Recommend me a film for Christmas Eve

[XmasFilm]

We normally watch a film on Christmas Eve but I'm out of inspiration this year. We have Disney+, Netflix & Prime but I'd possibly rent too. DCs are 16 & 12. Preferences are no space, sci-fi or fantasy but might be persuaded if it sounds particularly good. Definitely no marvel (that's my rule - can't stand them). Something light-hearted or funny perhaps? I don't mind them watching things with some bad language and implied sex (not sure that's the best way to describe it!) but nothing that will make them or us squirm too much.

Any ideas? Thanks

Scrooged is our Christmas Eve film.

”Niagara Falls, Frankie Angel” 😁

Shaun of the Dead

Thanks for the ideas, I think Scrooged was our Xmas eve film last year! We watched Shaun of the dead with the 16 year old recently but maybe one of those other Simon Pegg/Nick Frost films would be good. I can't remember how suitable they might be - will have a look

Red one is good.

Muppet Christmas Carol!!

If you want something a bit different try ‘Bell, Book and Candle’. Very glamorous New York witch (Kim Novak) ensnaring a very dopey Jimmy Stewart at Christmas. Also Jack Lemmon as a bongo playing wizard! It’s quite strange but I think it’s funny (family not quite so sure…).

Thanks, there are some here I haven't heard of so will look them up. I don't think we've ever seen muppets Christmas Carol so good call

I loved Tinsel Town with Keifer Sutherland. It was really funny.

We watch Santa Claus The Movie every Christmas Eve.

1950s A Christmas Carol with Alistair Simm

Or It’s A Wonderful Life.

Hot Fuzz is v good as is their one about the alien - think its called Paul... with Seth Rogen voicing the alien.

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Planes, Trains and Automobiles (technically Thanksgiving)

Home Alone

We always watch Miracle on 34th St on Christmas Eve. But It's a Wonderful Life is another good suggestion.

Last Christmas coz it's local.

Die Hard

The Holdovers

Second the recommendation for the holdovers. It’s recently been added to Netflix. Serioust themed but also funny. The acting is brilliant

I’d second Planes, Trains and Automobiles. It’s on IPlayer at the moment and we watched it on Sunday. It’s as good as I remember 😊

Klaus on Netflix

Galaxy Quest. Sci-fi but not SciFi. Takes a pot shot at Star Trek and is very funny

This is Spinal Tap. Just sublime and appropriate as a tribute to Rob Reiner

Krampus. t's a dark, funny, Christmas fairytale with Toni Collette. Highlights include evil toys coming to life and needing to be fought.

The Apartment (1960, b/w, 12A) with Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine and Fred MacMurray, directed by Billy Wilder https://www.itv.com/watch/the-apartment/10a5060a0001B (may need an ITV account to watch, not sure). Perfection :)

It's funny but not saccharine and references infidelity, jealousy, workplace bullying, a suicide attempt, loneliness - but it does have a happy ending.

Won best picture at 1961 Academy Awards https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Apartment

Another delightful film is The Dish [12]. Has nothing at all to do with Christmas but is a gentle and amusing re-telling of the Apollo moon landing (might be a bit too 'space' for you but it's very much Earth-based), and the role that a massive telescope antenna (the dish) played in getting the TV images back from the mission. Sam Neill's in it - free to watch on Internet Archive (there are 2 copies) -
https://archive.org/details/TheDish2000
https://archive.org/details/the-dish
and its Wikipedia page https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dish

The Internet Archive also has several Ealing comedies too.

Also
BBC A-Z films
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/categories/films/a-z

Channel4 A-Z films
https://www.channel4.com/categories/film?sort=az

ITV A-Z films
https://www.itv.com/watch/categories/films/all

Jo