If you’re looking for a bit of respite from the endless Christmas get-togethers and long for a quiet night in, you might turn to Netflix for a bit of Yuletide company.
Now, you’d think that your favourite streaming service would have your back for the festive period, but I am here to tell you that it is slim pickings out there. In fact, there are some of the most monumentally crap-sounding films available, for which the phrase “straight-to-video” is even too grand. May I draw your attention to Holidaze starring Jennie Garth of Beverly Hills 90210 fame, or A Royal Christmas with Lacey Chabert, the whiny one from Party of Five. There’s actually something called Mandie and the Forgotten Christmas. Reader, I despair.
But it’s not all bad news. There are actually some decent offerings among the smörgåsbord of rubbish to help you get in the seasonal spirit. Lacking a Sky Movies Christmas-type special sub-category, you'll need my help to seek out the best UK Netflix has to offer you this December.
Happy Christmas
Happy Christmas is that most rare of beasts: the independent Christmas film. Directed by Joe Swanberg of Drinking Buddies and Hannah Takes The Stairs fame, it stars Anna Kendrick as a boozey twentysomething who goes to stay with her brother and his wife at Christmas, much to their annoyance. Further indie points for having Lena Dunham in a supporting role.
It’s A Wonderful Life
Frank Capra’s family fantasy is a classic of the genre so ignore the fact it’s in black and white and get watching this tale of Jimmy Stewart planning to commit suicide on Christmas Eve. Wait, that makes it sound way dark. It’s actually one of the most feel-good festive films around.
Scrooged
In this modern retelling (well, not so much, it was made in 1988) of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, Bill Murray plays a cynical television exec who hates Christmas. Can he be taught about the season of goodwill by three ghosts who come to haunt him? What do you think!
The Santa Clause
If you watched this as a child, you might still have a soft spot for this Tim Allen vehicle. His divorced dad accidentally injures Santa and so Tim must take up the reins (hahaha geddit?) and deliver the presents to all the kids himself. It won’t win any awards (I mean, Christmas films never do) but it’s a family favourite.
Home Alone 1, 2 & 3
The original Home Alone is the best Christmas film ever to be made (Frank Capra, be damned!) so hats off to Netflix. Everyone knows the story: young Macauley Culkin must deter some comedy burglars hell-bent on robbing his house after his parents accidentally go on vacation without him. The only tip you need from me is to avoid the terrible Home Alone 3, which went rogue with some imposter named Alex D. Linz. Keep the change, ya filthy animal.
A Very Murray Christmas
While not strictly a film, it would be churlish not to point you in the direction of this Sofia Coppola-directed treat. Murray is hosting a Christmas Eve show when a blizzard shuts down the city and makes it impossible for all his guests to arrive. Cue pulling favours from the likes of Miley Cyrus and George Clooney. And being a Netflix-commissioned exclusive, it almost makes amends for Mandie and the Forgotten Christmas.
Jingle All The Way
I put this film in the same bracket as The Santa Clause: pretty terrible movies with annoying male leads but worth watching on the off-chance it ignites some nostalgia for your childhood Christmases. OK, so it’s disconcerting to see the Terminator play a dad determined to secure his son a popular action figure for Christmas but it’s not as surreal as the time he went into politics.
Mandie and the Forgotten Christmas
Just kidding! But, really, any excuse to post this trailer.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Quentin Tarantino’s Charles Manson Movie Is Definitely Happening
Jennifer Garner Opens Up About The Complexity Of Her Relationship With Ben Affleck
Watch This Beautiful Modern Dance Set To Your New Favourite Song