The best way to spend Christmas in the winter is to sit beside the fire in a blanket and watch a heartwarming movie. Sometimes a hilarious Christmas comedy can put everyone in a better mood; Christmas dinner should accompany some of the best British Christmas movies.
The important question is which movies should you watch, as there are so many movies around Christmas, which ones are worth your time? We have curated a list of movies for you: classic British Christmas movies, musicals, short films, and rom-comโs.
Top British Christmas Moviesย
1. Love actually-
Overview
Director- Richard Curtis
Cast- Hugh Grant, Martine McCutcheon, Liam Neeson
Release Date- 14 November 2003
Runtime- 2 hours 15 minutes
Love is the first name that comes to mind when one thinks of British Christmas films; for many, this movie is a must-watch when the festive season is around the corner.
Even though Love Actually was released in 2003, it still lives in peopleโs hearts. Love Actually is a Romantic comedy which is mostly filmed in London.
Plot
The movie deals with eight intertwined love stories during the time of Christmas, and the plot is very long yet not very complicated. All the couples are linked in some way; for example, Billy the Rockstar is not physically present with many of the couples, but he often appears on-screen via his voice on the radio or TV.
Billyโs voice provides an important motive for Samโs pursuit of Jonna, many couples work at the same place, and some come face-to-face at the Heathrow crossing. Love tries to show how people common people like you and me can find love in our lives.
The couples deal with love triangles, family issues, sexuality, and mental health all at the same time.
Review
This film has Christmas written over it, and if you want to spend a wholesome evening with your family watching movies, then this is the best British Christmas movie for you. It will make you laugh, cry, and sometimes you might even want a hug.
The performances in this movie are stellar, every actor brings a huge range of emotions on-screen, and we easily connect to them and most definitely see a part of ourselves in one of the characters.
In todayโs day and age, a film like Love Actually might seem overtly cheesy and dramatic, sometimes even cringe. Still, with the festive season around the corner and the winter setting in, this movie feels like sipping hot chocolate while you sleep in a blanket; it is a Christmas classic.
2. The Snowman
Overview
Director- Jimmy Murakami
Actor- Peter Auty, David Bowie, Raymond Briggs
Release Date- December 24, 1982
Runtime- Half an hour.
The Snowman is half an hour of animated genius as a film. It is based on the picture book The Snowman. It was nominated for Oscars in the Best animated short film category and won a BAFTA TV award.
Plot
A young boy makes a snowman in his backyard on a night of heavy snowfall, and the snowman accidentally becomes big. The boy goes to sleep, but at midnight, he sneaks out to go back to the snowman he built, only to realize that the snowman has come to life.
The young boy shows the snowman his house, and they play quietly enough not to wake his parents; they also ride on a motorcycle, but the snowman begins to melt, so they rest in the garage freezer. The snowman sees a picture of the Arctic on a packet and gets agitated.
He takes the boy in his arms, and they run through the night to reach Aurora borealis, where they meet a party of snowmen and Father Christmas and his reindeer.
Review
The Snowman is adventurous, fun, and cathartic to watch. It will remind you of the good old days when you could carelessly play in the afternoon and run away with a snowman in the middle of the night.
This is the best movie to watch on Christmas eve with your entire family. It has Santa Claus, a snowman, jingle bells, and a lot of fun and frolic. The Snowman will take you on an unexpected magical journey whenever you watch it.
3. Last Christmas
Overview
Director- Paul Feig
Actor- Emma Thompson, Boris Isakovic, Madison Ingoldsby
Release Date- November 8, 2019
Runtime- 1 hour 43 minutes
Last Christmas, starring Emilia Clarke, tries to bring back the British rom-com movie to screen with Emma Thompson in the spotlight, declaring her love out in public. This is adapted successfully into a delightful watch.
Plot
Kate, played by Emilia Clarke, is a wannabe singer who only makes bad decisions. She plays an elf in a store when she meets Tom, a kind-hearted man who changes her cynical worldview. When Kate develops a feeling for Tom, her immigrant family comes into the picture.
All of them have their flaws and obstacles to deal with, but in the end, it all comes together, and they are one happy family.
Review
Last Christmas is a great movie to watch during the holiday season; it is fun, emotional, romantic, dramatic, and has the Christmas season sprinkled all over it.
This movie has the clumsiest meet-cute ever; it is also an overdose of rom-com Christmas movies in recent times. It is also cheesy and cliched, but it is wholesome and enthralling at its heart. If you are craving more movies like Love Actually, this is a perfect one for you.
People are uncomfortably wealthy here, very kind and impractical. They prefer lovers over everything else, which might seem ridiculous, but it is very innocent. It is full of festivity, making it a welcome addition to your Christmas movies list.
