12 days of Christmas movies to make you feel festive

Fa la lah.  Didn’t we just have Christmas a few months ago?  Why is December flying by so fast?  If, like me, you’re overwhelmed with wish lists, menu planning and Mariah Carey, here are 12 Christmas movies and TV shows that might actually get you to chill out and start feeling festive:

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Obviously.  Even if you know this classic movie word-for-word, be sure to to join Clark and Ellen as they host the Griswold family Christmas, complete with characters we love including cousin Eddie, Aunt Bethany, Ruby-Sue, and Todd. Add 40,000 Christmas lights, a big glass of eggnog and the best Hawaiian Christmas song ever, and you’ll be part of the jolliest bunch of assholes this side of the nuthouse.

Bad Mom's Christmas

Mum power is the best kind of girl power, surely? This movie has everything: lots of laughs, relatable family dramas, pre-Christmas chaos, romance, trampoline dodgeball and a very hot dancing Santa.  We got to know Amy, Carla, and Kiki in the first Bad Mom’s movie, and having Susan Sarandon, Christine Baranski and Cheryl Hynes join them as an older generation of “bad moms” helps make this Christmas-themed sequel a cracker!

Last Christmas

This cute romantic comedy full of nostalgic George Michael songs is a festive film that you can sing along to. Easy to watch, purposely schmaltzy and a bit predictable (which makes it easy to watch), it follows shop assistant Kate on a winter wonderland quest to find happiness in London. Curl up on the couch with this one if you’re after a movie with a bit of heart. 

Love Actually

As nine different stories of love, loss, and friendships interconnect during the lead-up to Christmas, there’s humour, drama, romance, an excellent soundtrack and never a dull moment. Fun fact:  the phrase “love, actually” is said 23 times during the movie, which could form the base of a loungeroom drinking game – actually.

Die Hard

Yippee kay-ay!  Yes, this absolutely counts as a Christmas movie. Amongst the non-stop action, explosions, fights, awesome one-liners, and thwarting of terrorists, we should remember that John McClane is actually just trying to see his family and win back his wife on Christmas Eve. This 80’s classic starring Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman has been a crowd favourite for decades.   

The Holiday

Sometimes a change (or just watching this feel-good Christmas movie) is as good as a holiday! Stunning locations, beautiful people - if you're a rom-com fan, this is a delightful option for Christmas viewing.

Hot Frosty

A new Christmas comedy/romance to add to your watch list. Kathy lost her husband two years ago and her shambolic Christmas is rescued when she magically brings a snowman to life. A handsome, romantically inclined snowman with a six-pack. Hot Frosty has some genuinely funny moments and offers an entertaining escape from your own Christmas chaos.

Bridget Jones' Diary

Being a singleton at Christmas means you get to drink wine, scoff boxes of chocolates and maybe meet your perfect match at mum's annual turkey curry buffet. Bridget decides to take stock of her life after a lonely December, and we follow along as she spectacularly navigates a new career, clashing romances, self-improvement attempts and a string of hilarious mishaps.

Bad Santa

Don't love sweet Christmas movies? Then pick this one. Rather than your standard jolly old Saint Nick,Willie is rude, mostly drunk, socially unacceptable, and takes the shop Santa job in order to rob the store on Christmas eve. After he befriends a quirky kid his plan unravels into dark comedy without the sentimental Christmas schmaltz.

The OC: Christmakkuh (season 1, episode 13)

Remember the OC?  Seth, Summer, Marissa, teenage drama, and the best TV theme song of the ‘90’s. This is the episode where Seth introduces the gang to his Christmas/Hannukah hybrid holiday. Fluffy, nostalgic, festive fun. 

Seinfeld: The Pick (season 4, episode 13)

This is the episode where the Christmas card Elaine sends to hundreds of colleagues and relatives accidentally shows a bit of "nip". Meanwhile Jerry is also embarrased when his girlfriend thinks she caught him picking his nose. Classic Seinfeld.

Mr Bean: Merry Christmas Mr Bean

OK, this might seem an odd choice, but seriously – if you pour that third glass of wine, and stream this on 7+, I swear you’ll absolutely wet your pants. Mr Bean serves up stupid, visual comedy that’ll make you snort-laugh out loud and will also help you see the lighter side of Christmas craziness.

So if you're having a four-alarm Christmas emergency, and you just need a BREAK, pull up on the couch with your favourite and relax. I promise you'll feel merrier if you do.