1996- PG - 89 MINS - COMEDY
Nutshell: A father vows to get his son a Turbo Man action figure for Christmas. However, every store is sold out and he must travel all over town and compete with everybody else to find one.
Top Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sinbad
Review: Once upon a time, buying the toy of that year was the most stressful thing of the season. This film with Arnie and Sinbad was never going to win an Oscar but this is a film you can enjoy, laugh and be happy you have Amazon.
2024 - PG - 99 MINS - COMEDY
Nutshell: Nobody is ready for the mayhem and surprises that ensue when six of the worst youngsters disrupt the town's yearly Christmas performance.
Top Cast: Kynlee Haiman, Judy Greer
Review: It has the makings of a future classic. A great cast of talented youngsters provide an original performance that is festive feel-good. There is a religious overtone that isn't for all.
2021 - PG - 99 MINS - ROMANTIC
Nutshell: Desperate to avoid his family's judgement about his perpetual single status, Peter convinces his best friend Nick to join him for the holidays and pretend they are now in a relationship.
Top Cast: Michael Urie, Philemon Chambers
Review: A different but delightful holiday rom-com with charm and humor in a story of self-acceptance. The festive atmosphere and familiar holiday tropes make it a feel-good watch.
1985 - PG - 107 MINS - FAMILY
Nutshell: The legend of Santa Claus is placed into jeopardy when an unscrupulous toy manufacturer attempts to take over Christmas.
Top Cast: Dudley Moore, John Lithgow
Review: Fond memories from childhood of this film and the perilous sleigh ride scene. This is a movie that truly looks to bring you a true meaning of Christmas. Nowadays, toymakers have been replaced by Big Tech, and we should beware.
2022 - TV-14 - 99 MINS - ROMANTIC
Nutshell: The story of a man who returns home on Christmas settle his estranged mother's estate. Once there, he discovers a diary that may hold secrets to is own past and of a beautiful young woman on a mysterious journey of her own.
Top Cast: Justin Hartley, Barrett Doss
Review: This Hallmark style Christmas romance delivers exactly as intended. With surprising authenticity, the movie draws you in and delivers a heartfelt story.
2024 - PG - 92 MINS - COMEDY
Nutshell: Widow Kathy magically brings a snowman to life. His innocence helps her heal and find love again. They bond before Christmas day, but is he doomed to melt?
Top Cast: Lacey Chabert, Katy Mixon Greer
Review: There is a charming absurdity to the plot. Hallmark townsfolk that live in the fantasy world we all want to live in, holiday magic combined with warmth and humor make this feel-good film a nice easy watch.
1989 - PG-13 - 98 MINS - COMEDY
Nutshell: A group of young upper-class Manhattanites are blithely passing through the gala debutante season when an unusual outsider joins them and stirs them up.
Top Cast: Carolyn Farina, Edward Clements
Review: A different pick for Christmas. Set in the holiday season with seasonal parties and traditions, this movie focuses more on a group of obnoxious upper-class youngsters trying to fit in. The screenplay is great.
2024 - TV-14 - 105 MINS - ROMANTIC
Nutshell: In pursuit of a fairytale romance with the man of her dreams, Layla must race through NY City to get her hands on tickets for the the sold out Pentatonix Christmas Eve concert
Top Cast: Christina Millian, Devale Ellis
Review: If you like Pentatonix at Christmas, then sit down for the back catalogue. It is a pretty ridiculous story, but like most Christmas rom-coms, it keeps you hooked. At least she wasn't trying to get to a Taylor Swift concert!
2002 - G - 104 MINS - COMEDY
Nutshell: Scott Calvin has been a humble Santa Claus for eight years, but it might come to an end if he doesn't find a Mrs. Claus.
Top Cast: Tim Allen, Spencer Breslin
Review: Set a few years after the original, the story continues to evolve with the same ridiculousness. Finding a wife in less than a month anyone? But overall, this is just an easy fun watch with nice moments to remember.
2020 - PG - 110 MINS - FANTASY
Nutshell: An unskilled young fairy godmother ventures out on her own to prove her worth by tracking down a young girl whose request for help was ignored.
Top Cast: June Squibb, Jillian Bell
Review: This Disney story does a decent job delivering a feel-good holiday movie for the entire family and tells us that miracles can happen. Just a shame the ending was not stronger.