4. Scrooge
Overview
Director- Ronal Neame
Actor- Albert Finney, Alec Guinness, Edith Evans
Release Date- December 17, 1971
Runtime- 1 hour 53 minutes
Scrooge is a musical comedy adapted from Charles dickens 1843 story A Christmas Carol. It is a story of a cold-hearted old man who learns new things about life on Christmas. It was filmed mostly in London.
Plot
A cranky old miser Ebenezer Scrooge hates Christmas and people in general. He does not treat people well, and he is abusive towards his customers like Bob and others.
He even abuses his nephew one day, and he is visited by a ghost of his friend who tells him that three more ghosts will visit him. The ghosts show him how life can be improved by being kind.
Ebenezer Scrooge realizes that life is short and one must live it to the fullest, and he improves his behavior towards his customer and his nephew. It helps him in having faith in the people around him.
Review
Scrooge is a funny musical and teaches us some important life lessons. Life can be hard, which might make us cynical, and we lose hope altogether. Scrooge reminds us that life is short, and we should not be harsh on ourselves. The best we can do is to try and be kind toward others.
Scrooge has nothing new to offer, so why should you watch it? Because we sometimes need to remind ourselves of the simple things in life. Life is really simple. It is we who insist on making it complicated.
The music might seem absurd initially, but you will get used to it and start liking it. Scrooge is a comforting movie, ensuring us of good and simpler times that are yet to come.
5. Home Alone 1
Overview
Director- Chris Columbus
Actor- Daniel Stern, Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci
Release Date- November 16, 1990
Runtime- 1 hour 43 minutes
A small child tries to protect his family home in Chicago, and he is all alone. After the first movie, more movies have been released on the same theme, and they are all worth watching and equally hilarious.
Seeing an eight-year-old defeat, a full-grown man will give you the adrenaline you need and help you get in the festive mood.
Plot
The McCallister family gathers together at Christmas time every year, one night before Christmas, to prepare for their Paris trip. The main character that is Kevin, becomes a subject of ridicule for all the elder siblings. He gets neglected and left alone in the house as the entire family boards the plane.
On the other hand, Kevin is overjoyed as he discovers this new freedom; he is living the best life without the house being in chaos. He watched television and gulped on chunks of ice cream, and there was no one to tease him, scold him or bully him.
When everything seems to be going fine, the house is attacked by burglars who steal from empty houses in the neighborhood. Kevin manages to escape all dangers using his unpredictable nature and sharp wits.
When his parents finally manage to return home somehow, they are overjoyed to see their son safe. They are also filled with pride as they know that Kevin has caught the burglars and helped the police.
Review
A child ignored in an extended family turns out to be a prodigy; this never gets old. The movie has unexpected events and will make you chuckle a lot. The wit of the young boy Kevin is to marvel at.
More importantly, credits should go to the director and cinematographers who executed a series of subtle actions that were mind-blowing.
All the traps laid and escaped by Kevin are very smart; it makes every adult question his imagination and gives us a lot to think about.
All of this happens during Christmas, and one of the best parts is when Kevin being so smart and better than adults, still goes to Santa Claus when he misses his family. Without a single doubt, Home Alone is one of the best British Christmas films out there.
6. Bridget Jonesโs Diary
Overview
Director- Sharon Maguire
Actor- Collin Firth, Renee Zellweger, Hugh Grant
Release Date- April 13, 2001
Runtime- 1 hour 37 minutes
Bridget Jones is like the girl next door, only that she is dealing with a lot of body image issues, self-worth, and not having love or her life together. She decides to take control of her life, and she writes everything in her diary. Her boss takes an interest in her diary, and the event unfolds, leading into a charming and fun movie.
Plot
On her 32nd birthday, Bridget Jones decides to take control of her life, consisting of too much smoking, eating, drinking, and running behind the wrong guy.
She starts writing everything in her diary with absolute honesty and monitoring her intake of alcohol and tobacco. Her boss happens to take an interest in her, and they start sharing a steak of flirtatious emails regularly.
Review
What makes this character of Bridget Jones stand out from others is that she has irrepressible energy and her issues are very relatable; she doesnโt look conventionally attractive and is struggling with many of the problems that we do as well.
She is clumsy, makes mistakes, speaks out of turn, and has no filter on her, and she is no wonder girl who sets everything right all at once. She learns with every mistake.
This movie is the debut of Sharon Maguire, and she does a pretty good job. The acting is spot on by the main character and the supporting cast. The dialogues are sharp, updated, realistic, and inoffensive. This chick flick might save Christmas if you get stuck in a boring party.
Although Christmas ainโt coming anytime soon now, as itโs still May, and thereโs a long way to go but the best thing aboutย British Christmas Movies is that you can watch them anytime, any day.ย
So, donโt wait.ย
These movies will hopefully add more fun and frolic to your Christmas holidays. Merry Christmas!
And do tell us, which of these British Christmas movies did you enjoy the most.ย
Last Updated on by kalidaspandian
Top Comments