Great movies are shown on TV throughout the year, but especially during the holidays. You can always find many favorite films broadcast on free television over the festive period.

This year, the main TV channels are again offering a fantastic range of movies over the Christmas and New Year period, with a mix of beloved classics and more recent hits. You’ll find something for everyone, including family films, romantic comedies, action movies, musicals, and more. Alongside recent blockbusters like Oppenheimer and Challengers, they’re also showing timeless favorites like Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window and the musical West Side Story.

We’ve compiled a list of the best free-to-watch movies, sorted by genre, so you can easily find something you’ll enjoy. Check it out below!

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Best free family films on TV this Christmas and New Year

Ron’s Gone Wrong

This fun animated comedy follows Barney, a young boy who receives Ron, the latest must-have robot toy, for his birthday. However, Ron turns out to be a little different – he’s malfunctioning! When news of Ron’s glitch spreads online, the company’s CEO worries about bad publicity and tries to fix the situation.

Saturday 20th December, Channel 4, 11:15am

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

This funny and magical movie stars Jim Carrey as the Grinch. The story takes place in Whoville during the busy Christmas season. The Grinch, a grumpy and lonely hermit, lives high up on a mountain and dislikes the cheerful Whos. However, his cold heart begins to change when he meets a sweet little girl who shows him kindness.

Sunday 21st December, ITV2, 4:20pm

The Little Mermaid

This live-action movie brings Disney’s classic animated tale to life, featuring Halle Bailey as Ariel and Jonah Hauer-King as the prince. Ariel, a mermaid, is fascinated by the human world, which worries her father, King Triton. When she rescues a prince from a shipwreck, she makes a deal with a sea witch: she’ll trade her voice for legs and a chance to win his love, but only for three days.

Sunday 21st December, Channel 4, 4:50pm

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

This funny animated movie stars Bill Hader and Anna Faris. It’s about an eccentric inventor named Flint Lockwood who builds a machine that makes food from water. While it seems like a great solution for his town’s financial troubles, things quickly start to go wrong.

Tuesday 23rd December, Comedy Central, 11am

Despicable Me

This funny animated movie stars Steve Carell as Gru, a supervillain who plans to steal the Moon. However, his plans get complicated when he meets three adorable orphan sisters – Margo, Edith, and Agnes – and discovers a heartwarming side he never knew he had.

Tuesday 23rd December, BBC One, 2:15pm

Hook

This fantasy adventure features Dustin Hoffman, Robin Williams, Julia Roberts, and Bob Hoskins. Work-focused lawyer Peter Banning and his family are spending Christmas in London with his elderly aunt, Granny Wendy. One evening, the children mysteriously disappear, leaving behind a message from Captain James Hook. With the aid of the fairy Tinkerbell, Peter travels to Neverland to rescue them.

Tuesday 23rd December, Channel 5, 4:10pm (repeated Monday 29th December, Channel 5, 10:15am)

ET: the Extra-Terrestrial

Steven Spielberg’s beloved film, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, stars Henry Thomas and Dee Wallace, with a memorable performance by Drew Barrymore. The story centers on Elliott, a ten-year-old boy who befriends a lost alien and must keep his new friend a secret.

Christmas Eve, ITV1, 1:35pm (repeated Tuesday 30th December, ITV1, 2:40pm)

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

This animated sequel brings back Spider-Man (voiced by Shameik Moore) and Spider-Woman (Hailee Steinfeld). Teenager Miles Morales is juggling school, family, and a new villain called the Spot. When his friend Gwen Stacy reappears, chasing the Spot, Miles finds himself on a surprising, universe-hopping adventure and uncovers a big secret.

Christmas Eve, BBC One, 2:55pm

Home Alone

This funny movie stars Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, and Daniel Stern. Eight-year-old Kevin McCallister gets his wish when his family mistakenly leaves for a Christmas vacation in Paris without him. Now on his own, Kevin tries to manage the house, but his efforts are complicated by two clumsy burglars trying to rob the place.