1994 - R - 97 MINS - COMEDY
Nutshell: A cat burglar is forced to take a bickering, dysfunctional family hostage on Christmas eve.
Top Cast: Denis Leary, Judy Davis
Review: This dark comedy, with some brilliant moments and lines. The originality stands it out as a nice choice for the season.
2019 - G - 100 MINS - COMEDY
Nutshell: Santa's daughter must take over the family business when her father retires and her brother, who is supposed to inherit the Santa role, gets cold feet.
Top Cast: Anna Kendrick, Bill Hader
Review: A mix of different movies (e.g. Santa Clause, Elf), held together impressively by Anna Kendrick, bringing a mix of humor and emotion and leaving you with that Christmas spirit feeling.
2021 - 15 - 112 MINS - COMEDY
Nutshell: Nell, Simon and their 3 sons are ready to welcome friends and family for what promises to be a perfect Christmas gathering. Perfect except for one thing, everyone is going to die.
Top Cast: Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode
Review: A different take on a holiday movie - instead of the usual traditions, you walk into a dark comedy-drama and while it could have been better, it remains compelling with a "what have I just seen" ending.
2017 - PG - 92 MINS - ROMANTIC
Nutshell: When a reporter goes undercover as a tutor to get the inside scoop on a playboy prince, she gets tangled in some royal intrigue and ends up finding love, but will she be able to keep up her lie?
Top Cast: Rose McIver, Ben Lamb
Review: If you are a Hallmark fan, you will love this. It is cheesy, predictable and cleverly pokes fun at its own formula. This movie gives us that hopes of happy endings are attainable.
2005 - PG-13 - 96 MINS - ROMANTIC
Nutshell: While visiting his hometown during Christmas, a man comes face-to-face with his old high school crush and best friend - a woman whose rejection of him turned him into a ferocious womanizer.
Top Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Amy Smart
Review: With a fun holiday feel, this com-rom provides a nice story line delivered well. This isn't about plot, it is about feeling happy, laughing out loud and although it isn't exactly a Christmas movie, enjoy it nonetheless.
2002 - TV-G - 100 MINS - COMEDY
Nutshell: After the muppet theatre faces closure on account of financial hardships, angel Daniel requests Boss to help its owner Kermit and his team of muppets.
Top Cast: Steve Whitmire, Dave Goelz
Review: There are better The Muppets movies and this is a bit of a throwback, but it still offers lots of laughs and for the adults, some clever little jokes that will fly over the little ones heads.
1998 - PG - 101 MINS - COMEDY
Nutshell: A father who can't keep his promises is killed in a car accident. One year later, he returns as a snowman who has the final chance to put things right with his son before he is gone forever.
Top Cast: Michael Keaton, Kelly Preston
Review: This is an OK film. It tries hard to be both a comedy and a heartfelt father-son bonding, and in doing so does not quite do either. There are moments of fun and just don't judge the 90d CGI too much.
2022 - 13+ - 95 MINS - ROMANTIC
Nutshell: Hayley and James are young and in love. They both make the same mad decision to swap trains and surprise each other. Passing each other in the station, they are unaware that they have just swapped Christmases.
Top Cast: Asa Butterfield, Cora Kirk
Review: It is a shame people don't communicate to each other. The result in this case is a fairly light and breezy British rom-com. It may be cliched but aren't most Christmas movies!
2018 - TV-PG - 101 MINS - ROMANTIC
Nutshell: Competing in a Christmas baking competition in Belgravia, a Chicago baker bumps into the prince's fiancée, who looks just like her. They switch lives for two days.
Top Cast: Vanessa Hudgens, Sam Palladio
Review: A Christmastime version of the Prince and the Pauper with a nice cheesy story, you will laugh, roll your eyes and maybe shed a little tear. Who doesn't appreciate a real good try at a British accent.
1938 - Approved - 69 MINS - DRAMA
Nutshell: On Christmas Eve, the mean and miserly Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by three ghosts who attempt to change his ways or face the consequences in the afterlife.
Top Cast: Reginald Owen, Gene Lockhart
Review: This black and white production brings a rawness to the characters, while still moving at a fair pace. You are left wanting a little more from the ghost visits. At only just over an hour, fit this in to your schedule.
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