Search icon

Entertainment

25th Dec 2017

These are the five best films on the telly this Christmas Day

What a day

Rory Cashin

Set the following reminders, and then don’t move from the couch all day.

With ALL of channels, as well as Netflix, Amazon, Now TV and other streaming services, as well as whatever Blu-Ray or DVD box-sets you might have received as presents, the amount of choice can be overwhelming.

Not to worry, because your pals here at JOE have got you covered.

We’re assuming you’re going to be getting out of bed pretty late on the big day, but we do have a sold eleven hours of movies for you to enjoy across the day, ranging from heartwarming animation to balls-to-the-wall action.

So let us kick things off with…

Toy Story 3 – BBC One – 1.20pm

Why not start the day off by completely crying your eyes out to the most perfect ending to any trilogy of movies ever made? The first two Toy Stories were modern classics, but the third movie really pushes the emotions to the limit, as Buzz, Woody and co. are forced to say goodbye to a now-all-growed-up Andy, and an uncertain future without him.

That scene in the furnace? We’re not crying, YOU’RE CRYING!

Scrooged – Channel 4 – 2.35pm

Bill Murray is plenty used to dealing with nasty ghosts, but in this modern re-telling of A Christmas Carol, he plays the ultimate cynical TV boss, who is forced to look at his life choices before his soul goes beyond saving. Filled with amazing one-liners (“The bitch hit me with a toaster. Oh, I love a girl with spirit!”), and Murray at his most manic, this is the best Christmas movie for people who hate Christmas movies.

Romancing The Stone – Film4 – 5.00pm

We’ve already talked about how great the line-up is for Film4 all day on Christmas Day, but if we’re going to recommend any of them, it has to be this fantastic adventure that has Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner hunting for treasure in the Amazon jungle. It also happens to star Danny DeVito in one of his more slimy, hilarious bad-guy roles.

Skyfall – ITV2 – 7.40pm

We’re not entirely sure why, but there is some kind of unspoken rule about having to watch a James Bond movie at Christmas. Following this logic, we have to recommend Daniel Craig’s best outing, as he hunts down nefarious cyber-terrorist Javier Bardem, and takes in all of the amazing visuals, beautiful women, and powerful martinis he can handle along the way.

The Rock – Sky One – 10.00pm

Speaking of James Bond, there is no other way to top out the day than with former Bond Sean Connery teaming up with nerdy hero Nicolas Cage to break into Alcatraz in order to stop a group of rogue military agents firing toxic missiles into the heart of San Francisco. Arguably Michael Bay’s best movie, with great back-and-forth between the two leads. Mindless 90’s action at its most enjoyable.