With the winter break creeping in, we’re about to hit that weird limbo between Christmas and New Year’s when no one knows what day it is, and we all pretend that lounging counts as productivity. If you need something to do besides doom scrolling social media in bed, here are ten solid movie recommendations for the holiday season.
A Very Jonas Christmas Movie (2025)
“A Very Jonas Christmas” is an engaging and heartwarming Christmas story featuring the Jonas Brothers (of course), Chloe Bennet, and Priyanka Chopra. This clever feel-good musical adaptation of the age-old struggle of holiday travelers trying to make it home for the holidays adds a twist: the antagonist is Santa! Released in November 2025 by Disney, “A Very Jonas Christmas” has a runtime of 80 minutes, serves up some laughs, and will leave you full of Christmas cheer without a significant investment of time.
Holiday Touch Down: A Bills Love Story (2025)
Over the decades, Hallmark has climbed its way to the top of the Christmas genre. Regardless of whether you feel they’re too sappy or predictable, or you’re a fan of Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas, a winter afternoon on the couch bringing Hallmark movies with your favorite Christmas snacks on handwill indulge your soul. If you watch only one from the Hallmark Christmas inventory, make it “Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story.” It’s more than just an updated rendition of 2024’s “Holiday Touchdown: A Chief’s Love Story,” and who knows, you might find yourself becoming a football fan by the end of the movie.
Just Like A Christmas Movie (2024)
“Just Like A Christmas Movie” is a thickly overdressed Christmas story reminiscent of Dicken’s “A Christmas Story” meets “Groundhog Day.” If you are looking for a film that portrays Christmas as a caricature, this is for you. The story takes place in the fictional town of Blue Spruce, Colorado. Blue Spruce is a town obsessed with Christmas, and Kris Kringle (Brad Harder) runs a Christmas tree farm for his parents. Emily (Marlie Collins) is a workaholic Public Relations executive who finds herself stranded in Blue Spruce. None other than the jolly old man himself is behind this Christmas caper as the two love interests – Kris and Emilie – struggle to make a connection. “Just Like A Christmas Movie” is a great lighthearted flick to watch with friends.
Violent Night (2022)
“Violent Night” is a yuletide action-comedy pitting Santa Claus (David Harbour) – reinvented as an immortal Viking warrior – against an evil Scrooge (John Leguizamo). The storyline is a blend of “Die Hard” and “Home Alone.” A drunken Santa, disillusioned with the commercialization of Christmas, is seton retirement when he stumbles upon an active crime scene. Scrooge and his henchmen featuring code names like Candy Cane, Sugar Plum and Peppermint, have taken a wealthy family hostage in their home as Santa arrives to deliver presents. Violent Night promises to be an edgy yuletide franchise with “Violent Night 2” scheduled for release on December 4, 2026. As a side note, “Violent Night 2” was filmed in Winnipeg.
If you are looking for a respite from Crimbo, there are some excellent new releases. “Avatar: Fire and Ash” is set to be released on December 19th, and stars the franchise alumni all-star cast of Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang and Kate Winslet. “Fire and Ash” follows the franchise storyline of unrest on Pandora and will challenge the previous dichotomous moral landscape of “all humans are bad and all Na’vi are good,” as the Metkayina Clan encounters a new and aggressive Na’vi tribe. James Cameron has never failed to deliver quality entertainment.
Frankenstein is streaming on Netflix and is a gripping update of Mary Shelly’s 19th century novel “Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus.” With a runtime of 150 minutes, it promises an evening of captivating entertainment that will help you forget the yuletide to cheer. Whether you pick a movie from the Hallmark collection, a different yuletide title, or even a non-Christmas selection, the season calls for a place: comfort food, good company, and a story on screen that brings some ease after the fall semester. A quiet, well-earned moment for everyone.
Contributed Photo/Sheryl Madakkai
