Ah, December. The arrival of the festive season + the dropping temperatures + lockdown = Christmas movie marathons! From classics such as Miracle on 34th Street to new releases like Apple TV’s musical extranvaganza Spirited and more, we collated the popular festive flicks to keep the whole family entertained, plus we talk about the most exciting upcoming movie release in the cinema!
Some of these movies, especially the older ones, are available on popular Chinese streaming site iQIYI.
Christmas Classics (for the old-school)
Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
Yes it’s black and white and dated, but that’s what makes it a classic! Rotten Tomatoes describes it best – “Irrefutable proof that gentle sentimentalism can be the chief ingredient in a wonderful film, Miracle on 34th Street delivers a warm holiday message without resorting to treacle.” If you prefer color, the 1994 version has a more updated look while keeping the similar honest-to-goodness feel of the original. Best for ages 6 and up.
Home Alone (1990)
Featuring Macaulay Culkin at his cutest, Home Alone and Home Alone 2 are the only ones of the franchise worth watching. (The kid in the third one is adorable, but the movie itself is deplorable.) This is a must-watch for kids that can relate to Culkin’s 8-year-old character, and it hopefully instills the same moral lesson that he learns in the movie. Best hide the toolbox after watching this one, though…
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
This puppet-driven film is great fun for young ones and probably the best way for them to be introduced to Charles Dickens’ famous tale. This heartwarming tale is also voiced by some veterans (such as Michael Caine as Ebenezer Scrooge) who lend the film their recognizable voice talents and acting chops.
New Releases on Streaming Platforms
Klaus (2019)
This little-known animated Netflix original may have a slow start, but its charming hand-drawn animation and talented cast (including J.K. Simmons, Joan Cusack, Jason Schwartzman and Rashida Jones) will win you over by the time the credits roll. The plot reads, “After proving himself to be the worst student at the academy, a postman is sent to a frozen town in the North where he discovers a reclusive toymaker named Klaus.” Best for ages 5 and up.
The Santa Clauses (2022)
Tim Allen’s The Santa Clause (1994) was such a hit that they decided to reboot him and give him a mini-series this year. This Disney+ special sees Allen’s character, Scott Calvin, setting out to find a suitable replacement Santa as he nears his 65th birthday. The first four episodes have already aired and the remaining two will be released by mid-December.
Spirited (2022)
For the first time, the story of A Christmas Carol is told from the perspective of the ghosts in this hilarious musical twist on the classic Dickens tale. Each Christmas Eve, the Ghost of Christmas Present (Will Ferrell) selects one dark soul to be reformed by a visit from three spirits. But this season, he picked the wrong Scrooge. Clint Briggs (Ryan Reynolds) turns the tables on his ghostly host until Present finds himself reexamining his own past, present and future. Featuring original songs by Oscar winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (La La Land), this modern retelling is streaming free on Apple TV+.
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022)
Another Disney special, this one-off festive special has already made it onto Rotten Tomatoes’ list of the 100 best Christmas films, and in the 17th spot no less! A wacky, out-of-this-world spin on Christmas that’s sure to delight and entertain the whole family, this one-hour episode has earned a permanent spot on our annual must-watch Christmas list.
Cinematic releases
Avatar: The Way of Water
It’s been over a decade in the making, but upon the stroke of midnight on December 16 worldwide, Avatar: The Way of Water will hit cinemas – and it will be released on the same date in China as well! This visually-stunning sequel is the much-anticipated follow-up to James Cameron’s 2009 hit movie Avatar, which transported viewers to the planet Pandora where we met a race of blue-skinned humanoids called the Na’vi. While it’s often been said that Avatar is pretty much Pocahontas in space (even down to the hairstyle of the rival love interest, i.e. Tsu’Tey and Kocoum), Avatar‘s selling point is certainly its amazing visual effects, which we can only imagine will amaze once again with the newer technology that’s available.
Our choice of IMAX cinemas to watch this spectacular film in? Universal Studios CityWalk’s IMAX cinema! Not only is it relatively new and untouched, it sports super cushy seats and maintains high levels of cleanliness. Plus, it’s got some of the latest in cinematic projection tech and is located right next to Red Oven Pizza (which you can bring into the theatre with you!) and Cutie Cones for an after-movie treat!
You can already pre-book tickets for Avatar: The Way of Water online through Dianping and the WeChat mini-program. You can check out the step-by-step guide to using the latter in this article.
KEEP READING: Is This Beijing’s Best Cinema for English Movies?
Images: Pexels, Internet
