10 Best British Christmas Films, Ranked

Most classic Christmas films are American, but Britain has also produced some heartwarming Christmas films over the years. The most obvious example is Love in truth, which often comes up in conversations about the best Christmas films, but there are many more British Christmas films, even if not all of them have large international audiences. Many of these Christmas movies feature famous faces from Hollywood blockbusters.

The worst Christmas films are often accused of cheap sentimentality, but this is something British films tend to avoid, simply because there isn't the same abundance of Christmas content every year. The few that do have any kind of lasting relevance tend to offer something different from American Christmas films, either because they focus on British holiday traditions or because they have quirky British humor.

10

That Christmas (2024)

Netflix's Christmas hit could have staying power

Each year brings a new batch of Christmas movies, many of which are completely forgettable, but That Christmas is one that has a chance of being watched again by people in 2025 and beyond. The animated family comedy is based on a series of short stories. True love from director Richard Curtis and, like the 2003 classic, it also features a series of loosely interconnected stories in the run-up to Christmas.

The cast of That Christmas is led by Successionis Brian Cox as Santa Claus, but there are other names worth noting, such as Bill Nighy and former Doctor Who star Jodie Whittaker. As with any film that tries to juggle many stories, some of the narrative threads are funnier and more interesting than others, but the overall effect is that Last Christmas remains entertaining throughout its short running time.

9

This is Christmas (2022)

This is Christmas flew under the radar

Sky Cinema has been increasing its film production in recent years. The British subscription film service produces many films that are released in cinemas around the world, such as Kate Winslet's. Lee and Promising young woman, but most of his films are only seen by his subscribers. They made a tradition of making Christmas movies every year, and This is Christmas is one of the best.

This is Christmas stars Harry PotterAlfred Enoch and The gentlemen stars Kaya Scodelario as two passengers who see the same people every day on board their train to London, without ever exchanging words, until they decide to throw a Christmas party where they can get to know each other. There is no shortage of similar films, but This is Christmas benefits from a charming cast full of British talent.

8

Nativity! (2009)

Nativity started a Christmas franchise

Nativity Plays are a big Christmas tradition in Britain, with primary schools across the country putting on a show for parents every December. Nativity captures the chaos of annually preparing a group of schoolchildren for a play when they have no interest in acting, no ability to memorize their lines, and no care whether the play counts as a success or not.

Martin Freeman stars as the jaded professor who is tasked with directing the Nativity play, but his lie about Hollywood producers coming to watch the show causes even more undue damage. The rest of the cast also features some great British comedians and actors, although not many who are recognized by international audiences. The success of Nativity began a franchise with three sequels and a popular stage adaptation.

7

Anna and the Apocalypse (2018)

Christmas and horror often go hand in hand

Christmas horror films are a quirky festive tradition that subverts the joyful, family-friendly atmosphere of the holiday season. Anna and the Apocalypse is probably Britain's greatest contribution to this niche subgenre and has found an audience among horror aficionados around the world. The story follows a group of teenagers facing their own social problems as a zombie apocalypse breaks out before Christmas.

Anna and the Apocalypse is a British zombie comedy that follows in the same tradition as Shaun of the Dead, although the musical numbers certainly make it stand out. It's part coming-of-age comedy, part Broadway-inspired musical, and part zombie fest, and it's completely entertaining. Anna and the Apocalypse is a great low-budget, light-hearted Christmas film for those looking for an antidote to the schmaltz the genre often has to offer.

6

The Holly and the Ivy (1952)

The old classic still stands

Good Christmas movies often have a timeless quality, and nostalgia can make them even more enjoyable to watch each year. The Holly and the Ivy It's a different perspective It's a wonderful life – for example – and it's not in the same territory as the family hit, but it's still uplifting and complex in all the right ways. The retro charms add warmth to the story, especially the ending.