Christmas Eve, Channel 4, 5:30pm

Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

I absolutely love Wallace & Gromit, and their newest adventure looks brilliant! It’s an animated comedy with Ben Whitehead doing the voice work, and the story is that Feathers McGraw – that sneaky penguin! – is back to cause trouble. He’s hacked into Wallace’s latest invention and is going on a crime spree! Poor Wallace is sidelined, so it’s all down to Gromit to be the hero and stop him. I’m so excited to see if Gromit can outsmart that mischievous penguin again!

Christmas Day, BBC One, 11:40am

Frozen II

This animated musical follows princesses Elsa and Anna as they journey into an enchanted forest to save their kingdom, Arendelle. Along the way, they uncover the truth about their family’s past and the source of Elsa’s icy powers, featuring the voices of Idina Menzel and Kristen Bell.

Christmas Day, Channel 4, 3:10pm

Puss in Boots: the Last Wish

This animated comedy continues the adventures of Puss in Boots, voiced by Antonio Banderas. Having used up most of his nine lives, Puss needs to find a magical place that grants wishes if he wants to keep living the high life. He embarks on a grand journey, but he’s not the only one searching for this legendary wish-granting land.

Boxing Day, BBC One, 3:20pm

Paddington 2

This funny movie features Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Hugh Grant, and Ben Whishaw (as the voice of Paddington). When a valuable pop-up book is stolen, Paddington is wrongly accused and arrested. While he tries to adjust to prison, the real thief is using clues within the book to search for the hidden wealth of the author who originally created it.

Boxing Day, BBC One, 5:20pm

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

This animated comedy follows Hiccup and Toothless as they search for a legendary dragon paradise called the ‘Hidden World’. Their home, Berk, has become too crowded, so they embark on a journey to find a new haven. Meanwhile, the other Vikings must defend Toothless from a dangerous dragon hunter who wants to capture him.

Saturday 27th December, BBC One, 3:10pm

Chicken Run

This fun, animated comedy follows a group of chickens on a tough farm in the 1950s. Led by Ginger, they’re terrified when the farmer decides to start making pies – meaning they could be next! With the help of a dashing American rooster named Rocky, the chickens hatch a daring plan to escape, just like a prison break.

Sunday 28th December, BBC One, 10:15am

Back to the Future

I absolutely love this movie! It’s a hilarious and exciting sci-fi adventure with Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd. It all starts with Marty McFly, a typical high schooler, who accidentally gets sent back in time to 1955 in Dr. Brown’s incredible DeLorean. Suddenly, he’s face-to-face with his young parents and, without meaning to, starts to mess with the events that led to his own existence! It’s a wild ride trying to figure out how he’ll fix everything and get back to his own time before it’s too late – it’s just brilliant!

Monday 29th December, BBC One, 2:40pm

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On

This charming comedy-drama, featuring Jenny Slate’s voice, tells the story of Marcel, a small seashell who lives with his grandmother in an AirBnb. When a guest starts posting videos of Marcel online, he unexpectedly becomes famous. Despite all the attention, Marcel’s biggest wish is to find the rest of his family.

New Year’s Eve, BBC One, 9:35am

Raya and the Last Dragon

As a huge animation fan, I was really drawn into this fantasy adventure! It’s about Raya, a warrior trained to protect these incredible gems that keep her people safe. But when someone betrays her, everything goes wrong and everyone turns to stone! It’s a pretty intense situation. So, Raya has to go on this epic quest to find Sisu, the last dragon, hoping she can break the spell and bring everyone back – her friends, her family, everyone. It’s a really heartfelt story about trust and saving the day.

New Year’s Day, Channel 4, 2:15pm

Mrs Doubtfire

This funny and heartwarming movie stars Robin Williams, Sally Field, and Pierce Brosnan. When voice actor Daniel Hillard loses his job, his wife, Miranda, decides to leave him and is awarded custody of their children. Determined to stay in their lives, Daniel cleverly disguises himself and applies for the nanny and housekeeper position Miranda has advertised.

