OK, here’s the deal ― we all know that a Netflix Christmas film is unlikely be racking up award nominations any time soon, although let’s be honest, we’re not here for cinematic credentials.
But if you’re fan of a festive romcom, a good helping of cheese and having your heart warmed over the holidays, then there is absolutely an argument to be made for adding some of the streamer’s offerings into your regular Christmas film schedule.
Luckily, we have worked our way through Netflix’s “Festive Favourites” category so you don’t have to, and separated the bad from the so-bad-it’s-good.
Here, are five Christmas films actually worth watching:
Christmas with You
While there is nothing ground-breaking about the plot, Christmas with You is sprinkled with just enough festive wholesomeness to make it worthy of its spot in Netflix’s “charming” category.
The film is centred around middle-aged pop star Angelina, who is asked to write a Christmas song to give her career a boost. Lacking in inspiration and running out of time, she logs on to TikTok where she sees young fan Cristina’s plea to meet her, so she heads off to the suburbs with her manager in tow, just as a huge snow storm hits.
That’s how she meets Miguel, Cristina’s widowed father and the local music teacher, who helps her write her Christmas song and whose humble family life offers her some welcome respite from the bright lights of the city.
Cue a wholly predictable, but nevertheless enjoyable love story that will have you rooting for the inevitable happy ending.
Love Hard
OK, so the acting verges on cringeworthy at times, and the "I’ve been cat fished but am finally realising what’s been right in front of me all along" storyline has been done to death, but Love Hard earns a place in this list thanks to some key moments ― like when the two lead characters, played by Nina Dobrev and Jimmy O Yang, update the lyrics to controversial Christmas song Baby, It’s Cold Outside for a charming duet ― that add up to make a heart-warming watch.
The story follows unlucky-in-love Natalie (Dobrev) as she flies halfway across the country to surprise Josh (Yang), a stranger, she has be speaking to on a dating app, only to discover he’s not quite who she thought he was. However, when she learns the man of her dreams really does live in the small town, she agrees to stay and allow Josh to help set them up.
Naturally, it’s not plain sailing, and as everyone’s lies unravel, a few home truths are realised.
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
I’ll be honest, I assumed this one was purely for children, but this joyful, fun-filled musical is just as magical for adults. Jingle Jangle falls somewhere between The Greatest Showman and A Christmas Carol, and follows the story of a once joyful toymaker, deceived by his apprentice, who finds new hope when his bright young granddaughter appears on his doorstep.
With a cast featuring Forest Whitaker, Hugh Bonneville, Keegan-Michael Key and an adorable debut from Madalen Mills, who steals the show as Journey, it’s an impressive ensemble.
With catchy songs, colourful visuals and likeable characters, viewers watch as Journey manages to thaw the heart of her estranged grandfather, and help him recover some of the magic he had long lost, leading to the kind of heart-warming Christmas miracle every good festive film should end on.
The Christmas Chronicles
After its release in 2018, The Christmas Chronicles was deemed an instant classic, and in true Netflix style, spurred a sequel, which fails to live up to the magic of the first.
The film follows the story of siblings Kate (Darby Camp) and Teddy (Judah Lewis) Pierce, whose Christmas Eve plan to catch Santa Claus (Kurt Russell) on camera turns into an unexpected journey that most kids could only dream about.
Russell’s joyous portrayal of Santa is one of the best in recent memory, and this heart-warming festive tale is enough to thaw even Scrooge’s heart.
Holidate
This is definitely one that falls into the ‘so-bad-it’s-good’ category. But if you are looking for an easy watch and few festive laughs, it ticks the boxes.
Sloane (Emma Roberts) is tired of being the only single person at family Christmas gatherings, while Jackson (Luke Bracey) is tired of women he is dating expecting too much from him over the holidays. When the pair meet in the queue to return unwanted Christmas gifts after another disastrous year, they hatch a plan to be each other’s "holidate" – a completely platonic +1 to all holiday-themed events for the year, without any expectation or communication for the rest of the year.
We can all see where this goes, but that doesn’t mean there’s not fun to be had along the way.
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Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
The biog
Job: Fitness entrepreneur, body-builder and trainer
Favourite superhero: Batman
Favourite quote: We must become the change we want to see, by Mahatma Gandhi.
Favourite car: Lamborghini
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
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Venue TBC
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yallacompare profile
Date of launch: 2014
Founder: Jon Richards, founder and chief executive; Samer Chebab, co-founder and chief operating officer, and Jonathan Rawlings, co-founder and chief financial officer
Based: Media City, Dubai
Sector: Financial services
Size: 120 employees
Investors: 2014: $500,000 in a seed round led by Mulverhill Associates; 2015: $3m in Series A funding led by STC Ventures (managed by Iris Capital), Wamda and Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority; 2019: $8m in Series B funding with the same investors as Series A along with Precinct Partners, Saned and Argo Ventures (the VC arm of multinational insurer Argo Group)
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Cry Macho
Director: Clint Eastwood
Stars: Clint Eastwood, Dwight Yoakam
Rating:**
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETwig%20Solutions%20(with%20trade%20name%20Twig)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2021%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EChafic%20Idriss%2C%20Karam%20El%20Dik%20and%20Rayan%20Antonios%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EUAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Ebootstrapped%20(undisclosed)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E13%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Epre-seed%20%E2%80%94%20closing%20the%20round%20as%20we%20speak%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20senior%20executives%20from%20the%20GCC%20financial%20services%20industry%20and%20global%20family%20offices%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
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School counsellors on mental well-being
Schools counsellors in Abu Dhabi have put a number of provisions in place to help support pupils returning to the classroom next week.
Many children will resume in-person lessons for the first time in 10 months and parents previously raised concerns about the long-term effects of distance learning.
Schools leaders and counsellors said extra support will be offered to anyone that needs it. Additionally, heads of years will be on hand to offer advice or coping mechanisms to ease any concerns.
“Anxiety this time round has really spiralled, more so than from the first lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Priya Mitchell, counsellor at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.
“Some have got used to being at home don’t want to go back, while others are desperate to get back.
“We have seen an increase in depressive symptoms, especially with older pupils, and self-harm is starting younger.
“It is worrying and has taught us how important it is that we prioritise mental well-being.”
Ms Mitchell said she was liaising more with heads of year so they can support and offer advice to pupils if the demand is there.
The school will also carry out mental well-being checks so they can pick up on any behavioural patterns and put interventions in place to help pupils.
At Raha International School, the well-being team has provided parents with assessment surveys to see how they can support students at home to transition back to school.
“They have created a Well-being Resource Bank that parents have access to on information on various domains of mental health for students and families,” a team member said.
“Our pastoral team have been working with students to help ease the transition and reduce anxiety that [pupils] may experience after some have been nearly a year off campus.
"Special secondary tutorial classes have also focused on preparing students for their return; going over new guidelines, expectations and daily schedules.”
The Bio
Favourite vegetable: “I really like the taste of the beetroot, the potatoes and the eggplant we are producing.”
Holiday destination: “I like Paris very much, it’s a city very close to my heart.”
Book: “Das Kapital, by Karl Marx. I am not a communist, but there are a lot of lessons for the capitalist system, if you let it get out of control, and humanity.”
Musician: “I like very much Fairuz, the Lebanese singer, and the other is Umm Kulthum. Fairuz is for listening to in the morning, Umm Kulthum for the night.”
The five pillars of Islam
