

 BobtheInquisitor wrote:


Edit: are these supposed to be movies we watch for Christmas 2025 or Christmas movies released in 2025?

Christmas movies you watched in 2025...... but from any release date.

 Lathe Biosas wrote:
Still waiting for MDG to bring up Silent Night, Deadly Night.

The original or the upcoming remake?

Surprised no love for Home Alone or National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Those are high on my list, but often I don't even sit down long enough to watch movies these days.

 Ahtman wrote:

 Lathe Biosas wrote:
Still waiting for MDG to bring up Silent Night, Deadly Night.

The original or the upcoming remake?

The original. I was assuming it was in his collection of horror movies.

I don’t think it is to be honest. Fairly sure I’ve seen it though.

 BobtheInquisitor wrote:
Still looking for a decent Hanukkah movie. We’ll probably end up rewatching history YouTuber Sam Aronow’s Hanukkah trilogy, and if we get desperate The Hebrew Hammer.

@Bob - Mistletoe and Menorahs is a 2020 Rom/Com that features Hanukkah.

 Easy E wrote:

 BobtheInquisitor wrote:
Still looking for a decent Hanukkah movie. We’ll probably end up rewatching history YouTuber Sam Aronow’s Hanukkah trilogy, and if we get desperate The Hebrew Hammer.

@Bob - Mistletoe and Menorahs is a 2020 Rom/Com that features Hanukkah.

Let me check this out…

Can a Hanukkah miracle keep fresh couple Molly and Jacob together after they realize that they are actually competing delicatessen owners?

Ha hah hah hah ha ha hah! I’ll see if I can get my wife to watch this. Good thing I don’t keep kosher because I’m expecting a lot of cheese with this pastrami.

That sounds like it could be highly offensive without meaning to be

Big props to Jewish Delis though. They’re a legitimate wonder of the world. Haven’t been to enough, but I have been to Katz’s.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:

Big props to Jewish Delis though. They’re a legitimate wonder of the world. Haven’t been to enough, but I have been to Katz’s.

Another thing America has gifted the world.

Man, we have quite a list going.

Actually, that’s a point. Now I’ve a decent sized fridge and freezer? I can have a crack at making my own corned beef.

Won’t pretend for a second it’ll be authentic, but has to be worth a birl.


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Oh yeah.

Ghostbusters 2 should be on everyone’s list.

My list changes a little every year as there is only so much available time. There are five movies that I will always watch though, often with multiple watches.

Muppet Christmas Carol - One of my favorite movies, not just Christmas movies, but all movies. Most people seem to be fond of this movie so I won't really go into its details. The only thing I will say is that the version without Belle's song, "When Love Is Gone", is the superior version.

Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer - Ok, sure it is technically a TV special, but I still am calling it a movie. I remember watching this claymation classic as a kid and still watch it today. I remember a patch through the 80's and 90's where this movie was seen as old and corny by a lot people. I was quite happy to see its resurgence in the 2000's and people begin to enjoy it again. It's a movie I'm always willing to watch.

A Muppet Family Christmas - Again, another TV special. Again, calling it a movie. I really enjoy this show. It is fun to watch, the music is catchy, and it reminds me of what I want Christmas to be. I also appreciate the fact that it combines all 3 of the Muppet families (the Muppet Show, Sesame Street, and Fraggle Rock) into the same shared universe and have them interact with each other. Bonus points for Mrs. Piggy having little screen time.

A Miracle on 34th Street - A true classic that makes the Christmas season better just by existing. The scene with the little Dutch girl gets me every time.

Santa Claus Conquers the Martians - Yes, I know the reputation this movie has. I don't care, I like it. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying it is good. I'm saying I like it. Instead of ridiculing the movie people should learn a little about the history of the film and appreciate it for what it is. It also has the first filmed depiction of Mrs. Claus so that has to count for something.

Santa Claus The Movie is a warm and fuzzy for me. We got to watch it in Primary School, I think the day of the Christmas Disco.

To be around by then strong friends and just have fun is a really nice memory, and one that film will always bring back.

Also? For British Dakkanauts of a similar vintage? A New Hope usually aired at some point over Christmas. In the days before you had a VHS, that was a treat looked forward to.

So whilst I missed it in the UK? It’s still just about 1st December somewhere in the world.

And I’m starting off with a low bar…

Home Sweet Home Alone

Ill-advised and spectacularly charmless latter day sequel.

Like the other non Macauley Culkin ones, the lead is just not a good actor. Rude, irritating, whinging, smart arsed. Exactly the sort of kid you want to do the Basil Fawlty “accidental” elbow to the head with. Or at least tell to Eff Off. Serious “serial killer in the making” vibes from this whiny, entitled brat.