Friday 2nd January, Channel 4, 2:20pm

Best free action films on TV this Christmas and New Year

Die Hard

Die Hard is an action-packed thriller featuring Bruce Willis as New York City cop John McClane. While visiting Los Angeles to reconcile with his wife, Holly, and spend Christmas with their children, McClane finds himself caught in a dangerous terrorist situation. When Holly is taken hostage at her workplace, a Japanese corporation, McClane bravely attempts to rescue her.

Saturday 20th December, Channel 4, 9pm

Die Another Day

Pierce Brosnan, Halle Berry, and Toby Stephens star in this action-packed spy thriller. When James Bond is betrayed and captured during a mission in North Korea, he’s freed in exchange for a prisoner. However, he’s stripped of his 00 agent status amid suspicions of a security leak. Determined to clear his name and expose the traitor, Bond embarks on a rogue mission to infiltrate the world of the dangerous Gustav Graves and uncover the truth behind his mysterious Icarus Project.

Saturday 20th December, ITV1, 6:35pm (repeated Boxing Day, ITV1, 10:15pm)

Spider-Man: Homecoming

Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, and Robert Downey Jr. star in this thrilling superhero adventure. Peter Parker, also known as Spider-Man, desperately wants to join the Avengers, but Tony Stark insists he focus on school. When Peter uncovers a man illegally selling alien technology, he sees a chance to prove himself as a hero and show he’s ready for the big leagues.

Sunday 21st December, BBC One, 2:40pm

John Wick: Chapter 4

Keanu Reeves, Donnie Yen, and Bill Skarsgård star in this action-packed thriller. John Wick, a highly skilled assassin, is back and seeking revenge on the High Table after being betrayed and left for dead. Now, with a new and ruthless leader, the Marquis, in charge, the High Table unleashes a wave of assassins on Wick, leading to a violent showdown that will impact everyone involved.

Sunday 21st December, ITV1, 10:15pm (repeated Tuesday 23rd December, ITV1, 10:40pm)

Raiders of the Lost Ark

Join Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones in this thrilling action adventure! Indy races around the globe, seeking the powerful and ancient Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis can claim it. Along the way, he’s reunited with a former love, and together they face dangerous challenges in a final, breathtaking showdown.

Christmas Day, ITV1, 3:10pm (repeated Monday 29th December, ITV1, 10:45pm)

Armageddon

As a huge sci-fi fan, I always get hooked by disaster movies, and this one’s a classic! It’s about a massive asteroid heading straight for Earth, and NASA comes up with this crazy plan to drill into it and blow it up with a nuke. The really cool part is they don’t send astronauts, they call in Harry Stamper, an experienced oil driller, and his team – a bunch of regular guys – to do the job. It’s a total race against time to save the world, and it’s packed with action and suspense!

Christmas Day, Channel 5, 6:15pm

The Great Escape

This thrilling World War II movie, based on a real story, features Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, and Charles Bronson. The Nazis try to control troublesome prisoners of war by moving them to what they believe is an inescapable camp. But with the best escape artists in the Allied forces all gathered in one place, the German guards find it incredibly difficult to keep them contained.

Boxing Day, BBC Two, 4:45pm (repeated New Year’s Day, BBC Four, 9pm)

True Lies

This hilarious action movie stars Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis. Harry Tasker appears to be a simple computer salesman, but he’s actually a secret agent – a fact his wife, Helen, is completely unaware of. When Harry begins to suspect Helen is seeing someone else, he sets off a wild series of events that unexpectedly throws her into his thrilling and dangerous life as a spy.

Saturday 27th December, Comedy Central, 9pm (repeated Tuesday 30th December, Comedy Central, 9pm)

Top Gun

As a total movie buff, I’ve always loved this one! It’s a classic action film with Tom Cruise playing Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell, a bit of a wild card pilot. He gets a chance to join an elite training program at Miramar, and things get complicated – there’s a romance with one of his instructors, and of course, a whole lot of competition as he tries to prove he’s the very best.

