Here’s a London Mums guide to the festive films we watch every year – and still love.
There’s a very precise moment when Christmas actually begins. It’s not when the lights go up on Oxford Street, not when the kids start counting down advent calendars, and not even when Mariah Carey thaws. Christmas starts when that film goes on. You know the one. The ritual watch. The film you’ve seen a thousand times but still insist on watching properly, preferably wrapped in a blanket, phone abandoned, festive snacks within reach.
Here at London Mums, we believe Christmas films are not background noise. They’re emotional landmarks. Comfort blankets. Time machines. They remind us who we were, who we are, and occasionally who we’d like to be once the chaos of December settles down.
So here they are: not just “the best” Christmas films, but the ones that make it feel like Christmas. Think of them as the cinematic equivalent of the 12 Days of Christmas – except with more sarcasm, more romance, and fewer partridges.
The Holiday (2006)
Let’s be honest: it is not Christmas until The Holiday has been watched. This is not a suggestion; it’s a rule. Romance and Christmas? Yes please. Cameron Diaz’s LA chaos swapping lives with Kate Winslet’s cosy English heartbreak remains peak festive escapism. It’s about second chances, unexpected love, and the fantasy that a picture-perfect Surrey cottage might fix everything. We know it won’t – and we watch anyway.
Elf (2003)
Pure, unfiltered joy. Will Ferrell’s Buddy the Elf is what happens when Christmas enthusiasm is given free rein. It’s silly, sweet, and unapologetically earnest. Children adore it, adults quote it, and deep down we all wish we had even a fraction of Buddy’s belief in Christmas magic – and spaghetti with syrup.
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
This isn’t just a great Christmas film. It’s the best festive film, full stop.
Eighty-five minutes of perfection. Michael Caine playing Scrooge with Shakespearean seriousness opposite a cast of felt geniuses is nothing short of inspired. It’s funny, moving, musically brilliant, and somehow the most faithful adaptation of Dickens ever made. If you only watch one Christmas film this year, make it this one.
Home Alone (1990)
You can’t have Christmas without it. Period. Kevin McCallister, left behind in suburban Chicago, taught a generation that aftershave stings, burglars are surprisingly resilient, and Christmas music makes everything better. It’s slapstick, it’s heartwarming, and yes, we still worry about the parents every single time.
Love Actually (2003)
Messy, problematic, irresistible. Love Actually is like Christmas dinner with extended family: chaotic, occasionally awkward, but full of moments that hit you right in the feelings. From cue cards at the door to airport reunions, it’s stitched itself into the British festive psyche – flaws and all.
It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
Black and white, slow by modern standards, and utterly devastating in the best possible way. This is the film you watch when you need reminding that your life matters, even when it doesn’t feel like it does. Not light viewing – but deeply, profoundly Christmas.
The Polar Express (2004)
A magical train ride for believers of all ages. Creepy animation debates aside, this film captures that fragile childhood feeling of wondering whether magic is real – and daring to say yes.
Miracle on 34th Street (1947 / 1994)
Is Santa real? The answer depends on how much faith you’re willing to invest. A perfect blend of courtroom drama and Christmas wonder, reminding us that sometimes believing is an act of quiet rebellion.
The Grinch (2000 / 2018)
Whether you prefer Jim Carrey’s elastic-faced chaos or the gentler animated version, The Grinch remains the ultimate story of festive redemption. A reminder that Christmas isn’t cancelled just because someone’s having a bad year.
Arthur Christmas (2011)
An underrated gem. Clever, heartfelt, and very British in its humour, this animated film gives Santa a logistics department and reminds us that Christmas is about getting it right for every child – even when things go wrong.
Klaus (2019)
A modern classic in the making. Visually stunning and emotionally rich, Klaus reimagines the Santa story with surprising depth. Proof that new Christmas films can still feel timeless.
A Christmas Story (1983)
You’ll shoot your eye out – but you’ll also laugh, wince, and recognise every awkward family Christmas moment. Particularly good for anyone who believes nostalgia should come with a side of irony.
Die Hard (1988)
Yes, it’s a Christmas film. We will not be taking questions. Snow? No. Christmas party? Yes. Redemption arc? Absolutely. Festive spirit, 80s-style.
Nativity! (2009)
Because no British Christmas is complete without a slightly shambolic school production. Chaotic, heartfelt, and painfully relatable for parents everywhere.
Christmas films aren’t about perfection. They’re about tradition, comfort, and the joy of pressing play on something that makes the world feel a little softer. Whether you’re watching with children, teenagers, friends, or just yourself and a tin of chocolates, these films do what Christmas does best: they bring us together, even when we’ve seen them all before.
So light the tree, pour something festive, and start watching. Christmas officially begins now.
Monica Costa founded London Mums in September 2006 after her son Diego’s birth together with a group of mothers who felt the need of meeting up regularly to share the challenges and joys of motherhood in metropolitan and multicultural London. London Mums is the FREE and independent peer support group for mums and mumpreneurs based in London https://www.londonmumsmagazine.com and you can connect on Twitter @londonmums
