New Christmas movies to stream, classics to watch, books to read
We could all do with a healthy dose of Christmas spirit. Here’s a list of the latest streaming movies, classics, books and songs that come out once a year.
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Go early and go hard! After an extremely difficult year we could all do with a healthy dose of Christmas spirit. And with trees and lights popping up all over the state, it’s time to splurge on everything festive — from the latest streaming movies, to the Chrissie classics, books and songs that come out once a year.
STREAMING
HOLIDATE
Netflix
Former Summer Bay local Luke Bracey teams up with Emma Roberts in this romantic Christmas comedy. Jackson (Bracey) and Sloane (Roberts) aren’t fans of the baggage that comes with taking a date to all the holiday parties. Inspired by Sloane’s Aunt Susan (Kristin Chenoweth) who rocks up to a family celebration with her own holidate, the two agree to act as each others’ party dates throughout the year with no strings attached. Of course it’s never going to end like that …
OPERATION CHRISTMAS DROP
Netflix
Kat Graham, Alexander Ludwig and Virginia Madsen star in this story of a congressional aide, doing research on closing a US Air Force base, who “clashes” with the bases’s captain. We all where a romantic comedy “clash” leads.
JINGLE JANGLE: A CHRISTMAS MOVIE
Netflix
With a stellar cast including Forest Whitaker, Keegan-Michael Key, Hugh Bonnevills, Phylicia Rashad and the voice of Ricky Martin, Jingle Jangle is a fantastical musical story about inventor Jeronicus Jangle (Whitaker) who has his prized creation stolen by his offsider. His granddaughter comes to town and helps him restore the magic he once had. The film’s score includes songs from John Legend who also produces.
THE PRINCESS SWITCH: SWITCHED AGAIN
Netflix
Vanessa Hudgens is back as the Duchess of Montenaro who is now about to take the country’s throne. But before she does she needs the help of her “twin” former baker turned princess Stacy De Novo so she can patch things up with Stacy’s friend Kevin, who she fell for in the first movie. The two look-a-likes also have to worry about a third who is determined to keep Margaret from taking her place in the palace.
DOLLY PARTON’S CHRISTMAS ON THE SQUARE
Netflix
Another new take on the scrooge story. This time The Good Fight’s Christine Baranski is the rich, soulless businesswoman who swoops into town and evicts everyone to make way for a new mall. Dolly Parton is, of course, an angel who helps guide Baranski to better things. The country music queen has 14 original songs in the movie.
THE CHRISTMAS CHRONICLES: PART TWO
Netflix
Kate Pierce has grown up a bit since her last adventure with Santa. While on holiday in Mexico with her mum’s new boyfriend and his son Jack she decides to run away. But her and Jack find themselves transported to the North Pole where they need to help Santa ward off a nasty elf trying to ruin Christmas. Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn are back as Mr and Mrs Claus.
HAPPIEST SEASON
At cinemas
Abby (Kristin Steward) and Harper (Mackenzie Davis) are madly in love and Abby is planning to pop the question over Christmas – but there’s a problem. Harper hasn’t come out to her parents, including her conservative dad who is running for mayor. A nice Christmas romance with a twist – the twist being a bit of reality.
MARIAH CAREY’S MAGICAL CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
Apple TV+
As we enter Mariah-Christmas-albums-on-high-rotation season, it’s only fitting the Christmas ambassador is heading to the North Pole to save the festive season. She’s joined by Ariana Grande and Jennifer Hudson in a show that has a lot of music and a lot of fun.
DASH AND LILY
Netflix
An eight-part series about Lily, who is left home for Christmas with her brother, and Dash, a teenage boy who hates the festive season. The two, who are strangers, pass notes back and forth in a book that includes dares to be performed around New York City.
A RING FOR CHRISTMAS
Foxtel
Aussie Dean Geyer pops up as one of the leads in this story about a young wealthy woman
who finds she will inherit a ton of money if she gets married – before Christmas.
CHRISTMAS COUPON
Amazon Prime Video
It’s the old ‘ex boyfriend returns to town after making it big elsewhere, fights with old flame, slowly wins her back as a friend, fall in love’ storyline. Just add Christmas.
CLASSIC MOVIES
THE GRINCH
Netflix
Even the minty misery himself would agree 2020 needs a little cheer. We love the 2018 animated version with Benedict Cumberbatch AND the 2000 Jim Carrey movie.
HOME ALONE
Foxtel
Don’t scream – but this 30-year-old Christmas caper starring Macaulay Culkin is still the gift that gives.
LOVE ACTUALLY
Foxtel
Richard Curtis’s 2003 flick starring Colin Firth, a very young Keira Knightley, Andrew Lincoln, Hugh Grant and Emma Thompson is equally loved and loathed, but it wouldn’t be Christmas without a least one viewing.
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE
Amazon Prime Video
The ultimate Christmas movie, Frank Capra’s 1946 masterpiece with James Stewart is your yearly reminder that life is precious.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Amazon Prime Video
The Charles Dickens classic has had many screen outings — the 1951 movie with Alastair Sim as Scrooge is the best, but last year’s handsome BBC mini-series with Aussie Guy Pearce was also a standout.
THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL
Amazon Prime Video
But a special mention has to go to the 1992 Muppet version with Michael Caine as Scrooge, Gonzo as Dickens and Kermit and Miss Piggy as Bob and Emily Cratchit.
MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET
Google Play
Another classic is the moving 1947 movie starring Maureen O’Hara and a young Natalie Wood, who meet department store Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn).
THE POLAR EXPRESS
Foxtel
It wouldn’t be Christmas without jumping on board this 2004 Tom Hanks animated railway adventure.
BOOKS
LETTERS FROM FATHER CHRISTMAS
J.R.R. Tolkien
From 1920 onwards a letter arrived yearly from the North Pole for the children of The Lord Of The Rings author and this beautiful book is a collection of the magical messages.
THE POLAR EXPRESS
Chris Van Allsburg
The Tom Hanks movie was based on this enchanting book, published in 1985. Admit it, we all want to hear that sleigh bell ring.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Charles Dickens
Dickens’s little story (written in 1843) has gone on to be one of the most famous Christmas tales of all time.
HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS!
Dr Seuss
A century later, Dr Seuss wrote the tale of another Christmas miser turned good, with his 1957 feel-good classic that Whovers away the humbugs.
THE SNOWMAN
Raymond Briggs
We don’t know what it is about this 1978 illustrated book — it doesn’t even have any words, yet still makes us cry.
LITTLE WOMEN
Louisa May Alcott
“It was that beautiful old story of the best life ever lived,” wrote Alcott in 1868, teaching us how to be happy with nothing.
THE SNOW QUEEN
Hans Christian Andersen
The icy fairy tale was written in 1844 by the Danish author. Read the original and see how it influenced Disney’s Frozen.
HERCULE POIROT’S CHRISTMAS
Agatha Christie
There’s nothing like a spot of murder at Christmas, so indulge in a classic whodunit with Christie’s 1938 story.
THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
Clement Clarke Moore
Written in 1823, this poem went on to define Christmas. All together now: “Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.”
A BUSH CHRISTMAS
C.J. Dennis
And the defining Aussie Christmas classic came in the form of the beloved 1931 poem by C.J. Dennis: “The sun burns hotly thro’ the gums, as down the road old Rogan comes …”
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