Sunday 28th December, ITV1, 9:30pm

Face/Off

John Woo’s thrilling action movie features John Travolta and Nicolas Cage. When terrorist Castor Troy is captured, he falls into a coma, taking the location of a bomb set to explode in Los Angeles with him. Desperate to find the bomb, detective Sean Archer undergoes a risky face transplant to pretend to be Troy and uncover its location. However, the plan goes wrong when Troy wakes up, steals Archer’s face, and takes on his identity.

Monday 29th December, Channel 5, 11:15pm

Mission: Impossible

I’m a huge fan of this action movie! It’s based on the classic 60s TV show and stars Tom Cruise, Jon Voight, and Emmanuelle Béart. The story follows the Impossible Mission Force, this super-skilled team, as they try to get back some stolen info that could expose all US spies around the globe. But things go horribly wrong – it’s a real nail-biter!

New Year’s Eve, BBC One, 8:30pm

Best free romcoms on TV this Christmas and New Year

Happiest Season

This heartwarming holiday rom-com stars Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis as a couple, Abby and Harper, who have been together for a year. As Christmas nears, Abby hopes to propose to Harper during a family gathering. However, her plans are complicated when she finds out Harper’s parents don’t know she’s dating a woman.

Monday 22nd December, Film4, 9pm (repeated Monday 29th December, Channel 4, 1:15am)

Love Actually

This charming British romantic comedy follows the love lives of several different people in London just before Christmas. The all-star cast includes Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Keira Knightley, and Bill Nighy, and the story explores the ups and downs of romance, featuring characters ranging from adult film stars to a former rock star and even the Prime Minister.

Christmas Eve, ITV 1, 9:10pm

What’s Up Doc?

This hilarious comedy features Barbra Streisand and Ryan O’Neal. A mix-up with four identical suitcases at a San Francisco hotel sparks a series of wild and funny events, centering around a quirky young woman and a reserved music professor who is engaged to be married.

Boxing Day, BBC Two, 10:40am

Four Weddings and a Funeral

This charming romantic comedy features Hugh Grant and Andie MacDowell. Charles, a man in his thirties, constantly attends weddings with his friends, leading him to question if he’ll ever find his own happily ever after. He meets the captivating Carrie at a wedding in the countryside, and they share a magical night together. However, she leaves for America the next day, leaving Charles confused and smitten.

Boxing Day, BBC One, 10:15pm

The Seven Year Itch

Billy Wilder’s hilarious film features Marilyn Monroe, Tom Ewell, Evelyn Keyes, and Oscar Homolka. The story centers on a publisher who enjoys the unexpected liberty of having his wife and son away on vacation. Things get interesting when a sweet and innocent actress becomes his new upstairs neighbor, sparking a tempting fantasy. However, even in his daydreams, his guilt keeps interfering.

Saturday 27th December, BBC Two, 12:50pm

There’s Something About Mary

This romantic comedy features Cameron Diaz, Matt Dillon, and Ben Stiller. Ted Stroehmann is still embarrassed about a terrible prom night with Mary Jenson from years ago, but he’s still in love with her. He hires private investigator Pat Healy to find her in Miami, but Ted starts to question whether Pat is giving him accurate information.

Saturday 27th December, Channel 5, 10:30pm

Shakespeare in Love

This charming romantic comedy, featuring Gwyneth Paltrow and Joseph Fiennes, tells the story of William Shakespeare struggling with writer’s block and financial troubles. When he falls for the lovely Viola De Lesseps, his life – and the course of literature – is forever altered.

Sunday 28th December, BBC One, 12:15am

Clueless

This is a modern take on Jane Austen’s Emma, starring Alicia Silverstone and Paul Rudd. The movie follows Cher and her best friend Dionne, popular and stylish teenagers who think they have life figured out. Everything shifts when Tai, a new and somewhat lost student, arrives, and Cher decides to give Tai a total transformation.

