Sure, ’tis the season to be gift-shopping but it’s also the season to watch the best Christmas movies!
Thanks to streaming services like Netflix, Viu, and Hayu (we’re also excited for Disney Plus that’s slated for 23 February 2021 launch in Singapore!), it’s easier than ever to enjoy holiday classics with the family.
Ahead, check out AVENUE ONE‘s recommendations of holiday films and series to catch with friends and your loved ones. Most of the are available on your favourite streaming services; we even threw in a couple of non-English recommendations that you ought to catch!
Must-watch films this Christmas
Home Alone
Honestly, Home Alone has probably never resonated more deeply than this year for many of us, not just because we were stuck at home most of the year but also the fact that some of us will be spending the holidays away from families.
But the 1990 slapstick comedy is also perfect if you need a bit of cheering up. Follow eight-year-old Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) enjoying a bit of “me time” before he foils a pair of bumbling wanted thieves while his folks try to make their way back to him (a hopeful reminder that your own reunion will come soon).
Available for rent on Amazon.
How The Grinch Stole Christmas
While The Grinch was made famous in the story book and there are countless animated features made about it, Jim Carrey took the character and truly made it his own.
For those who grew up watching The Grinch for the holidays, you’ll be happy to know that you can now have it on repeat via Netflix.
Available on Netflix.
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
A new modern classic, Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey packs musical exuberance with an all-star cast in the likes of Forest Whitaker, Phylicia Rashad, Keegan-Michael Key, and Hugh Bonneville.
It’s the story of Jeronicus, a toymaker (Whitaker) who’s lost his smile. When his whip-smart granddaughter (Madalen Mills) winds up on his doorstep, the two join forces to get some measure of justice on Gustofson (Key), a former apprentice who stole Jernonicus’ work and passed it off as his own.
Available on Netflix.
Holidate
A couple of our team members love this simply because of Emma Roberts, whose character Sloane hate the holidays as much as Jackson (played by Luke Bracey).
It is your typical holiday rom-com but we think it stands out with its unusual beginning – the idea of dates just for the holidays.
Of course, the main characters – who started off single – are going to be together but it’s a funny and feel-good show that we think you’ll enjoy (preferably without the kids – or parents!) around.
Available on Netflix.
The Christmas Chronicles 2
Starring Hollywood veterans Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn, and written and directed by Chris Columbus (he’s the guy behind Home Alone and Harry Potter), this action-packed adventure is full of heart, humor, and holiday spirit for the entire family to enjoy.
If you have the time for it, be sure to start with part one of the movie to get the full story.
Available on Netflix.
Die Hard
“Is Die Hard a Christmas movie?” is a debate that surfaces every year, but for one of our team members, it’s a movie that she never fails to watch when Christmas rolls around. After all, the movie takes place during Christmas, which technically makes it a Christmas movie, right?
If there’s a chance that you’ve never seen it and you’re into the idea of watching a non-Christmas Christmas film, Die Hard stars Bruce Willis as John McClane, an NYPD cop who finds himself in a Los Angeles office building overrun with terrorists on Christmas Eve.
McClane becomes a reluctant one-man army, going so far as to walk over broken glass for a chance to save the hostages – including his ex-wife. The late, great Alan Rickman co-stars as the charismatic villain Hans Gruber.
Available on Netflix.
The Princess Switch: Switched Again
A modern take on the prince and the pauper story, this first instalment of this Christmas comedy follows Chicago baker Stacy (played by Vanessa Hudgens) who meets a soon-to-be princess that looks exactly like her. And surprise, surprise… They trade places, of course.
In this second part of the movie, you’ll in for a treat as you’ll get to witness a Christmas triple trouble (and laughs!) with lots of twists and turns in the love department.
By the way, Vanessa Hudgens is set to return to star in The Princess Switch 3 and production has supposedly begun in Scotland for a holiday 2021 release!
Available on Netflix.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
One of the darker and weirder Christmas movies for kids (that we think the older generation will also enjoy), Henry Selick and Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas combines Halloween scares with Christmas cheer in this brilliant 1993 animated classic.
You’ll learn that Jack Skellington (Chris Sarandon) has grown tired of his duties as the frightening Pumpkin King, and dreams of filling Santa Claus’ boots instead. Naturally, this doesn’t sit well with Sandy Claws (Edward Ivory) – or with Jack’s nemesis, the terrifying Oogie Boogie (Ken Page).
In addition to a solid story, the movie features absolutely gorgeous stop-motion animation, a stellar cast, memorable songs and an unforgettable art style, making it a joy to re-watch year after year.
