Christmas: 30

In 2020, Eshom Nelms and Ian Nelms wrote and directed the American black comedy action film, Fatman (2020). The story revolves around Chris Cringle and his wife Ruth, who run a Christmas present workshop on an isolated farm near North Peak, Alaska. However, their business has been facing financial struggles as children have become more aggressive over the years. To make matters worse, the US Government, which has a stake in Chris’s business due to the economic impact of Christmas, is cutting back on their support. In an attempt to alleviate Chris’s income ...

Klaus (2019) is an animated holiday adventure comedy from director and writer Sergio Pablos, also known for creating Despicable Me. This production was brought to life through the efforts of Pablos’ company, The SPA Studios, and released by Netflix. The film begins in 19th-century Norway, where the Royal Postmaster General has a plan to change his son Jesper Johansen’s ways. Considered lazy, spoiled, and selfish by his father, Jesper is sent to postman training in hopes that it will improve his character. After seeing Jesper’s lackluster performance, his father assigns him a seemingly ...

Ben Is Back (2018), an American drama written and directed by Peter Hedges, follows Holly Burns as she returns from church on Christmas Eve to find her son Ben in the driveway. After spending months in rehab for prescription drug addiction, Ben’s sponsor suggested he take a trip home. While happy to see him again, Holly is also cautious of his past struggles and their effect on their family. She agrees to let him stay for 24 hours, under the condition that he does not leave her side. During a holiday shopping trip at the mall, Holly unexpectedly comes across Ben’s former doctor who is now suffering from ...

The Grinch (2018) is an animated Christmas comedy produced by Illumination and distributed by Universal Pictures. In the lively town of Whoville, the human-like inhabitants known as Whos are eagerly anticipating their festive celebrations. However, there is one exception – the grumpy and green-furred Grinch, whose heart is notoriously ‘two sizes too small’. He resides in his cave with his faithful dog, Max, and typically only ventures into Whoville for essential errands or to annoy the locals. One day, young Cindy Lou Who notices her mother Donna struggling to care for herself and her infant twin brothers Buster and Bean. Initially, she plans to ...

The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017) is a comedic-drama biopic about author Charles Dickens. Directed by Bharat Nalluri and written by Susan Coyne, the film is based on Les Standiford’s non-fiction book of the same title. Set in 1843, four years after Dickens’ successful novel Oliver Twist, the story follows his struggles with financial difficulties following the failure of his last three books. Despite being rejected by publishers, he decides to write and self-publish a new book to improve his financial ...

The American comedy film Daddy’s Home 2 (2017) was directed by Sean Anders and co-written by Anders and John Morris. Following their newfound friendship in the first Daddy’s Home movie, Brad Whittaker and Dusty Mayron now have a co-dad arrangement for their two children, Megan and Dylan, who alternate between each father’s house. Dusty has also remarried to Karen, a writer, and is now stepfather to Karen’s daughter, Adrianna. During Megan’s school play, attended by Brad, Sara, Dusty, ...

Daddy’s Home (2015) is an American comedy directed by Sean Anders and written by Anders, Brian Burns, and John Morris. Brad Whitaker, a mild-mannered radio executive, strives to be a good stepfather to his wife Sara’s children, Megan and Dylan. Despite a previous accident affecting his fertility, Brad has been growing closer to the kids recently. Dylan has confided in him about bullies at school and Megan has even asked him to take her to the father/daughter ...

The animated TV special Scooby-Doo! Haunted Holidays (2012) is based on the beloved Scooby-Doo franchise and was produced by Warner Bros. The gang, dressed in costumes, joins in on the festive celebration with a lively parade surrounded by an eager crowd. However, amidst the merriment stands Fred’s old acquaintance Havros Menkle, owner of Menkle’s toy store. Unfortunately, business isn’t going well for Havros and he can’t seem to shake off his stress and suspicion. His nephew Fabian apologizes for his uncle’s behavior to Fred. Scooby and Shaggy are happily playing in a spooky yard when they are suddenly interrupted by a monstrous ...

New Year’s Eve (2011), an American romantic comedy directed by Garry Marshall and written by Katherine Fugate, tells interconnected stories of people facing various issues on this special night. As the Vice-President of Times Square, Claire Morgan is busy with final preparations for the ball drop, assisted by her friend and police officer Brendan. Meanwhile, Ingrid Withers, an employee at Ahern Records who was almost hit by a car and denied a vacation, decides to quit her job. She offers deliveryman Paul Doyle tickets to the Ahern Records Masquerade Ball if he helps ...

Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice (2011) is an American animated television special, created by Walt Disney Animation Studios and helmed by directors Kevin Deters and Stevie Wermers. In the beginning of the story, we are introduced to the Coal Elf Brigade, a specialized group of Christmas elves tasked with delivering coal to children who have been deemed naughty. While this may seem harsh to some, the brigade also includes encouraging notes in hopes of steering these children towards the nice list. As Christmas Day draws near, Wayne and Lanny must race against time to ...