Monday 29th December, BBC One, 11pm

The Lady Eve

This classic comedy features Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda. Jean Harrington, a charming con artist working on cruise ships, sets her sights on wealthy bachelor Charles Pike, hoping to win him over with her clever schemes.

New Year’s Day, Film4, 11am

Sabrina

This classic romantic comedy features Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn, and William Holden. Sabrina, whose father is a chauffeur for a rich family, is devastated when she falls for the family’s handsome son, David. She’s sent to France to recover, and when she returns, she’s a sophisticated new woman – but will she finally find love with him?

New Year’s Day, Sky Arts, 7pm (repeated Friday 2nd January, Sky Arts, 3:45pm)

Best free musicals on TV this Christmas and New Year

High Society

This musical comedy features Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, and Frank Sinatra. It’s a race against time for charming composer C.K. Dexter-Haven to win back his ex-wife, Tracy Lord, before she marries someone else – and things get even more complicated when a skeptical reporter gets involved in the love triangle.

Sunday 21st December, BBC Two, 11:30am

Matilda

This musical film is based on Roald Dahl’s classic book and stars Alisha Weir, Lashana Lynch, and Emma Thompson. It tells the story of Matilda Wormwood, a brilliant young girl who finally gets to go to school after years of neglectful parenting. There, she clashes with the cruel headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, but finds hope in the kindness of her teacher, Miss Honey – and discovers she has a surprising ability: magic!

Christmas Day, BBC One, 1pm

White Christmas

This musical features Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye as Phil and Bob, two former army pals. They journey to a Vermont inn, the Columbia Inn, with the beautiful Haynes sisters. There, they find their old General, General Waverly, is having trouble keeping the inn afloat. To help, Phil and Bob decide to put on a performance.

Christmas Day, BBC Two, 1pm

Grease

Grease is a musical based on the popular stage show and film starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. When Sandy Olsson unexpectedly runs into her summer crush, Danny Zuko, at her new high school, she’s surprised by his transformation. He’s now the tough, leather-jacketed leader of the T-Birds. With the help of her friends, Frenchy and Rizzo from the Pink Ladies, Sandy tries to find a way to win him back.

Sunday 28th December, ITV1, 12:40pm (repeated Tuesday 30th December, ITV1, 12:10pm)

West Side Story

This movie is a classic musical adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, featuring music by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim and starring Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer. The story is set in late 1950s New York City and follows the rivalry between two gangs: the American Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks. The conflict escalates when Maria, the sister of the Sharks’ leader, falls in love with Tony, a former member of the Jets.

New Year’s Eve, BBC Two, 1:10pm

Mary Poppins Returns

This magical movie features Emily Blunt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ben Whishaw, and Emily Mortimer. Michael Banks, a father of two struggling to make ends meet after his wife’s death, asks his sister, Jane, for help finding an important paper that could prevent them from losing their house. Just when they need it most, their old nanny, Mary Poppins, unexpectedly returns to Cherry Tree Lane to offer a helping hand.

Friday 2nd January, Channel 4, 4:45pm

Best of the rest on TV this Christmas and New Year

Sense and Sensibility

This period drama, adapted from a Jane Austen novel, features Emma Thompson, who wrote the screenplay and also stars alongside Kate Winslet. The story follows the Dashwood sisters as they navigate love and life after being left with limited resources following their father’s death, impacting their chances at finding suitable matches.

Saturday 20th December, BBC Two, 2:50pm

The Proposition

This thrilling revenge story features Guy Pearce, Ray Winstone, and Danny Huston. Set in the Australian outback in the 1880s, it follows British lawmen led by Captain Stanley who capture the outlaw Charlie Burns. After a shocking murder, they make a deal with Burns: kill his dangerous older brother, and they’ll spare his younger brother’s life.

Saturday 20th December, Talking Pictures TV, 9pm

Oppenheimer

This biographical film stars Cillian Murphy and Emily Blunt, telling the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the American physicist who led the effort to develop the atomic bomb during World War II. The film also explores the fallout from this work, as Oppenheimer faced scrutiny and accusations during the Red Scare of the 1950s.

