Christmas has finally arrived, and it’s the perfect time to kick back and enjoy some festive films. Whether you’re in the mood for a seasonal rom-com or a family-friendly animation that everyone can enjoy, there are countless Christmas classics available now on TV and streaming platforms.
Mirror TV writer Jake Hackney has put together his top picks from Disney+, Netflix, Sky and Amazon’s Prime Video, all of which offer a range of money-saving deals. Disney+ starts at £4.99 a month, while Prime Video is free for 30 days with an Amazon Prime free trial.
In other news, Sky has just launched a new £25 TV, Sky Cinema, Netflix and Paramount+ bundle with over 1,000 films on-demand, including a host of festive favourites. So, read on for our selection of the best films to watch over Christmas and where to find them.
Elf
Will Ferrell’s portrayal of Buddy, the human raised by elves, has made him an unexpected Christmas star. He leads the much-loved 2003 comedy from Iron Man director Jon Favreau as a fish-out-of-water in New York City.
Elf begins on Christmas Eve, when an orphan baby crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is mistakenly taken to the North Pole. As a human raised by elves, Buddy (Ferrell) realises he doesn’t fit in and sets out for New York City determined to find his biological father (James Caan) and a place where he belongs.
Elf is available on Sky Cinema, get it here.
Die Hard
The question of whether Die Hard is a Christmas film has been a topic of heated discussion for over 30 years. Even Bruce Willis himself controversially stated that the popular action movie isn’t actually a Christmas film.
Regardless of your stance, Die Hard has become an unofficial festive favourite for film lovers globally, with Empire readers voting it as the top Christmas film ever. The plot set on Christmas Eve at a Christmas party revolves around New York City cop John McClane (Willis), who finds himself in a challenging situation when his trip to California is disrupted by a terrorist attack on his estranged wife’s office building.
Die Hard and its sequels are streaming on Disney+, get it here.
Home Alone
Adorable Macaulay Culkin became a cultural phenomenon after starring in Chris Columbus’ holiday classic. In the 1990 comedy, young Kevin McCallister (Culkin) is accidentally left behind while his family heads off on a Christmas vacation to Paris.
After enjoying his time alone, two clumsy burglars known as the Wet Bandits try to rob his family’s suburban house, forcing Kevin to fend them off with a range of homemade booby traps.
Home Alone and its sequels are streaming on Disney+, get it here.
It’s a Wonderful Life
Even nearly 80 years after its release, It’s a Wonderful Life remains one of the most enduring films from the Golden Age of Hollywood. In what is arguably James Stewart’s most cherished role, the 1946 film features a guardian angel showing George Bailey (Stewart), a compassionate but despairingly frustrated businessman, an alternate version of history.
By seeing what life would have been like if he had never existed, George realises how he has indeed impacted the lives of those around him.
It’s a Wonderful Life is available to stream on Prime Video, try it free here.
The Muppet Christmas Carol
In this 1992 musical, everyone’s favourite talking frog gives Charles Dickens’ classic story the Muppet treatment. Kermit, Miss Piggy and the rest of the puppet cast star alongside British acting legend Michael Caine in this heart-warming holiday film.
Set on Christmas Eve, grumpy old Ebenezer Scrooge (Caine) is visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. Along with kind and humble Bob Cratchit (Kermit) and his family, the spirits reveal to Scrooge the ‘true’ meaning of Christmas.
The Muppet Christmas Carol is available to stream on Disney+, get it here.
Love Actually
Penned by Notting Hill’s writer-director Richard Curtis, Love Actually explores the romantic lives of eight diverse couples in London. The narrative unfolds through various loosely connected stories, all set during a hectic month leading up to Christmas.
The film features an impressive ensemble cast including Hugh Grant, Keira Knightley, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Colin Firth, Liam Neeson, Andrew Lincoln and Martine McCutcheon.
The film was a massive hit, raking in over $240 million worldwide and becoming a Christmas favourite for many in the UK and beyond.
Love Actually can be viewed on Sky Cinema, available here.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Tim Burton’s stop-motion musical is perfect for both Halloween and Christmas viewing, filled with catchy tunes from Burton’s collaborator and composer Danny Elfman. In this cherished 1993 film, Pumpkin King Jack Skellington grows tired of the same old spooky routine and accidentally stumbles upon the strange, joy-filled land of Christmas Town.
He becomes captivated by the festive world and sets out on a jolly mission to spread Christmas cheer, which puts Santa at risk and creates a nightmare for good little boys and girls everywhere.
The Nightmare Before Christmas is available for streaming on Disney+ here.
Klaus
The Oscar-nominated and BAFTA-winning adventure-comedy, often overlooked, is a must-watch this festive season. The story revolves around Jesper (Jason Schwartzman), a selfish postman who stands out as the worst student at the postal academy, leading to his posting on a frozen island above the Arctic Circle.
Just when Jesper is about to throw in the towel, he finds an ally in local teacher Alva (Rashida Jones) and stumbles upon Klaus (J. K. Simmons), a mysterious carpenter living alone in a cabin filled with handmade toys. These unexpected friendships bring laughter back to Smeerensburg, creating a new legacy of generous neighbours, magical tales and stockings carefully hung by the fireplace.
Klaus is available for streaming on Netflix, accessible via Sky here.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
Penned by teen-movie legend John Hughes, Christmas Vacation stars former SNL star and comedy icon Chevy Chase as the head of the Griswold family. This hilarious comedy is packed with tongue-in-cheek humour as Clark Griswold (Chase) plans for a grand family Christmas, which inevitably turns into a massive disaster when both sets of parents and more arrive for a visit.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation can be watched on Sky Cinema here.
The Polar Express
Tom Hanks lends his voice and motion capture skills to several characters in this festive fantasy-adventure directed by Robert Zemeckis of Back to the Future fame. The film unfolds on Christmas Eve, when a sceptical young boy hops aboard the titular train after everyone else in town has drifted off to sleep.
The conductor, played by Tom Hanks, welcomes him onto the train for an incredible journey to the North Pole alongside a host of other children in their pyjamas. Once there, he is given a remarkable gift that only those who still have faith in Santa can experience.
The Polar Express can be watched on Sky Cinema here.