Available for rent on Google Play Store.
Must-catch series this Christmas
Merry Happy Whatever
With this series, it’s all about the family drama that comes around during Christmas. That’s because the gruff but protective patriarch of a tight-knit family (played by Dennis Quad) feels anything but jolly during the Yuletide season when his daughter (played by Ashley Tisdale) brings her musician boyfriend home for Christmas.
You probably can guess how it goes already but the characters are pretty well-written – even the annoying character played by Tisdale is likeable – and the storyline ends relatively well, so trust us on this and give it a watch for some jolly good time.
Available on Netflix.
Intimate Strangers
Some people prefer their holiday movies to be a little darker and if you belong in this group, here’s one (in Korean, nonetheless) for you. Intimate Strangers is a remake of the 2016 Paolo Genovese film, Perfect Strangers, about a group of lifelong friends who played a game during a housewarming dinner where they share all new incoming messages and calls with everyone.
What happens when uncomfortable truths start rearing its head? One thing’s for sure, it’s an interesting comedy-drama film to catch in the season of get-togethers.
Available on Viu.
Mr. Queen
For some feel-good humour in a non-English setting, you can definitely give this newly released fantasy comedy drama a go!
Starring actress Shin Hye Sun, it is a light-hearted take on the usual historical drama genre and centres around the (mis)adventures of a free-spirited President’s chef, Bong-hwan (played by Choi Jin-hyuk), who wakes up one day in Joseon Dynasty as a woman named So-yong (Sun) who is set to marry King Chul-jong (Kim Jung-hyun) the next day.
Based on the Chinese novel, Go Princess Go, and its web series adaptation, the cleverly written plot and humour will have you hooked to the screen!
Available on Viu.
Keeping Up With The Kardashians
The penultimate season of the world’s favourite guilty pleasure (you know we’re right) drew to a close in mid-November but you can binge-watch the famous reality TV family this Christmas and find out how they adjusted to life in quarantine during the world-wide pandemic.
To get into the Christmas spirit, we’ve pinned down several episodes from various seasons of the KUTWK mega series: Season Eight (season finale), Season 15 (episode one), Season 16 (episode nine), and Season 18 (season finale).
Available on Hayu.
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
As with the annual Real Housewives tradition, the Beverly Hills ladies reunite to rehash season ten’s fights, dramas, and revelations, but with allegations rife and plenty left unsaid, can chair Andy Cohen keep the peace? Probably not, but that’s what keeps us glued to the reunion.
If you can’t get enough of the Real Housewives franchise, there’s season 13 of The Real Housewives of Atlanta which premiered on 7 December. Plus, the Real Housewives franchise have Christmas-themed episodes throughout the seasons so you can most definitely add that into your Christmas binge-watch list.
Available on Hayu.
Holiday Home Makeover with Mr. Christmas
Benjamin Bradley, best known as Mr. Christmas, is a veteran in the interior design industry with a healthy obsession with the holiday season and he wants to take you behind the scenes in this new Netflix series as he puts his design expertise and vast Christmas collection to good use.
Equipped with lights, garlands, and enough tinsel to blanket the North Pole, he and his team of elves work around the clock to bring holiday cheer to families and communities deserving of a home makeover for the most joyous time of year.
While Mr. Christmas is doing his thing, you can certainly go along for the ride and get inspired to take your own home decorating and traditions to the next level.
Available on Netflix.
The Holiday Movies That Made Us
Love Elf and The Nightmare Before Christmas? Then don’t miss this series which takes an in-depth look at the two iconic holiday movies using behind-the-scenes footage and cast and crew interviews.
Available on Netflix.
Something for the kids
Alien Xmas
Here’s something different for the little ones: aliens and Christmas!
When a race of kleptomaniac aliens attempts to steal Earth’s gravity in order to more easily take everything on the planet, only the gift-giving spirit of Christmas and a small alien named X can save the world.
Available on Netflix.
Angela’s Christmas Wish
This heart-warming tale tells the story of a determined little girl who sets out to reunite her family in time for Christmas. Based on characters from Pulitzer Prize-winning author Frank McCourt, it is a tender and funny story about the importance of family and togetherness.
Available on Netflix.
Dragons: Rescue Riders: Huttsgalor Holiday
The adorable dragons are back on the small screen in the form of this child-friendly animation. Huttsgalor’s favourite winter festival is finally here but the question is, will some ice-breathing dragons put a frost on everyone’s fun? Watch it with your kids to find out.
Available on Netflix.
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