Sunday 21st December, BBC Two, 9pm

It’s A Wonderful Life

Frank Capra’s beloved film, starring James Stewart, Donna Reed, and Lionel Barrymore, tells the story of George Bailey, a man who feels like he hasn’t succeeded in life. On the verge of giving up, George is shown by his guardian angel what the world would have been like if he had never been born, revealing the impact he’s had on his community of Bedford Falls.

Sunday 21st December, ITV1, 12:45pm

Jurassic Park

Jurassic Park, directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, and Richard Attenborough, tells the story of a revolutionary theme park filled with real dinosaurs created through genetic engineering. When a wealthy entrepreneur, John Hammond, invites a select group, including his grandchildren, for a preview, everything goes wrong. A disgruntled worker disables the park’s security systems during a storm, leaving the visitors stranded and facing a dangerous situation as the dinosaurs escape.

Sunday 21st December, ITV1, 3:15pm

Doctor Zhivago

I recently watched David Lean’s incredible film, and it really stayed with me. It’s a sweeping love story featuring Omar Sharif and Julie Christie. The movie centers around Yuri Zhivago, a doctor and poet who grows up with the Gromeko family and eventually marries their daughter, Tonya. However, he falls deeply in love with Lara, who’s involved with a powerful, but morally questionable man. Then, everything changes when World War I breaks out and the Russian Revolution transforms Moscow, throwing their relationship into chaos and completely upending their lives.

Monday 22nd December, BBC Two, 2:55pm

Challengers

This movie explores the intense connection between three people: two competitive tennis players, Art and Patrick, and Art’s wife and coach, Tashi. As Art and Patrick face off in a championship match, long-held secrets and a complicated past of ambition, rivalry, and romance begin to surface, threatening to disrupt everything.

Monday 22nd December, BBC One, 10:40pm

Beetlejuice

Beetlejuice is a funny and spooky movie starring Michael Keaton, Geena Davis, and Alec Baldwin. After a couple, Barbara and Adam Maitland, die in a car accident, they become ghosts haunting their home. Their quiet afterlife is disrupted when a new, unpleasant family moves in, so the Maitlands seek help from a quirky spiritual expert named Betelgeuse.

Monday 22nd December, BBC Two, 10:45pm

Spartacus

This classic historical film features Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, and Tony Curtis. It tells the story of Spartacus, a slave who dreams of freedom and leads a massive uprising against the powerful Roman Empire.

Tuesday 23rd December, BBC Two, 3pm

Slumdog Millionaire

Danny Boyle’s acclaimed film, starring Dev Patel and Freida Pinto, tells the story of Jamal Malik, a teenager from the slums of Mumbai. Just one question stands between him and a huge prize on the Indian version of ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?’ But when the police suspect him of cheating, he’s arrested. During intense questioning, Jamal shares his incredible life story, revealing how a series of unexpected events led him to the game show.

Tuesday 23rd December, BBC Two, 10:30pm

Indecent Proposal

This movie stars Robert Redford, Demi Moore, and Woody Harrelson. The story follows David and Diana Murphy, a couple facing foreclosure on their home. Desperate, they head to Las Vegas to try and win back their finances through gambling. Things take a turn when Diana attracts the attention of a wealthy and unusual man, John Gage, who offers them a million dollars for her to spend a single night with him. But is the price too high for the couple to pay?

Christmas Eve, BBC Two, 10:30pm

2001: a Space Odyssey

Keir Dullea leads Stanley Kubrick’s classic science fiction film, a visually stunning story of human evolution. The movie traces mankind’s journey – from early apes to the present day – using the backdrop of space exploration.

Boxing Day, ITV4, 3:45pm

Blue Velvet

This captivating mystery thriller features Kyle MacLachlan, Isabella Rossellini, Dennis Hopper, and Laura Dern. The story unfolds in a seemingly peaceful small town where young Jeffrey Beaumont uncovers a disturbing and violent undercurrent after discovering a severed ear.