Oh aye, and the wee fud is a thief, and it’s his theft that kicks off the whole debacle.

See, a couple have hit a spot of financial difficulty, to the point where they feel they need to sell their house. Only it turns out amongst their stuff is a very rare, very desirable antique doll - which is worth a lot of money. Enough to dig them out their hole.

It is said doll they believe Spoiled McFatkid has stolen. Because his Mum dared to tell him No. And so our “burglars” are in fact an otherwise innocent couple simply seeking to recover the property stolen from them, the property which may change their fortunes for the better. There’s evidence one sold at auction for princely $227,000.00

Turns out someone else stole it. But Spoiled McFatkid is still a thief, having instead stolen a soda, after the home owner said he couldn’t have one.

It’s only the victims of the theft that are in anyway likeable here in terms of the cast. Everyone else is either an enabler (Spoiled McFatkid’s mum) or just a human turd (everyone else).


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Oh, and the kid chews with his mouth open.

One of those rare film releases everyone had to dunk on, like Hot Frosty or War of the Worlds (2025). Loved the dogpile of bad reviews.

I could also highly not recommend Jingle All The Way 2.

Take everything that made Jingle All The Way a fantastic and fun film. And put it in the bin straight away.

Then, bring in Larry the Cable Guy in place of Arnie, and realise you’ve committed a mortal sin against cinema and possibly humanity as a species.


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No. Wait. The Mum is even worse than I remember.

Due to a cancelled flight, the 10 family members are split across 2 replacement flights.

Despite Spoiled McFatkid being, Y’know, her son, she decides it’s everyone else’s fault Spoiled McFatkid got left behind. Or that she didn’t notice he slept in his bed, because he went to hide in the car to get some peace and quiet - something he resolutely refuses to provide to anyone else.

Somehow, it’s who I think is the brother in laws fault, because Spoiled McFatkid was relegated to the second car.

So, no effort to check he was tucked up in bed the night before. No effort to make sure he was up and doing, ready to make his flight, especially when she knew that for reasons he’d be travelling in the second car and so on a separate flight.

Oh. And she clearly hadn’t told anyone else who was going in which car, otherwise the brother-in-law would’ve known Spoiled McFatkid wasn’t in the first car at all, and wasn’t intended to be in that car.

What a dreadful, awful family.

We can only hope Child Services prosecute, then Spoiled McFatkid ends up in a children’s home for a harsh dose of reality.

Yes. The film is that bad. Even when it’s meant to engender a cosy family feeling? It’s turned me into a grinch wishing punishment on all the characters, but the people in dire financial straits.

Yeah Home Sweet Home Alone was quite a disappointment - but I'd watch it again just for Rob Delaney, who I have a bro-crush on; and Aisling Bea, who I have a crush-crush on...

Disappointment? It’s an affront to all artistic existence.

Now on to….

Noelle

Santa’s daughter, Noelle, goes on a quest to find her missing brother, Nick.

See, rather jollily Santa himself died five months before, and Nick is to take over.

Stars Anna Kendrick. So far it’s scored a negative point by naming Santa (which is a perfectly good name) Kris Kringle (which is a stupid name).


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It is however quite a pleasant movie. Shades of Elf of course, and a hint of Santa Clause the Movie.

I’d rate this Entirely Inoffensive Fun. Heart is in the right place, and feels quite Hallmarky.

Hot Frosty was dunked on.... but it had huge numbers so I look forward to Hot Frosty 2: Hot in Cleveland or some such.

Joy to the World

In which a lifestyle guru, called Joy, with a series of successful books on the subject called Joy to the World. Only…it’s all a naughty fib, isn’t it?

So when a cookery show wants to film her house at Christmas? She needs to find a husband, two kids and a set of parents!

Things of course go wonky. And of course the hunky artist type she rents out her guest house to ends up declaring his love for her.

Honestly not as cheesy or bad as I’m making it sound here. Very Hallmarkian, but for my money a superior take on a well trodden Christmas tale.

Our cast are very likeable, and it’s not saccharine sweet. Not my usual fare, but I’ve genuinely enjoyed it.

 Peterhausenn wrote:
Muppet Christmas Carol - One of my favorite movies, not just Christmas movies, but all movies. Most people seem to be fond of this movie so I won't really go into its details. The only thing I will say is that the version without Belle's song, "When Love Is Gone", is the superior version.

Wait, what? Removing the song breaks the flow of the Ghost of Christmas Past segment, and leaves with Scrooge emerging travelling into the next scene in tears, when he was dry-faced seconds before, with nothing obvious as a trigger for the waterworks. And the song still appears over the credits!