Over Christmas (late 2025/early 2026), expect classic holiday films like It's a Wonderful Life, Home Alone, and A Christmas Carol, plus newer options like Disney's A Very Jonas Christmas Movie, alongside major blockbusters such as Oppenheimer and John Wick: Chapter 4 on UK TV, with streaming platforms offering new rom-coms like Champagne Problems and A Merry Little Ex-Mas. Cinema releases might include Wicked: For Good and Zootropolis 2.
Christmas movies offer a wide range of genres, from timeless classics like It's a Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street to family favorites like Home Alone and The Santa Clause, alongside animated specials such as The Muppet Christmas Carol and modern romances like The Princess Switch, covering heartwarming tales, comedies, dramas, and action films with a festive twist. Popular options range from nostalgic favorites to new releases available on streaming platforms like Netflix and Disney+.
For Christmas TV, expect popular specials like Call the Midwife, All Creatures Great and Small, and Strictly Come Dancing, alongside festive films such as Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, classic comedies (Home Alone, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation), dramas (The Night Manager, Vera), and animated favorites (The Polar Express, The Scarecrows' Wedding), with major UK broadcasters and streaming services airing new episodes and seasonal favorites throughout December and January.
For Christmas 2025, expect a mix of classics and new releases on TV and streaming, with networks like Freeform, ABC, and UK channels (BBC, Channel 4) airing traditional favorites, while streaming services (Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video) host new movies like Netflix's Champagne Problems, Disney+'s A Very Jonas Christmas, and various Hallmark/Lifetime originals. Key programming includes holiday specials for shows like Call the Midwife, Death in Paradise, and All Creatures Great and Small, alongside films like The Santa Clause, Home Alone, and Paddington 2.
Christmas Eve TV is packed with festive specials, classic films, and seasonal dramas, featuring shows like The Great British Sewing Bee celebrity special, All Creatures Great & Small Christmas episode, Gavin & Stacey reruns, family films on Channel 5, and the Royal Carols: Together at Christmas service on ITV, alongside specials such as The Repair Shop and Mortimer & Whitehouse Gone Christmas Fishing, with something for everyone from comedy to comforting dramas and festive films.
What was the most watched TV show on Christmas in 2025?
The BBC dominates with nine of the top ten shows on Christmas Day in 2025. Audiences chose an outstanding range of drama, comedy and entertainment. The Scarecrows' Wedding was the most popular show on Christmas Day with 4.3 million viewers (excluding The King's Christmas broadcast).
For Christmas Day 2025, moviegoers can look forward to big-screen releases like the psychological thriller The Housemaid (starring Sydney Sweeney & Amanda Seyfried) and the sports drama Marty Supreme (with Timothée Chalamet), alongside potential comedies like a comedic reboot of Anaconda and musical offerings like Song Sung Blue, while Disney+ will offer holiday films like A Very Jonas Christmas for at-home viewing.
The main Christmas movie channel on Freeview is GREAT! Christmas, found on channel 52, which runs seasonally from September/October until early January, replacing GREAT! Romance and offering a huge selection of festive films. You can also find other Christmas content through Freeview Play, but GREAT! Christmas is the dedicated 24/7 festive channel.
The top Christmas movies consistently include classics like It's a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Story, Home Alone, Miracle on 34th Street, Elf, and animated favorites like How the Grinch Stole Christmas (both versions) and A Charlie Brown Christmas, often alongside debate-sparking but beloved picks like Die Hard and The Nightmare Before Christmas. These lists blend heartwarming stories, holiday comedy, and nostalgic animated specials.
Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé It's safe to say 2023 has been the year of concert films, and that will continue with one of the most highly anticipated yet: RENAISSANCE: A FILM BY BEYONCÉ. ...
For 2025 Christmas movies, look for new streaming releases like Netflix's rom-coms A Merry Little Ex-Mas, Jingle Bell Heist, and Champagne Problems, or the family drama Goodbye June (with Kate Winslet), alongside new theatrical releases like Christmas Karma (Indian Scrooge adaptation) and potential holiday classics playing in cinemas, plus a wide selection of favorite yearly staples like Elf and Home Alone on streaming and TV.
Home Alone was crowned the top Christmas film in a survey of 2,000 people by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), who are responsible for age ratings in the UK.