Boxing Day, BBC Two, 12:55am

Double Indemnity

This classic film features Barbara Stanwyck, Fred MacMurray, and Edward G. Robinson. It tells the story of Walter Neff, an insurance salesman, who becomes captivated by Phyllis Dietrichson, the wife of one of his customers. She quickly involves him in a dangerous scheme to kill her husband, collect his life insurance, and start a new life together, but Neff’s supervisor becomes suspicious.

Saturday 27th December, BBC Two, 10:05am

Elvis

This movie tells the story of Elvis Presley and his complicated relationship with his manager, Colonel Tom Parker. It begins in the 1950s when Parker discovers a young, talented Elvis and guides him to superstardom. Over the next twenty years, Elvis achieves incredible fame, but Parker’s controlling nature and financial issues increasingly impact the singer’s life.

Saturday 27th December, BBC One, 7:45pm

Unforgiven

Clint Eastwood directs and stars in this Western, alongside Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman, and Richard Harris. The story follows William Munny, a retired gunslinger, who is drawn back into a life of violence after his wife dies and his farm fails. He’s offered a reward for tracking down the cowboys who severely injured a prostitute, and the money proves too tempting to resist.

Saturday 27th December, BBC Two, 9pm

The Banshees of Inisherin

This funny and touching movie, set in Ireland, stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson. It follows Pádraic, a simple shepherd whose quiet life is turned upside down when his longtime friend, Colm, suddenly ends their friendship. Pádraic is devastated and can’t understand why, and the disagreement quickly spirals out of control.

Sunday 28th December, Film4, 9pm

The Wicker Man

This classic horror film features Edward Woodward and Christopher Lee. A police officer travels to a remote island after receiving a tip about a missing girl. When he arrives, the island’s residents claim to know nothing about her, and he quickly realizes something strange is happening there.

Sunday 28th December, BBC Two, 1:20am

Dial M for Murder

This suspenseful thriller features Ray Milland and Grace Kelly. When Tony Wendice, a wealthy socialite, learns his wife Margot is having an affair with a writer named Mark Halliday, he devises a scheme to protect his fortune.

Tuesday 30th December, BBC Two, 2:30pm

Rear Window

Rear Window is a suspenseful thriller featuring James Stewart and Grace Kelly. After breaking his leg, a photographer named Jeff Jeffries spends his time watching his neighbors from his apartment window. He becomes suspicious of one neighbor, Thorwald, especially after seeing him leave with a suitcase and noticing Thorwald’s wife seems to have vanished. Believing something bad has happened to the wife, Jeff and his girlfriend Lisa begin to investigate, which puts them both in serious danger.

Tuesday 30th December, BBC Two, 4:10pm

The Full Monty

This funny and heartwarming film features Robert Carlyle, Tom Wilkinson, and Mark Addy. It tells the story of two jobless steelworkers from Sheffield, Gaz and Dave, who hatch a daring scheme to earn money – becoming male strippers. The film explores how far they’re willing to go to entertain others and achieve success.

New Year’s Eve, BBC Two, 10pm

Ben-Hur

This classic film stars Charlton Heston as Judah Ben-Hur, a wealthy prince who rebels against the oppressive rule of the Romans during the time of Jesus Christ. Betrayed by his childhood friend Messala, Judah is sentenced to a life of hardship as a galley slave, but destiny brings them face to face again.

Friday 2nd January, BBC Two, 2:35pm

LA Confidential

This acclaimed crime drama, based on a novel by James Ellroy, features Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, and Kim Basinger. It follows three detectives as they navigate a complex web of corruption, secrets, and murder connected to a prostitute and a tabloid magazine editor.

Friday 2nd January, Film 4, 9pm

Authors

Patrick CremonaSenior Film Writer

Patrick Cremona is TopMob’s Senior Film Writer, covering new movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms. He joined the website in October 2019 and has since interviewed many famous actors and reviewed a wide variety of films.

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2025-12-19 18:15

Best films on TV for Christmas and New Year 2025