5 of the best Christmas films to watch tonight with a tin of Celebrations

For hardcore Christmasophiles out there, we know. You are a buzzing ball of Christmas cheer. You never ever want it to end. Don’t avert your eyes from me, I can see that your car radio dial is set to Christmas FM…

Here’s our round-up of Christmas movies to watch tonight that will really get you in the mood for Santa’s long-awaited visit. Go home, put the feet up and get that tin of Celebrations out because this will help you transition and get ready for glorious food comas over the festive break.

White Christmas

So, this is the quintessential Christmas film. I’m sorry, but Home Alone has got nothing on this bad boy. We’ll also accept? Holiday Inn as an alternative, considering it’s where the song “White Christmas” originated. This movie has got everything, a dreamy Rosemary Clooney singing “Counting Your Blessings”, Crosby and crew saying the word ‘snow’ a million times over in the song aptly named”Snow” and a cracking Christmas finale. And, lest we forget, the excellent “Sister” duet and dance which I may or may not have demanded my younger brother perform with me (I won’t name names for fear of retribution, they’re much taller now).

It’s A Wonderful Life

Please don’t do a Phoebe on this one and stop watching halfway through. Hold strong and watch James Stewart go through the Dickensian experience of seeing what his town would be like if he were never born. I DARE you not to get misty-eyed as he runs through the streets to his worried family at the end. Also, his brother Harry shows up and is rather hunky, so if nothing else hold out for him.

Miracle On 34th Street

A personal favourite. As a purist, I would always opt for the 1947 version but the Matilda /Attenborough’version is just as good. With two slightly different endings, Maura O’Hara is magnificent in the original but we must confess the engagement ring of the later version is equally spectacular. However, we’re not sure about the “dream house”, it seems more roof than a house. Nonetheless, this one is necessary Christmas viewing.

Love Actually

This divides opinion. Granted, nearly everyone finds Kiera Knightly irritating, but think of the bumbling Colin Firth, the little drummer boy (I just got that) who’s in love with the American, Hugh Grant as a Golden Oldie, and the incomparable Emma Thompson in her Joni Mitchell scene. Add the gorgeous soundtrack and Bill Nighy gyrating to “Christmas Is All Around” and you’ve got a winner. Just don’t forget that there are those porn scenes in it before sticking it on in front of the grandparents. It results in some extended periods of silence, trust me.

Polar Express

This is many people’s favourite film but for some reason is often forgotten when it comes to Christmas movie listicles. What’s not to love about the soothing tones of Tom Hanks as the conductor and the excitement of the children as they embark on an incredible journey. The adorable bit about the bells more than makes up for the somewhat austere Santa Claus.