The fire is lit, you have a hot chocolate in hand and fluffy slippers at the ready. Now, all you need to do is decide what to watch
We’ve curated a round-up of what we will be streaming over the holidays. Here are our top picks:
Love Actually – Now or Amazon Prime
We may have seen Richard Curtis’ beloved 2003 film a million times, but there is always room in our hearts for just one more watch. If you haven’t seen it yet, (go stream it quick for all the heart-warming vibes!) this film chronicles a large cast of characters and their love stories. With a stellar cast including Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Laura Linney, Bill Nighy, Liam Neeson, and Keira Knightley. You will laugh, cry and maybe even get up for a dance.
Family Switch – Netflix
This film was streaming number one on Netflix for weeks and the reason? It’s simply lovely. We meet a family of five, all of whom are disconnected and consumed by their busy lives. And, you guessed it – they swap bodies just before Christmas. Mayhem ensues and yet ultimately, important lessons are learned. Based on Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s children’s book Bedtime for Mommy, Jennifer Garner and Ed Helms star as parents who find out what it’s like to walk in their teenagers’ shoes and vice versa.
The Buccaneers – Apple TV
If you are missing your romantic period drama fix thanks to the likes of Bridgerton, do not dismay. Apple TV has a pretty entertaining option in The Buccaneers. With only eight binge-worthy episodes, it’s one to cosy up with on those Twixmas days, and enjoy. So, what’s it about? The show is set in the 1870s and focuses on a group of five American women who travel to England to find suitors. Inspired by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Edith Wharton’s unfinished final novel The Buccaneers, there are many layers to this exciting drama.
It’s a Wonderful Life – Prime
There’s a reason this film has continued to endure for nearly 80 years. Based in 1946 America and starring James Stewart in an iconic performance, this film has it all. You will laugh, you will cry and you will be reminded of what is truly important this festive season. If you find the festivities tough going, this might be one to curl up with and have a watch. A Christmas classic.
The Holiday – Netflix
Is it even Christmas unless we have watched this? It is officially the time of year when we get to enjoy Jude Law’s impersonation of Mr Napkin-Head. If you haven’t seen it; in this romantic comedy we meet LA movie-trailer editor Amanda (Cameron Diaz) and London journalist Iris (Kate Winslet) who try to escape their romantic woes by swapping houses for two weeks during the Christmas holidays. Featuring Jude Law and Jack Black, it is one of those movies that will warm the cockles of your heart. Directed by Nancy Meyers, expect her trademark attention to detail when it comes to interiors and outfits. We love it.
The Harry Potter Series – Netflix
It is the time of year where there is nothing for it but to curl up for a Harry Potter marathon. Whether you want to start in chronological order, or simply land on your favourite of the eight epic movies, the story of The Boy Who Lived and the wizarding word has certainly cemented itself as a Christmas classic. Starring Danielle Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, these are movies we can binge-watch time and time again.
Dashing Through the Snow – Disney +
This is a recent release that will give you all those cosy feels. Eddie Garrick (Chris “Ludacris” Bridges) is a kind-hearted man who has turned his back on Christmas due to a traumatic childhood experience. We see Eddie take his 9-year-old daughter Charlotte to work with him on Christmas Eve, where they meet a mysterious man in a red suit named Nick. You see where it’s going? Cue Eddie and his daughter being taken on a magical adventure that just might restore his faith in Christmas.
8. Elf – Apple TV
Elf might just be my favourite Christmas movie ever. Will Ferrell stars as Buddy, a human raised by Santa’s elves, who learns about his roots and heads to New York to try to find his biological father. This is a laugh-a-minute watch that reminds us all about the importance of family and connection. And that sometimes, it can be a good thing to take ourselves a little less seriously.
The Crown Season 6: Part 2 – Netflix
This popular historical drama is based on the royal family and the reign of the late Queen Elizabeth II. The sixth and final season opens in 1997 just weeks before the death of Princess Diana. As ever, it balances a heady blend of fact and fiction, resulting in one of those shows you just have to keep clicking ‘next episode’ for. While this season hasn’t managed to garner the praise that many of the earlier seasons amassed, it is still a poignant and compelling watch.
