Five Festive Films You Need To Watch This Year

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We all know that this time of year is filled with holiday cheer, twinkly lights, the prospect of half an inch of slushy snow, times to relax….and some of the best-worst films of all time. And that’s why we love to watch them right? Because they’re predictable, laughable, and unbelievable in the best way possible. So here’s our run down of the festive films you absolutely, totally, 100% NEED to watch this year, all found on Netflix…

Robin Robin

This new film from Aardman (the same company that makes Shaun the Sheep and Chicken Run) is only 30 minutes long, but sure to be filled with all the feels. It tells the story of an optimistic little Robin, who was raised by a family of mice after her egg rolled into a rubbish dump. Poor little thing! As Robin grows up, she becomes aware that she’s different from the rest of her fam, but wants more than anything to make them proud. So, she sets off on a sneaky adventure into ‘the human house’ to prove her worth. It’s stop motion, it’s cute, it’s musical, and sure to be a family favourite.

The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star

Yes, you read that right. The Princess Switch is back again, again. No seriously. Vanessa Hudgens has reprised her role as Princess Stacy...and Lady Margeret...and Lady Fiona once again. When a priceless Christmas relic is stolen from the Christmas festival, the three must come together to try and retrieve it. So, it’s going to be a festive film full of hijinks, crossovers and adventures. And a whole lot of Vanessa Hudgens.

The Claus Family (De Familie Claus)

This Dutch film (with English subtitles) centres around Jules Claus, who doesn’t like Christmas (shock horror!) After his dad died the year before, he doesn’t want anything to do with the supposedly festive period. But, when his mum has to work, he starts to spend time in his grandad's toy shop, and discovers a magical snow globe, which takes him to the farthest parts of the world. It’s here that he finds out his grandad is none other than the big man himself, Father Christmas, and he needs help with all the presents this year. But Jules isn’t going to back down that quickly from his anti-Christmas stance. Will Christmas be in jeopardy around the world?

Single All The Way

In this new Christmas rom-com, Ugly Betty’s Michael Urie plays Peter - a guy who is perpetually single, and absolutely fed up with his family constantly asking him when he’s going to find a guy to settle down with. When he has to go home for the holiday, he manages to convince his best friend Nick to go with him and pretend to be his boyfriend. Of course it’s not all that simple though, as Peter’s mum had already set him up on a blind date, and makes the whole fake relationship thing a little bit tense. This is Netflix’s first gay Christmas romance film AND features everyone’s favourite Jennifer Coolidge, so, y’know, it’s a great time all round!

A Castle for Christmas

A classic formula for a Christmas movie - Rich, career focussed American female protagonist comes to middle-of-nowhere-land (Scotland, lol) because of family connections, meets good looking man, immediately doesn’t get on with him...but eventually falls in love because Christmas is magic and was inside her all along. What more could you want? Oh, throw in a giant castle that’s up for sale and she wants to buy it but he doesn’t want to sell and you’ve got the perfect terrible movie to sit back and watch.