The animated Christmas comedy film, Arthur Christmas (2011), was co-produced by Sony Pictures Animation and Aardman Animations. Instead of a single individual, the title of Santa Claus has been passed down for generations to gift-givers. Currently on his seventieth mission, the current Santa, Malcolm Claus, holds more of a ceremonial role. The traditional sleigh and reindeer have been replaced by the S-1, a state-of-the-art vessel operated by hundreds of elves who use advanced equipment and military precision to deliver presents. All the intricate details of Christmas are meticulously managed from Mission Control at the North Pole by Malcolm’s eldest son, Steve. ...

Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas (2011) is an animated TV special and an installment of the Ice Age franchise. It was created by Blue Sky Studios under the direction of Karen Disher. Set eight years after the third film and before the fourth, it follows Scrat as he tries to steal an acorn from a beaver’s food stash, only to end up losing all his treasure when it rolls away. At the same time, Manny brings out a special Christmas Rock from storage to surprise his daughter Peaches during a snowball fight with her friends Crash and Eddie. The rock holds sentimental value for Manny as it has been passed down ...

Introducing Prep & Landing: Operation: Secret Santa (2010), a sequel to the 2009 Christmas special produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and directed by Kevin Deters and Stevie Wermers. This animated short premiered on ABC on Tuesday, December 7, 2010. Wayne and Lanny, now partners, receive a call from Magee to meet with a top-secret contact for their latest mission. The duo is tasked with retrieving a box from Santa’s hidden workshop. Utilizing their advanced gadgets from the previous film, they sneak into Santa’s office while he sleeps. Thanks to ...

Prep & Landing (2009) is an American animated television special, based on an idea by Chris Williams at Walt Disney Animation Studios and developed by Kevin Deters and Stevie Wermers into a half-hour Christmas special. Wayne, a dedicated Christmas elf, is part of this elite organization whose important job is to prepare homes around the world for Santa’s visit. After 227 years with ‘Prep & Landing’, Wayne eagerly anticipates being promoted to director of the naughty list. However, his former ...

In London on Christmas Eve 1843, Disney’s A Christmas Carol (2009) follows the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a stingy miser who despises the joyous festivities of the holiday season. Despite his nephew Fred’s invitation to a Christmas dinner party and the urging of two charity workers, Scrooge refuses to participate in any acts of kindness or generosity. His dedicated employee Bob Cratchit must even ask for a single day off on Christmas Day, which Scrooge reluctantly grants. However, when Scrooge encounters the ghost of his late business partner Jacob Marley at home, he soon realizes that his selfish ways may lead him down a path of eternal suffering. Marley ...

The American Christmas computer-animated comedy television special, Shrek the Halls (2007), premiered on ABC. As the holiday season approaches, Shrek is contently residing in the swamp with his loved ones. However, upon Donkey’s prodding, Shrek reluctantly agrees to give Princess Fiona a surprise for Christmas. Seeking advice, Shrek heads to a Far Far Away bookstore where he receives a copy of Christmas For Village Idiots – a guide to celebrating the festivities. He follows its instructions by adorning his home and procuring a tree for a peaceful Christmas Eve with his family. However, Donkey disrupts their plans by bringing everyone over to the swamp. ...

The American animated short film, The Madagascar Penguins in a Christmas Caper (2005), was produced by DreamWorks Animation. It features the adventures of the Madagascar penguins before their first film. On Christmas Eve, Private, the youngest member of the group, leaves the zoo to find a gift for lonely polar bear Ted. However, he gets captured by Nana, who mistakes him for a chew toy for her dog Mr Chew. Skipper, Kowalski, and Rico come to Private’s rescue from Nana’s apartment. While Nana was engrossed in a football game, the penguins caused chaos for Mr. Chew by detonating the door with a stick of dynamite ...

The film adaptation of Chris Van Allsburg’s beloved children’s book, The Polar Express (2004), was directed by Robert Zemeckis and co-written by William Broyles Jr. On Christmas Eve, a passenger train called the Polar Express stops outside a young boy’s house. Feeling doubtful about Santa Claus, the boy boards the train after being invited by the conductor. He meets two other children on board – a spirited girl and a know-it-all boy. The conductor then stops to pick up another boy named Billy, who ...

Directed by Mike Mitchell, Surviving Christmas (2004) is a romantic comedy film centered around wealthy advertising executive Drew Latham. In an attempt to surprise his girlfriend Missy before the holidays, he presents her with first-class tickets to Fiji. However, she is taken aback by his desire to spend Christmas away from his family. Feeling neglected and unimportant in their relationship, Missy decides to end things and cites Drew’s failure to introduce her to his family as proof of his lack of commitment. To make amends, Drew has a Cartier bracelet delivered via his assistant. As the holiday draws nearer and ...

SCOOBY-DOO! Winter Wonderdog (2002) presents the holiday spirit with Scooby-Doo and the Mystery, Inc. gang as they take on wintry scares and the daunting ghost of Christmas. This assortment of cold-weather escapades follows our favorite sleuthing crew as they untangle a string of enigmas to foil a band of icy thieves trying to ruin the festive season for all!