This is the season for cancelling your plans, hiding under your duvet, and putting on a Christmas flick. But if you’re stuck on what to watch, then look no further.
Richard Curtis’ Love Actually
British culture has many staples, but nothing says Christmas in the UK like the first watch of Richard Curtis’ Love Actually.
It features some of Britain’s greatest national treasures – Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant as a very dashing Prime Minister, Kiera Knightley as a newlywed, and the sorely missed Alan Rickman.
Portraying 10 intertwined stories, all united by one common theme, love. Love Actually contains all of the charm, wit and warmth that Richard Curtis is known for.
If you are yet to see it, I strongly urge you to stop whatever you are doing, grab your laptop and head straight to Netflix – because you are missing out.
Mary Lambert’s A Castle for Christmas
I ought to preface this by saying I don’t think this is an objectively good film, but I highly appreciate the two leads are both in their late 50s, something fairly uncommon for the mainstream.
The film tells the story of American bestselling author Brooke Shields, who ventures to Scotland to avoid facing a major scandal. Whilst there, over Christmas, she falls in love with an old castle and has to face off with the grumpy Duke (Cary Elwes) that owns it.
Directed by Mary Lambert, A Castle for Christmas showcases Scotland’s natural beauty and hits the spot for a cheesy Christmas film to put you in the right mood.
The Holiday
Admittedly, I only watched The Holiday for the first time a few weeks back and was sorely disappointed it had taken me so long.
Curled up on the sofa with a hot chocolate and a blanket, I was captivated for just over two hours.
The story is so much more than just two women, Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz, swapping homes over the festive period and each falling in love with a guy, Jack Black and Jude Law.
I did take a while to become comfortable with the idea that Jack Black was playing a protagonist in a romcom, but the leads all were fantastic, as was the director, Nancy Myers.
Few films are so heart-warming, and even fewer can produce a tear in my eye – but The Holiday is going to remain a firm favourite of mine for the festive periods to come.
Nativity
Starring Martin Freeman as Mr Maddens, a failed actor tasked with producing a primary school production of the Nativity, this film is light-hearted, joyful and one the whole family can enjoy together.
Directed by Debbie Isitt, Nativity is less Christmassy than some of the higher budget ones on this list but is one my family has always watched at our Christmas celebrations since its release in 2009.
Filmed in Coventry in the heat of summer, where residents helped producers by decking their houses ready for Christmas, I think it is one of the best Christmas movies of all time.
The Knight Before Christmas
Last but not least is Monika Mitchell’s 2019 release starring Vanessa Hudgens and Josh Whitehouse, the latter who is a medieval knight who ends up being transported to modern-day America, where he falls for Hudgen’s character.
I think The Knight Before Christmas is quite high on cheese factor, but it is also mystical and fantastical enough that it’s worth it.
Edited by Jemma Snowdon