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Had your fill of all those third-rate Christmas movies that seem to start broadcasting in September and fancy an absolute classic instead?
In the build up to Christmas, many people have those special films they sit down to watch every year.
Whether classics or more recent fare, they are especially intended to help viewers get into the festive spirit.
But what are the best options for 2025?
Our expert Robin Wiggs has picked his Top Ten Christmas Movies available to stream now.
Grab a hot chocolate and settle down for a real treat…
THE SOUND OF MUSIC – Disney+
The perfect Christmas family film stars Julie Andrews (above) as the governess fleeing the invading Nazis.
In the 60 years since its release, it hasn’t been bettered.
THE BISHOP’S WIFE – Amazon Prime Video
If you’ve never seen it, this wholesome festive romcom is a real hidden gem.
Released in 1947, it stars Cary Grant as an angel caught between his duty to help David Niven’s bishop and his growing feelings for the bishop’s wife.
THE HOLLY AND THE IVY – Studiocanal Presents, buy/rent on Apple, Amazon etc
A moving, emotionally complex British Christmas classic from 1952, about a widowed reverend (Ralph Richardson) learning to appreciate his family.
THE HOLDOVERS – Netflix
Set in a snowy US school in the 1970s, this is a feelgood tale of a teacher (Paul Giamatti) rediscovering his festive spirit.
ELF – Sky/Now
Will Ferrell’s Buddy is pure festive spirit. The actor has refused to make a sequel in the 22 years since Elf came out but, if you want more Buddy, there is a stage musical playing in London.
THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL – Disney+
To many, this joyous musical – with Kermit as Bob Cratchit and Michael Caine as Scrooge – is Dickens at its finest.
SCROOGED – Sky/Now
Bill Murray stars as the TV exec being visited by three ghosts in a great comedy take on Dickens’ tale. Shifting the setting to the ‘greed is good’ 1980s is a perfect fit for the original story.
THE HOLIDAY – Amazon, Disney+, Netflix, Sky/Now
The cosy house-swap classic, with Jude Law and Cameron Diaz as one of the couples.
If you’d prefer to watch Love Actually, you can find that on ITVX, Prime Video, Netflix and Sky/Now.
LAST CHRISTMAS – BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Netflix
Game Of Thrones’ Emilia Clarke shines in this lovely, bittersweet London romcom about an aspiring singer.
THE FAMILY STONE – Disney+, Netflix
This cosy New England Christmas comedy has a super starry cast, with Sarah Jessica Parker as the uptight NYC gal visiting the laidback family of her fiancé. Diane Keaton co-stars as the mum.