The Holly and the Ivy is an adaptation of a play, and there are moments when its theatrical roots become evident. Still, the story and characters speak for themselves, no matter the medium. Some Christmas movies are overly corny and simplistic while rushing to a happy ending, but The Holly and the Ivy It's a more mature drama. Although it won't be to everyone's taste, as it doesn't follow the tried and tested formula of the Christmas genre, it's a brilliant portrayal of a tense family Christmas.

5

Man-Pau (2015)

Julia Donaldson's short film is as charming as her book

Julia Donaldson is probably most famous as the author of The Gruffalo, although she has written many other popular children's books, many of which have been adapted into films and TV shows. stick man is the 2015 adaptation of his Christmas book, which tells the story of a stick who must find its way back home to the “family tree” in a snowy Christmas adventure.

stick man was made by the same team that created Oscar-nominated adaptations of some of Donaldson's other books, and it's just as charming as it is. The Gruffalo or Room on the broom. An important element is that the animation reflects the simplistic beauty of Axel Scheffler's illustrations. The short film is powered by a star-studded voice cast featuring Martin Freeman, Hugh Bonneville and Sally Hawkins.

4

A Christmas Carol (1951)

Alastair Sim's Scrooge is one of the best

There have been numerous adaptations of Charles Dickens' classic story A Christmas Carol over the years, including comedies, dramas, musicals, animated films and more. It takes a lot to stand out in this competition, but Brian Desmond Hunt's 1951 version, starring Alastair Sim as Scrooge, remains one of the best and one of the purest distillations of what gave the book such enduring appeal.

A Christmas song will probably continue to be remade and reinterpreted every few years for a long, long time, but there won't be many Scrooges as definitive as Sim's. He brings to the character a frantic and unbalanced behavior that shows Scrooge as a miserable and timid man. There are many other adaptations that position Scrooge as a villain who needs to become good, but this version is about a coward who needs to open up to the beauty and unpredictability of human nature. It is a film that is not necessarily appealing to children, although it is more interesting for older audiences.

3

The Snowman (1982)

The snowman is a British institution

The snowman Could be the best-loved British Christmas film of alland has become a staple holiday for millions of people across the country. It's a short film that is still shown every year, decades after its release. This makes it the closest thing Britain has to some American Christmas animation classics like Frosty the Snowman How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

The snowman is based on the popular children's book of the same name by Raymond Briggs and translates his art style to the screen magnificently. The images are beautiful from start to finish and are accompanied by beautiful orchestral music and a rendition of “Walking in the Air” that has all the uplifting magic that a good Christmas movie should. A sequence, The Snowman and the Snow Dog, was released in 2012, but it's not easy to replicate the success of the original.

2

Arthur Natal (2011)

The animated classic benefits from a great cast

Arthur Natal is one of the best animated Christmas films of all time, putting a new spin on some familiar Christmas tropes. It features a cast full of British talent, with James McAvoy in the lead role, and Hugh Laurie, Bill Nighy and Michael Palin all among the supporting actors. McAvoy plays the black sheep of the Claus family, who struggles to find her role in the family's global gift distribution business.

Arthur Natal is Aardman Animations' second computer-generated feature after Discarded. The studio is most famous for claymation films like Wallace and Gromit series and Shaun the sheep. Arthur Natal abandons the studio's iconic visual style in favor of something a little more generic, but the storytelling and humor are of the high standard that fans have come to expect.

1

True Love (2003)

The Ensemble Romcom Still Maintains Its Appeal

True love has been examined and reevaluated in recent years, and many of its numerous stories have been flagged as potentially problematic. However, this process did little to diminish the romcom's inherent charms. True, some of the stories probably wouldn't work today, but True love it still has plenty of positives to outweigh the negatives and jumps from story to story at a splendid pace.

True love It has a great script that causes laughs in practically every scene. It helps that the cast includes a hefty helping of comedic talent, with Hugh Grant, Bill Nighy and Colin Firth making the most of their limited screen time. True love isn't just about romantic love, as it also examines friendships, family, and a broader love for humanity. Amidst its many comedic moments, it still finds time for a heartbreaking sentimentgiving it just enough balance to secure its place as a true Christmas classic.