As the festive season arrives, UK broadcasters are rolling out a stellar lineup of films perfect for cosying up on the sofa. From blockbuster adventures and heartwarming animations to thought-provoking dramas, there's something for every taste. Here is your essential guide to the best movies airing on television over the Christmas period.
Family Fun and Festive Favourites
Kicking off the celebrations on Christmas Day is the wildly imaginative A Minecraft Movie. Directed by Jared Hess, known for his offbeat humour, the film brings the pixelated video game world to life. Siblings Henry and Natalie, played by Sebastian Hansen and Emma Myers, embark on a surreal adventure guided by Jason Momoa's ex-gamer and Jack Black's enthusiastic salesman. It's a colourful, chaotic, and creative caper that is sure to be catnip for under-12s. Catch it on Sky Cinema Premiere at 7.10am and 6.15pm.
For pure, unadulterated joy, look no further than Paddington 2, airing on Boxing Day at 5.20pm on BBC One. Often hailed as one of the most perfect films ever made, this sequel masterfully blends wacky humour with profound kindness. Hugh Grant delivers a scene-stealing performance as a hammy villain, while the beloved bear's irrepressible goodness shines through. It's a guaranteed tearjerker for the whole family.
Other family highlights include the stop-motion return of Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl on BBC One Christmas Day morning, and the vibrant live-action remake of The Little Mermaid starring Halle Bailey on E4 on Christmas Day evening.
Award-Winning Drama and Cinematic Epics
For those seeking more substantial fare, the festive schedule is packed with critically acclaimed titles. Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer, featuring Oscar-winning performances from Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr., makes its terrestrial debut on BBC Two on Sunday 21 December at 9pm. This monumental biopic explores the profound moral consequences of creating the atomic bomb.
The tense and stylish tennis love-triangle Challengers, starring Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O'Connor, serves up drama on BBC One on Monday 22 December. Meanwhile, the sumptuous and vicious historical romp The Favourite, with Olivia Colman, Emma Stone, and Rachel Weisz, airs on Film4 the same night.
Don't miss the powerful new release Sinners on Sky Cinema Premiere on Boxing Day. Directed by Ryan Coogler and starring Michael B. Jordan, this genre-bending film starts as a 1930s Mississippi period drama before twisting into a supernatural thriller.
Timeless Classics and Streaming Picks
No Christmas is complete without revisiting the classics. The ultimate feel-good film, ET: The Extra-Terrestrial, retains all its magic and will be on ITV1 on Christmas Eve afternoon. For a dose of old-school Hollywood glamour, the musical White Christmas brings Technicolor cheer to BBC Two on Christmas Day.
Film buffs can also revisit Orson Welles's groundbreaking masterpiece Citizen Kane on BBC Two on Christmas Eve morning.
Streaming services are also getting in on the act. Netflix offers Kate Winslet's directorial debut Goodbye June, a moving family drama starring Helen Mirren and Timothy Spall, from Christmas Eve, as well as the inspirational documentary Cover-Up about journalist Seymour Hersh from Boxing Day. Paramount+ adds the tense thriller Trust, starring Sophie Turner, also available from Boxing Day.
With this diverse and high-quality selection, your Christmas television viewing is sure to be filled with entertainment, emotion, and cinematic excellence.
